Lorand c.o.c.ked both triggers, and started alone with one gun against the whole robber-band.
When he reached the bushes he could see the rascals well.
They were four in number.
Two were trying the effect of the "jimmy" on the heavy iron-bound door, while a third, the wounded one, though he could no longer stand, still took part in the siege, notwithstanding his wounds. He put the barrel of his gun into the breaches made and fired over and over, so as to prevent the people inside from defending the door.
Sometimes single shots answered him from within, but without hitting anybody or anything.
The fourth robber, crowbar in hand, was striving to break down the door-supports. That was Vasgyuro.
On the other side of the courtyard Lorand saw two armed figures keeping guard over the servants" hall. It was six to one.
And there were still more than that altogether.
The door was very shaky already: the hinges were breaking. Lorand thought he heard his name called from within.
"Now, all together," thundered the robbers in self-encouragement, exerting all their united force on the crowbars. "More force! More!"
Lorand calmly raised his gun to his shoulder and fired twice among them in quick succession.
No cry of pain followed the two shots--merely the thud of two heavy bodies. They were so thoroughly killed, they had no time to complain.
The one in whose hands the crowbar remained dropped it behind him, as he darted away.
The man who had been previously wounded began to cry for a.s.sistance.
"Don"t shout," exclaimed the fifth robber. "You"ll alarm the others."
Then putting two fingers in his mouth he whistled shrilly twice.
Lorand saw that at this double whistle the two robbers running hastily came in his direction, while the din that arose on the farther side of the castle informed him of an attack from that side too. So he was between three fires.
He did not lose his presence of mind.
Before the new-comers arrived he had just time to load both barrels:--the bushes hid him from anyone who might even stand face to face, so that he could take no sure aim.
Haste, care and courage!
Lorand had often read stories of famous lion-hunters, but had been unable to believe them: unable to imagine how a lonely man in a wild waste, far from every human aid, defended only by a bush, could be courageous enough to cover the oldest male among a group of lions seeking their prey, and at a distance of ten paces fire into his heart.
Not to hit his heart meant death to the hunter. But he is sure he will succeed, and sure, too, that the whole group will flee, once his victim has fallen.
What presence of mind was required for that daring deed! What a strong heart, what a cool hand!
Now in this awful moment Lorand knew that all this was possible. A man feels the extent of his manliness, left all to himself in the midst of danger.
He too was hunting, matched against the most dangerous of all beasts of prey--the beasts called "men."
Two he had already laid low. He had found his mark as well as the lion-hunter had found his.
He heard steps of the animals he was hunting approaching his ambuscade on two sides: and the leader of all stood there under cover, leaning against a pillar of the verandah, ready to spring, ten paces away. He had only two charges, with which he had to defend himself against attack from three sides.
Dangerous sport!
One of the robbers who hurried from the servants" hall disappeared among the trees in the garden, while the other remained behind.
Lorand quietly aimed at the first: he had to aim low for fear of firing above him in the dark.
It was well that he had followed his uncle"s advice to use shot instead of bullets. The shot lamed both the robber"s legs: he fell in his flight and stumbled among the bushes.
The one who followed was alarmed, and standing in the distance fired in Lorand"s direction.
Lorand, after his shot, immediately fell on his knees: and it was very lucky he did so, for in the next moment Kandur discharged both his barrels from beside the pillar, and the aim was true, as Lorand discovered from the fact that the bullets dislodged leaves just above his head, that came fluttering down upon him.
Then he turned to the third side.
There had come from that direction at the call of the whistle Korve, Pofok, and Bogracs, who had been guarding the street-door and the other exit from the castle.
At the moment they turned into the garden their comrade Foszto, seeing Kanyo fall, stood still and fired his double-barrelled gun and pistols in the direction of Lorand"s hiding-place. It was quite natural they should think some aid had arrived from the shooting-box, for the bullets whistled just over their heads: so they began to fire back: Foszto, alarmed, and not understanding this turn of affairs, fled.
Old Kandur"s hoa.r.s.e voice could not attract their attention amidst the random firing. He cried furiously: "Don"t shoot at one another, you a.s.ses!"
They did not understand, perhaps did not hear at all in the confusion.
Lorand hastened to enlighten them.
Taking aim at the three villains, who were firing wildly into the night, he sent his second charge into their midst from the bushes, whence they least expected it.
This shot had a final effect. Perhaps several were wounded, one at any rate reeled badly, and the other two took to flight: then, finding their comrade could not keep up with them, they picked him up and dragged him along, disappearing in a moment in the thickest part of the park.
Only the old lion remained behind, alone, old Kandur, the robber, burning with rage. He caught a glimpse of Lorand"s face by the flash of the second discharge, recognized in him the man he sought, whom he hated, whose blood he thirsted after: that foe, whom he remembered with curses, whom he had promised to tear to pieces, to torture to death, who was here again in his way, and had with his unaided power broken up the whole opposing army, for all the world like the archangel himself.
Kandur knew well he must not allow him time to load again.
It was not a moment for shooting:--but for a pitched battle, hand to hand.
Nor did the robber load his weapon: he rushed unarmed from his ambuscade as he saw Lorand standing before him, and threw himself in foaming pa.s.sion upon the youth.
Lorand saw that here, among the bushes, he had no further use for his gun, so he threw it away, and received his foe unarmed.
Now it was face to face!
As they clutched each other their eyes met.
"You devil!" muttered Kandur, gnashing his teeth; "you have stolen my gold, and my girl. Now I shall repay you."
Lorand now knew that the robber was Czipra"s father.
He had tried to murder his own daughter.