by Mór Jókai
CHAPTER XIX.
IN THE ROYAL FOREST.
The Royal Forest lies on the left bank of the RAikos, near Isaszeg.Three highroads lead through it, and all three unite at Isaszeg, whichthus forms the gateway to Pest.
The Hungarian army was bent on reaching Pest, and it was for this thatit was now fighting. The enemy held the forest, and for six hours theHungarian forces had been fighting their way through, when both sidesprepared for a last desperate struggle.
The Austrians planned to strike a decisive blow against theiropponents' centre. Sixteen troops of light cavalry, lancers, anddragoons, two cuirassier regiments, eight batteries of cannon, and twomortar batteries crossed the RAikos above Isaszeg and descended like anavalanche on the Hungarian centre. The Hungarians, drawn up in closeorder, occupied that circular space which even now shows the traces ofhaving once been trampled by many feet. There were three thousandhussars in a body. Against them the enemy levelled theirfield-batteries, planting them in the spaces between the differentdivisions of their troops and on the wings, and opened a murderousfire. There was but one way to meet this fire, and that was to make asudden cavalry charge which should throw the enemy's ranks intoconfusion and make it impossible to distinguish between friend andfoe. Thus the artillerists would be compelled to desist. This plan wasexecuted. Over the whole battle-field the trumpets sounded the charge.The earth trembled under the mighty shock, and the forest rang withthe battle-cry, in which was presently mingled the clashing of steel,as thousands of swords met in deadly strife. A cloud of dust veiledthe scene for a space, and when it cleared one might have witnessedthe living enactment of the hero-epics of old,--six or seven thousandknights indiscriminately mingled, and every man seeking his foe.Horses were rearing and snorting, flashing swords rang blade againstblade, red shakos, shining helmets, and four-cornered caps weredensely crowded in one swaying, surging, struggling mass.
In the stress of the conflict, two leaders who towered by a head abovetheir fellows suddenly caught sight of each other. One was RichardBaradlay, the other Otto Palvicz. It was like the meeting of twolightning flashes from two thunder-clouds. They broke through the massof fighting warriors about them and pushed their way toward eachother. The horsemen opened a lane through their ranks for the twochampions, as if recognising that here was the heaven-ordaineddecision. The swords of these two mighty warriors should decide theissue; let them fight it out.
They fell on each other, neither of them taking thought to parry hisopponent's blow, but each striking at one and the same instant withall the strength of his arm and the fury of his passion. Rising intheir stirrups and swinging aloft their swords, they aimed each at theother's head. Like two flashes of lightning, both blades descended atonce, and both warriors fell in the same moment from their horses.Truly, it was a well-aimed stroke that felled Richard Baradlay, andhad he not borne the charmed life of the heroes of the Iliad and theNiebelungenlied, that day had been his last on earth. Otto Palvicz'ssword had cleft his opponent's shako, cutting through the metal crown;but, as often happens in such strokes, the blade was so turned in itscourse that the flat of the sword and not the edge spent its force onthe hussar captain's head. Yet the fearful blow was even thus enoughto stun Richard, and throw him unconscious to the ground.
His own stroke, however, descending like a thunderbolt from heaven,was more effective. Cleaving the helmet of the cuirassier major, itleft a gaping wound on his skull.
No sooner had the two champions fallen than there followed a furiousconflict over their bodies, each side striving to rescue its fallenhero. Old Paul, who had spurred his horse after his master, sprangfrom his saddle and threw himself on Richard's body. The hoofs oftrampling steeds soon stamped the life out of the faithful servant,but he had succeeded in saving the one being in this world whom heloved. With unselfish affection, he had shielded his dear master andcheerfully laid down his life for him.
At that moment the sound as of an approaching army fell on the ear.What did it mean? The woods were ringing with the battle-cry, "_A%ljena haza!_"[4] The Hungarian reserve corps had arrived and was pushingto the front. Its batteries opened fire on the enemy, and the militiabattalions drove the foe out of the woods. The battle was at lastdecided. The Austrian trumpeters sounded the retreat, and thebattle-field was left deserted, except for the dead and the wounded.When the Hungarians sent out to gather them up, Otto Palvicz was foundto be still alive.
[Footnote 4: Long live our country!]