accounts to be such a very strange, remarkable being that the king's curiosity was whetted, and after himself paying a secret visit to the eccentric "Cube," as he called the odd-looking castle, he resolved to try what mild measures would do, before proceeding to extremities.

Whether Miska had succeeded in getting into the robber's nest or not the king had no means of finding out, but his first step was to have a summons nailed[Pg 39] up in the middle of all the four sides of the grim castle. It ran as follows:—

[Pg 39]

"All good to you from God, Mr. Jason Samson!

"Present yourself in Buda on the third day of the coming year, and give an account of your stewardship.

"Matthias, the King."

Matthias

The men charged with affixing this to the castle walls withdrew when their work was done without having seen any one. But some one or other had seen and read the summons; for when they returned the next morning, it had been torn down, and in its place, also affixed to the four sides, appeared these words:—

"Some other time."

A week after this bold answer another summons was put up. This time it was:—

"Surrender."

The day following the answer appeared:—

"Not yet."

About a week after this last reply, a company of soldiers, under the command of General Zokoli, surrounded the ill-omened castle, which stood out grey and silent against the rose-coloured mists which ushered in the sunrise.

The general had given orders for the scaling-ladders[Pg 40] to be put up, when all at once a huge raven-black banner rose up from the centre of the building with a shining death's-head displayed upon it, and beneath this the words:—

[Pg 40]

"Touch me at your peril!"

Zokoli ordered 

 Prev. P 17/67 next