Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-06-16
Two days after an order came e,,,, -, q 60

Two days after an order came to give
up the tribute money and women, The
mayor, by presents, obtained the permis-
sion OF the commander that the maidcns
should be allowed to remain veiled dur
ing their journey, until tn. y were intro
duced into the presence of the Pasha of
Buda. All happened as they wished.
At the moment Of their departure they
were taken in closed lltters from their
dwellings, and left the town under a
strong escort, accompanied by the fer
vent prayers Of the inhabitants for their
safety. As they proceeded very SLOWLY.
they did not reach Hatyan till late m the
evening, whereupOn the Aga resolved not
to go any further that night. While
preparations were making for the accom-
modation of the unusual guests. the
commander of the fortress attempted
orce or twice to pay a visit of ceremony
to the maldens; but the matron in whose
care they were. an energetic Hungarian
woman remained inhexible, and after a
short contest, rescued them from The
presence OF very unwelcome visiter.
AT midnight, when all was hushed
around, the sentinel at the door of the
house where the maidens res, ed. had he
been m re vigilant. must have heard the
opening OF window above his ht ad, and
seen human form descending. The
sentinel, however, dreaming perhaps Of
Mahommed's S paradise, remarked neither
the slight noise nor the figure in whom
the chief is easily recognised, which by
fegrees glided down the high wall, till Il
stood like menacing shadow behind
him. Here heavy fall was heard, fol-
lowed by dull groan then all became
quiet as before. The sentinel being no
longer In the way, eleven other forms let
themselves down fir I'M the window, one
and ali bearing greater resemblance to
stalwart warriors. than to gentle maidens.
Lelkem hastily gave bis commands in a
suppressed voice; and after leaving two
men at the door of the dwelling thew
vanished into the dark and deserted street
which led to the east gate. There thew
surprised the small guard with equal
felicity, and cut men down before tbey
could even think of resistance. But in
spite of their quick and cautious pro-
ceedings, they were detected by a Turk
ieh sentinel who fired his pnn. which
aroused the others at their posts on the
walls, and the alarm drum soon re.ecboad
irom every quarter of the place.
No tiuIC " as nov to ho IoSt The cate
was forced open with all speed and tbe
drawbr;dge let down Leikem goyo
shrlh whistle, and on its bel.o ren..,od
At a distance from the fortress, in a s1,.--.
time band of one hundred aud fifty
brave men rushed in through the open
gate. Leikem placing himself at their
head, led to decisive attack on the bar
racks, where the Turks already began to
rally in overwhelming numbers. The
battle ensued in the market place, where
the dwelling Of the commander and the
barracks stood, and where the mass of
the garrison was arrayed. Leikem ir-
resistible charge, and the death Of the
PaSha, who fell at the beginning of the
engagement, soon discouraged the Turks;
darkness and confusion did the rest; and
after short and sanguinary massacre
they surrendered to the mercy of the vie-
toriOus HungarianS. The garrison still
numbered six hundred men, who were
grestly surprised to find that they were
conquered by so small band. You will
have already guessed that, instead of the
supposed maideHs, Leikem and eleven of
his men, disguised in fern alea attire, formed
the party SO carefully escorted to the for
tress, which enabled them so success
fully to accomplish their hazardous un-
dertaking.
At the news of the fall of the Hatvan,
the greater part of the inhabitants of
Gyongyos fled to that stronghold, to seek
shelter against the vengeance of the
Turks, and Trey were determined. in case
Of serious attack, to die under the ruins
of its walls.
Among the arrivals were Irma and her
father. Leikem, now commander OF the
fortress, the fruit of his bold enterprise,
celebrated his marriage with his beloved
Irma, who, by the way. was accompanied
to the altar by her eleven beautiful COM
panions SO gallantly rescued by the BRIDE
groom.