the two captains-第7部分

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nature　of　the　other；　in　a　similar　manner　to　that　which　you　must　have
seen　in　our　Arabian　carving！　　A　moving　flower；　a　bird　growing　on　a
branch；　a　fountain　gleaming　with　fiery　sparks；　a　singing　twigthese
are　truly　no　hateful　things！〃　　〃He　must　avoid　temptation　who　does　not
wish　to　be　overcome　by　it；〃　said　Heimbert　very　gravely；　〃I　am　for　the
desert。　　Will　it　please　you　to　come　out　to　visit　me　again？〃　　Zelinda
looked　down　somewhat　displeased。　　Then　suddenly　bending　her　head
still　lower　she　replied；　〃Yes；　toward　evening　I　shall　be　here　again。〃
And；　turning　away；　she　at　once　disappeared　in　the　rising　whirlwind　of
the　desert。




CHAPTER　XII。



With　the　evening　twilight　the　lovely　lady　returned　and　spent　the
night　in　converse　with　the　pious　youth；　leaving　him　in　the　morning
with　her　mind　more　humble；　pure；　and　devout；　and　thus　matters　went　on
for　many　days。　　〃Thy　palm…wine　and　thy　dates　must　be　coming　to　an
end；〃　said　Zelinda　one　evening　as　she　presented　the　youth　with　a
flask　of　rich　wine　and　some　costly　fruits。　　He；　however；　gently　put
aside　the　gift　and　said；　〃Noble　lady；　I　would　accept　your　gift
gladly；　but　I　fear　some　of　your　magic　arts　may　perhaps　cleave　to　it。
Or　could　you　assure　me　to　the　contrary　by　Him　whom　you　are　now
beginning　to　know？〃　　Zelinda　cast　down　her　eyes　in　silent　confusion
and　took　her　presents　back。　　On　the　following　evening；　however；　she
brought　similar　gifts；　and；　smiling　confidently；　gave　the　desired
assurance。　　Heimbert　then　partook　of　them　without　hesitation；　and
from　henceforth　the　disciple　carefully　provided　for　the　sustenance　of
her　teacher　in　the　wilderness。

And　so；　as　the　blessed　knowledge　of　the　truth　sank　more　and　more
deeply　into　Zelinda's　soul；　so　that　she　was　often　sitting　till　dawn
before　the　youth；　with　cheeks　glowing　and　hair　dishevelled；　her　eyes
gleaming　with　delight　and　her　hands　folded；　unable　to　withdraw
herself　from　his　words；　he；　on　his　part；　endeavored　to　make　her
sensible　at　all　times　that　it　was　only　Fadrique's　love　for　her　which
had　urged　him；　his　friend；　into　this　fatal　desert；　and　that　it　was
this　same　love　that　had　thus　become　the　means　for　the　attainment　of
her　highest　spiritual　good。　　She　still　well　remembered　the　handsome
and　terrible　captain　who　had　stormed　the　height　that　he　might　clasp
her　in　his　arms；　and　she　related　to　her　friend　how　the　same　hero　had
afterward　saved　her　in　the　burning　library。　　Heimbert　too　had　many
pleasant　things　to　tell　of　Fadriqueof　his　high　knightly　courage；　of
his　grave　and　noble　manners；　and　of　his　love　to　Zelinda；　which　in　the
night　after　the　battle　of　Tunis　was　no　longer　concealed　within　his
passionate　breast；　but　was　betrayed　to　the　young　German　in　a　thousand
unconscious　expressions　between　sleeping　and　waking。　　Divine　truth
and　the　image　of　her　loving　hero　both　at　once　sank　deep　within
Zelinda's　heart；　and　struck　root　there　with　tender　but　indestructible
power。　　Heimbert's　presence　and　the　almost　adoring　admiration　with
which　his　pupil　regarded　him　did　not　disturb　these　feelings；　for　from
the　first　moment　his　appearance　had　something　in　it　so　pure　and
heavenly　that　no　thoughts　of　earthly　love　intruded。　　When　Heimbert
was　alone　he　would　often　smile　happily　within　himself；　saying　in　his
own　beloved　German　tongue；　〃It　is　indeed　delightful　that　I　am　now
able　consciously　to　do　the　same　service　for　Fadrique　as　he　did　for
me；　unconsciously；　with　his　angelic　sister。〃　　And　then　he　would　sing
some　German　song　of　Clara's　grace　and　beauty；　the　sound　of　which　rang
with　strange　sweetness　through　the　desert；　while　it　happily　beguiled
his　solitary　hours。

Once　when　Zelinda　came　in　the　evening　twilight；　gracefully　bearing　on
her　beautiful　head　a　basket　of　provisions　for　Heimbert；　he　smiled　at
her　and　shook　his　head；　saying；　〃It　is　inconceivable　to　me；　sweet
maiden；　why　you　ever　give　yourself　the　trouble　of　coming　to　me　out
here　in　the　desert。　　You　can　indeed　no　longer　find　pleasure　in　magic
arts；　since　the　spirit　of　truth　and　love　dwells　within　you。　　If　you
would　only　transform　the　oasis　into　the　natural　form　in　which　the
good　God　created　it；　I　would　go　there　with　you；　and　we　should　have
far　more　time　for　holy　converse。〃　　〃Sir；〃　replied　Zelinda；　〃you　speak
truly。　　I　too　have　thought　for　some　days　of　doing　so　and　the　matter
would　have　been　already　set　on　foot；　but　a　strange　visitor　fetters　my
power。　　The　Dervish　whom　you　saw　in　Tunis　is　with　me；　and　as　in
former　times　we　have　practised　many　magic　tricks　with　each　other；　he
would　like　again　to　play　the　old　game。　　He　perceives　the　change　in
me；　and　on　that　account　urges　me　all　the　more　vehemently　and
dangerously。〃

〃He　must　either　be　driven　away　or　converted；〃　said　Heimbert；　girding
on　his　shoulder…belt　more　firmly；　and　taking　up　his　shield　from　the
ground。　　〃Have　the　goodness；　dear　maiden；〃　he　continued；　〃to　lead　me
to　your　enchanted　isle。〃

〃You　avoided　it　so　before；〃　said　the　astonished　Zeiinda；〃　and　it　is
still　unchanged　in　its　fantastic　form。〃

〃Formerly　it　would　have　been　only　inconsiderate　curiosity　to　have
ventured　there；〃　replied　Heimbert。　　〃You　came　too　out　here　to　me；　and
that　was　better　for　us　both。　　But　now　the　old　enemy　might　lay　snares
for　the　ruin　of　all　that　the　Lord　has　been　working　in　you；　and　so　it
is　a　knightly　duty　to　go。　　In　God's　name；　then；　to　the　work！〃

And　they　hastened　forward　together；　through　the　ever…increasing
darkness　of　the　plain；　on　their　way　to　the　blooming　island。




CHAPTER　XIII。



A　charming　breeze　began　to　cool　the　heated　brows　of　the　travellers；
and　the　twinkling　starlight　revealed　in　the　distance　a　grove；　waving
to　and　fro　with　the　gentle　motion　of　the　air。　　Heimbert　cast　his　eyes
to　the　ground　and　said；　〃Go　before　me；　sweet　maiden；　and　guide　my
path　to　the　spot　where　I　shall　find　this　threatening　Dervish。　　I　do
not　wish　unnecessarily　to　see　anything　of　these　ensnaring
enchantments。〃

Zelinda　did　as　he　desired；　and　the　relation　of　the　two　was　for　a
moment　changed；　the　maiden　had　become　the　guide；　and　Heimbert；　full
of　confidence；　allowed　himself　to　be　led　upon　the　unknown　path。
Branches　were　even　now　touching　his　cheeks；　half　caressingly　and
playfully；　wonderful　birds；　growing　out　of　bushes；　sang　joyful　songs；
over　the　velvet　turf；　upon　which　Heimbert　ever　kept　his　eyes　fixed；
there　glided　gleaming　serpents　of　green　and　gold；　with　little　golden
crowns；　and　brilliant　stones　glittered　on　the　mossy　carpet。　　When　the
serpents　touched　the　jewels；　they　gave　forth　a　silvery　sound。　　But
Heimbert　let　the　serpents　creep　and　the　gems　sparkle；　without
troubling　himself　about　them；　intent　alone　on　following　the　footsteps
of　his　guide。

〃We　are　there！〃　said　she　with　suppressed　voice；　and　looking　up　he　saw
a　shining　grotto　of　shells；　within　which　he　perceived　a　man　asleep
clad　in　golden　scale…armor　of　the　old　Numidian　fashion。　　〃Is　that
also　a　phantom；　there　yonder　in　the　golden　scales？〃　inquired
Heimbert；　smiling；　but　Zelinda　looked　very　grave　and　replied；　　〃Oh；
no！　that　is　the　Dervish　himself；　and　his　having　put　on　this　coat…of…
mail；　which　has　been　rendered　invulnerable　by　dragon's　blood；　is　a
proof　that　by　his　magic　he　has　become　aware　of　our　intention。〃　　〃What
does　that　signify？〃　said　Heimbert；　〃he　would　have　to　know　it　at
last。〃　　And　he　began　at　once　to　call　out；　with　a　cheerful　voice；
〃Wake　up；　old　sir；　wake　up！　　Here　is　an　acquaintance　of　yours；　who
has　matters　upon　which　he　must　speak　to　you。〃

And　as　the　Dervish　opened　his　large　rolling　eyes；　everything　in　the
magic　grove　began　to　move；　the　water　began　to　dance；　and　the　branches
to　intertwine　in　wild　emulation；　and　at　the　same　time　the　precious
stones　and　the　shells　and　corals　emitted　strange　and　confusing
melodies。

〃Roll　and　turn；　thunder　and　play　as　you　like！〃　exclaimed　Heimbert；
looking　fixedly　at　the　maze　around　him；　〃you　shall　not　divert　me　from
my　own　good　path；　and　Almighty　God　has　given　me　a　good　far…sounding
soldier's　voice　which　can　make　itself　heard　above　all　this　tumult。〃
Then　turning　to　the　Dervish　he　said；　〃It　appears；　old　man；　that　you
already　know　everything　which　has　passed　between　Zelinda　and　me。　　In
case；　however；　that　it　is　not　so；　I　will　tell　you　briefly　that　she　is
already　as　good　as　a　Christian；　and　that　she　is　the　betrothed　of　a
noble　Spanish　knight。　　Place　nothing　in　the　way　of　her　good
intention；　I　advise　you　for　your　own　sake。　　But　still　better　for　your
own　sake　would　it　be　if　you　would　become　a　Christian　yourself。
Discuss　the　matter　with　me；　and　first　bid　all　this　mad　devilish　show
to　cease；　for　our　religion；　dear　sir；　speaks　of　far　too　tender　and
divine　things　to　be　talked　of　with　violence　or　with　the　loud　voice
necessary　on　the　field　of　war。〃

But　the　Dervish；　burning　with　hatred　to　the　Christians；　had　not
waited　to　hear　the　knight's　last　words　when　he　rushed　at　him　with　his
drawn　scimitar。　　Heimbert　merely　parried　his　thrust；　saying；　〃Take
care　of　yourself；　sir！　　I　have　heard　something　of　your　weapons　being
charmed；　but　that　will　avail　but　little　before　my　sword。　　It　has　been
consecrated　in　holy　places。〃

The　Dervish　sprang　wildly　back　before　the　sword；　but　equally　wildly
did　he　spring　to　the　other　side　of　his　adversary；　who　only　with
difficulty　caught　the　terrible　cuts　of　his　weapon　upon　his　shield。
Like　a　gold…scaled　dragon　the　Mohammedan　swung　himself　round　his
antagonist　with　an　agility　which；　with　his　long　flowing　white　beard；
was　ghostly　and　horrible　to　witness。　　Heimbert　was　prepared　to　meet
him　on　all　sides；　ever　keeping　a　watchful　eye　for　some　opening　in　the
scales　made　by　the　violence　of　his　movements。　　At　last　it　happened　as
he　desired；　between　the　arm　and　breast　on　the　left　side　the　dark
garments　of　the　Dervish　became　visible；　and　quick　as　lightning　the
German　made　a　deadly　thrust。　　The　old　man　exclaimed　aloud；　〃Allah！
Allah！〃　and　fell　forward；　fearful　even　in　his　fall；　a　senseless
corpse。

〃I　pity　him！〃　sighed　Heimbert；　leaning　on　his　sword　and　looking　down
on　his　fallen　foe。〃　　He　has　fought　nobly；　and　even　in　death　he　called
upon　his　Allah；　whom　he　looked　upon　as　the　true　God。　　He　must　not
lack　honorable　burial。〃　　He　then　dug　a　grave　with　the　broad　scimitar
of　his　adversary；　laid　the　corpse　within　it；　cove