the two captains-第3章

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by　magic　arts　and　incantations。　　But　I　have　never　experienced
anything　of　the　sort　until　to…day。　　Compose　yourself；　my　dear　good
comrade；　and　go　with　me　back　to　the　shore。〃　　Fadrique　laughed
fiercely；　and　answered；　〃Set　aside　your　silly　delusion；　and　if　you
must　have　everything　explained　to　you；　word　by　word；　in　order　to
understand　it；　know　then　that　the　lady　whom　you　came　to　meet　in　the
shrubbery　of　this　my　garden　is　Dona　Clara　Mendez；　my　only　sister。
Quick；　therefore；　and　without　further　preamble；　draw！〃　　〃God　forbid！〃
exclaimed　the　German；　not　touching　his　weapon。　　〃You　shall　be　my
brother…in…law；　Fadrique；　and　not　my　murderer；　and　still　less　will　I
be　yours。〃　　Fadrique　only　shook　his　head　indignantly；　and　advanced
toward　his　comrade　with　measured　steps　for　an　encounter。　　Heimbert；
however；　still　remained　immovable；　and　said；　〃No；　Fadrique；　I　cannot
now　or　ever　do　you　harm。　　For　besides　the　love　I　bear　your　sister；　it
must　certainly　have　been　you　who　has　spoken　to　her　so　honorably　of　my
military　expeditions　in　Italy。〃　　〃When　I　did　so；〃　replied　Fadiique　in
a　fury；　〃I　was　a　fool。　　But；　dallying　coward；　out　with　your　sword；
or〃

Before　Fadrique　had　finished　speaking；　Heimbert；　burning　with
indignation；　exclaimed；　〃The　devil　himself　could　not　bear　that！〃　and
drawing　his　sword　from　the　scabbard；　the　two　young　captains　rushed
fiercely　and　resolutely　to　the　attack。

Different　indeed　was　this　contest　to　that　previously　fought　by
Fadrique　with　Lucila's　husband。　　The　two　young　soldiers　well
understood　their　weapons；　and　strove　with　each　other　with　equal
boldness；　their　swords　flashing　like　rays　of　light　as　now　this　one
now　that　one　hurled　a　lightning　thrust　at　his　adversary；　which　was
with　similar　speed　and　dexterity　turned　aside。　　Firmly　they　pressed
the　left　foot；　as　if　rooted　in　the　ground；　while　the　right　advanced
to　the　bold　onset　and　then　again　they　quickly　retired　to　the　safer
attitude　of　defence。　　From　the　self…possession　and　the　quiet
unremitting　anger　with　which　both　the　combatants　fought；　it　was
evident　that　one　of　the　two　would　find　his　grave　under　the
overhanging　branches　of　the　orange…tree；　which　were　now　tinged　with
the　red　glow　of　morning；　and　this　would　undoubtedly　have　been　the
case　had　not　the　report　of　a　cannon　from　the　harbor　sounded　through
the　silence　of　the　twilight。

The　combatants　paused；　as　if　at　some　word　of　command　to　be　obeyed　by
both；　and　listened；　counting　to　themselves；　then；　as　each　uttered　the
number　thirty；　a　second　gun　was　heard。　　〃It　is　the　signal　for
immediate　embarkation；　Senor；〃　said　Don　Fadrique；　〃we　are　now　in　the
emperor's　service；　and　all　dispute　ceases　which　is　not　against　the
foes　of　Charles　the　Fifth。〃　　〃Right；〃　replied　Heimbert；　〃but　when
there　is　an　end　of　Tunis　and　the　whole　war。　　I　shall　demand
satisfaction　for　that　'dallying　coward。'〃　　〃And　I　for　that　in
intercourse　with　my　sister；〃　said　Fadrique。　　〃Certainly；〃　rejoined
the　other；　and；　so　saying；　the　two　captains　hurried　down　to　the
strand　and　arranged　the　embarkation　of　their　troops；　while　the　sun；
rising　over　the　sea；　shone　upon　them　both　in　the　same　vessel。




CHAPTER　V。



The　voyagers　had　for　some　time　to　battle　with　contrary　winds；　and
when　at　length　they　came　in　sight　of　the　coasts　of　Barbary　the
darkness　of　evening　had　closed　so　deeply　over　the　sea　that　no　pilot
in　the　little　squadron　ventured　to　ride　at　anchor　on　the　shallow
shore。　　They　cruised　about　on　the　calm　waters；　waiting　for　the
morning；　and　the　soldiers；　full　of　laudable　ambition　for　combat；
stood　impatiently　in　crowds　on　the　deck；　straining　their　longing
eyes　to　see　the　theatre　of　their　future　deeds。

Meanwhile　the　heavy　firing　of　besiegers　and　besieged　thundered
unceasingly　from　the　fortress　of　Goletta；　and　as　the　night　darkened
the　scene　with　massy　clouds；　the　flames　of　burning　fragments　became
more　visible；　and　the　fiery　course　of　the　red　bullets　was　perceptible
as　they　crossed　each　other　in　their　path；　while　their　effects　in　fire
and　devastation　were　fearful　to　behold。　　It　was　evident　that　the
Mussulmans　had　been　attempting　a　sally；　for　a　sharp　fire　of　musketry
burst　forth　suddenly　amid　the　roaring　of　the　cannon。　　The　fight　was
approaching　the　trenches　of　the　Christians；　and　on　board　the　vessels
none　were　agreed　whether　the　besiegers　were　in　danger　or　not。　　At
length　they　saw　that　the　Turks　were　driven　back　into　the　fortress；
the　Christian　army　pursued　them；　and　a　shout　was　heard　from　the
Spanish　camp　as　of　one　loud　Victory！　and　the　cry；　Goletta　was　taken！

How　the　troops　on　board　the　vesselsconsisting　of　young　and　courage…
tried　menburned　with　ardor　and　their　hearts　beat　at　the　glorious
spectacle；　need　not　be　detailed　to　those　who　carry　a　brave　heart
within　their　own　bosoms；　and　to　all　others　any　description　would　be
lost。　　Heimbert　and　Fadrique　stood　close　to　each　other。　　〃I　do　not
know；〃　said　the　latter；　speaking　to　himself；　〃but　I　feel　as　if　to…
morrow　I　must　plant　my　standard　upon　yonder　height　which　is　now
lighted　up　with　the　red　glow　of　the　bullets　and　burning　flames　in
Goletta。〃　　〃That　is　just　what　I　feel！〃　said　Heimbert。　　The　two　angry
captains　then　relapsed　into　silence　and　turned　indignantly　away。

The　longed…for　morning　at　length　dawned；　the　vessels　approached　the
shore；　and　the　landing　of　the　troops　began；　while　an　officer　was　at
once　dispatched　to　the　camp　to　announce　the　arrival　of　the
reinforcements　to　the　mighty　general　Alba。　　The　soldiers　were　hastily
ranged　on　the　beach；　they　put　themselves　and　their　weapons　in　order；
and　were　soon　standing　in　battle　array；　ready　for　their　great　leader。
Clouds　of　dust　rose　in　the　gray　twilight；　the　returning　officer
announced　the　approach　of　the　general；　and　as　Alba　signifies
〃morning〃　in　the　Castilian　tongue；　the　Spaniards　raised　a　shout　of
rejoicing　at　the　coincidence；　as　at　some　favorable　omen；　for　as　the
knightly　train　approached　the　first　beams　of　the　rising　sun　became
visible。

The　grave　and　haggard　form　of　the　general　was　seen　mounted　on　a　tall
Andalusian　charger　of　the　deepest　black。　　Having　galloped　once　up　and
down　the　lines；　he　stopped　his　powerful　horse　in　the　middle；　and
looking　along　the　ranks　with　an　air　of　grave　satisfaction；　he　said；
〃You　pass　muster　well。　　That　is　well。　　I　like　it　to　be　so。　　It　is
plain　to　see　that　you　are　tried　soldiers；　in　spite　of　your　youth。
We　will　first　hold　a　review；　and　then　I　will　lead　you　to　something
more　agreeable。〃

So　saying；　he　dismounted；　and　walking　toward　the　right　wing　he　began
to　inspect　one　troop　after　another　in　the　closest　manner；　with　the
captain　of　each　company　at　his　side；　that　he　might　receive　from　him
accurate　account　upon　the　minutest　particulars。　　Sometimes　a　cannon…
ball　from　the　fortress　would　whizz　over　the　heads　of　the　men；　then
Alba　would　stand　still　and　cast　a　keen　glance　over　the　soldiers
before　him。　　But　when　he　saw　that　not　an　eyelash　moved；　a　smile　of
satisfaction　passed　over　his　severe　pale　face。

When　he　had　inspected　both　divisions　he　again　mounted　his　horse　and
once　more　galloped　into　the　middle。　　Then；　stroking　his　long　beard；
he　said；　〃You　are　in　good　order；　soldiers；　and　therefore　you　shall
take　your　part　in　this　glorious　day；　which　is　just　dawning　for　our
whole　Christian　armada。　　We　will　attack　Barbarossa；　soldiers。　　Do　you
not　already　hear　the　drums　and　fifes　in　the　camp？　　Do　you　see　him
advancing　yonder　to　meet　the　emperor？　　That　side　of　his　position　is
assigned　to　you！〃

〃Vivat　Carolus　Quintus！〃　resounded　through　the　ranks。　　Alba　beckoned
the　captains　to　him；　and　assigned　to　each　his　duty。　　He　usually
mingled　German　and　Spanish　troops　together；　in　order　to　stimulate　the
courage　of　the　combatants　still　higher　by　emulation。　　So　it　happened
even　now　that　Heimbert　and　Fadrique　were　commanded　to　storm　the　very
same　height；　which；　now　gleaming　with　the　morning　light；　they　at　once
recognized　as　that　which　had　shone　out　so　fiercely　and　full　of
promise　the　night　before。




CHAPTER　VI。



Thrice　had　Fadrique　and　Heimbert　almost　forced　their　way　to　a　rampart
in　the　fortifications；　and　thrice　had　they　been　repulsed　with　their
men　into　the　valley　below　by　the　fierce　opposition　of　the　Turks。　　The
Mussulmans　shouted　after　the　retreating　foe；　clashed　their　weapons
with　the　triumph　of　victory；　and　with　a　scornful　laugh　asked　whether
they　would　not　come　up　again　to　give　heart　and　brain　to　the　scimitar
and　their　limbs　to　the　falling　beams　of　wood。　　The　two　captains；
gnashing　their　teeth　with　fury；　arranged　their　ranks　anew；　for　after
three　vain　assaults　they　had　to　move　closer　together　to　fill　the
places　of　the　slain　and　the　mortally　wounded。　　Meanwhile　a　murmur　ran
through　the　Christian　army　that　a　witch　was　fighting　among　their　foes
and　helping　them　to　conquer。

Duke　Alba　rode　to　the　point　of　attack；　and　looked　scrutinizingly　at
the　breach　they　had　made。　　〃Not　yet　broken　through　the　enemy　here！〃
said　he；　shaking　his　head；　〃I　am　surprised。　　From　two　such　youths；
and　such　troops；　I　should　have　expected　it。〃　　〃Do　you　hear　that？
Do　you　hear　that？〃　exclaimed　the　two　captains；　as　they　paced　along
their　lines　repeating　the　general's　words。　　The　soldiers　shouted
loudly；　and　demanded　to　be　once　more　led　against　the　enemy；　even
those　who　were　mortally　wounded　shouted；　with　a　last　effort；
〃Forward；　comrades！〃　　The　great　Alba　at　once　sprang　like　an　arrow
from　his　horse；　wrested　a　partisan　from　the　stiff　hand　of　one　of　the
slain；　and　standing　in　front　of　the　two　companies　he　cried；　〃I　will
take　part　in　your　glory。　　In　the　name　of　God　and　of　the　blessed
Virgin；　forward；　my　children！〃

And　joyfully　they　rushed　up　the　hill；　every　heart　beating　with
confidence；　while　the　war…cry　was　raised　triumphantly；　some　even
began　already　to　shout　〃Victory！　victory！〃　and　the　Mussulmans　paused
and　wavered。　　Suddenly；　like　the　vision　of　an　avenging　angel；　a
maiden；　dressed　in　purple　garments　embroidered　with　gold　appeared　in
the　Turkish　ranks；　and　those　who　were　terrified　before　again　shouted
〃Allah！〃　calling　at　the　same　time；　〃Zelinda；　Zelinda！〃　　The　maiden；
however；　drew　a　small　box　from　under　her　arm；　and　opening　it　she
breathed　into　it　and　hurled　it　down　among　the　Christian　troops。　　And
forth　from　the　fatal　chest　there　burst　a　whole　fire　of　rockets；
grenades；　and　other　fearful　messengers　of　death。　　The　startled
soldiers　paused　in　their　assault。　　〃Forward！〃　cried　Alba。　　〃Forward！〃
cried　the　two　captains；　but　a　flaming　arrow　just　then　fastened　on　the
duke's　plumed　hat　and　hissed　and　crackled　round　his　head；　so　that　the
general　fell　fainting　down　the　height。　　Then　the　German　and　Spanish
infantry　fled　uncontrollably　from　the　fearful　ascent。　　Again　the
storm　had　been　repulsed。　　The　Mussulmans　shouted；　and　like　a　fatal
star　Zelinda's　beauty　shone　in　the　midst　of　the　flying　troops。

When　Alba　opened　his　eyes；　Heimbert　was　standing　over　him；　with　his
mantle；　arm；　and　face　scorched　with　the　fire；　which　he　had　not　only
just　extinguished　on　his　general's　head；　but　by　throwing　himself　over
him　he　had　saved　him　from　a　second　body　of　flame　rolled　down　the
height　in　the　same　direction。　　The　duke　was　thanking　his　youthful
deliverer　when　some　soldiers　came　up；　looking　for　him；　to　apprise　him
that　the　S