the two captains-第6章

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replied　the　Arab　sadly；　〃on　a　distant　oasis　there　dwells　my　aged
father　and　my　blooming　bride。　　Noweven　if　you　set　me　at　full
libertyI　must　perish　in　the　heat　of　this　barren　desert；　for　want
of　sustenance；　before　I　can　reach　my　lovely　home。〃

〃Is　it；　perhaps；〃　asked　Heimbert；　〃the　oasis　on　which　the　mighty
enchantress；　Zelinda；　dwells？〃

〃Allah　protect　me！〃　cried　the　Arab；　clasping　his　hands。　　〃Zelinda's
wondrous　isle　offers　no　hospitable　shelter　to　any　but　magicians。
It　lies　far　away　in　the　scorching　south；　while　our　friendly　oasis
is　toward　the　cooler　west。〃

〃I　only　asked　in　case　we　might　be　travelling　companions；〃　said
Heimbert　courteously。　　〃If　that　cannot　be；　we　must　certainly　divide
the　provisions；　for　I　would　not　have　so　brave　a　warrior　as　you
perish；　with　hunger　and　thirst。〃

So　saying；　the　young　captain　began　to　arrange　the　provisions　in　two
portions；　placing　the　larger　on　his　left　and　the　smaller　at　his
right；　he　then　desired　the　Arab　to　take　the　former；　and　added；　to　his
astonished　companion；　〃See；　good　sir；　I　have　either　not　much　farther
to　travel　or　I　shall　perish　in　the　desert；　I　feel　that　it　will　be　so。
Besides；　I　cannot　carry　half　so　much　on　foot　as　you　can　on　horse…
back。〃

〃Knight！　victorious　knight！〃　cried　the　amazed　Mussulman；　〃am　I　then
to　keep　my　horse？〃

〃It　were　a　sin　and　shame　indeed；〃　said　Heimbert；　smiling；　〃to
separate　such　a　faithful　steed　from　such　a　skilful　rider。　　Ride
on；　in　God's　name；　and　get　safely　to　your　people。〃

He　then　helped　him　to　mount；　and　the　Arab　was　on　the　point　of
uttering　a　few　words　of　gratitude；　when　he　suddenly　exclaimed；　〃The
magic　maiden！〃　and；　swift　as　the　wind；　he　flew　over　the　dusty　plain。
Heimbert；　however；　turning　round；　saw　close　beside　him　in　the　now
bright　moonlight　a　shining　figure；　which　he　at　once　perceived　to　be
Zelinda。




CHAPTER　XI。



The　maiden　looked　fixedly　at　the　young　soldier；　and　seemed
considering　with　what　words　to　address　him；　while　he；　after　his　long
search　and　now　unexpected　success；　was　equally　at　a　loss。　　At　last
she　said　in　Spanish；　〃Thou　wonderful　enigma；　I　have　been　witness　of
all　that　has　passed　between　thee　and　the　Arab；　and　these　affairs
confuse　my　head　like　a　whirlwind。　　Speak；　therefore；　plainly；　that
I　may　know　whether　thou　art　a　madman　or　an　angel？〃

〃I　am　neither；　dear　lady；〃　replied　Heimbert；　with　his　wonted
friendliness。　　〃I　am　only　a　poor　wanderer；　who　has　just　been　putting
into　practice　one　of　the　commands　of　his　Master；　Jesus　Christ。〃

〃Sit　down；〃　said　Zelinda；　〃and　tell　me　of　thy　Master；　he　must　be
himself　unprecedented　to　have　such　a　servant。　　The　night　is　cool　and
still；　and　at　my　side　thou　hast　no　cause　to　fear　the　dangers　of　the
desert。〃

〃Lady；〃　replied　Heimbert；　smiling；　〃I　am　not　of　a　fearful　nature；　and
when　I　am　speaking　of　my　dear　Saviour　my　mind　is　perfectly　free　from
all　alarm。〃

Thus　saying；　they　both　sat　down　on　the　now　cooled　sand　and　began　a
wondrous　conversation；　while　the　full　moon　shone　upon　them　from　the
deep…blue　heavens　above　like　a　magic　lamp。

Heimbert's　words；　full　of　divine　love；　truth；　and　simplicity　sank
like　soft　sunbeams；　gently　and　surely；　into　Zelinda's；　heart；　driving
away　the　mysterious　magic　power　which　dwelt　there；　and　wrestling　for
the　dominion　of　the　noble　territory　of　her　soul。　　When　morning　began
to　dawn　she　said；　〃Thou　wouldst　not　be　called　an　angel　last　evening；
but　thou　art　truly　one。　　For　what　else　are　angels　than　messengers　of
the　Most　High　God？〃　　〃In　that　sense；〃　rejoined　Heimbert；　〃I　am　well
satisfied　with　the　name；　for　I　certainly　hope　that　I　am　the　bearer　of
my　Master's　message。　　Yes；　if　he　bestows　on　me　further　grace　and
strength；　it　may　even　be　that　you　also　may　become　my　companion　in　the
pious　work。〃　　〃It　is　not　impossible；〃　said　Zelinda　thoughtfully。
〃Thou　must；　however；　come　with　me　to　my　island；　and　there　thou　shalt
be　regaled　as　is　befitting　such　an　ambassador；　far　better　than　here
on　the　desolate　sand；　with　the　miserable　palm…wine　that　thou　hast　so
laboriously　obtained。〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　replied　Heimbert；　〃it　is　difficult　to　me　to　refuse　the
request　of　a　lady；　but　on　this　occasion　it　cannot　be　otherwise。　　In
your　island　many　glorious　things　have　been　conjured　together　by　your
forbidden　art；　and　many　lovely　forms　which　the　good　God　has　created
have　been　transformed。　　These　might　dazzle　my　senses；　and　at　last
delude　them。　　If　you　will；　therefore；　hear　the　best　and　purest　things
which　I　can　relate　to　you；　you　must　rather　come　out　to　me　on　this
desert　sand。　　The　palm…wine　and　the　dates　of　the　Arab　will　suffice
for　me　for　many　a　day　to　come。〃　　〃You　would　do　better　to　come　with
me；〃　said　Zelinda；　shaking　her　head　with　somewhat　of　a　scornful
smile。　　〃You　were　certainly　neither　born　nor　brought　up　to　be　a
hermit；　and　there　is　nothing　on　my　oasis　so　destructive　as　you
imagine。　　What　is　there　more　than　shrubs　and　flowers　and　beasts
gathered　together　from　different　quarters　of　the　world；　perhaps　a
little　strangely　interwoven；　each；　that　is　to　say；　partaking　of　the
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　b