the two captains-第7章

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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；　covered　it　over　with
turf；　and　knelt　on　the　spot　in　silent　heartfelt　prayer　for　the　soul
of　the　departed。




CHAPTER　XIV。



Heimbert　rose　from　his　pious　duty；　and　his　first　glance　fell　on
Zelinda；　who　stood　smiling　by　his　side；　and　his　second　upon　the
wholly　changed　scene　around。　　The　rocky　cavern　and　grotto　had
disappeared；　the　distorted　forms　of　trees　and　beasts；　half　terrible
and　half　charming　as　they　were；　had　vanished　also；　a　gentle　grassy
hill　sloped　down　on　every　side　of　the　point　where　he　stood；　toward
the　sandy　waste；　springs　gushed　out　here　and　there　in　refreshing
beauty；　date…trees　bent　over　the　little　pathseverything；　indeed；
in　the　now　opening　day　was　full　of　sweet　and　simple　peace。

〃Thank　God！〃　said　Heimbert；　turning　to　his　companion；　〃you　can　now
surely　feel　how　infinitely　more　lovely；　grand；　and　beautiful　is
everything　as　our　dear　Father　has　created　it　than　it　can　be　when
transformed　by　the　highest　human　art。　　The　Heavenly　Gardener　has
indeed　permitted　us；　his　beloved　children；　in　his　abundant　mercy；　to
help　forward　his　gracious　works；　that　we　may　thus　become　happier　and
better；　but　we　must　take　care　that　we　change　nothing　to　suit　our　own
rash　wilful　fancies；　else　it　is　as　if　we　were　expelling　ourselves　a
second　time　from　Paradise。〃　　〃It　shall　not　happen　again；〃　said
Zelinda　humbly。　　〃But　may　you　in　this　solitary　region；　where　we　are
not　likely　to　meet　with　any　priest　of　our　faith；　may　you　not　bestow
on　me；　as　one　born　anew；　the　blessing　of　Holy　Baptism？〃

Heimbert；　after　some　consideration；　replied；　〃I　hope　I　may　do　so。
And　if　I　am　wrong；　God　will　pardon　me。　　It　is　surely　done　in　the
desire　to　bring　to　him　so　worthy　a　soul　as　soon　as　possible。〃

So　they　walked　together；　silently　praying　and　full　of　smiling
happiness；　down　to　one　of　the　pleasant　springs　of　the　oasis；　and　just
as　they　reached　the　edge　and　prepared　themselves　for　the　holy　work
the　sun　rose　before　them　as　if　to　confirm　and　strengthen　their
purpose；　and　the　two　beaming　countenances　looked　at　each　other　with
joy　and　confidence。　　Heimbert　had　not　thought　of　the　Christian　name
he　should　bestow　on　his　disciple；　but　as　he　scooped　up　the　water；　and
the　desert　lay　around　him　so　solemn　in　the　rosy　glow　of　morning；　he
remembered　the　pious　hermit　Antony　in　his　Egyptian　solitude；　and　he
baptized　the　lovely　convert；　Antonia。

They　spent　the　day　in　holy　conversation；　and　Antonia　showed　her
friend　a　little　cave；　in　which　she　had　concealed　all　sorts　of　store
for　her　sustenance　when　she　first　dwelt　on　the　oasis。　　〃For；〃　said
she；　〃the　good　God　is　my　witness　that　I　came　hither　only　that　I
might；　in　solitude；　become　better　acquainted　with　him　and　his　created
works；　without　knowing　at　that　time　in　the　least　of　any　magic
expedients。　　Subsequently　the　Dervish　came；　tempting　me；　and　the
horrors　of　the　desert　joined　in　a　fearful　league　with　his　terrible
power；　and　then　by　degrees　followed　all　that　alluring　spirits　showed
me　either　in　dreams　or　awake。〃

Heimbert　had　no　scruple　to　take　with　him　for　the　journey　any　of　the
wine　and　fruits　that　were　still　fit　for　use；　and　Antonia　assured　him
that　by　the　direct　way；　well　known　to　her；　they　would　reach　the
fruitful　shore　of　this　waterless　ocean　in　a　few　days。　　So　with　the
approach　of　evening　coolness　they　set　out　on　their　journey。




CHAPTER　XV。



The　travellers　had　almost　traversed　the　pathless　plain　when　one　day
they　saw　a　figure　wandering　in　the　distance；　for　in　the　desolate
Sahara　every　object　is　visible　to　the　very　horizon　if　the　whirlwind
of　dust　does　not　conceal　it　from　view。　　The　wanderer　seemed　doubtful
of　his　course；　sometimes　taking　this；　sometimes　that　direction；　and
Antonia's　eastern　falcon　eye　could　discern　that　it　was　no　Arab；　but
a　man　in　knightly　garb。

〃Oh；　dear　sister；〃　exclaimed　Heimbert；　full　of　anxious　joy；　〃then　it
is　our　poor　Fadrique；　who　is　in　search　of　thee。　　For　pity's　sake；　let
as　hasten　before　he　loses　us；　and　perhaps　at　last　his　own　life　also；
in　this　immeasurable　waste。〃　　They　strained　every　effort　to　reach　the
distant　object；　but　it　was　now　midday　and　the　sun　shone　burningly
upon　them；　Antonia　could　not　long　endure　this　rapid　progress；　added
to　which　the　fearful　whirlwind　soon　arose；　and　the　figure　that　had
been　scarcely　visible　before　faded　from　their　eyes；　like　some　phantom
of　the　mist　in　autumn。

With　the　rising　moon　they　began　anew　to　hasten　forward；　calling
loudly　upon　the　unfortunate　wanderer；　and　fluttering　white
handkerchiefs　tied　to　their　walking…staffs；　as　signal　flags；　hut　it
was　all　in　vain。　　The　object　that　had　disappeared　remained　lost　to
view。　　Only　a　few　giraffes　sprang　shyly　past　them；　and　the　ostriches
quickened　their　speed。

At　length；　as　morning　dawned；　Antonia　paused　and　said；　〃Thou　canst
not　leave　me；　brother；　in　this　solitude；　and　I　cannot　go　a　single
step　farther。　　God　will　protect　the　noble　Fadrique。　　How　could　a
father　forsake　such　a　model　of　knightly　excellence？〃　　〃The　disciple
shames　the　teacher；〃　replied　Heimbert；　his　sad　face　brightening　into
a　smile。　　〃We　have　done　our　part；　and　we　may　confidently　hope　that
God　will　come　to　the　aid　of　our　failing　powers　and　do　what　is
necessary。〃　　As　he　spoke　he　spread　his　mantle　on　the　sand；　that
Antonia　might　rest　more　comfortably。　　Suddenly　looking　up；　he
exclaimed；　〃Oh；　God！　yonder　lies　a　man；　completely　buried　in　the
sand。　　Oh；　that　he　may　not　be　already　dead！〃

He　immediately　began　to　sprinkle　wine；　from　the　flask　he　carried；　on
the　brow　of　the　fainting　traveller；　and　to　chafe　his　temples　with　it。
The　man　at　last　slowly　opened　his　eyes　and　said；　〃I　had　hoped　the
morning　dew　would　not　again　have　fallen　on　me；　but　that　unknown　and
unlamented　I　might　have　perished　here　in　the　desert；　as　must　be　the
case　in　the　end。〃　　So　saying　he　closed　his　eyes　again；　like　one
intoxicated　with　sleep；　but　Heimbert　continued　his　restoratives
unwearyingly；　and　at　length　the　refreshed　wanderer　half　raised
himself　from　the　sand　with　an　exclamation　of　astonishment。

He　looked　from　Heimbert　to　his　companion；　and　from　her　again　at
Heimbert；　and　suddenly　exclaimed；　gnashing　his　teeth；　〃Ha；　was　it　to
he　thus！　　I　was　not　even　to　be　allowed　to　die　in　the　dull　happiness
of　quiet　solitude！　　I　was　to　be　first　doomed　to　see　my　rival's
success　and　my　sister's　shame！〃　　At　the　same　time　he　sprang　to　his
feet　with　a　violent　effort　and　rushed　forward　upon　Heimbert　with
drawn　sword。　　But　Heimbert　moved　neither　sword　nor　arm；　and　merely
said；　in　a　gentle　voice；　〃Wearied　out；　as　you　now　are；　I　cannot
possibly　fight　with　you；　besides；　I　must　first　place　this　lady　in
security。〃　　Antonia；　who　had　at　first　gazed　with　much　emotion　at　the
angry　knight；　now　stepped　suddenly　between　the　two　men　and　cried　out；
〃Oh；　Fadrique；　neither　misery　nor　anger　can　utterly　disfigure　you。
But　what　has　my　noble　brother　done　to　you？〃　　〃Brother？〃　said
Fadrique；　with　astonishment。　　〃Or　godfather；　or　confessor；〃
interrupted　Heimbert；　　〃as　you　will。　　Only　do　not　call　her　Zelinda；
for　her　name　is　now　Antonia；　she　is　a　Christian；　and　waits　to　be　your
bride。〃　　Fadrique　stood　fixed　with　surprise；　b