burlesques-第54章

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my　Helenmy　childthe　innocent　cause　of　all　this　grief。　　If　I

shall　fall　to…night　the　Rowski's　victim；　'twill　be　that　life　is

nothing　without　honor。〃　　And　so　saying；　he　put　into　her　hands　a

dagger；　and　bade　her　sheathe　it　in　her　own　breast　so　soon　as　the

terrible　champion　had　carried　the　castle　by　storm。



This　Helen　most　faithfully　promised　to　do；　and　her　aged　father

retired　to　his　armory；　and　donned　his　ancient　war…worn　corselet。

It　had　borne　the　shock　of　a　thousand　lances　ere　this；　but　it　was

now　so　tight　as　almost　to　choke　the　knightly　wearer。



The　last　trumpet　soundedtantara！　tantara！its　shrill　call　rang

over　the　wide　plains；　and　the　wide　plains　gave　back　no　answer。

Again！but　when　its　notes　died　away；　there　was　only　a　mournful；　an

awful　silence。　　〃Farewell；　my　child；〃　said　the　Prince；　bulkily

lifting　himself　into　his　battle…saddle。　　〃Remember　the　dagger。

Hark！　the　trumpet　sounds　for　the　third　time。　　Open；　warders！

Sound；　trumpeters！　and　good　St。　Bendigo　guard　the　right。〃



But　Puffendorff；　the　trumpeter；　had　not　leisure　to　lift　the　trumpet

to　his　lips：　when；　hark！　from　without　there　came　another　note　of

another　clarion！a　distant　note　at　first；　then　swelling　fuller。

Presently；　in　brilliant　variations；　the　full　rich　notes　of　the

〃Huntsman's　Chorus〃　came　clearly　over　the　breeze；　and　a　thousand

voices　of　the　crowd　gazing　over　the　gate　exclaimed；　〃A　champion！　a

champion！〃



And；　indeed；　a　champion　HAD　come。　　Issuing　from　the　forest　came　a

knight　and　squire：　the　knight　gracefully　cantering　an　elegant

cream…colored　Arabian　of　prodigious　powerthe　squire　mounted　on　an

unpretending　gray　cob；　which；　nevertheless；　was　an　animal　of

considerable　strength　and　sinew。　　It　was　the　squire　who　blew　the

trumpet；　through　the　bars　of　his　helmet；　the　knight's　visor　was

completely　down。　　A　small　prince's　coronet　of　gold；　from　which　rose

three　pink　ostrich…feathers；　marked　the　warrior's　rank：　his　blank

shield　bore　no　cognizance。　　As　gracefully　poising　his　lance　he　rode

into　the　green　space　where　the　Rowski's　tents　were　pitched；　the

hearts　of　all　present　beat　with　anxiety；　and　the　poor　Prince　of

Cleves；　especially；　had　considerable　doubts　about　his　new　champion。

〃So　slim　a　figure　as　that　can　never　compete　with　Donnerblitz；〃　said

he；　moodily；　to　his　daughter；　〃but　whoever　he　be；　the　fellow　puts　a

good　face　on　it；　and　rides　like　a　man。　　See；　he　has　touched　the

Rowski's　shield　with　the　point　of　his　lance！　　By　St。　Bendigo；　a

perilous　venture！〃



The　unknown　knight　had　indeed　defied　the　Rowski　to　the　death；　as

the　Prince　of　Cleves　remarked　from　the　battlement　where　he　and　his

daughter　stood　to　witness　the　combat；　and　so；　having　defied　his

enemy；　the　Incognito　galloped　round　under　the　castle　wall；　bowing

elegantly　to　the　lovely　Princess　there；　and　then　took　his　ground

and　waited　for　the　foe。　　His　armor　blazed　in　the　sunshine　as　he　sat

there；　motionless；　on　his　cream…colored　steed。　　He　looked　like　one

of　those　fairy　knights　one　has　read　ofone　of　those　celestial

champions　who　decided　so　many　victories　before　the　invention　of　gun

powder。



The　Rowski's　horse　was　speedily　brought　to　the　door　of　his

pavilion；　and　that　redoubted　warrior；　blazing　in　a　suit　of

magnificent　brass　armor；　clattered　into　his　saddle。　　Long　waves　of

blood…red　feathers　bristled　over　his　helmet；　which　was　farther

ornamented　by　two　huge　horns　of　the　aurochs。　　His　lance　was　painted

white　and　red；　and　he　whirled　the　prodigious　beam　in　the　air　and

caught　it　with　savage　glee。　　He　laughed　when　he　saw　the　slim　form

of　his　antagonist；　and　his　soul　rejoiced　to　meet　the　coming　battle。

He　dug　his　spurs　into　the　enormous　horse　he　rode：　the　enormous

horse　snorted；　and　squealed；　too；　with　fierce　pleasure。　　He　jerked

and　curveted　him　with　a　brutal　playfulness；　and　after　a　few

minutes'　turning　and　wheeling；　during　which　everybody　had　leisure

to　admire　the　perfection　of　his　equitation；　he　cantered　round　to　a

point　exactly　opposite　his　enemy；　and　pulled　up　his　impatient

charger。



The　old　Prince　on　the　battlement　was　so　eager　for　the　combat；　that

he　seemed　quite　to　forget　the　danger　which　menaced　himself；　should

his　slim　champion　be　discomfited　by　the　tremendous　Knight　of

Donnerblitz。　　〃Go　it！〃　said　he；　flinging　his　truncheon　into　the

ditch；　and　at　the　word；　the　two　warriors　rushed　with　whirling

rapidity　at　each　other。



And　now　ensued　a　combat　so　terrible；　that　a　weak　female　hand；　like

that　of　her　who　pens　this　tale　of　chivalry；　can　never　hope　to　do

justice　to　the　terrific　theme。　　You　have　seen　two　engines　on　the

Great　Western　line　rush　past　each　other　with　a　pealing　scream？　　So

rapidly　did　the　two　warriors　gallop　towards　one　another；　the

feathers　of　either　streamed　yards　behind　their　backs　as　they

converged。　　Their　shock　as　they　met　was　as　that　of　two　cannon…

balls；　the　mighty　horses　trembled　and　reeled　with　the　concussion；

the　lance　aimed　at　the　Rowski's　helmet　bore　off　the　coronet；　the

horns；　the　helmet　itself；　and　hurled　them　to　an　incredible

distance：　a　piece　of　the　Rowski's　left　ear　was　carried　off　on　the

point　of　the　nameless　warrior's　weapon。　　How　had　he　fared？　　His

adversary's　weapon　had　glanced　harmless　along　the　blank　surface　of

his　polished　buckler；　and　the　victory　so　far　was　with　him。



The　expression　of　the　Rowski's　face；　as；　bareheaded；　he　glared　on

his　enemy　with　fierce　bloodshot　eyeballs；　was　one　worthy　of　a

demon。　　The　imprecatory　expressions　which　he　made　use　of　can　never

be　copied　by　a　feminine　pen。



His　opponent　magnanimously　declined　to　take　advantage　of　the

opportunity　thus　offered　him　of　finishing　the　combat　by　splitting

his　opponent's　skull　with　his　curtal…axe；　and；　riding　back　to　his

starting…place；　bent　his　lance's　point　to　the　ground；　in　token　that

he　would　wait　until　the　Count　of　Eulenschreckenstein　was　helmeted

afresh。



〃Blessed　Bendigo！〃　cried　the　Prince；　〃thou　art　a　gallant　lance：　but

why　didst　not　rap　the　Schelm's　brain　out？〃



〃Bring　me　a　fresh　helmet！〃　yelled　the　Rowski。　　Another　casque　was

brought　to　him　by　his　trembling　squire。



As　soon　as　he　had　braced　it；　he　drew　his　great　flashing　sword　from

his　side；　and　rushed　at　his　enemy；　roaring　hoarsely　his　cry　of

battle。　　The　unknown　knight's　sword　was　unsheathed　in　a　moment；　and

at　the　next　the　two　blades　were　clanking　together　the　dreadful

music　of　the　combat！



The　Donnerblitz　wielded　his　with　his　usual　savageness　and　activity。

It　whirled　round　his　adversary's　head　with　frightful　rapidity。　　Now

it　carried　away　a　feather　of　his　plume；　now　it　shore　off　a　leaf　of

his　coronet。　　The　flail　of　the　thrasher　does　not　fall　more　swiftly

upon　the　corn。　　For　many　minutes　it　was　the　Unknown's　only　task　to

defend　himself　from　the　tremendous　activity　of　the　enemy。



But　even　the　Rowski's　strength　would　slacken　after　exertion。　　The

blows　began　to　fall　less　thick　anon；　and　the　point　of　the　unknown

knight　began　to　make　dreadful　play。　　It　found　and　penetrated　every

joint　of　the　Donnerblitz's　armor。　　Now　it　nicked　him　in　the

shoulder　where　the　vambrace　was　buckled　to　the　corselet；　now　it

bored　a　shrewd　hole　under　the　light　brissart；　and　blood　followed；

now；　with　fatal　dexterity；　it　darted　through　the　visor；　and　came

back　to　the　recover　deeply　tinged　with　blood。　　A　scream　of　rage

followed　the　last　thrust；　and　no　wonder：it　had　penetrated　the

Rowski's　left　eye。



His　blood　was　trickling　through　a　dozen　orifices；　he　was　almost

choking　in　his　helmet　with　loss　of　breath；　and　loss　of　blood；　and

rage。　　Gasping　with　fury；　he　drew　back　his　horse；　flung　his　great

sword　at　his　opponent's　head；　and　once　more　plunged　at　him；

wielding　his　curtal…axe。



Then　you　should　have　seen　the　unknown　knight　employing　the　same

dreadful　weapon！　　Hitherto　he　had　been　on　his　defence；　now　he　began

the　attack；　and　the　gleaming　axe　whirred　in　his　hand　like　a　reed；

but　descended　like　a　thunderbolt！　　〃Yield！　yield！　Sir　Rowski；〃

shouted　he；　in　a　calm；　clear　voice。



A　blow　dealt　madly　at　his　head　was　the　reply。　　'Twas　the　last　blow

that　the　Count　of　Eulenschreckenstein　ever　struck　in　battle！　　The

curse　was　on　his　lips　as　the　crushing　steel　descended　into　his

brain；　and　split　it　in　two。　　He　rolled　like　a　log　from　his　horse：

his　enemy's　knee　was　in　a　moment　on　his　chest；　and　the　dagger　of

mercy　at　his　throat；　as　the　knight　once　more　called　upon　him　to

yield。



But　there　was　no　answer　from　within　the　helmet。　　When　it　was

withdrawn；　the　teeth　were　crunched　together；　the　mouth　that　should

have　spoken；　grinned　a　ghastly　silence：　one　eye　still　glared　with

hate　and　fury；　but　it　was　glazed　with　the　film　of　death！



The　red　orb　of　the　sun　was　just　then　dipping　into　the　Rhine。　　The

unknown　knight；　vaulting　once　more　into　his　saddle；　made　a　graceful

obeisance　to　the　Prince　of　Cleves　and　his　daughter；　without　a　word；

and　galloped　back　into　the　forest；　whence　he　had　issued　an　hour

before　sunset。





CHAPTER　XIII。



THE　MARRIAGE。





The　consternation　which　ensued　on　the　death　of　the　Rowski；　speedily

sent　all　his　camp…followers；　army；　&c。　to　the　right…about。　　They

struck　their　tents　at　the　first　news　of　his　discomfiture；　and　each

man　laying　hold　of　what　he　could；　the　whole　of　the　gallant　force

which　had　marched　under　his　banner　in　the　morning　had　disappeared

ere　the　sun　rose。



On　that　night；　as　it　may　be　imagined；　the　gates　of　the　Castle　of

Cleves　were　not　shut。　　Everybody　was　free　to　come　in。　　Wine…butts

were　broached　in　all　the　courts；　the　pickled　meat　prepared　in　such

lots　for　the　siege　was　distributed　among　the　people；　who　crowded　to

congratulate　their　beloved　sovereign　on　his　victory；　and　the

Prince；　as　was　customary　with　that　good　man；　who　never　lost　an

opportunity　of　giving　a　dinner…party；　had　a　splendid　entertainment

made　ready　for　the　upper　classes；　the　whole　concluding　with　a

tasteful　display　of　fireworks。



In　the　midst　of　these　entertainments；　our　old　friend　the　Count　of

Hombourg　arrived　at　the　castle。　　The　stalwart　old　warrior　swore　by

Saint　Bugo　that　he　was　grieved　the　killing　of　the　Rowski　had　been

taken　out　of　his　hand。　　The　laughing　Cleves　vowed　by　Saint　Bendigo；

Hombourg　could　never　have　finished　off　his　enemy　so　satisfactorily

as　the　unknown　knight　had　just　done。



But　who　was　he？　was　the　question　which　now　agitated　the　bosom　of

these　two　old　nobles。　　How　to　find　himhow　to　reward　the　champion

and　restorer　of　the　honor　and　happiness　of　Cleves？　　They　agreed

over　supper　that　he　should　be　sought　for　everywhere。　　Beadles　were

sent　round　the　principal　cities　within　fifty　miles；　and　the

description　of　the　knight　advertised；　in　the　Journal　de　Francfort

and　the　Allgemeine　Zeitung。　　The　hand　of　the　Princess　Helen　was

solemnly　offered　to　him　in　these　advertisements；　with　the　reversion

of　the　Prince　of　Cleves's　splendid　though　somewhat　dilapidated

property。



〃But　we　don't　know　him；　my　dear　papa；〃　faintly　ejaculated