the two captains-第5章

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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　Saracen　power　was　beginning　an　attack　on　the　opposite　wing
of　the　army。　　Without　losing　a　word　Alba　threw　himself　on　the　first
horse　brought　him　and　galloped　away　to　the　spot　where　the　most
threatening　danger　summoned　him。

Fadrique　stood　with　his　glowing　eye　fixed　on　the　rampart；　where　the
brilliant　form　of　Zelinda　might　be　seen；　with　a　two…edged　spear；
ready　to　be　hurled；　uplifted　by　her　snow…white　arm；　and　raising　her
voice；　now　in　encouraging　tones　to　the　Mussulmans　in　Arabic；　and
again　speaking　scornfully　to　the　Christians　in　Spanish。　　At　last
Fadrique　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　foolish　being！　she　thinks　to　daunt　me；　and
yet　she　places　herself　before　me；　an　alluring　and　irresistible　war…
prize！〃

And　as　if　magic　wings　had　sprung　from　his　shoulders；　he　began　to　fly
up　the　height　with　such　rapidity　that　Alba's　violent　descent　seemed
but　a　lazy　snail's　pace。　　Before　any　one　was　aware；　he　was　already　on
the　height；　and　wresting　spear　and　shield　from　the　maiden；　he　had
seized　her　in　his　arms　and　was　attempting　to　bear　her　away；　while
Zelinda　in　anxious　despair　clung　to　the　palisade　with　both　her　hands。
Her　cry　for　help　was　unavailing；　partly　because　the　Turks　imagined
that　the　magic　power　of　the　maiden　was　annihilated　by　the　almost
equally　wondrous　deed　of　the　youth；　and　partly　also　because　the
faithful　Heimbert；　quickly　perceiving　his　comrade's　daring　feat；　had
led　both　troops　to　a　renewed　attack；　and　now　stood　by　his　side　on　the
height；　fighting　hand　to　hand　with　the　defenders。　　This　time　the　fury
of　the　Mussulmans；　weakened　as　they　were　by　superstition　and
surprise；　could　avail　nothing　against　the　heroic　advance　of　the
Christian　soldiers。　　The　Spaniards　and　Germans　speedily　broke　through
the　enemy；　assisted　by　the　watchful　squadrons　of　their　army。　　The
Mohammedans　fled　with　frightful　howling；　the　battle　with　its　stream
of　victory　rolled　ever　on；　and　the　banner　of　the　holy　German　empire
and　that　of　the　royal　house　of　Castile　waved　victorious　over　the
glorious　battle…field　before　the　walls　of　Tunis。




CHAPTER　VII。



In　the　confusion　of　the　conquering　and　the　conquered；　Zelinda　had
wrested　herself　from　Fadrique's　arms　and　had　fled　from　him　with　such
swiftness　that；　however　much　love　and　desire　might　have　given　wings
to　his　pursuit；　she　was　soon　out　of　sight　in　a　spot　so　well　known　to
her。　　All　the　more　vehement　was　the　fury　of　the　excited　Spaniard
against　the　infidel　foe。　　Wherever　a　little　host　made　a　fresh　stand
to　oppose　the　Christians；　he　would　hasten　forward　with　the　troops；
who　ranged　themselves　round　him；　resistless　as　he　was；　as　round　a
banner　of　victory；　while　Heimbert　ever　remained　at　his　side　like　a
faithful　shield；　guarding　off　many　a　danger　to　which　the　youth；
intoxicated　with　rage　and　success；　exposed　himself　without
consideration。　　The　following　day　they　heard　of　Barbarossa's　flight
from　the　city；　and　the　victorious　troops　advanced　without　resistance
through　the　gates　of　Tunis。　　Fadrique's　and　Heimbert's　companies　were
always　together。

Thick　clouds　of　smoke　began　to　curl　through　the　streets；　the　soldiers
were　obliged　to　shake　off　the　glowing　and　dusty　flakes　from　their
mantles　and　richly　plumed　helmets；　where　they　often　rested
smouldering。　　〃I　trust　the　enemy　in　his　despair　has　not　set　fire　to
some　magazine　full　of　powder！〃　exclaimed　the　thoughtful　Heimbert；　and
Fadrique；　allowing　by　a　sign　that　he　agreed　with　his　surmise；
hastened　on　to　the　spot　from　whence　the　smoke　proceeded；　the　troops
courageously　pressing　after　him。

The　sudden　turn　of　a　street　brought　them　in　view　of　a　magnificent
palace；　from　the　beautifully　ornamented　windows　of　which　the　flames
were　emerging；　looking　like　torches　of　death　in　their　fitful　glow；
and　lighting　up　the　splendid　building　in　the　hour　of　its　ruin　in　the
grandest　manner；　now　illuminating　this　and　now　that　part　of　the
gigantic　structure；　and　then　again　relapsing　into　a　fearful　darkness
of　smoke　and　vapor。

And　like　some　faultless　statue；　the　ornament　of　the　whole　edifice；
there　stood　Zelinda　upon　a　high　and　giddy　projection；　while　the
tongues　of　flame　wreathed　around　her　from　below；　calling　to　her
companions　in　the　faith　to　help　her　in　saving　the　wisdom　of　centuries
which　was　preserved　in　this　building。　　The　projection　on　which　she
stood　began　to　totter　from　the　fervent　heat　raging　beneath　it；　and　a
few　stones　gave　way；　Fadrique　called　with　a　voice　full　of　anguish　to
the　endangered　lady；　and　scarcely　had　she　withdrawn　her　foot　from　the
spot；　when　the　stone　on　which　she　had　been　standing　broke　away　and
came　rattling　down　on　the　pavement。　　Zelinda　disappeared　within　the
burning　palace；　and　Fadrique　rushed　up　its　marble　staircase；
Heimbert；　his　faithful　companion；　following　him。

Their　hasty　steps　carried　them　through　lofty　resounding　halls；　the
architecture　over　their　heads　was　a　maze　of　high　arches；　and　one
chamber　led　into　another　almost　like　a　labyrinth。　　The　walls
displayed　on　all　sides　magnificent　shelves；　in　which　were　to　be　seen
stored　rolls　of　parchment；　papyrus；　and　palm…leaf；　partly　inscribed
with　the　characters　of　long…vanished　centuries；　and　which　were　now　to
perish　themselves。　　For　the　flames　were　already　crackling　among　them
and　stretching　their　serpent…like　and　fiery　heads　from　one　case　of
treasures　to　another；　while　some　Spanish　soldiers；　barbarous　in　their
fury；　and　hoping　for　plunder；　and　finding　nothing　but　inscribed　rolls
within　the　gorgeous　building；　passed　from　disappointment　to　rage；　and
aided　the　flames；　the　more　so　as　they　regarded　the　inscriptions　as
the　work　of　evil　magicians。　　Fadrique　flew　as　in　a　dream　through　the
strange　half…consumed　halls；　ever　calling　Zelinda！　thinking　and
regarding　nothing　but　her　enchanting　beauty。　　Long　did　Heimbert
remain　at　his　side；　until　at　length　they　both　reached　a　cedar
staircase　leading　to　an　upper　story；　here　Fadrique　paused　to　listen；
and　exclaiming；　〃She　is　speaking　up　there！　she　is　speaking　loud！　she
needs　my　help！〃　he　dashed　up　the　already　burning　steps。　　Heimbert
hesitated　a　moment；　he　saw　the　staircase　already　tottering；　and　he
thought　to　give　a　warning　cry　to　his　companion；　but　at　the　same
moment　the　light　ornamental　ascent　gave　way　and　burst　into　flames。
He　could　just　see　Fadrique　clinging　above　to　a　brass　grating　and
swinging　himself　up　to　it；　but　all　means　of　following　him　were
destroyed。　　Quickly　recollecting　himself；　Heimbert　lost　no　time　in
idly　gazing；　but　hastened　through　the　adjacent　halls　in　search　of
another　flight　of　steps　which　would　lead　him　to　his　vanished　friend。

Meanwhile　Fadrique；　following　the　enchanting　voice；　had　reached　a
gallery　in　the　midst　of　which；　the　floor　having　fallen　in；　there　was
a　fearful　abyss　of　flames；　though　the　pillars　on　each　side　were　still
standing。　　Opposite　to　him　the　youth　perceived　the　longed…for　maiden；
clinging　with　one　hand　to　a　pillar；　while　with　the　other　she　was
threatening　back　some　Spanish　soldiers；　who　seemed　ready　at　any
moment　to　seize　her；　and　her　delicate　foot　was　already　hovering　over
the　edge　of　the　g