the two captains-第9章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　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　cou