the two captains-第4节

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lighted　up　with　the　red　glow　of　the　bullets　and　burning　flames　in
Goletta。〃　　〃That　is　just　what　I　feel！〃　said　Heimbert。　　The　two　angry
captains　then　relapsed　into　silence　and　turned　indignantly　away。

The　longed…for　morning　at　length　dawned；　the　vessels　approached　the
shore；　and　the　landing　of　the　troops　began；　while　an　officer　was　at
once　dispatched　to　the　camp　to　announce　the　arrival　of　the
reinforcements　to　the　mighty　general　Alba。　　The　soldiers　were　hastily
ranged　on　the　beach；　they　put　themselves　and　their　weapons　in　order；
and　were　soon　standing　in　battle　array；　ready　for　their　great　leader。
Clouds　of　dust　rose　in　the　gray　twilight；　the　returning　officer
announced　the　approach　of　the　general；　and　as　Alba　signifies
〃morning〃　in　the　Castilian　tongue；　the　Spaniards　raised　a　shout　of
rejoicing　at　the　coincidence；　as　at　some　favorable　omen；　for　as　the
knightly　train　approached　the　first　beams　of　the　rising　sun　became
visible。

The　grave　and　haggard　form　of　the　general　was　seen　mounted　on　a　tall
Andalusian　charger　of　the　deepest　black。　　Having　galloped　once　up　and
down　the　lines；　he　stopped　his　powerful　horse　in　the　middle；　and
looking　along　the　ranks　with　an　air　of　grave　satisfaction；　he　said；
〃You　pass　muster　well。　　That　is　well。　　I　like　it　to　be　so。　　It　is
plain　to　see　that　you　are　tried　soldiers；　in　spite　of　your　youth。
We　will　first　hold　a　review；　and　then　I　will　lead　you　to　something
more　agreeable。〃

So　saying；　he　dismounted；　and　walking　toward　the　right　wing　he　began
to　inspect　one　troop　after　another　in　the　closest　manner；　with　the
captain　of　each　company　at　his　side；　that　he　might　receive　from　him
accurate　account　upon　the　minutest　particulars。　　Sometimes　a　cannon…
ball　from　the　fortress　would　whizz　over　the　heads　of　the　men；　then
Alba　would　stand　still　and　cast　a　keen　glance　over　the　soldiers
before　him。　　But　when　he　saw　that　not　an　eyelash　moved；　a　smile　of
satisfaction　passed　over　his　severe　pale　face。

When　he　had　inspected　both　divisions　he　again　mounted　his　horse　and
once　more　galloped　into　the　middle。　　Then；　stroking　his　long　beard；
he　said；　〃You　are　in　good　order；　soldiers；　and　therefore　you　shall
take　your　part　in　this　glorious　day；　which　is　just　dawning　for　our
whole　Christian　armada。　　We　will　attack　Barbarossa；　soldiers。　　Do　you
not　already　hear　the　drums　and　fifes　in　the　camp？　　Do　you　see　him
advancing　yonder　to　meet　the　emperor？　　That　side　of　his　position　is
assigned　to　you！〃

〃Vivat　Carolus　Quintus！〃　resounded　through　the　ranks。　　Alba　beckoned
the　captains　to　him；　and　assigned　to　each　his　duty。　　He　usually
mingled　German　and　Spanish　troops　together；　in　order　to　stimulate　the
courage　of　the　combatants　still　higher　by　emulation。　　So　it　happened
even　now　that　Heimbert　and　Fadrique　were　commanded　to　storm　the　very
same　height；　which；　now　gleaming　with　the　morning　light；　they　at　once
recognized　as　that　which　had　shone　out　so　fiercely　and　full　of
promise　the　night　before。




CHAPTER　VI。



Thrice　had　Fadrique　and　Heimbert　almost　forced　their　way　to　a　rampart
in　the　fortifications；　and　thrice　had　they　been　repulsed　with　their
men　into　the　valley　below　by　the　fierce　opposition　of　the　Turks。　　The
Mussulmans　shouted　after　the　retreating　foe；　clashed　their　weapons
with　the　triumph　of　victory；　and　with　a　scornful　laugh　asked　whether
they　would　not　come　up　again　to　give　heart　and　brain　to　the　scimitar
and　their　limbs　to　the　falling　beams　of　wood。　　The　two　captains；
gnashing　their　teeth　with　fury；　arranged　their　ranks　anew；　for　after
three　vain　assaults　they　had　to　move　closer　together　to　fill　the
places　of　the　slain　and　the　mortally　wounded。　　Meanwhile　a　murmur　ran
through　the　Christian　army　that　a　witch　was　fighting　among　their　foes
and　helping　them　to　conquer。

Duke　Alba　rode　to　the　point　of　attack；　and　looked　scrutinizingly　at
the　breach　they　had　made。　　〃Not　yet　broken　through　the　enemy　here！〃
said　he；　shaking　his　head；　〃I　am　surprised。　　From　two　such　youths；
and　such　troops；　I　should　have　expected　it。〃　　〃Do　you　hear　that？
Do　you　hear　that？〃　exclaimed　the　two　captains；　as　they　paced　along
their　lines　repeating　the　general's　words。　　The　soldiers　shouted
loudly；　and　demanded　to　be　once　more　led　against　the　enemy；　even
those　who　were　mortally　wounded　shouted；　with　a　last　effort；
〃Forward；　comrades！〃　　The　great　Alba　at　once　sprang　like　an　arrow
from　his　horse；　wrested　a　partisan　from　the　stiff　hand　of　one　of　the
slain；　and　standing　in　front　of　the　two　companies　he　cried；　〃I　will
take　part　in　your　glory。　　In　the　name　of　God　and　of　the　blessed
Virgin；　forward；　my　children！〃

And　joyfully　they　rushed　up　the　hill；　every　heart　beating　with
confidence；　while　the　war…cry　was　raised　triumphantly；　some　even
began　already　to　shout　〃Victory！　victory！〃　and　the　Mussulmans　paused
and　wavered。　　Suddenly；　like　the　vision　of　an　avenging　angel；　a
maiden；　dressed　in　purple　garments　embroidered　with　gold　appeared　in
the　Turkish　ranks；　and　those　who　were　terrified　before　again　shouted
〃Allah！〃　calling　at　the　same　time；　〃Zelinda；　Zelinda！〃　　The　maiden；
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