the two captains-第5节

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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the　endangered　lady；　and　scarcely　had　she　withdrawn　her　foot　from　the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　glowing　ruins。　　For　Fadrique　to　go　to　her　was
impossible；　the　breadth　of　the　opening　rendered　even　a　desperate　leap
unavailing。　　Trembling　lest　his　call　might　make　the　maiden
precipitate　herself　into　the　abyss；　either　in　terror　or　despairing
anger；　he　only　softly　raised　his　voice　and　whispered　as　with　a　breath
over　the　flaming　gulf；　〃Oh；　Zelinda；　Zelinda！　do　not　give　way　to　such
frightful　thoughts！　　Your　preserver　is　here！〃　　The　maiden　turned　her
queenly　head；　and　when　Fadrique　saw　her　calm　and　composed　demeanor；
he　cried　to　the　soldiers　on　the　other　side；　with　all　the　thunder　of
his　warrior's　voice；　〃Back；　ye　insolent　plunderers！　　Whoever　advances
but　one　step　to　the　lady　shall　feel　the　vengeance　of　my　arm！〃　　They
started　and　seemed　on　the　point　of　withdrawing；　when　one　of　their
number　said；　〃The　knight　cannot　touch　us；　the　gulf　between　us　is　too
broad　for　that。　　And　as　for　the　lady's　throwing　herself　downit
almost　looks　as　if　the　young　knight　were　her　lover；　and　whoever　has　a
lover　is　not　likely　to　be　so　hasty　about　throwing　herself　down。〃　　All
laughed　at　this　and　again　advanced。　　Zelinda　tottered　at　the　edge　of
the　abyss。　　But　with　the　courage　of　a　lion　Fadrique　had　torn　his
target　from　his　arm；　and　hurling　it　with　his　right　hand　he　flung　it
at　the　soldiers　with　such　a　sure　aim　that　the　rash　leader；　struck　on
the　head；　fell　senseless　to　the　ground。　　The　rest　again　stood　still。
〃Away　with　you！〃　cried　Fadrique　authoritatively；　〃or　my　dagger　shall
strike　the　next　as　surely；　and　then　I　swear　I　will　never　rest　till　I
have　found　out　your　whole　gang　and　appeased　my　rage。〃　　The　dagger
gleamed　in　the　youth's　hand；　but　yet　more　fearfully　gleamed　the　fury
in　his　eyes；　and　the　soldiers　fled。　　Then　Zelinda　bowed　gratefully　to
her　preserver；　took　up　a　roll　of　palm…leaves　which　lay　at　her　feet；
and　which　must　have　previously　slipped　from　her　hand；　and　then
vanished　hastily　through　a　side…door　of　the　gallery。　　Henceforth
Fadrique　sought　her　in　vain　in　the　burning　palace。




CHAPTER　VIII。



The　great　Alba　held　a　council　with　his　chief　officers　in　an　open
place　in　the　middle　of　the　conquered　city；　and；　by　means　of
interpreters；　sent　question　after　question　to　the　Turkish　prisoners
as　to　the　fate　of　the　beautiful　woman　who　had　been　seen　animating
them　on　the　ramparts；　and　who　was　certainly　the　most　exquisite
enchantress　that　had　ever　visited　the　earth。　　Nothing　very　distinct
was　to　be　gained　from　the　answers；　for　although　the　interrogated　all
knew　of　the　the　beautiful　Zelinda　as　a　noble　lady　versed　in　magic
lore；　and　acknowledged　by　the　whole　people；　they　were　utterly　unable
to　state　from　whence　she　had　come　to　Tunis　and　whither　she　had　now
fled。　　When　at　last　they　began　to　threaten　the　prisoners　as
obstinate；　an　old　Dervish；　hitherto　unnoticed；　pressed　forward　and
said；　with　a　gloomy　smile；　〃Whoever　has　a　desire　to　seek　the　lady　may
set　out　when　he　chooses；　I　will　conceal　nothing　from　him　of　what　I
know　of　her　direction；　and　I　know　something。　　But　I　must　first　of　all
receive　the　promise　that　I　shall　not　be　compelled　to　accompany　as
guide。　　My　lips　otherwise　will　remain　sealed　forever；　and　you　may　do
with　me　as　you　will。〃

He　looked　like　one　who　intended　to　keep　his　word；　and　Alba；　pleased
with　the　firmness　of　the　man；　which　harmonized　well　with　his　own
mind；　gave　him　the　desired　assurance；　and　the　Dervish　began　his
relation。　　He　was　once；　he　said；　wandering　in　the　almost　infinite
desert　of　Sahara；　impelled　perhaps　by　rash　curiosity；　perhaps　by
higher　motives；　he　had　lost　his　way　there；　and　had　at　last；　wearied
to　death；　reached　one　of　those　fertile　islands　of　that　sea　of　sand
which　are　called　oases。　　Then　followed；　sparkling　with　oriental
vivacity；　a　description　of　the　wonderful　things　seen　there；　now
filling　the　hearts　of　his　hearers　with　sweet　longing；　and　then　again
making　their　hair　stand　on　end　with　horror；　though　from　the　strange
pronunciation　of　the　speaker　and　the　flowing　rapidity　of　his　words
the　half　was　scarcely　understood。　　The　end　of　all　this　at　length　was
that　Zelinda　dwelt　on　that　oasis；　in　the　midst　of　the　pathless　sand…
plains　of　the　desert；　surrounded　by　magic　horrors；　and　also；　as　the
Dervish　knew　for　certain；　that　she　had　left　about　half　an　hour　ago　on
her　way　thither。　The　almost　contemptuous　words　with　which　he
concluded　his　narration　plainly　showed　that　he　desired　nothing　more
earnestly　than　to　seduce　some　Christians　to　undertake　a　journey　which
must　terminate　inevitably　in　their　destruction。　　At　the　same　time　he
added　a　solemn　oath　that　everything　was　truly　as　he　had　stated　it；
and　he　did　this　in　a　firm　and　grave　manner；　as　a　man　who　knows　that
he　is　speaking　the　most　indubitable　truth。　　Surprised　and　thoughtful；
the　circle　of　officers　held　their　council　round　him。

Then　Heimbert　stepped　forward　with　an　air　as　if　of　request；　he　had
just　received　a　summons　to　leave　the　burning　palace；　where　he　had
been　seeking　his　friend；　and　had　been　appointed　to　the　place　of
council　because　it　was　necessary　to　arrange　the　troops　here　in
readiness　for　any　possible　rising　in　the　conquer