Fadrique laid himself sadly down to rest, overcome by long-resistedsleep, and Heimbert knelt down with a glad heart, thanking the good Godfor having given him success, and for blessing, him with a future fullof joyful assurance.
CHAPTER XVI.
The next day the three travellers reached the edge of the desert, andrefreshed themselves for a week in an adjacent village, which, withits shady trees and green pastures, seemed like a little paradise incontrast to the joyless Sahara. Fadrique's condition especially madethis rest necessary. He had never left the desert during the whole time,gaining his subsistence by fighting with wandering Arabs, and oftenalmost exhausted by the utter want of all food and drink. At length hehad become so thoroughly confused that the stars could no longer guidehim, and he had been driven about, sadly and objectless, like the dustclouds of the desert.
Even now, at times, when he would fall asleep after the midday meal, andAntonia and Heimbert would watch his slumbers like two smiling angels,he would suddenly start up and gaze round him with a terrified air,and then it was not till he had refreshed himself by looking at the twofriendly faces that he would sink back again into quiet repose. Whenquestioned on the matter, after he was fully awake, he told them that inhis wanderings nothing had been more terrible to him than the deludingdreams which had transported him, sometimes to his own home, sometimesto the merry camp of his comrades, and sometimes into Zelinda'spresence, and then leaving him doubly helpless and miserable in thehorrible solitude as the delusion vanished. It was on this accountthat even now waking was fearful to him, and even in sleep a vagueconsciousness of his past sufferings would often disturb him. "Youcannot imagine it," he added. "To be suddenly transported fromwell-known scenes into the boundless desert! And instead of thelonged-for enchanting face of my beloved, to see an ugly camel's headstretched over me inquisitively with its long neck, starting back as Irose with still more ugly timidity!"
This, with all other painful consequences of his past miseries, soonwholly vanished, from Fadrique's mind, and they cheerfully set out ontheir journey to Tunis. The consciousness, indeed, of his injustice toHeimbert and its unavoidable results often lay like a cloud upon thenoble Spaniard's brow, but it also softened the natural proud severityof his nature, and Antonia could cling the more tenderly and closely tohim with her loving heart.
Tunis, which had been before so amazed at Zelinda's magic power andenthusiastic hostility against the Christians, now witnessed Antonia'ssolemn baptism in a newly-consecrated edifice, and soon after the threecompanions took ship with a favorable wind for Malaga.
CHAPTER XVII.
Beside the fountain where she had parted from Heimbert, Dona Clara wassitting one evening in deep thought. The guitar on her knees gaveforth a few solitary chords, dreamily drawn from it, as it were, by herdelicate hands, and at length forming themselves into a melody, whilethe following words dropped softly from her partly opened lips:
"Far away, 'fore Tunis ramparts, Where the Christian army lies, Paynim host are fiercely fighting With Spanish troops and Spain's allies. Who from bloodstained lilies there, And death's roses pale and fair-- Who has borne the conquerer's prize?
"Ask Duke Alba, ask Duke Alba, Which two knights their fame have proved, One was my own valiant brother, The other was my heart's beloved. And I thought that I should crown them, Doubly bright with glory's prize, And a widow's veil is falling Doubly o'er my weeping eyes, For the brave knights ne'er again Will be found mid living men."
The music paused, and soft dew-drops fell from her heavenly eyes.Heimbert, who was concealed under the neighboring orange-trees, feltsympathetic tears rolling down his cheeks, and Fadrique, who had ledhim and Antonia there, could no longer delay the joy of meeting, butstepping forward with his two companions he presented himself before hissister, like some angelic messenger.
Such moments of extreme and sudden delight, the heavenly blessings longexpected and rarely vouchsafed, are better imagined by each after hisown fashion, and it is doing but an ill service to recount all thatthis one did and that one said. Picture it therefore to yourself, dearreader, after your own fancy, as you are certainly far better able todo, if the two loving pairs in my story have become dear to you and youhave grown intimate with them. If that, however, be not the case, whatis the use of wasting unnecessary words? For the benefit of those whowith heart-felt pleasure could have lingered over this meeting of thesister with her brother and her lover, I will proceed with increasedconfidence. Although Heimbert, casting a significant look at Fadrique,was on the point of retiring as soon as Antonia had been placed underDona Clara's protection, the noble Spaniard would not permit him. Hedetained his companion-in-arms with courteous and brotherly requeststhat he would remain till the evening repast, at which some relativesof the Mendez family joined the party, and in their presence Fadriquedeclared the brave Heimbert of Waldhausen to be Dona Clara's fiance,sealing the betrothal with the most solemn words, so that it mightremain indissoluble, whatever might afterward occur which should seeminimical to their union. The witnesses were somewhat astonished atthese strange precautionary measures, but at Fadrique's desire theyunhesitatingly gave their word that all should be carried out as hewished, and they did this the more unhesitatingly as the Duke of Alba,who had just been in Malaga on some trivial business, had filled thewhole city with the praises of the two young captains.
As the richest wine was now passing round the table in the tall crystalgoblets, Fadrique stepped behind Heimbert's chair and whispered tohim, "If it please you, Senor--the moon is just risen and is shining asbright as day--I am ready to give you satisfaction." Heimbert noddedin assent, and the two youths quitted the hall, followed by the sweetsalutations of the unsuspecting ladies.
As they passed through the beautiful garden, Fadrique said, with asigh, "We could have wandered here so happily together, but for myover-rashness!" "Yes, indeed," said Heimbert, "but so it is, and itcannot be otherwise, if we would continue to look upon each other as asoldier and a nobleman." "True!" replied Fadrique, and they hastened toreach a distant part of the garden, where the sound of their clashingswords could not reach the gay hall of betrothal they had left.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Secret and inclosed, with blooming shrubs planted around, with not asound to be heard of the merry company, nor of the animated streets ofthe city, with the full moon shining overhead and brightening the solemncircle with its clear brilliancy--such was the spot. The two captainsunsheathed their gleaming swords and stood opposite each other, readyfor the encounter. But before they began the combat a nobler feelingdrew them to each other's arms; they lowered their weapons and embracedin the most fraternal manner. They then tore themselves away and thefearful contest began.
They were now no longer brothers-in-arms, no longer friends, no longerbrothers-in-law, who directed their sharp steels against each other.With the most resolute boldness, but with the coolest collectedness,each fell upon his adversary, guarding his own breast at the same time.After a few hot and dangerous passes the combatants were obliged torest, and during the pause they regarded each other with increased love,each rejoicing to find his comrade so valiant and so honorable. And thenthe fatal strife began anew.
With his left hand Heimbert dashed aside Fadrique's sword, which hadbeen aimed at him with a thrust in tierce, sideward, but the keen edgehad penetrated his leathern glove, and the red blood gushed out. "Hold!"cried Fadrique, and they searched for the wound, but soon perceivingthat it was of no importance, and binding it up, they both began thecombat with undiminished vigor.
It was not long before Heimbert's blade pierced Fadrique's rightshoulder, and the German, feeling that he had wounded his opponent, nowon his side called out to halt. At fir
st Fadrique would not acknowledgeto the injury, but soon the blood began to trickle down, and he wasobliged to accept his friend's careful assistance. Still this wound alsoappeared insignificant, the noble Spaniard still felt power to wield hissword, and again the deadly contest was renewed with knightly ardor.
Presently the garden-gate clanked, and the sound of a horse's step washeard advancing through the shrubbery. Both combatants paused in theirstern work and turned toward the unwelcome disturber. The next momentthrough the slender pines a horseman was visible whose dress and bearingproclaimed him a warrior and Fadrique, as master of the house, at onceaddressed him. "Senor," said he, "why you come here, intruding into astrange garden, we will inquire at another time. For the present Iwill only request you to leave us free from further interruption byimmediately retiring, and to favor me with your name." "Retire I willnot," replied the stranger, "but my name I will gladly tell you. Iam the Duke of Alba." And as he spoke, by a movement of his charger abright moonbeam fell upon his pale thin face, the dwelling-place of allthat was grand and worthy and terrible. The two captains bowed low anddropped their weapons.
"I ought to know you," continued Alba, looking at them with hissparkling eyes. "Yes, truly, I know you well, you are the two youngheroes at the battle of Tunis. God be praised that two such bravewarriors, whom I had given up for lost, are still alive; but tell me,what is this affair of honor that has turned your good swords againsteach other? For I hope you will not hesitate to declare to me the causeof your knightly contest."
They complied with the great duke's behest. Both the noble youthsrelated the whole circumstances, from the evening previous to theirembarkation up to the present moment, while Alba remained between them,in silent thought, almost motionless, like some equestrian statue.
CHAPTER XIX.
The Captains had already long finished their story, and the duke stillremained silent and motionless, in deep reflection. At last he began tospeak, and addressed them as follows:
"May God and his holy word help me, my young knights, when I say that Iconsider, after my best and most conscientious belief, that this affairof yours is now honorably at an end. Twice have you met each other incontest on account of those irritating words which escaped the lips ofDon Fadrique Mendez and if indeed the slight wounds you have hithertoreceived are not sufficient compensation for the angry expression, thereis still your common fight before Tunis, and the rescue in the desertafforded by Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen to Don Fadrique Mendez, after hehad gained his bride for him. From all this, I consider that the Knightof Waldhausen is entitled to pardon any offence of an adversary to whomhe has shown himself so well inclined. Old Roman history tells us of twocaptains of the great Julius Caesar who settled a dispute and cementeda hearty friendship with each other when engaged in the same bold fight,delivering each other in the midst of a Gallic army. I affirm, however,that you two have done more for each other: and therefore I declare youraffair of honor to be settled, and at an end. Sheathe your swords, andembrace each other in my presence."
Obedient to the command of their general, the young knights for thepresent sheathed their weapons; but anxious lest the slightest possibleshadow should fall on their honor they yet delayed the reconcilingembrace.
The great Alba looked at them with somewhat of an indignant air, andsaid, "Do you then suppose, young knights, that I could wish to savethe lives of two heroes at the expense of their honor? I would rather atonce have struck you dead, both of you at once. But I see plainly thatwith such obstinate minds one must have recourse to other measures."
And, dismounting from his horse, he fastened it to a tree, and thenstepped forward between the two captains with a drawn sword in hisright hand, crying out, "Whoever will deny in any wise that the quarrelbetween Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen and Don Fadrique Mendez is honorablyand gloriously settled must settle the matter at the peril of his lifewith the Duke of Alba; and should the present knights have any objectionto raise to this, let them declare it. I stand here as champion for myown conviction."
The youths bowed submissively before the great umpire, and fell intoeach other's arms. The duke, however, embraced them both with heartyaffection, which appeared all the more charming and refreshing as itrarely burst forth from this stern character. Then he led the reconciledfriends back to their betrothed, and when these, after the first joyfulsurprise was over at the presence of the honored general, started backat seeing drops of blood on the garments of the youths, the duke said,smiling, "Oh, ye brides elect of soldiers, you must not shrink from suchjewels of honor. Your lovers could bring you no fairer wedding gift."
The great Alba was not not be deprived of the pleasure of enacting theoffice of father to the two happy brides, and the festival of theirunion was fixed for the following day. From that time forth they livedin undisturbed and joyful concord; and though the Knight Heimbert wasrecalled soon afterward with his lovely consort to the bosom of hisGerman Fatherland, he and Fadrique kept up the link between them byletters and messages; and even in after times the descendants of thelord of Waldhausen boasted of their connection with the noble house ofMendez, while the latter have ever sacredly preserved the tradition ofthe brave and magnanimous Heimbert.
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