Dona Clara； that affair at Pavia was nothing but a merry and
victorious tournament； and even if occasionally since then I have
been engaged in a tougher contest； how have I ever merited as a
reward the overwhelming bliss I am now enjoying！ Now I know what
your name is； and I may in future address you by it； my angelic Dona
Clara； my blessed and beautiful Dona Clara！ But tell me now； who has
given you such a favorable report of my achievements； that I may ever
regard him with grateful affection？〃
〃Does the noble Heimbert of Waldhausen suppose；〃 rejoined Clara；
〃that the noble houses of Spain had none of their sons where he stood
in the battle？ You must have surely seen them fighting by your side；
and must I not have heard of your glories through the lips of my own
people？〃
The silvery tones of a little bell sounded just then from a
neighboring palace； and Clara whispered； 〃It is time to part。 Adieu；
my hero！〃 And she smiled on the youth through her gushing tears； and
bent toward him； and he almost fancied he felt a sweet kiss breathed
from her lips。 When he fully recovered himself Clara had
disappeared； the morning clouds were beginning to wear the rosy hue
of dawn； and Heimbert； with a heaven of love's proud happiness in his
heart； returned to his watchful friend at the garden gate。
CHAPTER IV。
〃Halt！〃 exclaimed Fadrique； as Heimbert appeared from the garden；
holding his drawn sword toward him ready for attack。 〃Stop； you are
mistaken； my good comrade；〃 said the German； smiling； 〃it is I whom
you see before you。〃 〃Do not imagine； Knight Heimbert of
Waldhausen；〃 said Fadrique； 〃that I mistake you。 But my promise is
discharged； my hour of guard has been honorably kept； and now I beg
you without further delay to prepare yourself； and fight for your
life until heart's blood has ceased to flow through these veins。〃
〃Good heavens！〃 sighed Heimbert； 〃I have often heard that in these
southern lands there are witches； who deprive people of their senses
by magic arts and incantations。 But I have never experienced
anything of the sort until to…day。 Compose yourself； my dear good
comrade； and go with me back to the shore。〃 Fadrique laughed
fiercely； and answered； 〃Set aside your silly delusion； and if you
must have everything explained to you； word by word； in order to
understand it； know then that the lady whom you came to meet in the
shrubbery of this my garden is Dona Clara Mendez； my only sister。
Quick； therefore； and without further preamble； draw！〃 〃God forbid！〃
exclaimed the German； not touching his weapon。 〃You shall be my
brother…in…law； Fadrique； and not my murderer； and still less will I
be yours。〃 Fadrique only shook his head indignantly； and advanced
toward his comrade with measured steps for an encounter。 Heimbert；
however； still remained immovable； and said； 〃No； Fadrique； I cannot
now or ever do you harm。 For besides the love I bear your sister； it
must certainly have been you who has spoken to her so honorably of my
military expeditions in Italy。〃 〃When I did so；〃 replied Fadiique in
a fury； 〃I was a fool。 But； dallying coward； out with your sword；
or〃
Before Fadrique had finished speaking； Heimbert； burning with
indignation； exclaimed； 〃The devil himself could not bear that！〃 and
drawing his sword from the scabbard； the two young captains rushed
fiercely and resolutely to the attack。
Different indeed was this contest to that previously fought by
Fadrique with Lucila's husband。 The two young soldiers well
understood their weapons； and strove with each other with equal
boldness； their swords flashing like rays of light as now this one
now that one hurled a lightning thrust at his adversary； which was
with similar speed and dexterity turned aside。 Firmly they pressed
the left foot； as if rooted in the ground； while the right advanced
to the bold onset and then again they quickly retired to the safer
attitude of defence。 From the self…possession and the quiet
unremitting anger with which both the combatants fought； it was
evident that one of the two would find his grave under the
overhanging branches of the orange…tree； which were now tinged with
the red glow of morning； and this would undoubtedly have been the
case had not the report of a cannon from the harbor sounded through
the silence of the twilight。
The combatants paused； as if at some word of command to be obeyed by
both； and listened； counting to themselves； then； as each uttered the
number thirty； a second gun was heard。 〃It is the signal for
immediate embarkation； Senor；〃 said Don Fadrique； 〃we are now in the
emperor's service； and all dispute ceases which is not against the
foes of Charles the Fifth。〃 〃Right；〃 replied Heimbert； 〃but when
there is an end of Tunis and the whole war。 I shall demand
satisfaction for that 'dallying coward。'〃 〃And I for that in
intercourse with my sister；〃 said Fadrique。 〃Certainly；〃 rejoined
the other； and； so saying； the two captains hurried down to the
strand and arranged the embarkation of their troops； while the sun；
rising over the sea； shone upon them both in the same vessel。
CHAPTER V。
The voyagers had for some time to battle with contrary winds； and
when at length they came in sight of the coasts of Barbary the
darkness of evening had closed so deeply over the sea that no pilot
in the little squadron ventured to ride at anchor on the shallow
shore。 They cruised about on the calm waters； waiting for the
morning； and the soldiers； full of laudable ambition for combat；
stood impatiently in crowds on the deck； straining their longing
eyes to see the theatre of their future deeds。
Meanwhile the heavy firing of besiegers and besieged thundered
unceasingly from the fortress of Goletta； and as the night darkened
the scene with massy clouds； the flames of burning fragments became
more visible； and the fiery course of the red bullets was perceptible
as they crossed each other in their path； while their effects in fire
and devastation were fearful to behold。 It was evident that the
Mussulmans had been attempting a sally； for a sharp fire of musketry
burst forth suddenly amid the roaring of the cannon。 The fight was
approaching the trenches of the Christians； and on board the vessels
none were agreed whether the besiegers were in danger or not。 At
length they saw that the Turks were driven back into the fortress；
the Christian army pursued them； and a shout was heard from the
Spanish camp as of one loud Victory！ and the cry； Goletta was taken！
How the troops on board the vesselsconsisting of young and courage…
tried menburned with ardor and their hearts beat at the glorious
spectacle； need not be detailed to those who carry a brave heart
within their own bosoms； and to all others any description would be
lost。 Heimbert and Fadrique stood close to each other。 〃I do not
know；〃 said the latter； speaking to himself； 〃but I feel as if to…
morrow I must plant my standard upon yonder height which is now
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
Mussul