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'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 ruin