it； instead or the hoped…for coolness； a suffocating whirlwind of
sand； so that the exhausted wanderer was obliged to press his burning
face to the burning soil in order to escape in some measure the fatal
cloud。 Now and then he heard something passing him； or rustling over
him as with the sound of a sweeping mantle； and he would raise
himself in anxious haste； but he only saw what he had already too
often seen in the daylimethe wild beasts of the wilderness roaming
at liberty through the desert waste。 Sometimes it was an ugly camel；
then it was a long…necked and disproportioned giraffe； and then again
a long…legged ostrich hastening away with its wings outspread。 They
all appeared to scorn him； and he had already taken his resolve to
open his eyes no more； and to give himself up to his fate； without
allowing these horrible and strange creatures to disturb his mind in
the hour of death。
Presently it seemed to him as if he heard the hoofs and neighing of a
horse； and suddenly something halted close beside him； and he thought
he caught the sound of a man's voice。 Half unwilling； he could not
resist raising himself wearily； and he saw before him a rider in an
Arab's dress mounted on a slender Arabian horse。 Overcome with joy
at finding himself within reach of human help； he exclaimed；
〃Welcome； oh； man； in this fearful solitude！ If thou canst； succor
me； thy fellow…man； who must otherwise perish with thirst！〃 Then
remembering that the tones of his dear German mother tongue were not
intelligible in this joyless region； he repeated the same words in
the mixed dialect； generally called the Lingua Romana； universally
used by heathens； Mohammedans； and Christians in those parts of the
world where they have most intercourse with each other。
The Arab still remained silent； and looked as if scornfully laughing
at his strange discovery。 At length he replied； in the same dialect；
〃I was also in Barbarossa's fight； and if； Sir Knight； our overthrow
bitterly enraged me then； I find no small compensation for it in the
fact of seeing one of the conquerors lying so pitifully before me。〃
〃Pitifully！〃 exclaimed Heimbert angrily； and his wounded sense of
honor giving him back for a moment all his strength； he seized his
sword and stood ready for an encounter。 〃Oho！〃 laughed the Arab；
〃does the Christian viper still hiss so strongly？ Then it only
behooves me to put spurs to my horse and leave thee to perish here；
thou lost creeping worm！〃 〃Ride to the devil； thou dog of a
heathen！〃 retorted Heimbert； 〃rather than entreat a crumb of thee I
will die here； unless the good God sends me manna in the wilderness。〃
And the Arab spurred forward his swift steed and galloped away a
couple of hundred paces； laughing with scorn。 Then he paused； and
looking round to Heimbert he trotted back and said； 〃Thou seemest too
good； methinks； to perish here of hunger and thirst。 Beware！ my good
sabre shall touch thee。〃
Heimbert； who had again stretched himself hopelessly on the burning
sand； was quickly roused to his feet by these words； and seized his
sword； and sudden as was the spring with which the Arab's horse flew
toward him； the stout German warrior stood ready to parry the blow；
and the thrust which the Arab aimed at him in the Mohammedan manner
he warded off with certainty and skill。
Again and again the Arab sprung； similarly here and there； vainly
hoping to give his antagonist a death…blow。 At last； overcome by
impatience； he approached so boldly that Heimbert； warding off the
threatening weapon； had time to seize the Arab by the girdle and drag
him from the fast…galloping horse。 The violence of the movement
threw Heimbert also on the ground； but he lay above his opponent； and
holding close before his eyes a dagger； which he had dexterously
drawn from his girdle； he exclaimed； 〃Wilt thou have mercy or death？〃
The Arab； trembling； cast down his eyes before the gleaming and
murderous weapon； and said； 〃Show mercy to me； mighty warrior； I
surrender to thee。〃 Heimbert then ordered him to throw away the
sabre he still held in his right hand。 He did so； and both
combatants rose； and again sunk down upon the sand； for the victor
was far more weary than the vanquished。
The Arab's good horse meanwhile had trotted toward them； according to
the habit of those noble animals； who never forsake their fallen
master。 It now stood behind the two men； stretching out its long
slender neck affectionately toward them。 〃Arab；〃 said Heimbert with
exhausted voice； 〃take from thy horse what provision thou hast with
thee and place it before me。〃 The vanquished man humbly did as he
was commanded； now just as much submitting to the will of the
conqueror as he had before exhibited his animosity in anger and
revenge。 After a few draughts of palm…wine from the skin； Heimbert
looked at the youth under a new aspect； he then partook of some
fruits； drank more of the palm…wine； and at length said； 〃You are
going to ride still farther to…night； young man？〃 〃Yes； indeed；〃
replied the Arab sadly； 〃on a distant oasis there dwells my aged
father and my blooming bride。 Noweven if you set me at full
libertyI must perish in the heat of this barren desert； for want
of sustenance； before I can reach my lovely home。〃
〃Is it； perhaps；〃 asked Heimbert； 〃the oasis on which the mighty
enchantress； Zelinda； dwells？〃
〃Allah protect me！〃 cried the Arab； clasping his hands。 〃Zelinda's
wondrous isle offers no hospitable shelter to any but magicians。
It lies far away in the scorching south； while our friendly oasis
is toward the cooler west。〃
〃I only asked in case we might be travelling companions；〃 said
Heimbert courteously。 〃If that cannot be； we must certainly divide
the provisions； for I would not have so brave a warrior as you
perish； with hunger and thirst。〃
So saying； the young captain began to arrange the provisions in two
portions； placing the larger on his left and the smaller at his
right； he then desired the Arab to take the former； and added； to his
astonished companion； 〃See； good sir； I have either not much farther
to travel or I shall perish in the desert； I feel that it will be so。
Besides； I cannot carry half so much on foot as you can on horse…
back。〃
〃Knight！ victorious knight！〃 cried the amazed Mussulman； 〃am I then
to keep my horse？〃
〃It were a sin and shame indeed；〃 said Heimbert； smiling； 〃to
separate such a faithful steed from such a skilful rider。 Ride
on； in God's name； and get safely to your people。〃
He then helped him to mount； and the Arab was on the point of
uttering a few words of gratitude； when he suddenly exclaimed； 〃The
magic maiden！〃 and； swift as the wind； he flew over the dusty plain。
Heimbert； however； turning round； saw close beside him in the now
bright moonlight a shining figure； which he at once perceived to be
Zelinda。
CHAPTER XI。
The maiden looked fixedly at the young soldier； and seemed
considering with what words to address him； while he； after his long
search and now unexpected success； was equally at a loss。 At last
she said in Spanish； 〃Thou wonderful enigma； I have been witness of
all that has passed between thee and the Arab； and these affairs
confuse my head like a whirlwind。 Speak； therefore； plainly； that
I may know whether thou art a madman or an angel？〃
〃I am neither； dear lady；〃 replied Heimbert； with his wonted
friendliness。 〃I am only a poor wanderer； who has just been putting
into practice one of the commands of his Master； Jesus Christ。〃
〃Sit down；〃 said Zelinda； 〃and tell me of thy Master； he must be
himself unprecedented to have such a servant。 The night is cool and
still； and at my side thou hast no cause to fear the dangers of the
desert。〃
〃Lady；〃 replied Heimbert； smiling； 〃I am not of a fearful nature； and
when I am speaking of my dear Saviour my mind is perfectly free from
all alarm。〃
Thus saying； they both sat down on the now cooled sand and began a
wondrous conversation； while the full moon shone upon them from the
deep…blue heavens above like a magic lamp。
Heimbert's words； full of divine love； truth； and simplicity sank
like soft sunbeams； gently and surely； into Zelinda's； heart； driving
away the mysterious magic power which dwelt there； and wrestling for
the dominion of the noble territory of her soul。 When morning began
to dawn she said； 〃Thou wouldst not be called an angel last evening；
but thou art truly one。 For what else are angels than messengers of
the Most High God？〃 〃In that sense；〃 rejoined Heimbert； 〃I am well
satisfied with the name； for I certainly hope that I am the bearer of
my Master's message。 Yes； if he bestows on me further grace and
strength； it may even be that you also may become my companion in the
pious work。〃 〃It is not impossible；〃 said Zelinda thoughtfully。
〃Thou must； however； come with me to my island； and there thou shalt
be regaled as is befitting such an ambassador； far better than here
on the desolate sand； with the miserable palm…wine that thou hast so
laboriously obtained。〃
〃Pardon me；〃 replied Heimbert； 〃it is difficult to me to refuse the
request of a lady； but on this occasion it cannot be otherwise。 In
your island many glorious things have been conjured together by your
forbidden art； and many lovely forms which the good God has created
have been transformed。 These might dazzle my senses； and at last
delude them。 If you will； therefore； hear the best and purest things
which I can relate to you； you must rather come out to me on this
desert sand。 The palm…wine and the dates of the Arab will suffice
for me for many a day to come。〃 〃You would do better to come with
me；〃 said Zelinda； shaking her head with somewhat of a scornful
smile。 〃You were certainly neither born nor brought up to be a
hermit； and there is nothing on my oasis so destructive as you
imagine。 What is there more than shrubs and flowers and beasts
gathered together from different quarters of the world； perhaps a
little strangely interwoven； each； that is to say； partaking of the
nature of the other； in a similar manner to that which you must have
seen in our Arabian carving！ A moving flower； a bird growing