按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lack honorable burial。〃 He then dug a grave with the broad scimitar
of his adversary； laid the corpse within it； covered it over with
turf； and knelt on the spot in silent heartfelt prayer for the soul
of the departed。
CHAPTER XIV。
Heimbert rose from his pious duty； and his first glance fell on
Zelinda； who stood smiling by his side； and his second upon the
wholly changed scene around。 The rocky cavern and grotto had
disappeared； the distorted forms of trees and beasts； half terrible
and half charming as they were； had vanished also； a gentle grassy
hill sloped down on every side of the point where he stood； toward
the sandy waste； springs gushed out here and there in refreshing
beauty； date…trees bent over the little pathseverything； indeed；
in the now opening day was full of sweet and simple peace。
〃Thank God！〃 said Heimbert； turning to his companion； 〃you can now
surely feel how infinitely more lovely； grand； and beautiful is
everything as our dear Father has created it than it can be when
transformed by the highest human art。 The Heavenly Gardener has
indeed permitted us； his beloved children； in his abundant mercy； to
help forward his gracious works； that we may thus become happier and
better； but we must take care that we change nothing to suit our own
rash wilful fancies； else it is as if we were expelling ourselves a
second time from Paradise。〃 〃It shall not happen again；〃 said
Zelinda humbly。 〃But may you in this solitary region； where we are
not likely to meet with any priest of our faith； may you not bestow
on me； as one born anew； the blessing of Holy Baptism？〃
Heimbert； after some consideration； replied； 〃I hope I may do so。
And if I am wrong； God will pardon me。 It is surely done in the
desire to bring to him so worthy a soul as soon as possible。〃
So they walked together； silently praying and full of smiling
happiness； down to one of the pleasant springs of the oasis； and just
as they reached the edge and prepared themselves for the holy work
the sun rose before them as if to confirm and strengthen their
purpose； and the two beaming countenances looked at each other with
joy and confidence。 Heimbert had not thought of the Christian name
he should bestow on his disciple； but as he scooped up the water； and
the desert lay around him so solemn in the rosy glow of morning； he
remembered the pious hermit Antony in his Egyptian solitude； and he
baptized the lovely convert； Antonia。
They spent the day in holy conversation； and Antonia showed her
friend a little cave； in which she had concealed all sorts of store
for her sustenance when she first dwelt on the oasis。 〃For；〃 said
she； 〃the good God is my witness that I came hither only that I
might； in solitude； become better acquainted with him and his created
works； without knowing at that time in the least of any magic
expedients。 Subsequently the Dervish came； tempting me； and the
horrors of the desert joined in a fearful league with his terrible
power； and then by degrees followed all that alluring spirits showed
me either in dreams or awake。〃
Heimbert had no scruple to take with him for the journey any of the
wine and fruits that were still fit for use； and Antonia assured him
that by the direct way； well known to her； they would reach the
fruitful shore of this waterless ocean in a few days。 So with the
approach of evening coolness they set out on their journey。
CHAPTER XV。
The travellers had almost traversed the pathless plain when one day
they saw a figure wandering in the distance； for in the desolate
Sahara every object is visible to the very horizon if the whirlwind
of dust does not conceal it from view。 The wanderer seemed doubtful
of his course； sometimes taking this； sometimes that direction； and
Antonia's eastern falcon eye could discern that it was no Arab； but
a man in knightly garb。
〃Oh； dear sister；〃 exclaimed Heimbert； full of anxious joy； 〃then it
is our poor Fadrique； who is in search of thee。 For pity's sake； let
as hasten before he loses us； and perhaps at last his own life also；
in this immeasurable waste。〃 They strained every effort to reach the
distant object； but it was now midday and the sun shone burningly
upon them； Antonia could not long endure this rapid progress； added
to which the fearful whirlwind soon arose； and the figure that had
been scarcely visible before faded from their eyes； like some phantom
of the mist in autumn。
With the rising moon they began anew to hasten forward； calling
loudly upon the unfortunate wanderer； and fluttering white
handkerchiefs tied to their walking…staffs； as signal flags； hut it
was all in vain。 The object that had disappeared remained lost to
view。 Only a few giraffes sprang shyly past them； and the ostriches
quickened their speed。
At length； as morning dawned； Antonia paused and said； 〃Thou canst
not leave me； brother； in this solitude； and I cannot go a single
step farther。 God will protect the noble Fadrique。 How could a
father forsake such a model of knightly excellence？〃 〃The disciple
shames the teacher；〃 replied Heimbert； his sad face brightening into
a smile。 〃We have done our part； and we may confidently hope that
God will come to the aid of our failing powers and do what is
necessary。〃 As he spoke he spread his mantle on the sand； that
Antonia might rest more comfortably。 Suddenly looking up； he
exclaimed； 〃Oh； God！ yonder lies a man； completely buried in the
sand。 Oh； that he may not be already dead！〃
He immediately began to sprinkle wine； from the flask he carried； on
the brow of the fainting traveller； and to chafe his temples with it。
The man at last slowly opened his eyes and said； 〃I had hoped the
morning dew would not again have fallen on me； but that unknown and
unlamented I might have perished here in the desert； as must be the
case in the end。〃 So saying he closed his eyes again； like one
intoxicated with sleep； but Heimbert continued his restoratives
unwearyingly； and at length the refreshed wanderer half raised
himself from the sand with an exclamation of astonishment。
He looked from Heimbert to his companion； and from her again at
Heimbert； and suddenly exclaimed； gnashing his teeth； 〃Ha； was it to
he thus！ I was not even to be allowed to die in the dull happiness
of quiet solitude！ I was to be first doomed to see my rival's
success and my sister's shame！〃 At the same time he sprang to his
feet with a violent effort and rushed forward upon Heimbert with
drawn sword。 But Heimbert moved neither sword nor arm； and merely
said； in a gentle voice； 〃Wearied out； as you now are； I cannot
possibly fight with you； besides； I must first place this lady in
security。〃 Antonia； who had at first gazed with much emotion at the
angry knight； now stepped suddenly between the two men and cried out；
〃Oh； Fadrique； neither misery nor anger can utterly disfigure you。
But what has my noble brother done to you？〃 〃Brother？〃 said
Fadrique； with astonishment。 〃Or godfather； or confessor；〃
interrupted Heimbert； 〃as you will。 Only do not call her Zelinda；
for her name is now Antonia； she is a Christian； and waits to be your