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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
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