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at some word of command； unbridled their horses； loosened their
girths； and turned them loose on the desert； that they might find
their way back to some happier dwelling place。 Then； taking some
provision from their saddle…bags； they placed it on their shoulders；
and casting aside their heavy riding boots they plunged like two
courageous swimmers into the trackless waste。
CHAPTER X。
With no other guide than the sun by day； and by night the host of
stars； the two captains soon lost sight of each other； and all the
sooner； as Fadrique avoided intentionally the object of his aversion。
Heimbert； on the other hand； had no thought but the attainment of his
aim； and； full of joyful confidence in God's assistance； he pursued
his course in a southerly direction。
Many nights and many days had passed； when one evening； as the
twilight was coming on； Heimbert was standing alone in the endless
desert； unable to descry a single object all round on which his eye
could rest。 His light flask was empty； and the evening brought with
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