THE TWO CAPTAINS.
Page: 11



"Halt!" exclaimed Fadrique, as Heimbert appeared from the garden,
holding his drawn sword toward him ready for attack. "Stop, you are
mistaken, my good comrade," said the German, smiling, "it is I whom
you see before you." "Do not imagine, Knight Heimbert of
Waldhausen," said Fadrique, "that I mistake you. But my promise is
discharged, my hour of guard has been honorably kept, and now I beg
you without further delay to prepare yourself, and fight for your
life until heart's blood has ceased to flow through these veins."
"Good heavens!" sighed Heimbert, "I have often heard that in these
southern lands there are witches, who deprive people of their senses
by magic arts and incantations. But I have never experienced
anything of the sort until to-day. Compose yourself, my dear good
comrade, and go with me back to the shore." Fadrique laughed
fiercely, and answered, "Set aside your silly delusion, and if you
must have everything explained to you, word by word, in order to
understand it, know then that the lady whom you came to meet in the
shrubbery of this my garden is Dona Clara Mendez, my only sister.
Quick, therefore, and without further preamble, draw!" "God forbid!"
exclaimed the German, not touching his weapon. "You shall be my
brother-in-law, Fadrique, and not my murderer, and still less will I
be yours." Fadrique only shook his head indignantly, and advanced
toward his comrade with measured steps for an encounter. Heimbert,
however, still remained immovable, and said, "No, Fadrique, I cannot
now or ever do you harm. For besides the love I bear your sister, it
must certainly have been you who has spoken to her so honorably of my
military expeditions in Italy." "When I did so," replied Fadiique in
a fury, "I was a fool. But, dallying coward, out with your sword,
or--"

Before Fadrique had finished speaking, Heimbert, burning with
indignation, exclaimed, "The devil himself could not bear that!" and
drawing his sword from the scabbard, the two young captains rushed
fiercely and resolutely to the attack.

Different indeed was this contest to that previously fought by
Fadrique with Lucila's husband. The two young soldiers well