THE TWO CAPTAINS.
Page: 15




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