THE TWO CAPTAINS.
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divine things to be talked of with violence or with the loud voice
necessary on the field of war."

But the Dervish, burning with hatred to the Christians, had not
waited to hear the knight's last words when he rushed at him with his
drawn scimitar. Heimbert merely parried his thrust, saying, "Take
care of yourself, sir! I have heard something of your weapons being
charmed, but that will avail but little before my sword. It has been
consecrated in holy places."

The Dervish sprang wildly back before the sword, but equally wildly
did he spring to the other side of his adversary, who only with
difficulty caught the terrible cuts of his weapon upon his shield.
Like a gold-scaled dragon the Mohammedan swung himself round his
antagonist with an agility which, with his long flowing white beard,
was ghostly and horrible to witness. Heimbert was prepared to meet
him on all sides, ever keeping a watchful eye for some opening in the
scales made by the violence of his movements. At last it happened as
he desired; between the arm and breast on the left side the dark
garments of the Dervish became visible, and quick as lightning the
German made a deadly thrust. The old man exclaimed aloud, "Allah!
Allah!" and fell forward, fearful even in his fall, a senseless
corpse.

"I pity him!" sighed Heimbert, leaning on his sword and looking down
on his fallen foe." He has fought nobly, and even in death he called
upon his Allah, whom he looked upon as the true God. He must not
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