The Two Captains Read online

  'Tis he the youth of sixteen years, At Pavia, who his fortunes tried, The Frenchman's fear, the Spaniard's pride. Heimbert is the hero's name, Victorious in many a fight! And beside the valiant knight, Sitting in the soft green grass, Though her name her lips shall pass, Dona Clara feels no shame "

  "Oh!" said Heimbert, blushing from another cause than before, "oh,Dona Clara, that affair at Pavia was nothing but a merry and victorioustournament, and even if occasionally since then I have been engaged ina tougher contest, how have I ever merited as a reward the overwhelmingbliss I am now enjoying! Now I know what your name is, and I mayin future address you by it, my angelic Dona Clara, my blessed andbeautiful Dona Clara! But tell me now, who has given you such afavorable report of my achievements, that I may ever regard him withgrateful affection?"

  "Does the noble Heimbert of Waldhausen suppose," rejoined Clara, "thatthe noble houses of Spain had none of their sons where he stood in thebattle? You must have surely seen them fighting by your side, and must Inot have heard of your glories through the lips of my own people?"

  The silvery tones of a little bell sounded just then from a neighboringpalace, and Clara whispered, "It is time to part. Adieu, my hero!" Andshe smiled on the youth through her gushing tears, and bent toward him,and he almost fancied he felt a sweet kiss breathed from her lips. Whenhe fully recovered himself Clara had disappeared, the morning cloudswere beginning to wear the rosy hue of dawn, and Heimbert, with a heavenof love's proud happiness in his heart, returned to his watchful friendat the garden gate.

  CHAPTER IV.

  "Halt!" exclaimed Fadrique, as Heimbert appeared from the garden,holding his drawn sword toward him ready for attack. "Stop, you aremistaken, my good comrade," said the German, smiling, "it is I whom yousee before you." "Do not imagine, Knight Heimbert of Waldhausen," saidFadrique, "that I mistake you. But my promise is discharged, my hour ofguard has been honorably kept, and now I beg you without further delayto prepare yourself, and fight for your life until heart's blood hasceased to flow through these veins." "Good heavens!" sighed Heimbert,"I have often heard that in these southern lands there are witches, whodeprive people of their senses by magic arts and incantations. ButI have never experienced anything of the sort until to-day. Composeyourself, 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 orderto understand it, know then that the lady whom you came to meet in theshrubbery of this my garden is Dona Clara Mendez, my only sister. Quick,therefore, and without further preamble, draw!" "God forbid!" exclaimedthe German, not touching his weapon. "You shall be my brother-in-law,Fadrique, and not my murderer, and still less will I be yours." Fadriqueonly shook his head indignantly, and advanced toward his comrade withmeasured steps for an encounter. Heimbert, however, still remainedimmovable, 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 youwho has spoken to her so honorably of my military expeditions inItaly." "When I did so," replied Fadrique in a fury, "I was a fool. But,dallying coward, out with your sword, or--"

  Before Fadrique had finished speaking, Heimbert, burning withindignation, exclaimed, "The devil himself could not bear that!" anddrawing his sword from the scabbard, the two young captains rushedfiercely and resolutely to the attack.

  Different indeed was this contest to that previously fought by Fadriquewith Lucila's husband. The two young soldiers well understood theirweapons, and strove with each other with equal boldness, their swordsflashing like rays of light as now this one now that one hurled alightning thrust at his adversary, which was with similar speed anddexterity turned aside. Firmly they pressed the left foot, as if rootedin the ground, while the right advanced to the bold onset and thenagain they quickly retired to the safer attitude of defence. From theself-possession and the quiet unremitting anger with which both thecombatants fought, it was evident that one of the two would find hisgrave under the overhanging branches of the orange-tree, which were nowtinged with the red glow of morning, and this would undoubtedly havebeen the case had not the report of a cannon from the harbor soundedthrough the silence of the twilight.

  The combatants paused, as if at some word of command to be obeyed byboth, and listened, counting to themselves; then, as each uttered thenumber thirty, a second gun was heard. "It is the signal for immediateembarkation, Senor," said Don Fadrique; "we are now in the emperor'sservice, and all dispute ceases which is not against the foes of Charlesthe Fifth." "Right," replied Heimbert, "but when there is an end ofTunis and the whole war. I shall demand satisfaction for that 'dallyingcoward.'" "And I for that in intercourse with my sister," said Fadrique."Certainly," rejoined the other; and, so saying, the two captainshurried down to the strand and arranged the embarkation of their troops;while the sun, rising over the sea, shone upon them both in the samevessel.

  CHAPTER V.

  The voyagers had for some time to battle with contrary winds, and whenat length they came in sight of the coasts of Barbary the darkness ofevening had closed so deeply over the sea that no pilot in the littlesquadron ventured to ride at anchor on the shallow shore. They cruisedabout on the calm waters, waiting for the morning; and the soldiers,full of laudable ambition for combat, stood impatiently in crowds on thedeck, straining their longing eyes to see the theatre of their futuredeeds.

  Meanwhile the heavy firing of besiegers and besieged thunderedunceasingly from the fortress of Goletta, and as the night darkened thescene with massy clouds, the flames of burning fragments became morevisible, and the fiery course of the red bullets was perceptible asthey crossed each other in their path, while their effects in fire anddevastation were fearful to behold. It was evident that the Mussulmanshad been attempting a sally, for a sharp fire of musketry burst forthsuddenly amid the roaring of the cannon. The fight was approaching thetrenches of the Christians, and on board the vessels none were agreedwhether the besiegers were in danger or not. At length they saw thatthe Turks were driven back into the fortress; the Christian armypursued them, and a shout was heard from the Spanish camp as of one loudVictory! and the cry, Goletta was taken!

  How the troops on board the vessels--consisting of young andcourage-tried men--burned with ardor and their hearts beat at theglorious spectacle, need not be detailed to those who carry a braveheart within their own bosoms, and to all others any description wouldbe lost. Heimbert and Fadrique stood close to each other. "I do notknow," said the latter, speaking to himself, "but I feel as if to-morrowI must plant my standard upon yonder height which is now lighted up withthe red glow of the bullets and burning flames in Goletta." "That isjust what I feel!" said Heimbert. The two angry captains then relapsedinto silence and turned indignantly away.

  The longed-for morning at length dawned, the vessels approached theshore, and the landing of the troops began, while an officer was at oncedispatched to the camp to announce the arrival of the reinforcements tothe mighty general Alba. The soldiers were hastily ranged on the beach,they put themselves and their weapons in order, and were soon standingin battle array, ready for their great leader. Clouds of dust rose inthe gray twilight, the returning officer announced the approach of thegeneral, and as Alba signifies "morning" in the Castilian tongue, theSpaniards raised a shout of rejoicing at the coincidence, as at somefavorable omen, for as the knightly train approached the first beams ofthe rising sun became visible.

  The grave and haggard form of the general was seen mounted on a tallAndalusian charger of the deepest black. Having galloped once up anddown the lines, he stopped his powerful horse in the middle, and lookingalong the ranks with an air of grave satisfaction, he said, "You passmuster well. That is well. I like it to be so. It is plain to see thatyou are tried soldiers, in spite of your youth. We will first hold arev
iew, and then I will lead you to something more agreeable."

  So saying, he dismounted, and walking toward the right wing he began toinspect one troop after another in the closest manner, with the captainof each company at his side, that he might receive from him accurateaccount upon the minutest particulars. Sometimes a cannon-ball from thefortress would whizz over the heads of the men; then Alba would standstill and cast a keen glance over the soldiers before him. But when hesaw that not an eyelash moved, a smile of satisfaction passed over hissevere pale face.

  When he had inspected both divisions he again mounted his horse and oncemore galloped into the middle. Then, stroking his long beard, he said,"You are in good order, soldiers, and therefore you shall take yourpart in this glorious day, which is just dawning for our whole Christianarmada. We will attack Barbarossa, soldiers. Do you not already hear thedrums and fifes in the camp? Do you see him advancing yonder to meet theemperor? That side of his position is assigned to you!"

  "Vivat Carolus Quintus!" resounded through the ranks. Alba beckonedthe captains to him, and assigned to each his duty. He usually mingledGerman and Spanish troops together, in order to stimulate the courage ofthe combatants still higher by emulation. So it happened even now thatHeimbert and Fadrique were commanded to storm the very same height,which, now gleaming with the morning light, they at once recognizedas that which had shone out so fiercely and full of promise the nightbefore.

  CHAPTER VI.

  Thrice had Fadrique and Heimbert almost forced their way to a rampartin the fortifications, and thrice had they been repulsed with theirmen into the valley below by the fierce opposition of the Turks. TheMussulmans shouted after the retreating foe, clashed their weapons withthe triumph of victory, and with a scornful laugh asked whether theywould not come up again to give heart and brain to the scimitar andtheir limbs to the falling beams of wood. The two captains, gnashingtheir teeth with fury, arranged their ranks anew; for after three vainassaults they had to move closer together to fill the places of theslain and the mortally wounded. Meanwhile a murmur ran through theChristian army that a witch was fighting among their foes and helpingthem to conquer.

  Duke Alba rode to the point of attack, and looked scrutinizingly at thebreach they had made. "Not yet broken through the enemy here!" saidhe, shaking his head, "I am surprised. From two such youths, and suchtroops, I should have expected it." "Do you hear that? Do you hearthat?" exclaimed the two captains, as they paced along their linesrepeating the general's words. The soldiers shouted loudly, and demandedto be once more led against the enemy; even those who were mortallywounded shouted, with a last effort, "Forward, comrades!" The great Albaat once sprang like an arrow from his horse, wrested a partisan fromthe stiff hand of one of the slain, and standing in front of the twocompanies he cried, "I will take part in your glory. In the name of Godand of the blessed Virgin, forward, my children!"

  And joyfully they rushed up the hill, every heart beating withconfidence, while the war-cry was raised triumphantly; some even beganalready to shout "Victory! victory!" and the Mussulmans paused andwavered. Suddenly, like the vision of an avenging angel, a maiden,dressed in purple garments embroidered with gold appeared in the Turkishranks, and those who were terrified before again shouted "Allah!"calling at the same time, "Zelinda, Zelinda!" The maiden, however, drewa small box from under her arm, and opening it she breathed into itand hurled it down among the Christian troops. And forth from the fatalchest there burst a whole fire of rockets, grenades, and other fearfulmessengers of death. The startled soldiers paused in their assault."Forward!" cried Alba. "Forward!" cried the two captains; but a flamingarrow just then fastened on the duke's plumed hat and hissed andcrackled round his head, so that the general fell fainting down theheight. Then the German and Spanish infantry fled uncontrollably fromthe fearful ascent. Again the storm had been repulsed. The Mussulmansshouted, and like a fatal star Zelinda's beauty shone in the midst ofthe flying troops.

  When Alba opened his eyes, Heimbert was standing over him, with hismantle, arm, and face scorched with the fire, which he had not only justextinguished on his general's head, but by throwing himself over him hehad saved him from a second body of flame rolled down the height in thesame direction. The duke was thanking his youthful deliverer when somesoldiers came up, looking for him, to apprise him that the Saracen powerwas beginning an attack on the opposite wing of the army. Without losinga word Alba threw himself on the first horse brought him and gallopedaway to the spot where the most threatening danger summoned him.

  Fadrique stood with his glowing eye fixed on the rampart, where thebrilliant form of Zelinda might be seen, with a two-edged spear, readyto be hurled, uplifted by her snow-white arm, and raising her voice,now in encouraging tones to the Mussulmans in Arabic, and again speakingscornfully to the Christians in Spanish. At last Fadrique exclaimed,"Oh, foolish being! she thinks to daunt me, and yet she places herselfbefore me, an alluring and irresistible war-prize!"

  And as if magic wings had sprung from his shoulders, he began to fly upthe height with such rapidity that Alba's violent descent seemed buta lazy snail's pace. Before any one was aware, he was already on theheight, and wresting spear and shield from the maiden, he had seizedher in his arms and was attempting to bear her away, while Zelinda inanxious despair clung to the palisade with both her hands. Her cry forhelp was unavailing, partly because the Turks imagined that the magicpower of the maiden was annihilated by the almost equally wondrous deedof the youth, and partly also because the faithful Heimbert, quicklyperceiving his comrade's daring feat, had led both troops to a renewedattack, and now stood by his side on the height, fighting hand to handwith the defenders. This time the fury of the Mussulmans, weakened asthey were by superstition and surprise, could avail nothing againstthe heroic advance of the Christian soldiers. The Spaniards and Germansspeedily broke through the enemy, assisted by the watchful squadrons oftheir army. The Mohammedans fled with frightful howling, the battle withits stream of victory rolled ever on, and the banner of the holy Germanempire and that of the royal house of Castile waved victorious over theglorious battle-field before the walls of Tunis.

  CHAPTER VII.

  In the confusion of the conquering and the conquered, Zelinda hadwrested herself from Fadrique's arms and had fled from him with suchswiftness that, however much love and desire might have given wings tohis pursuit, she was soon out of sight in a spot so well known to her.All the more vehement was the fury of the excited Spaniard against theinfidel foe. Wherever a little host made a fresh stand to opposethe Christians, he would hasten forward with the troops, who rangedthemselves round him, resistless as he was, as round a banner ofvictory, while Heimbert ever remained at his side like a faithfulshield, guarding off many a danger to which the youth, intoxicated withrage and success, exposed himself without consideration. The followingday they heard of Barbarossa's flight from the city, and the victorioustroops advanced without resistance through the gates of Tunis.Fadrique's and Heimbert's companies were always together.

  Thick clouds of smoke began to curl through the streets; the soldierswere obliged to shake off the glowing and dusty flakes from theirmantles and richly plumed helmets, where they often rested smouldering."I trust the enemy in his despair has not set fire to some magazine fullof powder!" exclaimed the thoughtful Heimbert; and Fadrique, allowingby a sign that he agreed with his surmise, hastened on to the spot fromwhence the smoke proceeded, the troops courageously pressing after him.

  The sudden turn of a street brought them in view of a magnificentpalace, from the beautifully ornamented windows of which the flameswere emerging, looking like torches of death in their fitful glow,and lighting up the splendid building in the hour of its ruin in thegrandest manner, now illuminating this and now that part of the giganticstructure, and then again relapsing into a fearful darkness of smoke andvapor.

  And like some faultless statue, the ornament of the whole edifice, therestood Zelinda upon a high and giddy projection, while the tongues offlame wreathed around
her from below, calling to her companions in thefaith to help her in saving the wisdom of centuries which was preservedin this building. The projection on which she stood began to totter fromthe fervent heat raging beneath it, and a few stones gave way; Fadriquecalled with a voice full of anguish to the endangered lady, and scarcelyhad she withdrawn her foot from the spot, when the stone on which shehad been standing broke away and came rattling down on the pavement.Zelinda disappeared within the burning palace, and Fadrique rushed upits marble staircase, Heimbert, his faithful companion, following him.

  Their hasty steps carried them through lofty resounding halls; thearchitecture over their heads was a maze of high arches, and one chamberled into another almost like a labyrinth. The walls displayed on allsides magnificent shelves, in which were to be seen stored rolls ofparchment, papyrus, and palm-leaf, partly inscribed with the charactersof long-vanished centuries, and which were now to perish themselves.For the flames were already crackling among them and stretching theirserpent-like and fiery heads from one case of treasures to another;while some Spanish soldiers, barbarous in their fury, and hoping forplunder, and finding nothing but inscribed rolls within the gorgeousbuilding, passed from disappointment to rage, and aided the flames; themore so as they regarded the inscriptions as the work of evil magicians.Fadrique flew as in a dream through the strange half-consumed halls,ever calling Zelinda! thinking and regarding nothing but her enchantingbeauty. Long did Heimbert remain at his side, until at length theyboth reached a cedar staircase leading to an upper story; here Fadriquepaused to listen, and exclaiming, "She is speaking up there! she isspeaking loud! she needs my help!" he dashed up the already burningsteps. Heimbert hesitated a moment; he saw the staircase alreadytottering, and he thought to give a warning cry to his companion; butat the same moment the light ornamental ascent gave way and burst intoflames. He could just see Fadrique clinging above to a brass gratingand swinging himself up to it, but all means of following him weredestroyed. Quickly recollecting himself, Heimbert lost no time in idlygazing, but hastened through the adjacent halls in search of anotherflight of steps which would lead him to his vanished friend.