nature of the other； in a similar manner to that which you must have
seen in our Arabian carving！ A moving flower； a bird growing on a
branch； a fountain gleaming with fiery sparks； a singing twigthese
are truly no hateful things！〃 〃He must avoid temptation who does not
wish to be overcome by it；〃 said Heimbert very gravely； 〃I am for the
desert。 Will it please you to come out to visit me again？〃 Zelinda
looked down somewhat displeased。 Then suddenly bending her head
still lower she replied； 〃Yes； toward evening I shall be here again。〃
And； turning away； she at once disappeared in the rising whirlwind of
the desert。
CHAPTER XII。
With the evening twilight the lovely lady returned and spent the
night in converse with the pious youth； leaving him in the morning
with her mind more humble； pure； and devout； and thus matters went on
for many days。 〃Thy palm…wine and thy dates must be coming to an
end；〃 said Zelinda one evening as she presented the youth with a
flask of rich wine and some costly fruits。 He； however； gently put
aside the gift and said； 〃Noble lady； I would accept your gift
gladly； but I fear some of your magic arts may perhaps cleave to it。
Or could you assure me to the contrary by Him whom you are now
beginning to know？〃 Zelinda cast down her eyes in silent confusion
and took her presents back。 On the following evening； however； she
brought similar gifts； and； smiling confidently； gave the desired
assurance。 Heimbert then partook of them without hesitation； and
from henceforth the disciple carefully provided for the sustenance of
her teacher in the wilderness。
And so； as the blessed knowledge of the truth sank more and more
deeply into Zelinda's soul； so that she was often sitting till dawn
before the youth； with cheeks glowing and hair dishevelled； her eyes
gleaming with delight and her hands folded； unable to withdraw
herself from his words； he； on his part； endeavored to make her
sensible at all times that it was only Fadrique's love for her which
had urged him； his friend； into this fatal desert； and that it was
this same love that had thus become the means for the attainment of
her highest spiritual good。 She still well remembered the handsome
and terrible captain who had stormed the height that he might clasp
her in his arms； and she related to her friend how the same hero had
afterward saved her in the burning library。 Heimbert too had many
pleasant things to tell of Fadriqueof his high knightly courage； of
his grave and noble manners； and of his love to Zelinda； which in the
night after the battle of Tunis was no longer concealed within his
passionate breast； but was betrayed to the young German in a thousand
unconscious expressions between sleeping and waking。 Divine truth
and the image of her loving hero both at once sank deep within
Zelinda's heart； and struck root there with tender but indestructible
power。 Heimbert's presence and the almost adoring admiration with
which his pupil regarded him did not disturb these feelings； for from
the first moment his appearance had something in it so pure and
heavenly that no thoughts of earthly love intruded。 When Heimbert
was alone he would often smile happily within himself； saying in his
own beloved German tongue； 〃It is indeed delightful that I am now
able consciously to do the same service for Fadrique as he did for
me； unconsciously； with his angelic sister。〃 And then he would sing
some German song of Clara's grace and beauty； the sound of which rang
with strange sweetness through the desert； while it happily beguiled
his solitary hours。
Once when Zelinda came in the evening twilight； gracefully bearing on
her beautiful head a basket of provisions for Heimbert； he smiled at
her and shook his head； saying； 〃It is inconceivable to me； sweet
maiden； why you ever give yourself the trouble of coming to me out
here in the desert。 You can indeed no longer find pleasure in magic
arts； since the spirit of truth and love dwells within you。 If you
would only transform the oasis into the natural form in which the
good God created it； I would go there with you； and we should have
far more time for holy converse。〃 〃Sir；〃 replied Zelinda； 〃you speak
truly。 I too have thought for some days of doing so and the matter
would have been already set on foot； but a strange visitor fetters my
power。 The Dervish whom you saw in Tunis is with me； and as in
former times we have practised many magic tricks with each other； he
would like again to play the old game。 He perceives the change in
me； and on that account urges me all the more vehemently and
dangerously。〃
〃He must either be driven away or converted；〃 said Heimbert； girding
on his shoulder…belt more firmly； and taking up his shield from the
ground。 〃Have the goodness； dear maiden；〃 he continued； 〃to lead me
to your enchanted isle。〃
〃You avoided it so before；〃 said the astonished Zeiinda；〃 and it is
still unchanged in its fantastic form。〃
〃Formerly it would have been only inconsiderate curiosity to have
ventured there；〃 replied Heimbert。 〃You came too out here to me； and
that was better for us both。 But now the old enemy might lay snares
for the ruin of all that the Lord has been working in you； and so it
is a knightly duty to go。 In God's name； then； to the work！〃
And they hastened forward together； through the ever…increasing
darkness of the plain； on their way to the blooming island。
CHAPTER XIII。
A charming breeze began to cool the heated brows of the travellers；
and the twinkling starlight revealed in the distance a grove； waving
to and fro with the gentle motion of the air。 Heimbert cast his eyes
to the ground and said； 〃Go before me； sweet maiden； and guide my
path to the spot where I shall find this threatening Dervish。 I do
not wish unnecessarily to see anything of these ensnaring
enchantments。〃
Zelinda did as he desired； and the relation of the two was for a
moment changed； the maiden had become the guide； and Heimbert； full
of confidence； allowed himself to be led upon the unknown path。
Branches were even now touching his cheeks； half caressingly and
playfully； wonderful birds； growing out of bushes； sang joyful songs；
over the velvet turf； upon which Heimbert ever kept his eyes fixed；
there glided gleaming serpents of green and gold； with little golden
crowns； and brilliant stones glittered on the mossy carpet。 When the
serpents touched the jewels； they gave forth a silvery sound。 But
Heimbert let the serpents creep and the gems sparkle； without
troubling himself about them； intent alone on following the footsteps
of his guide。
〃We are there！〃 said she with suppressed voice； and looking up he saw
a shining grotto of shells； within which he perceived a man asleep
clad in golden scale…armor of the old Numidian fashion。 〃Is that
also a phantom； there yonder in the golden scales？〃 inquired
Heimbert； smiling； but Zelinda looked very grave and replied； 〃Oh；
no！ that is the Dervish himself； and his having put on this coat…of…
mail； which has been rendered invulnerable by dragon's blood； is a
proof that by his magic he has become aware of our intention。〃 〃What
does that signify？〃 said Heimbert； 〃he would have to know it at
last。〃 And he began at once to call out； with a cheerful voice；
〃Wake up； old sir； wake up！ Here is an acquaintance of yours； who
has matters upon which he must speak to you。〃
And as the Dervish opened his large rolling eyes； everything in the
magic grove began to move； the water began to dance； and the branches
to intertwine in wild emulation； and at the same time the precious
stones and the shells and corals emitted strange and confusing
melodies。
〃Roll and turn； thunder and play as you like！〃 exclaimed Heimbert；
looking fixedly at the maze around him； 〃you shall not divert me from
my own good path； and Almighty God has given me a good far…sounding
soldier's voice which can make itself heard above all this tumult。〃
Then turning to the Dervish he said； 〃It appears； old man； that you
already know everything which has passed between Zelinda and me。 In
case； however； that it is not so； I will tell you briefly that she is
already as good as a Christian； and that she is the betrothed of a
noble Spanish knight。 Place nothing in the way of her good
intention； I advise you for your own sake。 But still better for your
own sake would it be if you would become a Christian yourself。
Discuss the matter with me； and first bid all this mad devilish show
to cease； for our religion； dear sir； speaks of far too tender and
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； cove