uld not have so brave a warrior as you perish, with
hunger and thirst."

So saying, the young captain began to arrange the provisions in two
portions, placing the larger on his left and the smaller at his
right; he then desired the Arab to take the former, and added, to his
astonished companion, "See, good sir, I have either not much farther
to travel or I shall perish in the desert; I feel that it will be so.
Besides, I cannot carry half so much on foot as you can on horse-back."

"Knight! victorious knight!" cried the amazed Mussulman, "am I then to
keep my horse?"

"It were a sin and shame indeed," said Heimbert, smiling, "to separate
such a faithful steed from such a skilful rider. Ride on, in God's name,
and get safely to your people."

He then helped him to mount, and the Arab was on the point of uttering a
few words of gratitude, when he suddenly exclaimed, "The magic maiden!"
and, swift as the wind, he flew over the dusty plain. Heimbert, however,
turning round, saw close beside him in the now bright moonlight a
shining figure, which he at once perceived to be Zelinda.

CHAPTER XI.

The maiden looked fixedly at the young soldier, and seemed considering
with what words to address him, while he, after his long search and now
unexpected success, was equally at a loss. At last she said in Spanish,
"Thou wonderful enigma, I have been witness of all that has passed
between thee and the Arab; and these affairs confuse my head like a
whirlwind. Speak, therefore, plainly, that I may know whether thou art a
madman or an angel?"

"I am neither, dear lady," replied Heimbert, with his wonted
friendliness. "I am only a poor wanderer, who has just been putting into
practice one of the commands of his Master, Jesus Christ."

"Sit down," said Zelinda, "and tell me of thy Master; he must be himself
unprecedented to have such a servant. The night is cool and still, and
at my side thou hast no cause to fear the dangers of the desert."

"Lady," replied Heimbert, smiling, "I am not of a fearful nature, and
when I am speaking of my dear Saviour my mind is perfectly free from all
alarm."

Thus saying, they both sat down on the now cooled sand and began a
wondrous conversation, while the full moon shone upon them from the
deep-blue heavens above like a magic lamp.

Heimbert's words, full of divine love, truth, and simplicity sank like
soft sunbeams, gently and surely, into Zelinda's, heart, driving away
the myste