nk what was now
handed to him, it looked so bright in the cup, outshining the gold
itself. He stretched forth his hand, took the brimming goblet, and
raised it to his lips, when immediately it dried up and disappeared.
Huon and Sherasmin, like Gascons as they were, laughed at his
astonishment. "Christian dogs!" he exclaimed, "do you dare to insult me
at my own table? But I will soon be revenged." At these words he threw
the cup at the head of his nephew, who caught it with his left hand,
while with the other he snatched the turban, with its crescent, from
the Governor's head and threw it on the floor. All the Saracens started
up from table, with loud outcries, and prepared to avenge the insult.
Huon and Sherasmin put themselves on their defence, and met with their
swords the scimitars directed against them. At this moment the doors of
the hall opened and a crowd of soldiers and armed eunuchs rushed in,
who joined in the attack upon Huon and Sherasmin. The Prince and his
followers took refuge on a broad shelf or side-board, where they kept
at bay the crowd of assailants, making the most forward of them smart
for their audacity. But more troops came pressing in and the brave
Huon, inspired by the wine of Bordeaux, and not angry enough to lose
his relish for a joke, blew a gentle note on his horn, and no sooner
was it heard than it quelled the rage of the combatants and set them to
dancing. Huon and Sherasmin, no longer attacked, looked down from their
elevated position on a scene the most singular and amusing. Very soon
the Sultanas, hearing the sound of the dance and finding their guards
withdrawn, came into the hall and mixed with the dancers. The favorite
Sultana seized upon a young Santon, who performed jumps two feet high;
but soon the long dresses of this couple got intermingled and threw
them down. The Santon's beard was caught in the Sultana's necklace, and
they could not disentangle them. The Governor by no means approved this
familiarity, and took two steps forward to get at the Santon, but he
stumbled over a prostrate Dervise and measured his length on the floor.
The dancing continued till the strength of the performers was
exhausted, and they fell, one after the other, and lay helpless. The
Governor at length made signs to Huon that he would yield everything if
he would but allow him to rest. The bargain was ratified; the Governor
allowed Huon and Sherasmin to depart on their way, and even gave them a
ring whic