bent toward him, and he almost fancied he felt a sweet kiss breathed
from her lips. When he fully recovered himself Clara had
disappeared, the morning clouds were beginning to wear the rosy hue
of dawn, and Heimbert, with a heaven of love's proud happiness in his
heart, returned to his watchful friend at 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 are
mistaken, my good comrade," said the German, smiling, "it is I whom
you see before you." "Do not imagine, Knight Heimbert of
Waldhausen," said Fadrique, "that I mistake you. But my promise is
discharged, my hour of guard has been honorably kept, and now I beg
you without further delay to prepare yourself, and fight for your
life until heart's blood has ceased to flow through these veins."
"Good heavens!" sighed Heimbert, "I have often heard that in these
southern lands there are witches, who deprive people of their senses
by magic arts and incantations. But I have never experienced
anything of the sort until to-day. Compose yourself, 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 order to
understand it, know then that the lady whom you came to meet in the
shrubbery of this my garden is Dona Clara Mendez, my only sister.