to his 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 the infidel foe. Wherever a little host made a fresh stand
to oppose the Christians, he would hasten forward with the troops,
who ranged themselves round him, resistless as he was, as round a
banner of victory, while Heimbert ever remained at his side like a
faithful shield, guarding off many a danger to which the youth,
intoxicated with rage and success, exposed himself without
consideration. The following day they heard of Barbarossa's flight
from the city, and the victorious troops 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 soldiers
were obliged to shake off the glowing and dusty flakes from their
mantles and richly plumed helmets, where they often rested
smouldering. "I trust the enemy in his despair has not set fire to
some magazine full of powder!" exclaimed the thoughtful Heimbert; and
Fadrique, allowing by a sign that he agreed with his surmise,
hastened on to the spot from whence the smoke proceeded, the troops
courageously pressing after him.

The sudden turn of a street brought them in view of a magnificent
palace, from the beautifully ornamented windows of which the flames
were emerging, looking like torches of death in their fitful glow,
and lighting up the splendid building in the hour of its ruin in the
grandest manner, now illuminating this and now that part of the
gigantic structure, and then again relapsing into a fearful darkness
of smoke and vapor.