and exclaiming, "She is speaking up there! she is speaking loud! she
needs my help!" he dashed up the already burning steps. Heimbert
hesitated a moment; he saw the staircase already tottering, and he
thought to give a warning cry to his companion; but at the same
moment the light ornamental ascent gave way and burst into flames.
He could just see Fadrique clinging above to a brass grating and
swinging himself up to it, but all means of following him were
destroyed. Quickly recollecting himself, Heimbert lost no time in
idly gazing, but hastened through the adjacent halls in search of
another flight of steps which would lead him to his vanished friend.

Meanwhile Fadrique, following the enchanting voice, had reached a
gallery in the midst of which, the floor having fallen in, there was
a fearful abyss of flames, though the pillars on each side were still
standing. Opposite to him the youth perceived the longed-for maiden,
clinging with one hand to a pillar, while with the other she was
threatening back some Spanish soldiers, who seemed ready at any
moment to seize her, and her delicate foot was already hovering over
the edge of the glowing ruins. For Fadrique to go to her was
impossible; the breadth of the opening rendered even a desperate leap
unavailing. Trembling lest his call might make the maiden
precipitate herself into the abyss, either in terror or despairing
anger, he only softly raised his voice and whispered as with a breath
over the flaming gulf, "Oh, Zelinda, Zelinda! do not give way to such
frightful thoughts! Your preserver is here!" The maiden turned her
queenly head, and when Fadrique saw her calm and composed demeanor,
he cried to the soldiers on the other side, with all the thunder of
his warrior's voice, "Back, ye insolent plunderers! Whoever advances
but one step to the lady shall feel the vengeance of my arm!" They
started and seemed on the point of withdrawing, when one of their