"does the Christian viper still hiss so strongly? Then it only
behooves me to put spurs to my horse and leave thee to perish here,
thou lost creeping worm!" "Ride to the devil, thou dog of a
heathen!" retorted Heimbert; "rather than entreat a crumb of thee I
will die here, unless the good God sends me manna in the wilderness."

And the Arab spurred forward his swift steed and galloped away a
couple of hundred paces, laughing with scorn. Then he paused, and
looking round to Heimbert he trotted back and said, "Thou seemest too
good, methinks, to perish here of hunger and thirst. Beware! my good
sabre shall touch thee."

Heimbert, who had again stretched himself hopelessly on the burning
sand, was quickly roused to his feet by these words, and seized his
sword; and sudden as was the spring with which the Arab's horse flew
toward him, the stout German warrior stood ready to parry the blow,
and the thrust which the Arab aimed at him in the Mohammedan manner
he warded off with certainty and skill.

Again and again the Arab sprung; similarly here and there, vainly
hoping to give his antagonist a death-blow. At last, overcome by
impatience, he approached so boldly that Heimbert, warding off the
threatening weapon, had time to seize the Arab by the girdle and drag
him from the fast-galloping horse. The violence of the movement
threw Heimbert also on the ground, but he lay above his opponent, and
holding close before his eyes a dagger, which he had dexterously
drawn from his girdle, he exclaimed, "Wilt thou have mercy or death?"
The Arab, trembling, cast down his eyes before the gleaming and
murderous weapon, and said, "Show mercy to me, mighty warrior; I
surrender to thee." Heimbert then ordered him to throw away the