sabre he still held in his right hand. He did so, and both
combatants rose, and again sunk down upon the sand, for the victor
was far more weary than the vanquished.

The Arab's good horse meanwhile had trotted toward them, according to
the habit of those noble animals, who never forsake their fallen
master. It now stood behind the two men, stretching out its long
slender neck affectionately toward them. "Arab," said Heimbert with
exhausted voice, "take from thy horse what provision thou hast with
thee and place it before me." The vanquished man humbly did as he
was commanded, now just as much submitting to the will of the
conqueror as he had before exhibited his animosity in anger and
revenge. After a few draughts of palm-wine from the skin, Heimbert
looked at the youth under a new aspect; he then partook of some
fruits, drank more of the palm-wine, and at length said, "You are
going to ride still farther to-night, young man?" "Yes, indeed,"
replied the Arab sadly; "on a distant oasis there dwells my aged
father and my blooming bride. Now--even if you set me at full
liberty--I must perish in the heat of this barren desert, for want
of sustenance, before I can reach my lovely home."

"Is it, perhaps," asked Heimbert, "the oasis on which the mighty
enchantress, Zelinda, dwells?"

"Allah protect me!" cried the Arab, clasping his hands. "Zelinda's
wondrous isle offers no hospitable shelter to any but magicians.
It lies far away in the scorching south, while our friendly oasis
is toward the cooler west."

"I only asked in case we might be travelling companions," said