Heimbert courteously. "If that cannot be, we must certainly divide
the provisions; for I would not have so brave a warrior as you
perish, with hunger and thirst."

So saying, the young captain began to arrange the provisions in two
portions, placing the larger on his left and the smaller at his
right; he then desired the Arab to take the former, and added, to his
astonished companion, "See, good sir, I have either not much farther
to travel or I shall perish in the desert; I feel that it will be so.
Besides, I cannot carry half so much on foot as you can on horse-
back."

"Knight! victorious knight!" cried the amazed Mussulman, "am I then
to keep my horse?"

"It were a sin and shame indeed," said Heimbert, smiling, "to
separate such a faithful steed from such a skilful rider. Ride
on, in God's name, and get safely to your people."

He then helped him to mount, and the Arab was on the point of
uttering a few words of gratitude, when he suddenly exclaimed, "The
magic maiden!" and, swift as the wind, he flew over the dusty plain.
Heimbert, however, turning round, saw close beside him in the now
bright moonlight a shining figure, which he at once perceived to be
Zelinda.




CHAPTER XI.