Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-04-25
THE ABEHcERRAaE.
From Washington Irving New Book WI ert's Roost.

| & So #
On the summit Of craggy hill, spur Of
the mountains Of Konda, stands the caslle
of Aliora now mere ruin infested hy bats
and owlcts; but in old times strong border
hold. which kept watch upon the warlike
kingdom of Or, NADIA, and held the Moors
il check. 1t was post always confd d 10
some well tried commander, and at the time
Of which we treat was held by Roderigo de
Narvacz, alcadc or military governor Of An
tibuera. 1t was frontier post Of his COM
mand; but he rasssd most Of bis time there,
because its situation on the borders gave
| frequent opportunity for these adventurous
Exploits in which the Spanish chivalry de-,
| lighted.
| He was veteran. famed among both
Moors and Christians, no; only for deeds of
arms, but fol that magnanimous courtesy
stern virtues of n soldier
His garrison consisted of sc. 900 men, well
appointed and well mounted, with which he
maintained such vigilant watch, that nothing
could escape his eve. While some remain d
on guard in the castle, he you'd sally forth
with hers, proving about the highways
til. paths and defies of the mountains by
day and night, and now and then making a
y
On a fair and beautiful night in SIMMER,
wher the moon was in the full and the fresh
ness of the v.ninc breeze had tempered the
heat of the day, the aleayde wi h nine OF his
cavaliers, was going he rounds OF the mourn
taips in quest Of adventures. Thy rode ST.
lently and cautiously. for it was " night to
tempt others abroad, and they might be over
heard by Moorish scout or traveller; they
kept along ravines and hollow ways, moreo-
yer, lest they should b. b ,rayed by the gilt
tering Of tho moon W on their armor. Com
ing to a 70. K in tie read, the acayde order
I'd that five of his cavaliers to take one OF
the branches. while he with the remaining
four would take the other. Should Ell her
party be in danger blast of horn was to
be the sigma for succor. The party of fv"
had not proceeded far, when in passing
through a detil', they heard the voice of
man singing. Con Ing themselves among
the trees they await his appro oh. Tn
moon whicn left the grove in sh dow, shone
flu upon his person as h. slowly advanced,
mount on dappe or Y steed of powerful
! frame aud generous spirit, and ma n fcen,-
/ " capari oned. lie was II M,oris'' cava-
lier OF noble demennor and grac full carriage
array ed in morlata or Tune, AMI an al
| boinaz Of erms n d mask, frinced with gold.
Hi, Tnnsian turl'an of many folds. was OF
str ped silk and cotton, bordered with a co.
den ir nec; a, his eirdlc hung q Damascus
sem Ia. with ..::3ps aud assles of silk al d
gold. On his left arm he bore aud in his
/ light hand grasp ID long doabl' oin:c cd
lance. Apparently dreaming of no d niger
he eat neg'igentiy on his ssccd, gazing on
the moon and singing with sweet and love-
| Is 20 ce, q Moorish love dirty.
! just opposite T. grove where the cavaliers
We're concealed The horse turned aside to
dunk at Il SIN ii fountain, n a rock b de
| the DAD. His rider threw the reins on bis
neck to let h IN drink 1T case aud CONT iued
his song.
| The cavaliers whisper with each Other.
Charm d with the 'iant and ntlc appear
ance OF the Moor, they d telminel not 10
harm bur pture him; an easy task as they
supposed n this negligent mood. Rushing
forth they thought to surround and take him
by surprst. n yer were n,en more Ia .s,aken.
. 10 gather up his reins, wheel round his
seed. brace his buckIgr, and couch his lance
was but The work OF an instant; and there he
sat fixed like castle in his saddle.
The cavaliers checked their steeds and re-
conhoilered I'm warily, 10Th to come to On
encounter which must prove fatal to him.
| The Moor now held parley. elf ye be
true knights, AM seek for honorable fam.
crme on singly and will meet each in sue
cess.on; if " be mere lurkcrs Of ,ht road IN
tent on spoil, come all at once and do your
worst"
| The cavaliers communed together for a
MON nt,when one par ing from the others ad-
vanced. "A.thouga no law Of chtvalry,"
SAIL he, "obliges is to risk the loss OF
rrize,yet We will willingly grant as courtesy
VIII 1t we might refuse rs right. Valiant
Moor defend thyselt!"
SO saying he wheeled, took proper distance
couched his lance, and putting spurs to his
horse made at the stranger. The latter met
IN In md career, tran-pierced him with
his lance, and threw him from his ga idle.
| second and Il tn I'd succeeded, hut were
endorsed with equal facility, and thrown to
the earth severely wounded. The remaining
two seeing their comrades thus roughl
treated, forgot all compact Of courtesy, and
charged both at once upon the Moor. He
rri' d the thrust Of one, but was wound I'd
in the thigh by the o ther, land in the schock and
confus o.. dropped his lance. Thus d sarm
ed, and closely press d, be pretended to Ay.
aud Was holy .pursu d. Having drawn the
Two NaIlers some dis' al c. from the spIt he
wheeled short about, with one Of those dex-
teIouS movements for which the Moorish
hnrs man are renown d, swung himself down
from his sad lie so IS to G ten VI hi, lance.
th n Lightly replacing himself turned to re-
new the combit. Seeing him hu tr sh from
the encoun er, as # just is ued from b .
tent, one Of the cavaiie.s put $ lips to his
ho n, and bl blast that soon brough.
tie a.cayde aud his four companions to the
81
Narva z seeing three of his cavaliers ex-
lend d OH the ear b, and txo o hers hotly en-
gag with thu Moor was sru with aumi-
L a "A /,