Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-11-13
GOOD STEEL.
The Legend of the Toledo Blade.

One of the most curious Of the cid
Spanish legends is one which Is supposed
to account for the extraordinary superb
GRITTY of the TOledan steel over that of
the whole werld. When the paladin RO-
land fell wounded unto death on the
CORY battle field of ROncesvaux, his ia
nous sword, Durandal, became the prize
OF Saraeen soldier in the service of the
caliph of BurgOs. Meyer was joy so
great as when it became generally known
among the Moors that their radoubtabls
foe, Roland, had departed from this ma
terial world forever. and that his no less
renowned Durandal had fallen into their
hands. and thus would never again be
able to work the terrible havoc among
their ranks that it had been wont to do.
The caliph gave orders that a magnifi-
cent case should be prepared, in which
he intended to deposit the sword and ex-
pose it to his subjects, who all knew of
1t, only too we'll, by fame, for had not
many father, son, husband, brother, or
uncle been sent off abruptly to another
world, there to be welcomed by the &C.
lestial hOuris, by the long swing and
heavy crash of that enchanted blade,
welded by the mighty arm of danger
Gus enemy, who had escaped scatheless
from the fury and revenge Of his bitter
foes?
All the greater holiday was the day to
be looked upon on which they were to be
peculiarly satisfied that the dreaded wea-
pom had truly become their own.
Therefore day and an hour was ap-
pointed on which the sword should be
formally put into its case for public in
spectiUn. The case which had been 80
carefully prepared was gorgeous with
gold embellishments and many rare and
precious stones. mostly presented by the
caliph himself. On the appointed day
he came in great state to receive the
sword; taking it up with both his hands,
he was about to place it i'm its case,
when, with loud. cry of stupefactiOn,
he stepped hurriedly back. Everybody
was then able to notice that DuraHdal
had escaped from his hands and was rap
idly disappearing in the ground, work
ing Is way down as though it were
screw. 1t Is not an easy task to portray
the confusion that reigned among the
turbaned crowd; enough to say the rush.
ing to and fro was highly bewildering,
and the imprecatiOns loud and fearful
The swarthy warriors cursed and tore
their boards, for Durandal could not he
stopped or recovered. 1t had escaped
them and disappeared from their sight
forever. For many long year the sword
remained under ground, working its way
all ever the country, over mountains,
down dales, and under the plains, caus-
ing strange upheavals and deep cracks
on its path. and keeping the poor people
liz a continual state of superstitiOus ter.
ror. At length DuraRdal either got tired
OF found resting place that suited it.
and so gave up its erratic movements, 10
be quietly concealed in the bed of
mountain spring of singularly bright
and pure water, whose water, flowing
between grassy banks and over a shinglY
bed. passed the proud city of Toledo.
From that hour the spring acquired
marvellous virtue, which bestowed i'm
mortality upon the fair Spanish town.
for. owing to the, water being used, the
steel of Toledo was of the best, and the
armorers were enabled to defy the rest
of ChristendOm, if not Damascus itself.
-COlburn's United Service Magazine.