The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-05-25
help toward the sratltication OF an
unworthy passion.

''''"'>' N''y .''s'+''CA's
The knight became intoxicatel with
the love which he had excited in the
breast OF the beautiful Moor, and
neither lent an ear to the counsels of
his friends. nor needed the murmurs
and complaints OF his tiisheartened
soldiers. In v;lin did they plead with
their commander to leave the walls,
as it was probable the Arabs would
attack them with great force as soon
as they recovered from their panic.
lndesal, it happened Just as they had
predicted. The Moorish chief gather.
ed men from all the ad Joining towns.
One morning the sentinel who was
on duty up in the watch tower hur-
ricd down TO warn the lovers that
throughout the mountains as far as
the eye could reach, beyond the rocks,
;tcloud ofwarrlors werefast approach
ing the fortress, and well might it be
supposed that NIoordom in n body
WIS about to fall upon the castle.
The daughter OF the chief OF hearing
this turned as p;tlc us death. The
knight in - loud voice called ior his
arms, and all was astir in tie camp.
The soldiers rushed ont in q tumu1t
from their quarters. the chiefs gave
their orders. theportcuIlises were low
cred, the drawbridge raised and the
towers were crowded with archers.
A few hours later the assault
began; the castle with Justice
might well he called impreg
nahl" Only by storm could the
Christians make themselves masters
81 IT, only hy storm could it be taken
from them. It's defenders resisted
from one to ten assaults. The Moors
then changed their tactics. surround.
etl the tort, and resolved to force the
bcsiegtd o surrender by famine.
Famine eventually made horrible
ravascs among the Christians, still
they yielded not, and those who had
most bitterly rcproved the conduct
oI their leader, KNOWN. that his life
and houor were at akc, sworc to
perish IN his defense. The Moor.s, inn
patient for success, resolved upon "a
mlinisht attack, which proved to he
u furious one, The resist anco was
desperate, the shock terrible.
bmrin. he fray the Moorish chief,
with brow cleft open by an AK stroke,
ieIl into the moal below from The
tower heights which lie had scaled Al
the same time Tho knight, who had
l,st encountered him in u hand to
hana fight. fell mort;lily wounded.
The Christians w;tvrred and retreat.
c'l. As quick us thought the Moorish
girl rushed to her lover who lay dying
ON the ground, and bending over him.
seized hin, in her arms. lmpellcd by
II supernatural force which came to
her with despair and the realization
OF danger, she dragged him to the
court. Ther" she pressed upon % hid
den spring, and through the opening
which w;ls thus disclosed in The rock
she soon disappeared within, carrying
with her her precious charge and pro.
ceele'l in her descent until she reach
ed the bottom oi i,r cave.
When the knight returned To his
senses lac cast about him u look iull OF
hewi!dcrel surprise, and cried, al am
t hirsty' am burning. Dying" and
then fell into hat delrum which is so
often the precursor OF death. From
his parched lips, through which
wheezed his scanty breathing, only
came these words "l am thirsty!
Mater, water water"
The q, kncwthat her subterraneau
retreat had an exit leading to the val,
Icy through which flows the river.
This valley and its vicinity were close
y guarded by the Arabs, who, after
ta,iipH tia4,iii PHI p.9yssessjop p.9yss Of the fortress, were
:hcir blood their th.s christian CHIEF .-
tion.
However, the bcaue,n. .soor hesi.
tated not u moment. Taking the he'll
met OF the dying man, shs.ulded like
u shadow through the thick shrubbery
which covered the mouth of tho cave
and noiselGssly stole down to the
RIVER bank. Already had she taken
{ he water: already was she hastening
back to the side OF her lover, when
til""e rcsnunlo,l IL whistle. and cry
'i anguish wa heard. The Moorish
wnrr,ors who were on guard around
I he fortress had dispatched their ar
rowS in the direction where t he foliage
seemed omovr. The b"a,,t iiul, brave
,lrl. wo,ni~i unto death, dragged
herself to HE mouth oi the cave; then
soon Joined hcr l"rd
He on seeing her thus bathel in her
own blood, recovered consciousness,
and III thit short moment recognized
the hidrnl.,u"sS OF the sin he was. so
thdlSilE Ills eyes w
heaven, he took he water which his
beloved handed him, and without
carrying it to hi:' lips asked OF her:
"Wouldst thou be II CHRISTIAN? Dost
thon wish 10 be of my faith, and If
lac saved. bo savG1l with me?" The
Moorish girl who had fallen to the
ground iain'ng through loss OF blood.
made !. slightly nrqucscent motion
with her shapcly head, upon which
the knight poured the rcgeneratful
waters of baptism, at the same time
the name oitla All-powering.
On the foilowin. day the very
soldiers who had struck the fatal
how saw traces oi blood from the
river bank TO the cave wherein they
found the bodies Of the Christian
ciicf and the Moorish girl; and she
ii is who still comes in the dead of
n-ht to wander in loneliness about
the old fortress oi f'iicro. -'l'ranslat-
dirom the spanish oil Gustav Becquer.