s spear, he ordered
Pedrillo to bear it behind him.

Thus, riding on, he met the Shah and his daughter. The Shah at first
was highly pleased with his prowess; but when he heard that he was a
Christian Knight, his admiration was turned to rage, and he informed him
that he must either become a Pagan worshipper of the sun or quit the
country.

The Knight proudly answered that no one should make him quit the country
unless of his own free will.

On this the Shah's army surrounded him and Pedrillo, and, after a
desperate resistance on their parts, bore them to the ground.

"Now, Sir Knight, what will you do?" sneered the Shah. "However, you
have killed the greatest boar in the country, and, as your reward, you
shall choose the manner in which you and your Squire will be put to
death."

The Champion, who was gallant on all occasions, replied that he would be
shot to death by the fair damsels he had seen going forth to the chase.
But when they were informed of this, none were found willing to
undertake the cruel office.

This so enraged the Shah, that he ordained that they should cast lots to
decide who should perform the task. The lot fell on Celestine and one
of her maidens. She was to kill the Knight, and her maiden Pedrillo.
Instead, however, of death's fatal instrument, a steel-tipped arrow, she
shot a sigh--true messenger of love--as did her maiden; and then she
hastened to her father to entreat him, with bitter, scalding tears, to
liberate the strangers. At last he yielded, on condition that they
should forthwith quit the country.

Already had Saint James commenced his homeward journey, when, looking
back on the towers of Ispahan, so inflamed was his heart with the love
of Celestine, that he resolved to return and win her. He and Pedrillo,
therefore, staining their skins with the juice of some blackberries, and
at the same time habiting themselves in the costume of Moors, pretending
to be dumb, returned to the city.

Then Saint James presented himself as an Indian knight, and, entering
the army of the Shah, won such renown by his heroic deeds, that he was
soon raised to the highest posts of honour.

Now, there came from the far east two sovereigns, claiming the hand of
the fair Celestine; but she, thinking only of Saint James, refused to
entertain their proposals.

At a great tournament given in their honour, they both, clothed in
glittering armour, entered the lists; so did the seeming Moorish knight