rcing to the heart. He would have immediately answered to the
challenge, but Taric forbade it, and ordered that the Christian envoy
should be conducted from the camp. ''Tis well,' replied Theodomir; 'God
will give me the field which you deny. Let yon hoary apostate look to
himself to-morrow in the battle, for I pledge myself to use my lance upon
no other foe until it has shed his blood upon the native soil he has
betrayed.' So saying, he left the camp; nor could the Moslem chieftains
help admiring the honest indignation of this patriot knight, while they
secretly despised his renegado adversary.

The ancient Moorish chroniclers relate many awful portents, and strange
and mysterious visions, which appeared to the commanders of either army
during this anxious night. Certainly it was a night of fearful suspense,
and Moslem and Christian looked forward with doubt to the fortune of the
coming day. The Spanish sentinel walked his pensive round, listening
occasionally to the vague sounds from the distant rock of Calpe, and
eyeing it as the mariner eyes the thunder cloud, pregnant with terror and
destruction. The Arabs, too, from their lofty cliffs beheld the numerous
camp-fires of the Christians gradually lighted up, and saw that they were
a powerful host; at the same time the night breeze brought to their ears
the sullen roar of the sea which separated them from Africa. When they
considered their perilous situation, an army on one side, with a whole
nation aroused to re-enforce it, and on the other an impassable sea, the
spirits of many of the warriors were cast down, and they repented the day
when they had ventured into this hostile land.

Taric marked their despondency, but said nothing. Scarce had the first
streak of morning light trembled along the sea, however, when he summoned
his principal warriors to his tent. 'Be of good cheer,' said he: 'Allah is
with us, and has sent his prophet to give assurance of his aid. Scarce had
I retired to my tent last night, when a man of a majestic and venerable
presence stood before me. He was taller by a palm than the ordinary race
of men; his flowing beard was of a golden hue, and his eyes were so bright
that they seemed to send forth flashes of fire. I have heard the Emir
Bahamet, and other ancient men, describe the prophet, whom they had seen
many times while on earth, and such was his form and lineament. 'Fear
nothing, O Taric, from the morrow,' said he, 'I will be with thee in the