Then there appeared across the sky before them a band of sullen fire and there was a sound to be heard even above the fury of the wind, a sound like unto the crackling of flames. The master of the ship, weak and trembling so that he could hardly stand upon his two feet, came to Huon and said:
“My Lord Duke, now we poor sinners be indeed undone and utterly lost, for the storm has driven us over the edge of the world and before us now lie the iron gates of Hell—even as legend has reported it!”
Huon looked upon that band of flames and listened to that dolorous moaning which seemed to issue therefrom, and he, too, knew fear. But he stood straight and faced to it, saying:
“We be but mortal men and so full of sin. But on this sailing we come with clean hearts and the wish to aid those weaker than ourselves. So by the promises made us by Lord Jesu, I say to you now— fear not. For Hell shall not engulf us, nor swallow us this day!”
And he spoke the truth, for though the current of the waters bore them close to those iron gates which bar that foul place and they heard the wailing of the lost within, yet did they escape Hell .and were carried on. At length the flames faded from the sky and before them they saw a point of honest sunlight piercing through the gloom.
This beam struck full upon a rocky mountain rising out of the sea, a mountain as black as the stormy night which lay behind them. But on its crown was a castle of purest white so that Huon and all those within the ship took heart with looking upon it, for it must be the keep of some great lord who would give them rest and shelter.
Straight toward the mountain of rock drove the vessel, and now the master again looked wan and afraid as he cried aloud:
“Alas! We are the most unfortunate of men! This be the castle and the rock of Adamant, which is truly a trap to catch honest sailors. Know you that there is that in this rock which draws to it all of iron, even to the nails in the ship, and once it holds it never lets go again. They who come to Adamant go not forth from there again!”
From their ship they could now see about the foot of the mountain many other vessels, some old and rotted with time until they were crumbling into the water they rested upon. And into the heart of this dead fleet was drawn their own ship, pounding to bits many of the wrecks about it.
But as the day faded it appeared to Huon that lights shone out in the windows of the castle above and he wished to climb the rock and seek help, since the store of food and water they had on board was but a small one. But still was his arm useless to him, so that he himself could not attempt such a feat.
Then did one of his men, Sir Arnold, who came from mountain country and had ofttimes climbed among rocks for sport, stand out and say that he would assay the climb. And he put aside his mail and all weapons but his belt knife. They wished him well as he began to scramble across the slimy rock near the sea where the spray dashed high.
The way to the castle was not too difficult and he came at length to the main gate. There he paused and hailed those who might be within. But no one answered him save the rising wind, nor could he see any sentry on the battlements or hear anything move within.
Since the gate stood ajar he ventured inside. But there was no man or woman to be seen in all the courtyard. It was like a house of the long since dead. As he lingered there, shivering a little with cold and loneliness, he heard at last a sound, but not that of honest footsteps. And he turned to see gliding across the pavement a loathly serpent. Taller than the wall behind, it reared its fanged head and from its open jaws dripped green venom to spatter on the stones.
Sir Arnold, having naught but his belt knife to defend himself, fled for his life, dodging the serpent and winning down the rock again to the ship. There he told what he had seen, saying that death, fanged and scaled, crawled through those halls above and no mortal man might go safely there.
So did those on the ship know despair, for their food grew less with each passing day and men dropped in their weakness and could not keep their feet. But a second ship drove in among the pack of wrecks and this was manned by pirates. Huon called upon his men to arm and fight and they did take the pirate ship and put those within to the sword. For a while thereafter they had the provisions found there to stay them and they knew hope again.
But in no way could they free their vessel from the grip of Adamant and as the weeks passed one by one they sickened and died, some from starvation, some from illness bred by the rotten ships about them, and some from lack of hope. Only Huon would not allow his heart to faint for he kept ever before him the thought of Bordeaux and those who lay behind its walls trusting him. And he swore that he would do all in the power of mortal man in their behalf.
Then came the morning when he was the only living man to rise from his couch, all alone on the ship. And nowhere was there a mouthful of bread or water to assuage his hunger and thirst. He knew that death was very nigh to him. But he determined that if that be so it would be a death of his own choosing. And, though his body was weak so that he had to rest many times, he donned his mail and helm and belted on his sword.
Then he turned to the rock and called out in a loud and ringing voice “Monster or demon, I, Huon of Bordeaux, do come now and I bring your death upon the point of my steel.”
Then he began to ascend the rock, having to go slowly because of his great weakness and the pain which still made his sword arm heavy. But after a time he came out upon the top of the mountain and saw before him the gates of the castle. The sun touched to golden fire certain words graven on these gates which Huon read, this being the warning of Adamant.
“Let him who enters herein beware, for unless he be the worthiest of mortal knights with a body like unto steel, this venture shall prove his last. But if his courage fails not—then let him enter.”
And Huon, drawing his sword, entered into the castle of Adamant.
VIII. OF THE CASTLE ADAMANT AND ITS LOATHLY GUARDIAN
In the courtyard there was nothing living to be seen—not even a bird—and a deep silence hung over the place, which Huon thought must be like unto the silence which abides within a tomb. In him his heart grew chill and he knew the coldness of true fear.
Then out of the silence there came a sound, a strange slithering noise which was not made, he knew, by mortal man. And he saw, coming forth from the inner hall, the loathly serpent which Sir Arnold had spoken of.
Many spans high swung its head and its blazing eyes were like unto flaming lamps. In its mouth its tongue flickered back and forth like the lash of a slaver’s whip and its fangs dripped green and acid venom. Their fangs were as long as a stout man’s arm and there seemed to be no end to the scaled body of the creature.
When it saw Huon it hissed and screamed and coiled across the pavement. Huon held his shield before him and stood ready with his sword. But the monster lunged a blow with its blunt head and, catching the edge of the shield with one of its fangs, tore the iron apart as if it were but rotted wood.
Huon’s sword struck straight and true upon its. body but the scales there were as the stoutest armor and the steel blade slipped down without cutting through them.
Again the serpent drew back its head for a fatal stroke. And now Huon flung from him the riven shield and useless sword, knowing the darkness of despair. Then he chanced to sight a lance leaning against the inner gate, a lance shining and barbed and longer than any he had ever seen before. This he seized upon before the serpent struck.