Very curiously fashioned of ivory and ebony was this boat, so that half of it was black and half white. And within it were cushions of the finest damask and silk from the East which even a king might have been proud to wear upon his body.
Huon pushed the boat off from the shore and , took the tiller, letting the current bear him where it would, with the faith in his heart that he would . again see Bordeaux.
All day the stream bore him swiftly along and he broke his fast with the viands and drink he found stored in boxes and flagons at his feet. But his mind was not at ease and, had he been able, he would have quickened that voyaging a hundredfold.
Now the stream began to run between high rock ; walls and in time these met far overhead to form a roof lost in the shadows. So Huon knew that he had been carried underground. But it grew no darker and he perceived that light arose out of the water itself, and, after a while, having no fear, he laid him down and slept.
In that hour he dreamed that he saw the Lady Claramonde encompassed in gray stone and black iron and that her fair face was white and wan and that she stretched forth her hands and cried out to him for aid. But he was held apart from her by some force so that he could reply not.
Struggling, he awoke to find that beneath him the boat rocked and that he was still underground, but was moving not. And for the first time since entering upon the stream he was afraid, afraid that he might-be trapped there underground with no hope of reaching light and day once more.
XI. HOW HUON VOYAGED UNDERGROUND AND MET WITH THE FAITHFUL BERNARD ONCE MORE
By the light which came from out of the water he .saw that the prow of his boat had struck into a bar of sand and gravel which thrust out into the stream. And he leaped out upon this to see what damage his vessel had suffered. In the gravel under his feet lay divers stones which glowed and blazed with fiery light and by the aid of these he perceived that the boat had taken no harm from the mishap, but was merely caught.
Wishing to have more light with him in this place of lasting gloom he scooped up from the sand these glowing gems and tossed them into the boat where they made a glittering heap like unto a sea lantern for light. Then, putting his shoulder to the boat, he pushed it off into deep water once more and jumped aboard as the current gripped it and carried it on.
For another space of time he ate and slept within the dark, but when he awoke for the second time he found himself on an open bay of the sea and saw in the distance the walls and towers and wharves of a city. Then did he raise the sail which lay within the boat and the wind bore him toward that city where many flags and banners hung from the battlements as if those within celebrated some feast day.
Huon’s boat came in to one of the wharves and the people there marveled to see so small a ship fashioned in so rich a manner. They called out to Huon, asking who he was and from whence he came. Thus did he learn in talk with these sailors that this was the city of Tauris in the land of Persia and that the Shah of the land abode now within its walls, having proclaimed a feast for all comers in honor of the Lord Jesu, the Shah having but recently become a Christian.
Then did Huon give thanks aloud that he had come to a Christian land and he decided to go before the Shah and pray aid of him. But, before he stood in the palace of the ruler of Persia, a great and joyous happening was to befall him and in this manner.
After the Squire Bernard had taken Clarette to Cluny and left the child safe there with the Abbot he bethought himself that he must now search out his lord, the Duke Huon, wherever in the world he might be, and bring him the dire tidings of what had chanced in Bordeaux. So he took ship and sailed to the eastern seas upon that quest.
First came he into the port of Jaffa where he went among the Knights of the Cross and all manner of traveling merchants and far-voyaging sail- ors, asking for news of his lord. But no man there had heard aught of Huon. From Jaffa, Bernard next went to Jerusalem, but here was no news either. So finally he made the journey to Cairo, and long and perilous that journey was. There, when he was asking through the merchants’ quarters for tidings of far-off lands, he met a Prankish trader who replied to him thus:
“Friend, but lately I have heard that the Shah of Persia has been newly converted to belief in our faith. And for the honor of this faith he has proclaimed a feast to be held in his city of Tauris for all comers. Merchants will go thither to trade their wares, and surely in such a gathering you will gain some news of your lord. I, myself, am fitting out a caravan to travel to Tauris and, if you wish, you may travel with me.”
It seemed to Bernard that this was sage and excellent council. Accordingly he joined with the Prankish merchant across the desert into the fields of Persia, coming in good time to the city of Tauris. There he did go down to the seaside, planning to ask news of the sailors new come to that port. And there was hope in his heart, for many strange ships lay at anchor there—so many that their masts were as a forest of trees.
By chance he came to the very wharf where Huon had tied up his boat, and there Bernard heard of the coming of the foreign knight who had appeared so strangely out of the sea. He went on board the boat hoping that this stranger might have some word of his master. And there he saw Huon, but since the Duke was fully armed and helmed he saw not his face nor knew that here stood the very man he sought.
But Huon, knowing him, cried out a loud and joyful greeting:
“Bernard of Bordeaux!”
And the Squire replied: “In truth here stands Bernard once of that unhappy city. But you, sir, I know not.”
Straightway Huon put up the visor of his helm so that his face was uncovered to the day and Bernard, with a shout of thankfulness, fell down upon his knees and gave glory to Our Lord for bringing him so to his journey’s end after such weary searching. Then he made known unto the Duke how ill had chanced matters since Huon had left his city.
But Huon, having already heard this tale from the Being in the garden, was not so stricken and said unto his faithful squire:
“Good youth, we have stout arms and swords— and with these, God willing, we shall put right what is wrong. Now we must find gold to take us back to France—”
But Bernard, while his lord had been speaking, noted a strong light coming from out a coffer on the deck before him. And now he asked what lay within. Huon replied that it contained certain stones he had found in the sands of the underground river and he told to Bernard the full tale of his wanderings.
The squire opened the coffer and, when he saw what lay within, he was greatly astounded and cried:
“Now here lies one of the greatest treasures that is in our world. For these be the lost jewels of the Elfmen and of them I have heard many a tale and of them I have read many a time in the ancient chronicles. It is said that these jewels do turn night into day, and in addition they have other virtues.”
Out of the pile he took an amethyst of purple as deep as the robes of state.
“Now the property of this is that he who wears it cannot be poisoned, nay, not even if his cup brims with venom, and he may also pass through fire and water without any hurt.
“While the wearer of this”—and Bernard brought forth a diamond which was like unto a star for frozen brilliance—”cannot hunger or thirst, nor does his countenance show the ravages of time, man’s eternal enemy.
“This emerald heals the wounds of him who bears it and restores the sight of those blinded, if it be laid upon their eyes. While this ruby conquers all ills of the body. With it upon you, you need not fear even the Black Plague. And also it will eat away the chains of any prisoner, if touched to the iron, and last of all it can render its wearer invisible at his will.