“Fifth and last be this carbuncle which will light for you the darkest night, and if you bear it into battle no foe man can touch you.
“These five be the lost stones of Elfland. And a mighty treasure they are. Sell these if you will, lord”—he pointed to the rest of the gems which lay within the coffer still—”but keep the mystic five, I pray you!”
“Fear not—that I shall!” Huon replied, joyful for his great good fortune.
XII. HOW HUON GAINED THE GOOD WILL OF THE SHAH AND MARCHED TO FREE THE HOLY LAND
Huon and Bernard went into the city of Tauris together and even into the inner court of the Shah who was greatly astonished to see a Prankish knight and squire so far from their native land. But he received Huon and his follower with much courtesy, urging that they join in the feasting. And, when they had stayed their hunger, he had Huon brought before him again and asked the Duke why he had come so far from the realm of France. Then Huon made full answer, telling all that had befallen him during the year just past.
The Shah was moved by his story, so that he said unto Huon:
“Lord Duke, many and grievous have been the trials of heart and body which have been laid upon you. Were I in my youth again, then would I go out into the Holy Land in your company so that we might walk together, where the feet of Our Lord Jesu have trod, and fight righteously for Him, putting to the sword all infidels and devil worshipers who now hold that land. Thus having so wrought in His Name and cleansed me of all sin, I would sail across the seas with you and ride out against this traitor emperor who has so despitefully used you and yours.”
Huon thanked the Shah for his kind words, saying in reply:
“Lord, my heart rejoiceth much in what you have said. For to free the Holy Land from the impious hands of the infidel is indeed a good and glorious task, and if I strive to do this as best I can then surely will Our Lord Jesu further my efforts to free again Bordeaux.”
He then untied the corner of his surcoat and took therefrom the Apples of Paradise which had lain amongst its folds. And these glowed so it seemed that the sun itself had been loosed there in that room. One of the fruits he laid before the Shah who took it up, amazed at its beauty and fragrance.
With a smile Huon said, “Eat of this fruit, Lord Shah, and ail that you have wished for shall be possible—”
Then did the Shah bite deep into the fruit so that the juice of it ran out upon his white beard and age-trembling hands. But, lo, as he ate, his back grew straight again, his beard and hair darkened, and he was as a man in the full prime of his youth. And he and all of his court cried aloud their astonishment at this, demanding of Huon whence came this marvelous fruit. So that Huon answered them with the tale of the Apples of Paradise and” the shining Being he had seen within the garden of that place.
Also did he give unto the Shah certain jewels he had taken from the underground river, but not those which were of Elfland, and into his hands he offered also the boat which had borne him to Tauris. And all wondered at the richness of these gifts.
But Bernard took the magic gems to a worker in gold and jewels and had them set into a sword belt which Huon wore about his body, nor did he again part from that, since he trusted in the strange properties of the stones.
Out over all his land did the Shah then send the summons for his warriors to assemble. And in not too long a time he had gathered an army such as even the Emperor of Alamayne could not boast of leading. One half of this force he placed under the command of Huon and he himself rode in the van of the other half. So they marched into the Holy Land.^
There they took the city of Angore after much hard fighting and they put to flight a vast rabble of Saracens and infidels. But from Angore they needs must take ship upon the sea to reach their next goal. And storm clouds gathered black overhead so that these ships took refuge in the lee of a mountain which arose from the sea.
Huon, looking closely upon the crown of the mountain, thought that from its peak he might well see the course of the storm and whether or no it would keep them long pent within the bay. So, despite the pleading of his men, he set out to climb to that point.
Now the top of the mountain was flat and square and naught was there save a huge tun, or cask, of iron-bound wood. And by this tun lay an iron mallet of no small size or weight. From the tun issued forth all the while the voice of a man weeping and wailing.
Huon advanced to the tun and rapped upon it with his fist, calling out to know what manner of prisoner lay within it. And a voice returned answer, saying:
“If you be mortal man then you have come in good time to save me. Know you that I am that Cain who struck down his brother in hot anger. And for that fault I have been sealed in this place to bide until the end of measured time. But if a mortal man takes up the mallet which lies beyond and strikes in the head of this foul prison, then may I issue forth and join with the demons of the underworld which it is my fond wish to do. Nor will you be able to depart again from this place unless you so serve me!”
Huon went from the tun to the edge of the mountain slope and looked down into the bay. Thus he saw that the ships, and his men within them, were being driven by the wind and storm out into the sea so that he was left alone behind. And he returned again to the tun and called out:
“Holla, Cain, you say that there be a way out of this place. Tell me of it and I shall do as you wish. The mallet is within my hand even now.” And he struck upon the rock with the mallet so that the iron rang loud.
“Free me first,” began Cain, but Huon laughed aloud as he replied:
“Nay. For I cannot trust you in any part. Speak first, or I shall serve myself as best I can.”
And Gain, fearing that Huon could do even as he said, answered quickly:
“On the sea below awaits a ship manned by a demon. When I am free and go below I have only to show to him the mallet which now you hold and he will ferry me across the sea in safety to wherever I wish.”
When he had heard these words Huon tapped lightly upon the tun and said:
“Many thanks to you, Cain. Now will I go to prove the truth of that story.”
“Free me!” shouted Cain.
“Not so. For if you have been so set in your prison by the Will of Our Lord, it is not meet that man should free you until the proper time.”
Then did Cain roar out his rage, and in his anger he made plain his own black heart for he screamed:
“Had you loosed me as I asked, then would I have rent you limb from limb, for my hate against all men is hot!”
“So do I believe,” replied Huon. And with the mallet in his hand he went down again from that mountain place.
XIII. HOW HUON WAS FERRIED BY A DEMON ACROSS THE SEA AND AFTERWARDS DREAMED AN OMINOUS DREAM
When Huon came down from the mountain top, the path he followed led him into a narrow cove wherein was moored a boat as red as the fires of Hell, with sails as black as the nights of sin, and the master of this craft was a fearsome demon of so monstrous a face and form that Huon was fain to turn away his eyes, lest the sight breed in him real terror.
This demon, sighting the Duke, shouted forth in a loud and roaring voice, which brought stones tumbling down the cliffs above them:
“Ha, Cain, and is it you yourself? A thousand thousand years have I waited here for your coming. Now show me speedily the sign agreed upon and I shall set you across the sea that you may be able to work all manner of ill in the world of mortals!”