Chapter 16

CHAPTER XVI.
THE WAR IN AFRICA. WHEN Astolpho had descended to the earth with the precious phial,
St. John showed him a plant of marvellous virtues, with which he
told him he had only to touch the eyes of the king of Abyssinia to
restore him to sight. "That important service," said the saint, "added
to your having delivered him from the Harpies, will induce him to give
you an army wherewith to attack the Africans in their rear, and
force them to return from France to defend their own country." The
saint also instructed him how to lead his troops in safety across
the great deserts, where caravans are often overwhelmed with moving
columns of sand. Astolpho, fortified with ample instructions,
remounted the Hippogriff, thanked the saint, received his blessing,
and took his flight down to the level country.
Keeping the course of the river Nile, he soon arrived at the capital
of Abyssinia, and rejoined Senapus. The joy of the king was great when
he heard again the voice of the hero who had delivered him from the
Harpies. Astolpho touched his eyes with the plant which he had brought
from the terrestrial paradise, and restored their sight. The king's
gratitude was unbounded. He begged him to name a reward, promising
to grant it, whatever it might be. Astolpho asked an army to go to the
assistance of Charlemagne, and the king not only granted him a hundred
thousand men, but offered to lead them himself.
The night before the day appointed for the departure of the
troops, Astolpho mounted his winged horse, and directed his flight
towards a mountain, whence the fierce South-wind issues, whose blast
raises the sands of the Nubian desert, and whirls them onward in
overwhelming clouds. The paladin, by the advice of St. John, had
prepared himself with a leather bag, which he placed adroitly, with
its mouth open, over the vent whence issues this terrible wind. At the
first dawn of morning the wind rushed from its cavern to resume its
daily course, and was caught in the bag, and securely tied up.
Astolpho, delighted with his prize, returned to his army, placed
himself at their head, and commenced his march. The Abyssinians
traversed without danger or difficulty those vast fields of sand which
separate their country from the kingdoms of Northern Africa, for the
terrible South-wind, taken completely captive, had not force enough
left to blow out a candle.
Senapus was distressed that he could not furnish any cavalry, for
his country, rich in camels and elephants, was destitute of horses.
This difficulty the saint had foreseen, and had taught Astolpho the
means of remedying. He now put those means in operation. Having
reached a place whence he beheld a vast plain and the sea, he chose
from his troops those who appeared