bands of plunderers were furiously pressing on his rear in search of booty and slaves. Otakar’s previous contentions with Rudolph have. I fear, exhausted his strength.”
“Surely,” said the Jew, “two stranger princes must have had violent provocation on one side or the other in the first instance.”
“You are insufficiently informed as to the acquaintance of the two leaders,” said Don Abraham. “Rudolph and Otakar have been intimately acquainted since the expedition that led to the foundation of Kénigsberg and the subjugation of the Prussians. During that expedition Rudolph was a poor knight captain in Otakar’s pay, and his rough leather coat formed a subject for mirth to his commander and brother in arms. He bore the jests with his seeming good humor; but since that time he has had more than his revenge. But pardon,” added Don Abraham. “I see the day is breaking in reality. Be prepared. Sir Esculapius, for professional duty in quarters that certainly you dreamed not of.” With this parting admonition Don Abraham departed, and Solomon and Pietro at once betook themselves to their patients.
But a new difficulty here arose. Solomon was pressed to prescribe for horses, for oxen, and for men still more foul and dirty. Teeth, eyes, hands, feet were all chronically affected, and a species of cutaneous ailment resembling diffused ringworm was almost universal. The fierce stoicism of the affected wretches suppressed as much as possible all
