king who built this mighty pile, was skilled in the Leon, and Arragon; and Muley Aben Hassan sat occult sciences, and furnished himself with gold and on the throne of Granada. This Muley Aben Hassan silver for the purpose by means of alchemy.* Cer- had succeeded to his father Ismael in 1465, while tainly, never was there an edifice accomplished in a Henry IV., brother and immediate predecessor of superior style of barbaric magnificence; and the queen Isabella, was king of Castile and Leon. He stranger who, even at the present day, wanders was of the illustrious lineage of Mohammed Aben among its silent and deserted courts and ruined | Alaman, the first Moorish king of Granada, and was halls, gazes with astonishment at its gilded and fret- the most potent of his line. He had in fact augted domes and luxurious decorations, still retaining mented in power, in consequence of the fall of other their brilliancy and beauty in defiance of the ravages Moorish kingdoms, which had been conquered by of time. the Christians. Many cities and strong places of those kingdoms, which lay contiguous to Granada, had refused to submit to Christian vassalage, and had sheltered themselves under the protection of Muley Aben Hassan. His territories had thus increased in wealth, extent, and population, beyond all former example, and contained fourteen cities and ninetyseven fortified towns, besides numerous unwalled towns and villages, defended by formidable castles. The spirit of Muley Aben Hassan swelled with his possessions. Opposite to the hill on which stood the Alhambra, was its rival hill, on the summit of which was a spacious plain, covered with houses and crowded with inhabitants. It was commanded by a fortress called the Alcazaba. The declivities and skirts of these hills were covered with houses to the number of seventy thousand, separated by narrow streets and small squares, according to the custom of Moorish cities. The houses had interior courts and gardens, refreshed by fountains and running streams, and set out with oranges, citrons, and pomegranates, so that as the edifices of the city rose above each other on the sides of the hill, they presented a mingled appearance of city and grove, delightful to the eye. The whole was surrounded by high walls, three leagues in circuit, with twelve gates, and fortified by a thousand and thirty towers. The elevation of the city, and the neighborhood of the Sierra Nevada crowned with perpetual snows, tempered the fervid rays of summer; so that, while other cities were When he came to the throne, he ceased all paypanting with the sultry and stifling heat of the dog-ment of the tribute; and it was sufficient to put him days, the most salubrious breezes played through in a transport of rage, only to mention it. the marble halls of Granada. a fierce and warlike Infidel," says the Catholic Fray Antonio Agapida; "his bitterness against the holy Christian faith had been signalized in battle, during the life-time of his father; and the same diabolical spirit of hostility was apparent in his ceasing to pay this most righteous tribute." The glory of the city, however, was its vega or plain, which spread out to a circumference of thirtysever. leagues, surrounded by lofty mountains. It was a vast garden of delight, refreshed by numerous fountains, and by the silver windings of the Xenil. The labor and ingenuity of the Moors had diverted the waters of this river into thousands of rills and streams, and diffused them over the whole surface of the plain. Indeed, they had wrought up this happy region to a degree of wonderful prosperity, and took a pride in decorating it, as if it had been a favorite mistress. The hills were clothed with orchards and vineyards, the valleys embroidered with gardens, and the wide plains covered with waving grain. Here were seen in profusion the orange, the citron, the fig, and pomegranate, with great plantations of mulberry trees, from which was produced the finest of silk. The vine clambered from tree to tree; the grapes hung in rich clusters about the peasant's cottage, and the groves were rejoiced by the perpetual song of the nightingale. In a word, so beautiful was the earth, so pure the air, and so serene the sky, of this delicious region, that the Moors imagined the paradise of their Prophet to be situated in that part of the heaven which overhung the kingdom of Granada.t The tribute of money and captives had been regularly paid by his father Ismael; and Muley Aben Hassan had, on one occasion, attended personally in Cordova, at the payment. He had witnessed the taunts and sneers of the haughty Castilians; and so indignant was the proud son of Afric at what he considered a degradation of his race, that his blood boiled whenever he recollected the humiliating scene. CHAPTER II. "He was HOW THE CATHOLIC SOVEREIGNS SENT to de- IN the year 1478, a Spanish courtier, of powerful frame and haughty demeanor, arrived at the gates of Granada, as ambassador from the Catholic monarchs, to demand the arrear of tribute. His name was Don Juan de Vera, a zealous and devout knight, full of ardor for the faith, and loyalty for the crown. He was gallantly mounted, armed at all points, and followed by a moderate, but well-appointed retinue. The Moorish inhabitants looked jealously at this small but proud array of Spanish chivalry, as it paraded, with that stateliness possessed only by This rich and populous territory had been left in Spanish cavaliers, through the renowned gate of quiet possession of the Infidels, on condition of an Elvira. They were struck with the stern and lofty annual tribute to the sovereign of Castile and Leon, demeanor of Don Juan de Vera, and his sinewy of two thousand doblas or pistoles of gold, and six-frame, which showed him formed for hardy deeds teen hundred Christian captives; or, in default of of arms; and they supposed he had come in search captives, an equal number of Moors to be surren- of distinction, by defying the Moorish knights in open dered as slaves; all to be delivered in the city of tourney, or in the famous tilt with reeds, for which Cordova.‡ they were so renowned; for it was still the custom At the era at which this chronicle commences, of the knights of either nation to mingle in these Ferdinand and Isabella, of glorious and happy mem-courteous and chivalrous contests, during the interory, reigned over the united kingdoms of Castile, * Zurita, lib. 20. C. 42. Juan Botero Benes. Relaciones Universales del Mundo. vals of war. When they learnt, however, that he was come to demand the tribute so abhorrent to the ears of the fiery monarch, they observed that it well required a warrior of his apparent nerve, to execute such an embassy. Muley Aben Hassan received the cavalier in state, | tilities. His walls and towers were of vast strength, scated on a inagnificent divan, and surrounded by in complete repair, and mounted with lombards and the officers of his court, in the hall of ambassadors, other heavy ordnance. His magazines were well one of the most sumptuous apartments of the Al- stored with all the munitions of war: he had a mighty hambra. When De Vera had delivered his message, host of foot-soldiers, together with squadrons of cava haughty and bitter smile curled the lip of the fierce alry, ready to scour the country and carry on either monarch. "Tell your sovereigns," said he, "that defensive or predatory warfare. The Christian warthe kings of Granada, who used to pay tribute in riors noted these things without dismay; their hearts money to the Castilian crown, are dead. Our mint rather glowed with emulation, at the thoughts of enat present coins nothing but blades of scimitars and countering so worthy a foe. As they slowly pranced heads of lances."* through the streets of Granada, on their departure, they looked round with eagerness on its stately palaces and sumptuous mosques; on its alcayceria or bazar, crowded with silks and cloth of silver and gold, with jewels and precious stones, and other rich merchandise, the luxuries of every clime; and they longed for the time when all this wealth should be the spoil of the soldiers of the faith, and when each tramp of their steeds might be fetlock deep in the blood and carnage of the Infidels. The defiance couched in this proud reply, was heard with stern and lofty courtesy by Don Juan de Vera, for he was a bold soldier, and a devout hater of the Infidels; and he saw iron war in the words of the Moorish monarch. He retired from the audience chamber with stately and ceremonious gravity, being master of all points of etiquette. As he passed through the Court of Lions, and paused to regard its celebrated fountain, he fell into a discourse with the Moorish courtiers on certain mysteries of the Christian faith. The arguments advanced by those Infidels (says Fray Antonio Agapida) awakened the pious indignation of this most Christian knight and discreet ambassador; but still he restrained himself within the limits of lofty gravity, leaning on the pommel of his sword, and looking down with ineffable scorn upon the weak casuists around him. The quick and subtle Arabian witlings redoubled their light attacks upon this stately Spaniard, and thought they had completely foiled him in the contest; but the stern Juan de Vera had an argument in reserve, for which they were but little prepared; for, on one of them, of the race of the Abencerrages, daring to question, with a sneer, the immaculate conception of the blessed virgin, the Catholic knight could no longer restrain bis ire. Raising his voice of a sudden, he told the Infidel he lied; and, raising his arm at the same time, he smote him on the head with his sheathed sword. In an instant the Court of Lions glistened with the flash of arms, and its fountains would have been dyed with blood, had not Muley Aben Hassan overheard the tumult, and forbade all appeal to arms, pronouncing the person of the ambassador sacred while within his territories. The Abencerrage treasured up the remembrance of the insult until an hour of vengeance should arrive, and the ambassador prayed our blessed lady to grant him an opportunity of proving her immaculate conception on the head of this turbaned Infidel.t Don Juan de Vera and his little band pursued their way slowly through the country, to the Christian frontier. Every town was strongly fortified. The vega was studded with towers of refuge for the peasantry; every pass of the mountain had its castle of defence, every lofty height its watch-tower. As the Christian cavaliers passed under the walls of the fortresses, lances and scimitars flashed from their battlements, and the turbaned sentinels seemed to dart from their dark eyes glances of hatred and defiance. It was evident that a war with this kingdom must be one of doughty peril and valiant enterprise; a war of posts, where every step must be gained by toil and bloodshed, and maintained with the utmost difficulty. The warrior spirit of the cavaliers kindled at the thoughts, and they were impatient for hostilities; "not," says Antonio Agapida, "for any thirst for rapine and revenge, but from that pure and holy indignation which every Spanish knight entertained at beholding this beautiful dominion of his ancestors defiled by the footsteps of Infidel usurpers. It was impossible," he adds, "to contemplate this delicious country, and not long to see it restored to the dominion of the true faith, and the sway of the Christian monarchs." When Don Juan de Vera returned to the Castilian court, and reported the particulars of his mission, and all that he had heard and seen in the Moorish territories, he was highly honored and rewarded by king Ferdinand; and the zeal he had shown in vinNotwithstanding this occurrence, Don Juan de dication of the sinless conception of the blessed virVera was treated with great distinction by Muley gin, was not only applauded by that most Catholic Aben Hassan; but nothing could make him unbend of sovereigns, but gained him great favor and refrom his stern and stately reserve. Before his de-nown among all pious cavaliers and reverend prelparture, a scimitar was sent to him by the king; the ates. blade of the finest Damascus steel, the hilt of agate enriched with precious stones, and the guard of gold. De Vera drew it, and smiled grimly as he noticed the admirable temper of the blade. "His majesty has given me a trenchant weapon," said he; "I trust CHAPTER III. FIRST BLOW IN THE WAR. a time will come when I may show him that I know HOW THE MOOR DETERMINED TO STRIKE THE how to use his royal present." The reply was considered as a compliment, of course; the bystanders little knew the bitter hostility that lay couched beneath. THE defiance thus hurled at the Castilian sover. eigns by the fiery Moorish king, would at once hav: been answered by the thunder of their artillery; but they were embroiled, at that time, in a war with Portugal, and in contests with their own factious nobles. The truce, therefore, which had existed for many years between the nations, was suffered to continue; the wary Ferdinand reserving the refusal to pay tribute as a fair ground for war, whenever the favorable moment to wage it should arrive. In the course of three years, the war with Portugal was terminated, and the factions of the Spanish nobles were, for the most part, quelled. The Cas- | vigilance to guard them: let warrior and dame take tilian sovereigns now turned their thoughts to what, warning from the fate of Zahara. from the time of the union of their crowns, had been the great object of their ambition,-the conquest of Granada, and the complete extirpation of the Moslem power from Spain. Ferdinand, whose pious zeal was quickened by motives of temporal policy, looked CHAPTER IV. THE FORTRESS OF ZAHARA. with a craving eye at the rich territory of the Moor, EXPEDITION OF MULEY ABEN HASSAN AGAINST studded with innumerable towns and cities. He determined to carry on the war with cautious and persevering patience, taking town after town and fortress after fortress, and gradually plucking away all the supports, before he attempted the Moorish capital. I will pick out the seeds, one by one, of this pomegranate," said the wary Ferdinand.* IT was in the year of our Lord one thousand four hundred and eighty-one, and but a night or two after the festival of the most blessed Nativity, that Muley Aben Hassan made his famous attack upon Zahara. The inhabitants of the place were sunk in Muley Aben Hassan was aware of the hostile in- profound sleep; the very sentinel had deserted his tentions of the Catholic monarch, but felt confident post, and sought shelter from a tempest which had in his means of resisting them. He had amassed raged for three nights in succession; for it appeared great wealth, during a tranquil reign; he had but little probable that an enemy would be abroad strengthened the defences of his kingdom, and had during such an uproar of the elements. But evil drawn large bodies of auxiliary troops from Barbary, spirits work best during a storm, (observes the besides making arrangements with the African worthy Antonio Agapida,) and Muley Aben Hassan princes to assist him with supplies, in case of emer- found such a season most suitable for his diabolical gency. His subjects were fierce of spirit, stout of purposes. In the midst of the night, an uproar arose heart, and valiant of hand. Inured to the exercises within the walls of Zahara, more awful than the of war, they could fight skilfully on foot, but, above raging of the storm. A fearful alarm cry-" The all, were dexterous horsemen, whether heavily armed Moor! the Moor!" resounded through the streets, and fully appointed, or lightly mounted a la geneta, mingled with the clash of arms, the shriek of anguish, with simply lance and target. They were patient and the shout of victory. Muley Aben Hassan, at of fatigue, hunger, thirst, and nakedness; prompt the head of a powerful force, had hurried from Grafor war, at the first summons of their king, and nada, and passed unobserved through the mountains tenacious in defence of their towns and possessions. in the obscurity of the tempest. While the storm Thus amply provided for war, Muley Aben Hassan pelted the sentinel from his post, and howled round determined to be beforehand with the politic Ferdi- tower and battlement, the Moors had planted their nand, and to be the first to strike a blow. In the scaling-ladders, and mounted securely, into both truce which existed between them, there was a singu- town and castle. The garrison was unsuspicious of lar clause, permitting either party to make sudden danger, until battle and massacre burst forth within inroads and assaults upon towns and fortresses, its very walls. It seemed to the affrighted inhabitprovided they were done furtively and by stratagem, ants, as if the fiends of the air had come upon the without display of banners or sound of trumpet, or wings of the wind, and possessed themselves of regular encampment, and that they did not last tower and turret. The war cry resounded on every above three days. This gave rise to frequent en- side, shout answering shout, above, below, on the terprises of a hardy and adventurous character, in battlements of the castle, in the streets of the town which castles and strong holds were taken by sur--the foe was in all parts wrapped in obscurity, but prise, and carried sword in hand. A long time had acting in concert by the aid of preconcerted signals. elapsed, however, without any outrage of the kind on Starting from sleep, the soldiers were intercepted the part of the Moors; and the Christian towns on and cut down as they rushed from their quarters; the frontiers had all, in consequence, fallen into a or, if they escaped, they knew not where to assemstate of the most negligent security. ble, or where to strike. Wherever lights appeared, Muley Aben Hassan cast his eyes round to select the flashing scimitar was at its deadly work, and all his object of attack, when information, was brought who attempted resistance fell beneath its edge. him that the fortress of Zahara was but feebly gar- In a little while, the struggle was at an end. risoned and scantily supplied, and that its alcayde Those who were not slain took refuge in the secret was careless of his charge. This important post was places of their houses, or gave themselves up as on the frontier, between Ronda and Medina Sidonia, captives. The clash of arms ceased; and the and was built on the crest of a rocky mountain, with storm continued its howling, mingled with the oca strong castle perched above it, upon a cliff, so high casional shout of the Moorish soldiery, roaming in that it was said to be above the flight of birds or search of plunder. While the inhabitants were drift of clouds. The streets and many of the houses trembling for their fate, a trumpet resounded were mere excavations, wrought out of the living through the streets, summoning them all to asrock. The town had but one gate, opening to the semble, unarmed, in the public square. Here they west, and defended by towers and bulwarks. The were surrounded by soldiery, and strictly guarded, only ascent to this cragged fortress was by roads | until day-break. When the day dawned, it was pitecut in the rock, and so rugged as in many places to ous to behold this once prosperous community, who resemble broken stairs. Such was the situation of had laid down to rest in peaceful security, now the mountain fortress of Zahara, which seemed to crowded together without distinction of age, or set all attack at defiance, insomuch that it had be- rank, or sex, and almost without raiment, luring come so proverbial throughout Spain, that a woman the severity of a wintry storm. The fierce Muley of forbidding and inaccessible virtue was called a Aben Hassan turned a deaf car to all their prayers Zahareña. But the strongest fortress and sternest and remonstrances, and ordered them to be convirtue have weak points, and require unremitting ducted captives to Granada. Leaving a strong garrison in both town and castle, with orders to put them in a complete state of defence, he returned, flushed with victory, to his capital, entering it at * Granada is the Spanish term for pomegranate. España, 1. 25, c. I. +Zurita. Anales de Aragon, l. 20, c. 41. Mariana. Hist de the head of his troops, laden with spoil, and bear ing in triumph the banners and pennons taken at | vengeance of the christians, he now threw off all Zahara. - While preparations were making for jousts and other festivities, in honour of this victory over the Christians, the captives of Zahara arrived a wretched train of men, women, and children, worn out with fatigue and haggard with despair, and driven like cattle into the city gates, by à detachment of Moorish soldiery. Deep was the grief and indignation of the people of Granada, at this cruel scene. Old men, who had experienced the calamities of warfare, anticipated coming troubles. Mothers clasped their infants to reserve, and made attempts to surprise Castellan and Elvira, though without success. He sent alfaquis, also, to the Barbary powers, informing them that the sword was drawn, and inviting them to aid in maintaining the kingdom of Granada, and the religion of Mahomet, against the violence of unbelievers. CHAPTER V. ALHAMA. their breasts, as they beheld the hapless females of EXPEDITION OF THE MARQUES OF CADIZ AGAINST Zahara, with their children expiring in their arms. On every side, the accents of pity for the sufferers were mingled with execrations of the barbarity of the king. The preparations for festivity were neglected; and the viands, which were to have feasted the conquerors, were distributed among the captives. The nobles and alfaquis, however, repaired to the Alhambra, to congratulate the king; for, whatever storms may rage in the lower regions of society, rarely do any clouds, but clouds of incense, rise to the awful eminence of the throne. In this instance, however, a voice rose from the midst of the obsequious crowd, that burst like thunder upon the ears of Aben Hassan. 'Wo! wo! wo! to Granada!" exclaimed the voice; "its hour of desolation approaches. The ruins of Zahara will fall upon our heads; my spirit tells me that the end of our empire is at hand! All shrunk back aghast, and left the denouncer of wo standing alone in the centre of the hall. He was an ancient and hoary man, in the rude attire of a dervise. Age had withered his form without quenching the fire of his spirit, which glared in baleful lustre from his eyes. He was, (say the Arabian historians,) one of those holy men termed santons, who pass their lives in hermitages, in fasting, meditation, and prayer, until they attain to the purity of saints and the foresight of prophets. "He was,' says the indignant Fray Antonio Agapida, "a son of Belial, one of those fanatic infidels possessed by the devil, who are sometimes permitted to predict the truth to their followers; but with the proviso, that their predictions shall be of no avail." GREAT was the indignation of king Ferdinand, when he heard of the storming of Zahara-more especially as it had anticipated his intention of giving the first blow in this eventful war. He valued himself upon his deep and prudent policy; and there is nothing which politic monarchs can less forgive, than thus being forestalled by an adversary. He immediately issued orders to all the adelantados and alcaydes of the frontiers, to maintain the utmost vigilance at their several posts, and to prepare to carry fire and sword into the territories of the Moors, Among the many valiant cavaliers who rallied round the throne of Ferdinand and Isabella, one of the most eminent in rank and renowned in arms was Don Roderigo Ponce de Leon, marques of Cadiz. As he was the distinguished champion of this holy war, and commanded in most of its enterprises and battles, it is meet that some particular account should be given of him. He was born in 1443, of the valiant lineage of the Ponces, and from his earliest youth had rendered himself illustrious in the field. He was of the middle stature, with a muscular and powerful framc, capable of great exertion and fatigue. His hair and beard were red and curled, his countenance was open and magnanimous, of a ruddy complexion, and slightly marked with the small-pox. He was temperate, chaste, valiant, vigilant; a just and generous master to his vassals; frank and noble in his deportment towards his equals; loving and faithful to his friends; fierce and terrible, yet magnanimous, to his enemies. He was considered the mirror of chivalry of his times, and compared by contemporary historians to the immortal Ĉid. The voice of the santon resounded through the lofty hall of the Alhambra, and struck silence and awe into the crowd of courtly sycophants. Muley The marques of Cadiz had vast possessions in the Aben Hassan alone was unmoved; he eyed the most fertile parts of Andalusia, including many towns hoary anchorite with scorn as he stood dauntless and castles, and could lead forth an army into the before him, and treated his predictions as the rav- field from his own vassals and dependants. On reings of a maniac. The santon rushed from the ceiving the orders of the king, he burned to signalroyal presence, and, descending into the city, hur-ize himself by some sudden incursion into the kingried through its streets and squares with frantic ges-dom of Granada, that should give a brilliant comticulations. His voice was heard, in every part, in mencement to the war, and should console the sovawful denunciation. "The peace is broken! the exterminating war is commenced. Wo! wo! wo to Granada! its fall is at hand! desolation shall dwell in its palaces; its strong men shall fall beneath the sword, its children and maidens shall De led into captivity. Zahara is but a type of ereigns for the insult they had received in the capture of Zahara. As his estates lay near to the Moorish frontiers, and were subject to sudden inroads, he had always in his pay numbers of adalides, or scouts and guides, many of them converted Moors. These he sent out in all directions, to watch the movements Granada!" of the enemy, and to procure all kinds of information Terror seized upon the populace, for they consid-important to the security of the frontier. One of ered these ravings as the inspirations of prophecy. They hid themselves in their dwellings, as in a time of general mourning; or, if they went abroad, it was to gather together in knots in the streets and squares, to alarm each other with dismal forebodings, and to curse the rashness and cruelty of the fierce Aben Hassan. The Moorish monarch heeded not their murmurs. Knowing that his exploit must draw upon him the these spies came to him one day in his town of Marchena, and informed him that the Moorish town of Alhama was slightly garrisoned and negligently guarded, and might be taken by surprise. This was a large, wealthy, and populous place within a few leagues of Granada. It was situated on a rocky height, nearly surrounded by a river, and defended by a fortress to which there was no access but by a steep and cragged ascent. The strength of its situ ation, and its being embosomed in the centre of the kingdom, had produced the careless security which now invited attack. To ascertain fully the state of the fortress, the marques dispatched secretly a veteran soldier, who was highly in his confidence. His name was Ortega de l'rado, a man of great activity, shrewdness, and valor, and captain of escaladors, or those employed to scale the walls of fortresses in time of attack. Ortega approached Alhama one moonless night, and paced along its walls with noiseless step, laying his ear occasionally to the ground or to the wall. Every time, he distinguished the measured tread of a sentinel, and now and then the challenge of the nightwatch going its rounds. Finding the town thus guarded, he clambered to the castle :-there all was silent. As he ranged its lofty battlements, between him and the sky he saw no sentinel on duty. He noticed certain places where the wall might be ascended by scaling-ladders; and, having marked the hour of relieving guard, and made all necessary observations, he retired without being discovered. with noiseless steps. Ortega was the first that mounted upon the battlements, followed by one Martin Galindo, a youthful esquire, full of spirit and eager for distinction. Moving stealthily along the parapet to the portal of the citadel, they came upon the sentinel by surprise. Ortega seized him by the throat, brandished a dagger before his eyes, and ordered him to point the way to the guard-rom. The infidel obeyed, and was instantly dispatched, to prevent his giving an alarm. The guard-room was a scene rather of massacre than combat. Some of the soldiery were killed while sleeping, others were cut down almost without resistance, bewildered by so unexpected an assault: all were dispatched, for the scaling party was too small to make prisoners of to spare. The alarm spread throughout the castle, but by this time the three hundred picked men had mounted the battlements. The garrison, startled from sleep, found the enemy already masters of the towers. Some of the Moors were cut down at once, others fought desperately from room to room, and the whole castle resounded with the clash of arms, Ortega returned to Marchena, and assured the the cries of the combatants, and the groans of the marques of Cadiz of the practicability of scaling the wounded. The army in ambush, finding by the upcastle of Alhama, and taking it by surprise. The roar that the castle was surprised, now rushed from marques had a secret conference with Don Pedro their concealment, and approached the walls with Henriquez Adelantado, of Andalusia; Don Diego de loud shouts, and sound of kettle-drums and trumpets, Merlo, commander of Seville; and Sancho de Avila, to increase the confusion and dismay of the garrison. alcayde of Carmona, who all agreed to aid him with A violent conflict took place in the court of the their forces. On an appointed day, the several com- castle, where several of the scaling party sought to manders assembled at Marchena with their troops throw open the gates to admit their countrymen. and retainers. None but the leaders knew the object Here fell two valiant alcaydes, Nicholas de Roja or destination of the enterprise; but it was enough and Sancho de Avila; but they fell honorably, upon to rouse the Andalusian spirit, to know that a foray a heap of slain. At length Ortega de Prado sucwas intended into the country of their old enemies, ceeded in throwing open a postern, through which the Moors. Secrecy and celerity were necessary for the marques of Cadiz, the adelantado of Andalusia, success. They set out promptly, with three thou- and Don Diego de Merlo, entered with a host of fulsand genetes, or light cavalry, and four thousand in-lowers, and the citadel remained in full possession fantry. They chose a route but little travelled, by of the christians. the way of Antiquera, passing with great labor through rugged and solitary defiles of the Sierra or chain of mountains of Alzerifa, and left all their baggage on the banks of the river Yeguas, to be brought after them. Their march was principally in the night; all day they remained quiet; no noise was suffered in their camp, and no fires were made, lest the smoke should betray them. On the third day they resumed their march as the evening darkened, and forcing themselves forward at as quick a pace as the rugged and dangerous mountain roads would permit, they descended towards midnight into a small deep valley, only half a league from Alhama. Here they made a halt, fatigued by this forced march, during a long dark evening towards the end of February. The marques of Cadiz now explained to the troops the object of the expedition. He told them it was for the glory of the most holy faith, and to avenge the wrongs of their countrymen of Zahara; and that the rich town of Alhama, full of wealthy spoil, was the place to be attacked. The troops were roused to new ardor by these words, and desired to be led forthwith to the assault. They arrived close to Alhama about two hours before daybreak. Here the army remained in ambush, while three hundred men were dispatched to scale the walls and get possession of the castle. They were picked men, many of them alcades and officers, men who preferred death to dishonor. This gallant band was guided by the escalador Ortega de Prado, at the head of thirty men with scaling-ladders. They clambered the ascent to the castle in silence, and arrived under the dark shadow of its towers without being discovered. Not a light was to be seen, not a sound to be heard; the whole place was wrapped in profound repose. Fixing their ladders, they ascended cautiously and As the Spanish cavaliers were ranging from room to room, the marques of Cadiz, entering an apart ment of superior richness to the rest, beheld, by the light of a silver lamp, a beautiful Moorish female, the wife of the alcayde of the castle, whose husband was absent, attending a wedding-feast at Velez Malaga. She would have fled at the sight of a christian warrior in her apartment, but, entangled in the covering of the bed, she fell at the feet of the marques, imploring mercy. The christian cavalier, who had a soul full of honor and courtesy towards the sex, raised her from the floor, and endeavored to allay her fears; but they were increased at the sight of her female attendants pursued into the room by the Spanish soldiery. The marques reproached his soldiers with their unmanly conduct, and reminded them that they made war upon men, not on defenceless women. Having soothed the terrors of the females by the promise of honorable protection, he appointed a trusty guard to watch over the security of their apartment. The castle was now taken; but the town below it was in arms. It was broad day, and the people, recovered from their panic, were enabled to see and estimate the force of the enemy. The inhabitants were chiefly merchants and trades-people; but the Moors all possessed a knowledge of the use of weapons, and were of brave and warlike spirit. They confided in the strength of their walls, and the cer tainty of speedy relief from Granada, which was but about eight leagues distant. Manning the battlements and towers, they discharged showers of stones and arrows, whenever the part of the christian army, without the walls, attempted to approach. They barricadoed the entrances of their streets, also, which opened towards the castle; stationing men expert at |