chronicle of the conquest of granada-第18章

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The　sober　counsel　of　the　marques；　however；　was　overruled。　　The　cavaliers；　accustomed　to　mountain…warfare；　considered　themselves　and　their　horses　equal　to　any　wild　and　rugged　expedition；　and　were　flushed　with　the　idea　of　terminating　their　foray　by　a　brilliant　assault　upon　Malaga。

Leaving　all　heavy　baggage　at　Antiquera；　and　all　such　as　had　horses　too　weak　for　this　mountain…scramble；　they　set　forth　full　of　spirit　and　confidence。　　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar　and　the　adelantado　of　Andalusia　led　the　squadron　of　advance。　　The　count　of　Cifuentes　followed　with　certain　of　the　chivalry　of　Seville。　　Then　came　the　battalion　of　the　most　valiant　Roderigo　Ponce　de　Leon；　marques　of　Cadiz：　he　was　accompanied　by　several　of　his　brothers　and　nephews　and　many　cavaliers　who　sought　distinction　under　his　banner；　and　this　family　band　attracted　universal　attention　and　applause　as　they　paraded　in　martial　state　through　the　streets　of　Antiquera。　　The　rear…guard　was　led　by　Don　Alonso　Cardenas；　master　of　Santiago；　and　was　composed　of　the　knights　of　his　order　and　the　cavaliers　of　Ecija；　with　certain　men…at…arms　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood　whom　the　king　had　placed　under　his　command。　　The　army　was　attended　by　a　great　train　of　mules；　laden　with　provisions　for　a　few　days'　supply　until　they　should　be　able　to　forage　among　the　Moorish　villages。　　Never　did　a　more　gallant　and　self…confident　little　army　tread　the　earth。　　It　was　composed　of　men　full　of　health　and　vigor；　to　whom　war　was　a　pastime　and　delight。　　They　had　spared　no　expense　in　their　equipments；　for　never　was　the　pomp　of　war　carried　to　a　higher　pitch　than　among　the　proud　chivalry　of　Spain。　　Cased　in　armor　richly　inlaid　and　embossed；　decked　with　rich　surcoats　and　waving　plumes；　and　superbly　mounted　on　Andalusian　steeds；　they　pranced　out　of　Antiquera　with　banners　flying　and　their　various　devices　and　armorial　bearings　ostentatiously　displayed；　and　in　the　confidence　of　their　hopes　promised　the　inhabitants　to　enrich　them　with　the　spoils　of　Malaga。

In　the　rear　of　this　warlike　pageant　followed　a　peaceful　band　intent　upon　profiting　by　the　anticipated　victories。　　They　were　not　the　customary　wretches　that　hover　about　armies　to　plunder　and　strip　the　dead；　but　goodly　and　substantial　traders　from　Seville；　Cordova；　and　other　cities　of　traffic。　　They　rode　sleek　mules　and　were　clad　in　goodly　raiment；　with　long　leather　purses　at　their　girdles　well　filled　with　pistoles　and　other　golden　coin。　　They　had　heard　of　the　spoils　wasted　by　the　soldiery　at　the　capture　of　Alhama；　and　were　provided　with　moneys　to　buy　up　the　jewels　and　precious　stones；　the　vessels　of　gold　and　silver；　and　the　rich　silks　and　cloths　that　should　form　the　plunder　of　Malaga。　　The　proud　cavaliers　eyed　these　sons　of　traffic　with　great　disdain；　but　permitted　them　to　follow　for　the　convenience　of　the　troops；　who　might　otherwise　be　overburdened　with　booty。

It　had　been　intended　to　conduct　this　expedition　with　great　celerity　and　secrecy；　but　the　noise　of　the　preparations　had　already　reached　the　city　of　Malaga。　　The　garrison；　it　is　true；　was　weak；　but　it　possessed　a　commander　who　was　himself　a　host。　　This　was　Muley　Abdallah；　commonly　called　El　Zagal；　or　the　Valiant。　　He　was　younger　brother　of　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　and　general　of　the　few　forces　which　remained　faithful　to　the　old　monarch。　　He　possessed　equal　fierceness　of　spirit　with　his　brother；　and　surpassed　him　in　craft　and　vigilance。　His　very　name　was　a　war…cry　among　his　soldiery；　who　had　the　most　extravagant　opinion　of　his　prowess。

El　Zagal　suspected　that　Malaga　was　the　object　of　this　noisy　expedition。　　He　consulted　with　old　Bexir；　a　veteran　Moor；　who　governed　the　city。　　〃If　this　army　of　marauders　should　reach　Malaga；〃　said　he；　〃we　should　hardly　be　able　to　keep　them　without　its　walls。　I　will　throw　myself　with　a　small　force　into　the　mountains；　rouse　the　peasantry；　take　possession　of　the　passes；　and　endeavor　to　give　these　Spanish　cavaliers　sufficient　entertainment　upon　the　road。〃

It　was　on　a　Wednesday　that　the　pranking　army　of　high…mettled　warriors　issued　forth　from　the　ancient　gates　of　Antiquera。　　They　marched　all　day　and　night；　making　their　way；　secretly　as　they　supposed；　through　the　passes　of　the　mountains。　　As　the　tract　of　country　they　intended　to　maraud　was　far　in　the　Moorish　territories；　near　the　coast　of　the　Mediterranean；　they　did　not　arrive　there　until　late　in　the　following　day。　　In　passing　through　these　stern　and　lofty　mountains　their　path　was　often　along　the　bottom　of　a　barranco；　or　deep　rocky　valley；　with　a　scanty　stream　dashing　along　it　among　the　loose　rocks　and　stones　which　it　had　broken　and　rolled　down　in　the　time　of　its　autumnal　violence。　　Sometimes　their　road　was　a　mere　rambla；　or　dry　bed　of　a　torrent；　cut　deep　into　the　mountains　and　filled　with　their　shattered　fragments。　　These　barrancos　and　ramblas　were　overhung　by　immense　cliffs　and　precipices；　forming　the　lurking…　places　of　ambuscades　during　the　wars　between　the　Moors　and　Spaniards；　as　in　after　times　they　have　become　the　favorite　haunts　of　robbers　to　waylay　the　unfortunate　traveller。

As　the　sun　went　down　the　cavaliers　came　to　a　lofty　part　of　the　mountains；　commanding　to　the　right　a　distant　glimpse　of　a　part　of　the　fair　vega　of　Malaga；　with　the　blue　Mediterranean　beyond；　and　they　hailed　it　with　exultation　as　a　glimpse　of　the　promised　land。　As　the　night　closed　in　they　reached　the　chain　of　little　valleys　and　hamlets　locked　up　among　these　rocky　heights；　and　known　among　the　Moors　by　the　name　of　the　Axarquia。　　Here　their　vaunting　hopes　were　destined　to　meet　with　the　first　disappointment。　　The　inhabitants　had　heard　of　their　approach：　they　had　conveyed　away　their　cattle　and　effects；　and　with　their　wives　and　children　had　taken　refuge　in　the　towers　and　fastnesses　of　the　mountains。

Enraged　at　their　disappointment；　the　troops　set　fire　to　the　deserted　houses　and　pressed　forward；　hoping　for　better　fortune　as　they　advanced。　　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar　and　the　other　cavaliers　in　the　van…guard　spread　out　their　forces　to　lay　waste　the　country；　capturing　a　few　lingering　herds　of　cattle；　with　the　Moorish　peasants　who　were　driving　them　to　some　place　of　safety。

While　this　marauding　party　carried　fire　and　sword　in　the　advance　and　lit　up　the　mountain…cliffs　with　the　flames　of　the　hamlets；　the　master　of　Santiago；　who　brought　the　rear…guard；　maintained　strict　order；　keeping　his　knights　together　in　martial　array；　ready　for　attack　or　defence　should　an　enemy　appear。　　The　men…at…arms　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood　attempted　to　roam　in　quest　of　booty；　but　he　called　them　back　and　rebuked　them　severely。

At　length　they　came　to　a　part　of　the　mountain　completely　broken　up　by　barrancos　and　ramblas　of　vast　depth　and　shagged　with　rocks　and　precipices。　　It　was　impossible　to　maintain　the　order　of　march；　the　horses　had　no　room　for　action；　and　were　scarcely　manageable；　having　to　scramble　from　rock　to　rock　and　up　and　down　frightful　declivities　where　there　was　scarce　footing　for　a　mountain…goat。　　Passing　by　a　burning　village；　the　light　of　the　flames　revealed　their　perplexed　situation。　　The　Moors；　who　had　taken　refuge　in　a　watch…tower　on　an　impending　height；　shouted　with　exultation　when　they　looked　down　upon　these　glistening　cavaliers　struggling　and　stumbling　among　the　rocks。　　Sallying　forth　from　their　tower；　they　took　possession　of　the　cliffs　which　overhung　the　ravine　and　hurled　darts　and　stones　upon　the　enemy。　　It　was　with　the　utmost　grief　of　heart　that　the　good　master　of　Santiago　beheld　his　brave　men　falling　like　helpless　victims　around　him；　without　the　means　of　resistance　or　revenge。　　The　confusion　of　his　followers　was　increased　by　the　shouts　of　the　Moors　multiplied　by　the　echoes　of　every　crag　and　cliff；　as　if　they　were　surrounded　by　innumerable　foes。　　Being　entirely　ignorant　of　the　country；　in　their　struggles　to　extricate　themselves　they　plunged　into　other　glens　and　defiles；　where　they　were　still　more　exposed　to　danger。　　In　this　extremity　the　master　of　Santiago　despatched　messengers　in　search　of　succor。　　The　marques　of　Cadiz；　like　a　loyal　companion…in…arms；　hastened　to　his　aid　with　his　cavalry：　his　approach　checked　the　assaults　of　the　enemy；　and　the　master　was　at　length　enabled　to　extricate　his　troops　from　the　defile。

In　the　mean　time；　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar　and　his　companions；　in　their　e