chronicle of the conquest of granada-第19章

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from　the　defile。

In　the　mean　time；　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar　and　his　companions；　in　their　eager　advance；　had　likewise　got　entangled　in　deep　glens　and　the　dry　beds　of　torrents；　where　they　had　been　severely　galled　by　the　insulting　attacks　of　a　handful　of　Moorish　peasants　posted　on　the　impending　precipices。　　The　proud　spirit　of　De　Aguilar　was　incensed　at　having　the　game　of　war　thus　turned　upon　him；　and　his　gallant　forces　domineered　over　by　mountain…boors　whom　he　had　thought　to　drive；　like　their　own　cattle；　to　Antiquera。　　Hearing；　however；　that　his　friend　the　marques　of　Cadiz　and　the　master　of　Santiago　were　engaged　with　the　enemy；　he　disregarded　his　own　danger；　and；　calling　together　his　troops；　returned　to　assist　them；　or　rather　to　partake　their　perils。　Being　once　more　together；　the　cavaliers　held　a　hasty　council　amidst　the　hurling　of　stones　and　the　whistling　of　arrows；　and　their　resolves　were　quickened　by　the　sight　from　time　to　time　of　some　gallant　companion…in…arms　laid　low。　　They　determined　that　there　was　no　spoil　in　this　part　of　the　country　to　repay　for　the　extraordinary　peril；　and　that　it　was　better　to　abandon　the　herds　they　had　already　taken；　which　only　embarrassed　their　march；　and　to　retreat　with　all　speed　to　less　dangerous　ground。

The　adalides；　or　guides；　were　ordered　to　lead　the　way　out　of　this　place　of　carnage。　　These；　thinking　to　conduct　them　by　the　most　secure　route；　led　them　by　a　steep　and　rocky　pass；　difficult　for　the　foot…soldiers；　but　almost　impracticable　to　the　cavalry。　　It　was　overhung　with　precipices；　from　whence　showers　of　stones　and　arrows　were　poured　upon　them；　accompanied　by　savage　yells　which　appalled　the　stoutest　heart。　　In　some　places　they　could　pass　but　one　at　a　time；　and　were　often　transpierced；　horse　and　rider；　by　the　Moorish　darts；　impeding　the　progress　of　their　comrades　by　their　dying　struggles。　　The　surrounding　precipices　were　lit　up　by　a　thousand　alarm…fires：　every　crag　and　cliff　had　its　flame；　by　the　light　of　which　they　beheld　their　foes　bounding　from　rock　to　rock　and　looking　more　like　fiends　than　mortal　men。

Either　through　terror　and　confusion　or　through　real　ignorance　of　the　country　their　guides；　instead　of　conducting　them　out　of　the　mountains；　led　them　deeper　into　their　fatal　recesses。　　The　morning　dawned　upon　them　in　a　narrow　rambla；　its　bottom　formed　of　broken　rocks；　where　once　had　raved　along　the　mountain…torrent；　while　above　there　beetled　great　arid　cliffs；　over　the　brows　of　which　they　beheld　the　turbaned　heads　of　their　fierce　and　exulting　foes。　　What　a　different　appearance　did　the　unfortunate　cavaliers　present　from　that　of　the　gallant　band　that　marched　so　vauntingly　out　of　Antiquera！　Covered　with　dust　and　blood　and　wounds；　and　haggard　with　fatigue　and　horror；　they　looked　like　victims　rather　than　like　warriors。　　Many　of　their　banners　were　lost；　and　not　a　trumpet　was　heard　to　rally　up　their　sinking　spirits。　　The　men　turned　with　imploring　eyes　to　their　commanders；　while　the　hearts　of　the　cavaliers　were　ready　to　burst　with　rage　and　grief　at　the　merciless　havoc　made　among　their　faithful　followers。

All　day　they　made　ineffectual　attempts　to　extricate　themselves　from　the　mountains。　　Columns　of　smoke　rose　from　the　heights　where　in　the　preceding　night　had　blazed　the　alarm…fire。　　The　mountaineers　assembled　from　every　direction：　they　swarmed　at　every　pass；　getting　in　the　advance　of　the　Christians；　and　garrisoning　the　cliffs　like　so　many　towers　and　battlements。

Night　closed　again　upon　the　Christians　when　they　were　shut　up　in　a　narrow　valley　traversed　by　a　deep　stream　and　surrounded　by　precipices　which　seemed　to　reach　the　skies；　and　on　which　blazed　and　flared　the　alarm…fires。　　Suddenly　a　new　cry　was　heard　resounding　along　the　valley。　　〃El　Zagal！　El　Zagal！〃　echoed　from　cliff　to　cliff。

〃What　cry　is　that？〃　said　the　master　of　Santiago。

〃It　is　the　war…cry　of　El　Zagal；　the　Moorish　general；〃　said　an　old　Castilian　soldier：　〃he　must　be　coming　in　person；　with　the　troops　of　Malaga。〃

The　worthy　master　turned　to　his　knights：　〃Let　us　die；〃　said　he；　〃making　a　road　with　our　hearts；　since　we　cannot　with　our　swords。　Let　us　scale　the　mountain　and　sell　our　lives　dearly；　instead　of　staying　here　to　be　tamely　butchered。〃

So　saying；　he　turned　his　steed　against　the　mountain　and　spurred　him　up　its　flinty　side。　　Horse　and　foot　followed　his　example；　eager；　if　they　could　not　escape；　to　have　at　least　a　dying　blow　at　the　enemy。　As　they　struggled　up　the　height　a　tremendous　storm　of　darts　and　stones　was　showered　upon　them　by　the　Moors。　　Sometimes　a　fragment　of　rock　came　bounding　and　thundering　down；　ploughing　its　way　through　the　centre　of　their　host。　　The　foot…soldiers；　faint　with　weariness　and　hunger　or　crippled　by　wounds；　held　by　the　tails　and　manes　of　the　horses　to　aid　them　in　their　ascent；　while　the　horses；　losing　their　foothold　among　the　loose　stones　or　receiving　some　sudden　wound；　tumbled　down　the　steep　declivity；　steed；　rider；　and　soldier　rolling　from　crag　to　crag　until　they　were　dashed　to　pieces　in　the　valley。　In　this　desperate　struggle　the　alferez　or　standard…bearer　of　the　master；　with　his　standard；　was　lost；　as　were　many　of　his　relations　and　his　dearest　friends。　　At　length　he　succeeded　in　attaining　the　crest　of　the　mountain；　but　it　was　only　to　be　plunged　in　new　difficulties。　　A　wilderness　of　rocks　and　rugged　dells　lay　before　him　beset　by　cruel　foes。　　Having　neither　banner　nor　trumpet　by　which　to　rally　his　troops；　they　wandered　apart；　each　intent　upon　saving　himself　from　the　precipices　of　the　mountains　and　the　darts　of　the　enemy。　　When　the　pious　master　of　Santiago　beheld　the　scattered　fragments　of　his　late　gallant　force；　he　could　not　restrain　his　grief。　〃O　God！〃　exclaimed　he；　〃great　is　thine　anger　this　day　against　thy　servants。　　Thou　hast　converted　the　cowardice　of　these　infidels　into　desperate　valor；　and　hast　made　peasants　and　boors　victorious　over　armed　men　of　battle。〃

He　would　fain　have　kept　with　his　foot…soldiers；　and；　gathering　them　together；　have　made　head　against　the　enemy；　but　those　around　him　entreated　him　to　think　only　of　his　personal　safety。　　To　remain　was　to　perish　without　striking　a　blow；　to　escape　was　to　preserve　a　life　that　might　be　devoted　to　vengeance　on　the　Moors。　　The　master　reluctantly　yielded　to　the　advice。　　〃O　Lord　of　hosts！〃　exclaimed　he　again；　〃from　thy　wrath　do　I　fly；　not　from　these　infidels：　they　are　but　instruments　in　thy　hands　to　chastise　us　for　our　sins。〃　　So　saying；　he　sent　the　guides　in　the　advance；　and；　putting　spurs　to　his　horse；　dashed　through　a　defile　of　the　mountains　before　the　Moors　could　intercept　him。　　The　moment　the　master　put　his　horse　to　speed；　his　troops　scattered　in　all　directions。　　Some　endeavored　to　follow　his　traces；　but　were　confounded　among　the　intricacies　of　the　mountain。　　They　fled　hither　and　thither；　many　perishing　among　the　precipices；　others　being　slain　by　the　Moors；　and　others　taken　prisoners。

The　gallant　marques　of　Cadiz；　guided　by　his　trusty　adalid；　Luis　Amar；　had　ascended　a　different　part　of　the　mountain。　　He　was　followed　by　his　friend；　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar；　the　adelantado；　and　the　count　of　Cifuentes；　but　in　the　darkness　and　confusion　the　bands　of　these　commanders　became　separated　from　each　other。　　When　the　marques　attained　the　summit；　he　looked　around　for　his　companions…in…arms；　but　they　were　no　longer　following　him；　and　there　was　no　trumpet　to　summon　them。　　It　was　a　consolation　to　the　marques；　however；　that　his　brothers　and　several　of　his　relations；　with　a　number　of　his　retainers；　were　still　with　him：　he　called　his　brothers　by　name；　and　their　replies　gave　comfort　to　his　heart。

His　guide　now　led　the　way　into　another　valley；　where　he　would　be　less　exposed　to　danger：　when　he　had　reached　the　bottom　of　it　the　marques　paused　to　collect　his　scattered　followers　and　to　give　time　for　his　fellow…commanders　to　rejoin　him。　　Here　he　was　suddenly　assailed　by　the　troops　of　El　Zagal；　aided　by　the　mountaineers　from　the　cliffs。　　The　Christians；　exhausted　and　terrified；　lost　all　presence　of　mind：　most　of　them　fled；　and　were　either　slain　or　taken　captive。　　The　marques　and　his　valiant　brothers；　with　a　few　tried　friends；　made　a　stout　resistance。　　His　horse　was　killed　under　him；　his　brothers；　Don　Diego　and　Don　Lope；　with　his　two　nephews；　Don　Lorenzo　and　Don　Manuel；　w