chronicle of the conquest of granada-第30章

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oray。　　The　summons　of　Bexir　was　gladly　obeyed　by　the　alcaydes　of　the　border　towns；　and　in　a　little　while　there　was　a　force　of　fifteen　hundred　horse　and　four　thousand　foot；　the　very　pith　and　marrow　of　the　surrounding　country；　assembled　within　the　walls　of　Ronda。　　The　people　of　the　place　anticipated　with　eagerness　the　rich　spoils　of　Andalusia　soon　to　crowd　their　gates；　throughout　the　day　the　city　resounded　with　the　noise　of　kettle…drum　and　trumpet；　the　high…mettled　steeds　stamped　and　neighed　in　their　stalls　as　if　they　shared　the　impatience　for　the　foray；　while　the　Christian　captives　sighed　as　the　varied　din　of　preparation　reached　their　rocky　dungeons；　denoting　a　fresh　expedition　against　their　countrymen。

The　infidel　host　sallied　forth　full　of　spirits；　anticipating　an　easy　ravage　and　abundant　booty。　　They　encouraged　each　other　in　a　contempt　for　the　prowess　of　the　foe。　　Many　of　the　warriors　of　Malaga　and　of　some　of　the　mountain…towns　had　insultingly　arrayed　themselves　in　the　splendid　armor　of　the　Christian　knights　slain　or　taken　prisoners　in　the　famous　massacre；　and　some　of　them　rode　the　Andalusian　steeds　captured　on　that　occasion。

The　wary　Bexir　concerted　his　plans　so　secretly　and　expeditiously　that　the　Christian　towns　of　Andalusia　had　not　the　least　suspicion　of　the　storm　gathering　beyond　the　mountains。　　The　vast　rocky　range　of　the　Serrania　de　Ronda　extended　like　a　screen；　covering　all　their　movements　from　observation。

The　army　made　its　way　as　rapidly　as　the　rugged　nature　of　the　mountains　would　permit；　guided　by　Hamet　el　Zegri；　the　bold　alcayde　of　Ronda；　who　knew　every　pass　and　defile：　not　a　drum　nor　the　clash　of　a　cymbal　nor　the　blast　of　a　trumpet　was　permitted　to　be　heard。　The　mass　of　war　rolled　quietly　on　as　the　gathering　cloud　to　the　brow　of　the　mountains；　intending　to　burst　down　like　the　thunderbolt　upon　the　plain。

Never　let　the　most　wary　commander　fancy　himself　secure　from　discovery；　for　rocks　have　eyes；　and　trees　have　ears；　and　the　birds　of　the　air　have　tongues；　to　betray　the　most　secret　enterprise。　　There　chanced　at　this　time　to　be　six　Christian　scouts　prowling　about　the　savage　heights　of　the　Serrania　de　Ronda。　　They　were　of　that　kind　of　lawless　ruffians　who　infest　the　borders　of　belligerent　countries；　ready　at　any　time　to　fight　for　pay　or　prowl　for　plunder。　　The　wild　mountain…passes　of　Spain　have　ever　abounded　with　loose　rambling　vagabonds　of　the　kindsoldiers　in　war；　robbers　in　peace；　guides；

guards；　smugglers；　or　cutthroats　according　to　the　circumstances　of　the　case。

These　six　marauders　（says　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　were　on　this　occasion　chosen　instruments；　sanctified　by　the　righteousness　of　their　cause。　　They　were　lurking　among　the　mountains　to　entrap　Moorish　cattle　or　Moorish　prisoners；　both　of　which　were　equally　salable　in　the　Christian　market。　　They　had　ascended　one　of　the　loftiest　cliffs；　and　were　looking　out　like　birds　of　prey；　ready　to　pounce　upon　anything　that　might　offer　in　the　valley；　when　they　descried　the　Moorish　army　emerging　from　a　mountain…glen。　　They　watched　it　as　it　wound　below　them；　remarking　the　standards　of　the　various　towns　and　the　pennons　of　the　commanders。　　They　hovered　about　it　on　its　march；　skulking　from　cliff　to　cliff；　until　they　saw　the　route　by　which　it　intended　to　enter　the　Christian　country。　　They　then　dispersed；　each　making　his　way　by　the　secret　passes　of　the　mountains　to　some　different　alcayde；　that　they　might　spread　the　alarm　far　and　wide；　and　each　get　a　separate　reward。

One　hastened　to　Luis　Fernandez　Puerto　Carrero；　the　same　valiant　alcayde　who　had　repulsed　Muley　Abul　Hassan　from　the　walls　of　Alhama；　and　who　now　commanded　at　Ecija　in　the　absence　of　the　master　of　Santiago。　　Others　roused　the　town　of　Utrera　and　the　places　of　that　neighborhood；　putting　them　all　on　the　alert。*

*Pulgar；　p。　3；　c。　24；　Cura　de　los　Palacios；　cap。　67。


Puerto　Carrero　was　a　cavalier　of　consummate　vigor　and　activity。　He　immediately　sent　couriers　to　the　alcaydes　of　the　neighboring　fortresses；　to　Herman　Carrello；　captain　of　a　body　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood；　and　to　certain　knights　of　the　order　of　Alcantara。　Puerto　Carrero　was　the　first　to　take　the　field。　　Knowing　the　hard　and　hungry　service　of　these　border　scampers；　he　made　every　man　take　a　hearty　repast　and　see　that　his　horse　was　well　shod　and　perfectly　appointed。　　Then；　all　being　refreshed　and　in　valiant　heart；　he　sallied　forth　to　seek　the　Moors。　　He　had　but　a　handful　of　men；　the　retainers　of　his　household　and　troops　of　his　captaincy；　but　they　were　well　armed　and　mounted；　and　accustomed　to　the　sudden　rouses　of　the　bordermen　whom　the　cry　of　〃Arm　and　out！　to　horse　and　to　the　field！〃　was　sufficient　at　any　time　to　put　in　a　fever　of　animation。

While　the　northern　part　of　Andalusia　was　thus　on　the　alert；　one　of　the　scouts　had　hastened　southward　to　the　city　of　Xeres；　and　given　the　alarm　to　the　valiant　marques　of　Cadiz。　　When　the　marques　heard　that　the　Moor　was　over　the　border　and　that　the　standard　of　Malaga　was　in　the　advance；　his　heart　bounded　with　a　momentary　joy；　for　he　remembered　the　massacre　in　the　mountains；　where　his　valiant　brothers　had　been　mangled　before　his　eyes。　　The　very　authors　of　his　calamity　were　now　at　hand；　and　he　flattered　himself　that　the　day　of　vengeance　had　arrived。　　He　made　a　hasty　levy　of　his　retainers　and　of　the　fighting　men　of　Xeres；　and　hurried　off　with　three　hundred　horse　and　two　hundred　foot；　all　resolute　men　and　panting　for　revenge。

In　the　mean　time；　the　veteran　Bexir　had　accomplished　his　march；　as　he　imagined；　undiscovered。　　From　the　openings　of　the　craggy　defiles　he　pointed　out　the　fertile　plains　of　Andalusia；　and　regaled　the　eyes　of　his　soldiery　with　the　rich　country　they　were　about　to　ravage。　　The　fierce　Gomeres　of　Ronda　were　flushed　with　joy　at　the　sight；　and　even　their　steeds　seemed　to　prick　up　their　ears　and　snuff　the　breeze　as　they　beheld　the　scenes　of　their　frequent　forays。

When　they　came　to　where　the　mountain…defile　opened　into　the　low　land；　Bexir　divided　his　force　into　three　parts：　one；　composed　of　foot…soldiers　and　such　as　were　weakly　mounted；　he　left　to　guard　the　pass；　being　too　experienced　a　veteran　not　to　know　the　importance　of　securing　a　retreat；　a　second　body　he　placed　in　ambush　among　the　groves　and　thickets　on　the　banks　of　the　river　Lopera；　the　third；　consisting　of　light　cavalry；　he　sent　forth　to　ravage　the　Campina　（or　great　plain）　of　Utrera。　　Most　of　this　latter　force　was　composed　of　the　Gomeres　of　Ronda；　mounted　on　the　fleet　steeds　bred　among　the　mountains。　　It　was　led　by　Hamet　el　Zegri；　ever　eager　to　be　foremost　in　the　forage。　　Little　suspecting　that　the　country　on　both　sides　was　on　the　alarm；　and　rushing　from　all　directions　to　close　upon　them　in　the　rear；　this　fiery　troop　dashed　forward　until　they　came　within　two　leagues　of　Utrera。　　Here　they　scattered　themselves　about　the　plain；　careering　round　the　great　herds　of　cattle　and　flocks　of　sheep；　and　sweeping　them　into　droves　to　be　hurried　to　the　mountains。

While　thus　dispersed　a　troop　of　horse　and　body　of　foot　from　Utrera　came　suddenly　upon　them。　　The　Moors　rallied　together　in　small　parties　and　endeavored　to　defend　themselves；　but　they　were　without　a　leader；　for　Hamet　el　Zegri　was　at　a　distance；　having；　like　a　hawk；　made　a　wide　circuit　in　pursuit　of　prey。　　The　marauders　soon　gave　way　and　fled　toward　the　ambush　on　the　banks　of　the　Lopera；　being　hotly　pursued　by　the　men　of　Utrera。

When　they　reached　the　Lopera　the　Moors　in　ambush　rushed　forth　with　furious　cries；　and　the　fugitives；　recovering　courage　from　this　reinforcement；　rallied　and　turned　upon　their　pursuers。　　The　Christians　stood　their　ground；　though　greatly　inferior　in　number。　Their　lances　were　soon　broken；　and　they　came　to　sharp　work　with　sword　and　scimetar。　　The　Christians　fought　valiantly；　but　were　in　danger　of　being　overwhelmed。　　The　bold　Hamet　collected　a　handful　of　his　scattered　Gomeres；　left　his　prey；　and　galloped　toward　the　scene　of　action。　　His　little　troop　of　horsemen　had　reached　the　crest　of　a　rising　ground　at　no　great　distance　when　trumpets　were　heard　in　another　direction；　and　Luis　Fernandez　Puerto　Carrero　and　his　followers　came　galloping　into　the　field；　and　charged　upon　the　infidels　in　flank。

The　Moors　were　astounded　at　finding　war　thus　breaking　upon　them　from　various　quarters