chronicle of the conquest of granada-第60章

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The　ruddy　glare　lit　up　the　glens　and　passes；　and　fell　strongly　upon　the　Christian　camp；　revealing　all　its　tents　and　every　post　and　bulwark。　　Wherever　El　Zagal　turned　his　eyes　he　beheld　the　light　of　his　fires　flashed　back　from　cuirass　and　helm　and　sparkling　lance；　he　beheld　a　grove　of　spears　planted　in　every　pass；　every　assailable　point　bristling　with　arms；　and　squadrons　of　horse　and　foot　in　battle　array　awaiting　his　attack。

In　fact；　his　letter　to　the　alcayde　of　Velez　Malaga　had　been　intercepted　by　the　vigilant　Ferdinand；　the　renegado　messenger　hanged；　and　secret　measures　taken　after　nightfall　to　give　the　Moors　a　warm　reception。　　El　Zagal　saw　that　his　plan　of　surprise　was　discovered　and　foiled；　furious　with　disappointment；　he　ordered　his　troops　forward　to　the　attack。　　They　rushed　down　the　defile；　but　were　again　encountered　by　the　mass　of　Christian　warriors；　being　the　advance　guard　of　the　army　commanded　by　Don　Hurtado　de　Mendoza；　brother　of　the　grand　cardinal。　　The　Moors　were　again　repulsed；　and　retreated　up　the　height。　　Don　Hurtado　would　have　followed　them；　but　the　ascent　was　steep　and　rugged　and　easily　defended。　　A　sharp　action　was　kept　up　through　the　night　with　crossbows；　darts；　and　arquebuses。　The　cliffs　echoed　with　deafening　uproar；　while　the　fires　blazing　upon　the　mountains　threw　a　lurid　and　uncertain　light　upon　the　scene。

When　the　day　dawned　and　the　Moors　saw　that　there　was　no　co…　operation　from　the　city；　they　slackened　in　their　ardor：　they　beheld　also　every　pass　of　the　mountain　filled　with　Christian　troops；　and　began　to　apprehend　an　assault　in　return。　　Just　then　King　Ferdinand　sent　the　marques　of　Cadiz　with　horse　and　foot　to　seize　upon　a　height　occupied　by　a　battalion　of　the　enemy。　　The　marques　assailed　the　Moors　with　his　usual　intrepidity；　and　soon　put　them　to　flight。　　The　others；　who　were　above；　seeing　their　comrades　fly；　threw　down　their　arms　and　retreated。　　One　of　those　unaccountable　panics　which　now　and　then　seize　upon　great　bodies　of　people；　and　to　which　the　light…spirited　Moors　were　prone；　now　spread　throughout　the　camp。　　They　were　terrified；　they　knew　not　why　nor　at　what；　and；　throwing　away　swords；　lances；　breast…plates；　crossbows；　everything　that　could　impede　their　motions；　scattered　themselves　wildly　in　every　direction。　　They　fled　without　pursuersfrom　the　glimpse　of　each　other's　arms；　from　the　sound　of　each　other's　footsteps。　　Reduan　de　Vanegas；　the　brave　alcayde　of　Granada；　alone　succeeded　in　collecting　a　body　of　the　fugitives；　he　made　a　circuit　with　them　through　the　passes　of　the　mountain；　and；　forcing　his　way　across　a　weak　part　of　the　Christian　lines；　galloped　toward　Velez　Malaga。　　The　rest　of　the　Moorish　host　was　completely　scattered。　　In　vain　did　El　Zagal　and　his　knights　attempt　to　rally　them；　they　were　left　almost　alone；　and　had　to　consult　their　own　security　by　flight。

The　marques　of　Cadiz；　finding　no　opposition；　ascended　from　height　to　height；　cautiously　reconnoitring　and　fearful　of　some　stratagem　or　ambush。　　All；　however；　was　quiet。　　He　reached　with　his　men　the　place　which　the　Moorish　army　had　occupied：　the　heights　were　abandoned　and　strewed　with　cuirasses；　scimetars；　crossbows；　and　other　weapons。　His　force　was　too　small　to　pursue　the　enemy；　but　returned　to　the　royal　camp　laden　with　spoils。

Ferdinand　at　first　could　not　credit　so　signal　and　miraculous　a　defeat；　but　suspected　some　lurking　stratagem。　　He　ordered；　therefore；　that　a　strict　watch　should　be　maintained　throughout　the　camp　and　every　one　be　ready　for　instant　action。　　The　following　night　a　thousand　cavaliers　and　hidalgos　kept　guard　about　the　royal　tent；　as　they　had　done　for　several　preceding　nights；　nor　did　the　king　relax　this　vigilance　until　he　received　certain　intelligence　that　the　enemy　was　completely　scattered　and　El　Zagal　flying　in　confusion。

The　tidings　of　this　rout　and　of　the　safety　of　the　Christian　army　arrived　at　Cordova　just　as　reinforcements　were　on　the　point　of　setting　out。　　The　anxiety　and　alarm　of　the　queen　and　the　public　were　turned　to　transports　of　joy　and　gratitude。　　The　forces　were　disbanded；　solemn　processions　were　made；　and　〃Te　Deums〃　chanted　in　the　churches　for　so　signal　a　victory。



CHAPTER　L。

HOW　THE　PEOPLE　OF　GRANADA　REWARDED　THE　VALOR　OF　　　　　EL　ZAGAL。


The　daring　spirit　of　Muley　Abdallah　el　Zagal　in　sallying　forth　to　defend　his　territories　while　he　left　an　armed　rival　in　his　capital　struck　the　people　of　Granada　with　admiration。　　They　recalled　his　former　exploits；　and　again　anticipated　some　hardy　achievement　from　his　valor。　　Couriers　from　the　army　reported　its　formidable　position　on　the　height　of　Bentomiz。　　For　a　time　there　was　a　pause　in　the　bloody　commotions　of　the　city；　all　attention　was　turned　to　the　blow　about　to　be　struck　at　the　Christian　camp。　　The　same　considerations　which　diffused　anxiety　and　terror　through　Cordova　swelled　every　bosom　with　exulting　confidence　in　Granada。　　The　Moors　expected　to　hear　of　another　massacre　like　that　in　the　mountains　of　Malaga。　　〃El　Zagal　has　again　entrapped　the　enemy！〃　was　the　cry。　　〃The　power　of　the　unbelievers　is　about　to　be　struck　to　the　heart。　　We　shall　soon　see　the　Christian　king　led　captive　to　the　capital。〃　　Thus　was　the　name　of　El　Zagal　on　every　tongue。　　He　was　extolled　as　the　savior　of　the　country；　the　only　one　worthy　of　wearing　the　Moorish　crown。　　Boabdil　was　reviled　as　basely　remaining　passive　while　his　country　was　invaded　and　so　violent　became　the　clamor　of　the　populace　that　his　adherents　trembled　for　his　safety。

While　the　people　of　Granada　were　impatiently　looking　out　for　tidings　of　the　anticipated　victory　scattered　horsemen　came　spurring　across　the　Vega。　　They　were　fugitives　from　the　Moorish　army；　and　brought　the　first　incoherent　account　of　its　defeat。　　Every　one　who　attempted　to　tell　the　tale　of　this　unaccountable　panic　and　dispersion　was　as　if　bewildered　by　the　broken　recollection　of　some　frightful　dream。　　He　knew　not　how　or　why　it　came　to　pass。　　He　talked　of　a　battle　in　the　night；　among　rocks　and　precipices；　by　the　glare　of　bale…fires；　of　multitudes　of　armed　foes　in　every　pass；　seen　by　gleams　and　flashes；　of　the　sudden　horror　that　seized　upon　the　army　at　daybreak；　its　headlong　flight；　and　total　dispersion。　　Hour　after　hour　the　arrival　of　other　fugitives　confirmed　the　story　of　ruin　and　disgrace。

In　proportion　to　their　recent　vaunting　was　the　humiliation　that　now　fell　upon　the　people　of　Granada。　　There　was　a　universal　burst；　not　of　grief；　but　indignation。　　They　confounded　the　leader　with　the　army　the　deserted　with　those　who　had　abandoned　him；　and　El　Zagal；　from　being　their　idol；　became　suddenly　the　object　of　their　execration。　　He　had　sacrificed　the　army；　he　had　disgraced　the　nation；　he　had　betrayed　the　country。　　He　was　a　dastard；　a　traitor；　he　was　unworthy　to　reign。

On　a　sudden　one　among　the　multitude　shouted；　〃Long　live　Boabdil　el　Chico！〃　　The　cry　was　echoed　on　all　sides；　and　every　one　shouted；　〃Long　live　Boabdil　el　Chico！　long　live　the　legitimate　king　of　Granada！　and　death　to　all　usurpers！〃　　In　the　excitement　of　the　moment　they　thronged　to　the　Albaycin；　and　those　who　had　lately　besieged　Boabdil　with　arms　now　surrounded　his　palace　with　acclamations。　　The　keys　of　the　city　and　of　all　the　fortresses　were　laid　at　his　feet；　he　was　borne　in　state　to　the　Alhambra；　and　once　more　seated　with　all　due　ceremony　on　the　throne　of　his　ancestors。

Boabdil　had　by　this　time　become　so　accustomed　to　be　crowned　and　uncrowned　by　the　multitude　that　he　put　no　great　faith　in　the　duration　of　their　loyalty。　　He　knew　that　he　was　surrounded　by　hollow　hearts；　and　that　most　of　the　courtiers　of　the　Alhambra　were　secretly　devoted　to　his　uncle。　　He　ascended　the　throne　as　the　rightful　sovereign　who　had　been　dispossessed　of　it　by　usurpation；　and　he　ordered　the　heads　of　four　of　the　principal　nobles　to　be　struck　off　who　had　been　most　zealous　in　support　of　the＇9＇usurper。　　Executions　of　the　kind　were　matters　of　course　on　any　change　in　Moorish　government；　and　Boabdil　was　lauded　for　his　moderation　and　humanity　in　being　content　with　so　small　a　sacrifice。　　The　factions　were　awed　into　obedience；　the　populace；　delighted　with　any　change；　extolled　Boabdil　to　the　skies；　and　the　name　of　Muley　Abdallah　el　Zagal　was　for　a　time　a　by…word　of　scorn　and　opprobrium　throughout　the　city。

Never　w