chronicle of the conquest of granada-第81章

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vagant　modes　of　which　we　Spaniards　and　Christians　make　but　little　account。〃

There　was　a　noble　fountain　of　pure　water　which　gushed　out　at　the　foot　of　the　hill　Albohacen　just　behind　the　city。　　The　Moors　had　almost　a　superstitious　fondness　for　this　fountain；　and　chiefly　depended　upon　it　for　their　supplies。　　Receiving　intimation　from　some　deserters　of　the　plan　of　King　Ferdinand　to　get　possession　of　this　precious　fountain；　they　sallied　forth　at　night　and　threw　up　such　powerful　works　upon　the　impending　hill　as　to　set　all　attempts　of　the　Christian　assailants　at　defiance。




CHAPTER　LXXIV。

EXPLOIT　OF　HERNANDO　PEREZ　DEL　PULGAR　AND　OTHER　　　　　CAVALIERS。


The　siege　of　Baza；　while　it　displayed　the　skill　and　science　of　the　Christian　commanders；　gave　but　little　scope　for　the　adventurous　spirit　and　fiery　valor　of　the　young　Spanish　cavaliers。　　They　repined　at　the　tedious　monotony　and　dull　security　of　their　fortified　camp；　and　longed　for　some　soul…stirring　exploit　of　difficulty　and　danger。　Two　of　the　most　spirited　of　these　youthful　cavaliers　were　Francisco　de　Bazan　and　Antonio　de　Cueva；　the　latter　of　whom　was　son　to　the　duke　of　Albuquerque。　　As　they　were　one　day　seated　on　the　ramparts　of　the　camp；　and　venting　their　impatience　at　this　life　of　inaction；　they　were　overheard　by　a　veteran　adalid；　one　of　those　scouts　or　guides　who　were　acquainted　with　all　parts　of　the　country。　　〃Seniors；〃　said　he；　〃if　you　wish　for　a　service　of　peril　and　profit；　if　you　are　willing　to　pluck　the　fiery　old　Moor　by　the　beard；　I　can　lead　you　to　where　you　may　put　your　mettle　to　the　proof。　　Hard　by　the　city　of　Guadix　are　certain　hamlets　rich　in　booty。　　I　can　conduct　you　by　a　way　in　which　you　may　come　upon　them　by　surprise；　and　if　you　are　as　cool　in　the　head　as　you　are　hot　in　the　spur；　you　may　bear　off　your　spoils　from　under　the　very　eyes　of　old　El　Zagal。〃

The　idea　of　thus　making　booty　at　the　very　gates　of　Guadix　pleased　the　hot…spirited　youths。　　These　predatory　excursions　were　frequent　about　this　time；　and　the　Moors　of　Padul；　Alhenden；　and　other　towns　of　the　Alpuxarras　had　recently　harassed　the　Christian　territories　by　expeditions　of　the　kind。　　Francisco　de　Bazan　and　Antonio　de　Cueva　soon　found　other　young　cavaliers　of　their　age　eager　to　join　in　the　adventure；　and　in　a　little　while　they　had　nearly　three　hundred　horse　and　two　hundred　foot　ready　equipped　and　eager　for　the　foray。

Keeping　their　destination　secret；　they　sallied　out　of　the　camp　on　the　edge　of　an　evening；　and；　guided　by　the　adalid；　made　their　way　by　starlight　through　the　most　secret　roads　of　the　mountains。　　In　this　way　they　pressed　on　rapidly　day　and　night；　until　early　one　morning；　before　cock…crowing；　they　fell　suddenly　upon　the　hamlets；　made　prisoners　of　the　inhabitants；　sacked　the　houses；　ravaged　the　fields；　and；　sweeping　through　the　meadows；　gathered　together　all　the　flocks　and　herds。　　Without　giving　themselves　time　to　rest；　they　set　out　upon　their　return；　making　with　all　speed　for　the　mountains　before　the　alarm　should　be　given　and　the　country　roused。

Several　of　the　herdsmen；　however；　had　fled　to　Guadix；　and　carried　tidings　of　the　ravage　to　El　Zagal。　　The　beard　of　old　Muley　trembled　with　rage：　he　immediately　sent　out　six　hundred　of　his　choicest　horse　and　foot；　with　orders　to　recover　the　booty　and　to　bring　those　insolent　marauders　captive　to　Guadix。

The　Christian　cavaliers　were　urging　their　cavalgada　of　cattle　and　sheep　up　a　mountain　as　fast　as　their　own　weariness　would　permit；　when；　looking　back；　they　beheld　a　great　cloud　of　dust；　and　presently　descried　the　turbaned　host　hot　upon　their　traces。

They　saw　that　the　Moors　were　superior　in　number；　they　were　fresh　also；　both　man　and　steed；　whereas　both　they　and　their　horses　were　fatigued　by　two　days　and　two　nights　of　hard　marching。　　Several　of　the　horsemen　therefore　gathered　round　the　commanders　and　proposed　that　they　should　relinquish　their　spoil　and　save　themselves　by　flight。　The　captains；　Francisco　de　Bazan　and　Antonio　de　Cueva；　spurned　at　such　craven　counsel。　　〃What？〃　cried　they；　〃abandon；　our　prey　without　striking　a　blow？　　Leave　our　foot…soldiers　too　in　the　lurch；　to　be　overwhelmed　by　the　enemy？　　If　any　one　gives　such　counsel　through　fear；　he　mistakes　the　course　of　safety；　for　there　is　less　danger　in　presenting　a　bold　front　to　the　foe　than　in　turning　a　dastard　back；　and　fewer　men　are　killed　in　a　brave　advance　than　in　a　cowardly　retreat。〃

Some　of　the　cavaliers　were　touched　by　these　words；　and　declared　that　they　would　stand　by　the　foot…soldiers　like　true　companions…in…arms：　the　great　mass　of　the　party；　however；　were　volunteers；　brought

together　by　chance；　who　received　no　pay　nor　had　any　common　tie　to　keep　them　together　in　time　of　danger。　　The　pleasure　of　the　expedition　being　over；　each　thought　but　of　his　own　safety；　regardless　of　his　companions。　　As　the　enemy　approached　the　tumult　of　opinions　increased　and　everything　was　in　confusion。　　The　captains；　to　put　an　end　to　the　dispute；　ordered　the　standard…bearer　to　advance　against　the　Moors；　well　knowing　that　no　true　cavalier　would　hesitate　to　follow　and　defend　his　banner。　　The　standard…bearer　hesitated：　the　troops　were　on　the　point　of　taking　to　flight。

Upon　this　a　cavalier　of　the　royal　guards　rode　to　the　front。　　It　was　Hernan　Perez　del　Pulgar；　alcayde　of　the　fortress　of　Salar；　the　same　dauntless　ambassador　who　once　bore　to　the　turbulent　people　of　Malaga　the　king's　summons　to　surrender。　　Taking　off　a　handkerchief　which　he　wore　round　his　head　after　the　Andalusian　fashion；　he　tied　it　to　the　end　of　a　lance　and　elevated　it　in　the　air。　　〃Cavaliers；〃　cried　he；　〃why　do　ye　take　weapons　in　your　hands　if　you　depend　upon　your　feet　for　safety？　　This　day　will　determine　who　is　the　brave　man　and　who　the　coward。　　He　who　is　disposed　to　fight　shall　not　want　a　standard：　let　him　follow　this　handkerchief。〃　　So　saying；　he　waved　his　banner　and　spurred　bravely　against　the　Moors。　　His　example　shamed　some　and　filled　others　with　generous　emulation：　all　turned　with　one　accord；　and；　following　Pulgar；　rushed　with　shouts　upon　the　enemy。　　The　Moors　scarcely　waited　to　receive　the　shock　of　their　encounter。　　Seized　with　a　panic；　they　took　to　flight；　and　were　pursued　for　a　considerable　distance　with　great　slaughter。　　Three　hundred　of　their　dead　strewed　the　road；　and　were　stripped　and　despoiled　by　the　conquerors；　many　were　taken　prisoners；　and　the　Christian　cavaliers　returned　in　triumph　to　the　camp　with　a　long　cavalgada　of　sheep　and　cattle　and　mules　laden　with　booty；　and　bearing　before　them　the　singular　standard　which　had　conducted　them　to　victory。

King　Ferdinand　was　so　pleased　with　the　gallant　action　of　Hernan　Perez　del　Pulgar　that　he　immediately　conferred　on　him　the　honor　of　knighthood；　using　in　the　ceremony　the　sword　of　Diego　de　Aguero；　the　captain　of　the　royal　guards；　the　duke　of　Esculona　girded　one　of　his　own　gilt　spurs　upon　his　heel；　and　the　grand　master　of　Santiago；　the　count　de　Cabra；　and　Gonsalvo　of　Cordova　officiated　as　witnesses。　Furthermore；　to　perpetuate　in　his　family　the　memory　of　his　achievement；　the　sovereigns　authorized　him　to　emblazon　on　his　escutcheon　a　golden　lion　in　an　azure　field；　bearing　a　lance　with　a　handkerchief　at　the　end　of　it。　　Round　the　border　of　the　escutcheon　were　depicted　the　eleven　alcaydes　vanquished　in　the　battle。*　　The　foregoing　is　but　one　of　many　hardy　and　heroic　deeds　done　by　this　brave　cavalier　in　the　wars　against　the　Moors；　by　which　he　gained　great　renown　and　the　distinguished　appellation　of　〃El　de　las　hazanas；〃　or　〃He　of　the　exploits。〃**

*Alcantara；　Hist。　de　Granada；　tomo　iv。　cap。　18；　Pulgar；　Cron。；　　part　iii。

**Hernan　or　Hernando　del　Pulgar；　the　historian；　secretary　to　Queen　　Isabella；　is　confounded　with　this　cavalier　by　some　writers。　　He　was　　also　present　at　the　siege　of　Baza；　and　has　recounted　this　　transaction　in　his　Chronicle　of　the　Catholic　sovereigns；　Ferdinand　　and　Isabella。



CHAPTER　LXXV。

CONTINUATION　OF　THE　SIEGE　OF　BAZA。


The　Moorish　king；　El　Zagal；　mounted　a　tower　and　looked　out　eagerly　to　enjoy　the　sight　of　the　Christian　marauders　brought　captive　into　the　gates　of　Guadix；　but　his　spirits　fell　when　he　beheld　his　own　troops　stealing　back　in　the　dusk　of　the　evening　in　broken　and　dejected　parties。

The　fortune　of　war　bore　hard　against　the　old　monarch；