chronicle of the conquest of granada-第85章

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Andalusia。　　The　ramblas；　or　dry　channels　of　the　torrents；　remain　deep　and　arid　gashes　and　clefts　in　the　sides　of　the　mountains；　the　perennial　streams　shrink　up　to　mere　threads　of　water；　which；　trickling　down　the　bottoms　of　the　deep　barrancas；　or　ravines；　scarce　feed　and　keep　alive　the　rivers　of　the　valleys。　　The　rivers；　almost　lost　in　their　wide　and　naked　beds；　seem　like　thirsty　rills　winding　in　serpentine　mazes　through　deserts　of　sand　and　stones；　and　so　shallow　and　tranquil　in　their　course　as　to　be　forded　in　safety　in　almost　every　part。　　One　autumnal　tempest；　however；　changes　the　whole　face　of　nature：　the　clouds　break　in　deluges　among　the　vast　congregation　of　mountains；　the　ramblas　are　suddenly　filled　with　raging　floods；　the　tinkling　rivulets　swell　to　thundering　torrents　that　come　roaring　down　from　the　mountains；　tumbling　great　masses　of　rocks　in　their　career。　　The　late　meandering　river　spreads　over　its　once…naked　bed；　lashes　its　surges　against　the　banks；　and　rushes　like　a　wide　and　foaming　inundation　through　the　valley。

Scarcely　had　the　Christians　finished　their　slightly　built　edifices　when　an　autumnal　tempest　of　the　kind　came　scouring　from　the　mountains。　　The　camp　was　immediately　overflowed。　　Many　of　the　houses；　undermined　by　the　floods　or　beaten　by　the　rain；　crumbled　away　and　fell　to　the　earth；　burying　man　and　beast　beneath　their　ruins。　Several　valuable　lives　were　lost；　and　great　numbers　of　horses　and　other　animals　perished。　　To　add　to　the　distress　and　confusion　of　the　camp；　the　daily　supply　of　provisions　suddenly　ceased；　for　the　rain　had　broken　up　the　roads　and　rendered　the　rivers　impassable。　　A　panic　seized　upon　the　army；　for　the　cessation　of　a　single　day's　supply　produced　a　scarcity　of　bread　and　provender。　　Fortunately；　the　rain　was　but　transient：　the　torrents　rushed　by　and　ceased；　the　rivers　shrank　back　again　to　their　narrow　channels；　and　the　convoys　which　had　been　detained　upon　their　banks　arrived　safely　in　the　camp。

No　sooner　did　Queen　Isabella　hear　of　this　interruption　of　her　supplies　than；　with　her　usual　vigilance　and　activity；　she　provided　against　its　recurrence。　　She　despatched　six　thousand　foot…soldiers；　under　the　command　of　experienced　officers；　to　repair　the　roads　and　to　make　causeways　and　bridges　for　the　distance　of　seven　Spanish　leagues。　　The　troops　also　who　had　been　stationed　in　the　mountains　by　the　king　to　guard　the　defiles　made　two　paths；　one　for　the　convoys　going　to　the　camp；　and　the　other　for　those　returning；　that　they　might　not　meet　and　impede　each　other。　　The　edifices　which　had　been　demolished　by　the　late　floods　were　rebuilt　in　a　firmer　manner；　and　precautions　were　taken　to　protect　the　camp　from　future　inundations。



CHAPTER　LXXIX。

ENCOUNTERS　BETWEEN　THE　CHRISTIANS　AND　MOORS　BEFORE　　　　　BAZA；　AND　THE　DEVOTION　OF　THE　INHABITANTS　TO　THE　　　　　DEFENCE　OF　THEIR　CITY。


When　King　Ferdinand　beheld　the　ravage　and　confusion　produced　by　a　single　autumnal　storm；　and　bethought　him　of　all　the　maladies　to　which　a　besieging　camp　is　exposed　in　inclement　seasons；　he　began　to　feel　his　compassion　kindling　for　the　suffering　people　of　Baza；　and　an　inclination　to　grant　them　more　favorable　terms。　　He　sent；　therefore；　several　messages　to　the　alcayde　Mohammed　Ibn　Hassan　offering　liberty　of　person　and　security　of　property　for　the　inhabitants　and　large　rewards　for　himself　if　he　would　surrender　the　city。

The　veteran　was　not　to　be　dazzled　by　the　splendid　offers　of　the　monarch：　he　had　received　exaggerated　accounts　of　the　damage　done　to　the　Christian　camp　by　the　late　storm；　and　of　the　sufferings　and　discontents　of　the　army　in　consequence　of　the　transient　interruption　of　supplies：　he　considered　the　overtures　of　Ferdinand　as　proofs　of　the　desperate　state　of　his　affairs。　　〃A　little　more　patience；　a　little　more　patience；〃　said　the　shrewd　old　warrior；　〃and　we　shall　see　this　cloud　of　Christian　locusts　driven　away　before　the　winter　storms。　　When　they　once　turn　their　backs；　it　will　be　our　turn　to　strike；　and；　with　the　help　of　Allah；　the　blow　shall　be　decisive。〃　　He　sent　a　firm　though　courteous　refusal　to　the　Castilian　monarch；　and　in　the　mean　time　animated　his　companions　to　sally　forth　with　more　spirit　than　ever　to　attack　the　Spanish　outposts　and　those　laboring　in　the　trenches。　　The　consequence　was　a　daily　occurrence　of　daring　and　bloody　skirmishes　that　cost　the　lives　of　many　of　the　bravest　and　most　adventurous　cavaliers　of　either　army。

In　one　of　these　sallies　nearly　three　hundred　horse　and　two　thousand　foot　mounted　the　heights　behind　the　city　to　capture　the　Christians　who　were　employed　upon　the　works。　　They　came　by　surprise　upon　a　body　of　guards；　esquires　of　the　count　de　Urena；　killed　some；　put　the　rest　to　flight；　and　pursued　them　down　the　mountain　until　they　came　in　sight　of　a　small　force　under　the　count　de　Tendilla　and　Gonsalvo　of　Cordova。　　The　Moors　came　rushing　down　with　such　fury　that　many　of　the　men　of　the　count　de　Tendilla　took　to　flight。　　The　count　braced　his　buckler；　grasped　his　trusty　weapon；　and　stood　his　ground　with　his　accustomed　prowess。　　Gonsalvo　of　Cordova　ranged　himself　by　his　side；　and；　marshalling　the　troops　which　remained　with　them；　they　made　a　valiant　front　to　the　Moors。

The　infidels　pressed　them　hard；　and　were　gaining　the　advantage　when　Alonso　de　Aguilar；　hearing　of　the　danger　of　his　brother　Gonsalvo；　flew　to　his　assistance；　accompanied　by　the　count　of　Urena　and　a　body　of　their　troops。　　A　fight　ensued　from　cliff　to　cliff　and　glen　to　glen。　　The　Moors　were　fewer　in　number；　but　excelled　in　the　dexterity　and　lightness　requisite　for　scrambling　skirmishes。　　They　were　at　length　driven　from　their　vantage…ground；　and　pursued　by　Alonso　de　Aguilar　and　his　brother　Gonsalvo　to　the　very　suburbs　of　the　city；　leaving　many　of　their　bravest　men　upon　the　field。

Such　was　one　of　innumerable　rough　encounters　daily　taking　place；　in　which　many　brave　cavaliers　were　slain　without　apparent　benefit　to　either　party。　　The　Moors；　notwithstanding　repeated　defeats　and　losses；　continued　to　sally　forth　daily　with　astonishing　spirit　and　vigor；　and　the　obstinacy　of　their　defence　seemed　to　increase　with　their　sufferings。

The　prince　Cid　Hiaya　was　ever　foremost　in　these　sallies；　but　grew　daily　more　despairing　of　success。　　All　the　money　in　the　military　chest　was　expended；　and　there　was　no　longer　wherewithal　to　pay　the　hired　troops。　　Still；　the　veteran　Mohammed　undertook　to　provide　for　this　emergency。　　Summoning　the　principal　inhabitants；　he　represented　the　necessity　of　some　exertion　and　sacrifice　on　their　part　to　maintain　the　defence　of　the　city。　　〃The　enemy；〃　said　he；　〃dreads　the　approach　of　winter；　and　our　perseverance　drives　him　to　despair。　　A　little　longer；　and　he　will　leave　you　in　quiet　enjoyment　of　your　homes　and　families。　　But　our　troops　must　be　paid　to　keep　them　in　good　heart。　　Our　money　is　exhausted　and　all　our　supplies　are　cut　off。　　It　is　impossible　to　continue　our　defence　without　your　aid。〃

Upon　this　the　citizens　consulted　together；　and　collected　all　their　vessels　of　gold　and　silver　and　brought　them　to　Mohammed。　　〃Take　these；〃　said　they；　〃and　coin　or　sell　or　pledge　them　for　money　wherewith　to　pay　the　troops。〃　　The　women　of　Baza　also　were　seized　with　generous　emulation。　　〃Shall　we　deck　ourselves　with　gorgeous　apparel；〃　said　they；　〃when　our　country　is　desolate　and　its　defenders　in　want　of　bread？〃　　So　they　took　their　collars　and　bracelets　and　anklets　and　other　ornaments　of　gold；　and　all　their　jewels；　and　put　them　in　the　hands　of　the　veteran　alcayde。　　〃Take　these　spoils　of　our　vanity；〃　said　they；　〃and　let　them　contribute　to　the　defence　of　our　homes　and　families。　　If　Baza　be　delivered；　we　need　no　jewels　to　grace　our　rejoicing；　and　if　Baza　fall；　of　what　avail　are　ornaments　to　the　captive？〃

By　these　contributions　was　Mohammed　enabled　to　pay　the　soldiery　and　carry　on　the　defence　of　the　city　with　unabated　spirit。

Tidings　were　speedily　conveyed　to　King　Ferdinand　of　this　generous　devotion　on　the　part　of　the　people　of　Baza；　and　the　hopes　which　the　Moorish　commanders　gave　them　that　the　Christian　army　would　soon　abandon　the　siege　in　despair。　　〃They　shall　have　a　convincing　proof　of　the　fallacy　of　such　hopes；〃　said　the　politic　monarch：　so　he　wrote　forthwith　to　Queen　Isabella　praying　her　to　come　to　the　camp　in　state；　with　all　her　tra