chronicle of the conquest of granada-第93章

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It　was　on　the　15th　of　June　that　Boabdil　once　more　issued　forth　from　the　gates　of　Granada　on　martial　enterprise。　　A　few　leagues　from　the　city；　within　full　view　of　it；　and　at　the　entrance　of　the　Alpuxarras　mountains；　stood　the　powerful　castle　of　Alhendin。　　It　was　built　on　an　eminence　rising　from　the　midst　of　a　small　town；　and　commanding　a　great　part　of　the　Vega　and　the　main　road　to　the　rich　valleys　of　the　Alpuxarras。　　The　castle　was　commanded　by　a　valiant　Christian　cavalier　named　Mendo　de　Quexada；　and　garrisoned　by　two　hundred　and　fifty　men；　all　seasoned　and　experienced　warriors。　　It　was　a　continual　thorn　in　the　side　of　Granada：　the　laborers　of　the　Vega　were　swept　off　from　their　fields　by　its　hardy　soldiers；　convoys　were　cut　off　in　the　passes　of　the　mountains；　and；　as　the　garrison　commanded　a　full　view　of　the　gates　of　the　city；　no　band　of　merchants　could　venture　forth　on　their　needful　journeys　without　being　swooped　up　by　the　war…hawks　of　Alhendin。

It　was　against　this　important　fortress　that　Boabdil　first　led　his　troops；　and　for　six　days　and　nights　it　was　closely　besieged。　　The　alcayde　and　his　veteran　garrison　defended　themselves　valiantly；　but　were　exhausted　by　fatigue　and　constant　watchfulness；　for　the　Moors；　being　continually　relieved　by　fresh　troops　from　Granada；　kept　up　an　unremitted　and　vigorous　attack。　　Twice　the　barbican　was　forced；　and　twice　the　assailants　were　driven　forth　headlong　with　excessive　loss。　The　garrison；　however；　was　diminished　in　number　by　the　killed　and　wounded；　there　were　no　longer　soldiers　sufficient　to　man　the　walls　and　gateway；　and　the　brave　alcayde　was　compelled　to　retire　with　his　surviving　force　to　the　keep　of　the　castle；　in　which　he　continued　to　make　a　desperate　resistance。

The　Moors　now　approached　the　foot　of　the　tower　under　shelter　of　wooden　screens　covered　with　wet　hides　to　ward　off　missiles　and　combustibles。　　They　went　to　work　vigorously　to　undermine　the　tower；　placing　props　of　wood　under　the　foundations；　to　be　afterward　set　on　fire；　so　as　to　give　the　besiegers　time　to　escape　before　the　edifice　should　fall。　　Some　of　the　Moors　plied　their　crossbows　and　arquebuses　to　defend　the　workmen　and　drive　the　Christians　from　the　walls；　while　the　latter　showered　down　stones　and　darts　and　melted　pitch　and　flaming　combustibles　on　the　miners。

The　brave　Mendo　de　Quexada　had　cast　many　an　anxious　eye　across　the　Vega　in　hopes　of　seeing　some　Christian　force　hastening　to　his　assistance。　　Not　a　gleam　of　spear　or　helm　was　to　be　descried；　for　no　one　had　dreamt　of　this　sudden　irruption　of　the　Moors。　　The　alcayde　beheld　his　bravest　men　dead　or　wounded　around　him；　while　the　remainder　were　sinking　with　watchfulness　and　fatigue。　　In　defiance　of　all　opposition；　the　Moors　had　accomplished　their　mine；　the　fire　was　brought　before　the　walls　that　was　to　be　applied　to　the　stanchions　in　case　the　garrison　persisted　in　defence。　　In　a　little　while　the　tower　would　crumble　beneath　him；　and　be　rent　and　hurled　a　ruin　to　the　plain。　　At　the　very　last　moment　the　brave　alcayde　made　the　signal　of　surrender。　　He　marched　forth　with　the　remnant　of　his　veteran　garrison；　who　were　all　made　prisoners。　　Boabdil　immediately　ordered　the　walls　of　the　fortress　to　be　razed　and　fire　to　be　applied　to　the　stanchions；　that　the　place　might　never　again　become　a　stronghold　to　the　Christians　and　a　scourge　to　Granada。　　The　alcayde　and　his　fellow…captives　were　led　in　dejected　convoy　across　the　Vega；　when　they　heard　a　tremendous　crash　behind　them。　　They　turned　to　look　upon　their　late　fortress；　but　beheld　nothing　but　a　heap　of　tumbling　ruins　and　a　vast　column　of　smoke　and　dust　where　once　had　stood　the　lofty　tower　of　Alhendin。



CHAPTER　LXXXVII。

EXPLOIT　OF　THE　COUNT　DE　TENDILLA。


Boabdil　el　Chico　followed　up　his　success　by　capturing　the　two　fortresses　of　Marchena　and　Albolodny；　belonging　to　Cid　Hiaya；　he　also　sent　his　alfaquis　in　every　direction　to　proclaim　a　holy　war　and　to　summon　all　true　Moslems　of　town　or　castle；　mountain　or　valley；　to　saddle　steed　and　buckle　on　armor　and　hasten　to　the　standard　of　the　faith。　　The　tidings　spread　far　and　wide　that　Boabdil　el　Chico　was　once　more　in　the　field　and　was　victorious。　　The　Moors　of　various　places；　dazzled　by　this　gleam　of　success；　hastened　to　throw　off　their　sworn　allegiance　to　the　Castilian　Crown　and　to　elevate　the　standard　of　Boabdil；　and　the　youthful　monarch　flattered　himself　that　the　whole　kingdom　was　on　the　point　of　returning　to　its　allegiance。

The　fiery　cavaliers　of　Granada；　eager　to　renew　those　forays　into　the　Christian　lands　in　which　they　had　formerly　delighted；　concerted　an　irruption　to　the　north；　into　the　territory　of　Jaen；　to　harass　the　country　about　Quezada。　　They　had　heard　of　a　rich　convoy　of　merchants　and　wealthy　travellers　on　the　way　to　the　city　of　Baza；　and　anticipated　a　glorious　conclusion　to　their　foray　in　capturing　this　convoy。

Assembling　a　number　of　horsemen；　lightly　armed　and　fleetly　mounted；　and　one　hundred　foot…soldiers；　they　issued　forth　by　night　from　Granada；　made　their　way　in　silence　through　the　defiles　of　the　mountains；　crossed　the　frontier　without　opposition；　and　suddenly　appeared；　as　if　fallen　from　the　clouds；　in　the　very　heart　of　the　Christian　country。

The　mountainous　frontier　which　separates　Granada　from　Jaen　was　at　this　time　under　the　command　of　the　count　de　Tendilla；　the　same　veteran　who　had　distinguished　himself　by　his　vigilance　and　sagacity　when　commanding　the　fortress　of　Alhama。　　He　held　his　head…quarters　at　the　city　of　Alcala　la　Real；　in　its　impregnable　fortress　perched　high　among　the　mountains；　about　six　leagues　from　Granada；　and　dominating　all　the　frontier。　　From　this　cloud…capt　hold　he　kept　an　eagle　eye　upon　Granada；　and　had　his　scouts　and　spies　in　all　directions；　so　that　a　crow　could　not　fly　over　the　border　without　his　knowledge。　His　fortress　was　a　place　of　refuge　for　the　Christian　captives　who　escaped　by　night　from　the　Moorish　dungeons　of　Granada。　　Often；　however；　they　missed　their　way　in　the　defiles　of　the　mountains；　and；　wandering　about　bewildered；　either　repaired　by　mistake　to　some　Moorish　town　or　were　discovered　and　retaken　at　daylight　by　the　enemy。　　To　prevent　these　accidents；　the　count　had　a　tower　built　at　his　own　expense　on　the　top　of　one　of　the　heights　near　Alcala；　which　commanded　a　view　of　the　Vega　and　the　surrounding　country。　　Here　he　kept　a　light　blazing　throughout　the　night　as　a　beacon　for　all　Christian　fugitives　to　guide　them　to　a　place　of　safety。

The　count　was　aroused　one　night　from　his　repose　by　shouts　and　cries　which　came　up　from　the　town　and　approached　the　castle　walls。　　〃To　arms！　to　arms！　the　Moor　is　over　the　border！〃　was　the　cry。　　A　Christian　soldier；　pale　and　emaciated；　who　still　bore　traces　of　Moorish　chains；　was　brought　before　the　count。　　He　had　been　taken　as　guide　by　the　Moorish　cavaliers　who　had　sallied　from　Granada；　but　had　escaped　from　them　among　the　mountains；　and　after　much　wandering　had　found　his　way　to　Alcala　by　the　signal…fire。

Notwithstanding　the　bustle　and　agitation　of　the　moment；　the　count　de　Tendilla　listened　calmly　and　attentively　to　the　account　of　the　fugitive；　and　questioned　him　minutely　as　to　the　time　of　departure　of　the　Moors　and　the　rapidity　and　direction　of　their　march。　　He　saw　that　it　was　too　late　to　prevent　their　incursion　and　ravage；　but　he　determined　to　await　them　and　give　them　a　warm　reception　on　their　return。　　His　soldiers　were　always　on　the　alert　and　ready　to　take　the　field　at　a　moment's　warning。　　Choosing　one　hundred　and　fifty　lances；　hardy　and　valiant　men；　well　disciplined　and　well　seasonedas　indeed　were　all　his　troopshe　issued　forth　quietly　before　break　of　day；　and；　descending　through　the　defiles　of　the　mountains；　stationed　his　little　force　in　ambush　in　a　deep　barranca；　or　dry　channel　of　a　torrent　near　Barzina；　but　three　leagues　from　Granada；　on　the　road　by　which　the　marauders　would　have　to　return。　　In　the　mean　time　he　sent　out　scouts　to　post　themselves　upon　different　heights　and　look　out　for　the　approach　of　the　enemy。

All　day　they　remained　concealed　in　the　ravine　and　for　a　great　part　of　the　following　night；　not　a　Moor；　however；　was　to　be　seen；　excepting　now　and　then　a　peasant　returning　from　his　labor　or　a　solitary　muleteer　hastening　toward　Granada。　　The　cavaliers　of　the　count　began　to　grow　restless　a