chronicle of the conquest of granada-第95章

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the　mountains。　　The　vega　was　covered　with　beautiful　vegetation；　with　rice　and　cotton；　with　groves　of　oranges；　citrons；　figs；　and　mulberries；　and　with　gardens　enclosed　by　hedges　of　reeds；　of　aloes；　and　the　Indian　fig。　　Running　streams　of　cool　water　from　the　springs　and　snows　of　the　Sierra　Nevada　kept　this　delightful　valley　continually　fresh　and　verdant；　while　it　was　almost　locked　up　by　mountain…barriers　and　lofty　promontories　stretching　far　into　the　sea。

Through　the　centre　of　this　rich　vega　the　rock　of　Salobrena　reared　its　rugged　back；　nearly　dividing　the　plain　and　advancing　to　the　margin　of　the　sea；　with　just　a　strip　of　sandy　beach　at　its　foot　laved　by　the　blue　waves　of　the　Mediterranean。

The　town　covered　the　ridge　and　sides　of　the　rocky　hill；　and　was　fortified　by　strong　walls　and　towers；　while　on　the　highest　and　most　precipitate　part　stood　the　citadel；　a　huge　castle　that　seemed　to　form　a　part　of　the　living　rock；　the　massive　ruins　of　which　at　the　present　day　attract　the　gaze　of　the　traveller　as　he　winds　his　way　far　below　along　the　road　through　the　vega。

This　important　fortress　had　been　entrusted　to　the　command　of　Don　Francisco　Ramirez　de　Madrid；　captain…general　of　the　artillery　and　the　most　scientific　of　all　the　Spanish　leaders。　　That　experienced　veteran；　however；　was　with　the　king　at　Cordova；　having　left　a　valiant　cavalier　as　alcayde　of　the　place。

Boabdil　had　full　information　of　the　state　of　the　garrison　and　the　absence　of　its　commander。　　Putting　himself　at　the　head　of　a　powerful　force；　therefore；　he　departed　from　Granada；　and　made　a　rapid　march　through　the　mountains；　hoping　to　seize　upon　Salobrena　before　King　Ferdinand　could　come　to　its　assistance。

The　inhabitants　of　Salobrena　were　mudexares；　or　Moors　who　had　sworn　allegiance　to　the　Christians。　　Still；　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　the　Moorish　drums　and　trumpets；　and　beheld　the　squadrons　of　their　countrymen　advancing　across　the　vega；　their　hearts　yearned　toward　the　standard　of　their　nation　and　their　faith。　　A　tumult　arose　in　the　place；　the　populace　shouted　the　name　of　Boabdil　el　Chico　and；　throwing　open　the　gates；　admitted　him　within　the　walls。

The　Christian　garrison　was　too　few　in　number　to　contend　for　the　possession　of　the　town：　they　retreated　to　the　citadel　and　shut　themselves　within　its　massive　walls；　which　were　considered　impregnable。　　Here　they　maintained　a　desperate　defence；　hoping　to　hold　out　until　succor　should　arrive　from　the　neighboring　fortresses。

The　tidings　that　Salobrena　was　invested　by　the　Moorish　king　spread　along　the　sea…coast　and　filled　the　Christians　with　alarm。　　Don　Francisco　Enriquez；　uncle　of　the　king；　commanded　the　city　of　Velez　Malaga；　about　twelve　leagues　distant；　but　separated　by　ranges　of　those　vast　rocky　mountains　which　are　piled　along　the　Mediterranean　and　tower　in　steep　promontories　and　precipices　above　its　waves。

Don　Francisco　summoned　the　alcaydes　of　his　district　to　hasten　with　him　to　the　relief　of　this　important　fortress。　　A　number　of　cavaliers　and　their　retainers　answered　to　his　call；　among　whom　was　Hernan　Perez　del　Pulgar；　surnamed　〃El　de　las　hazanas〃　（He　of　the　exploits）　the　same　who　had　signalized　himself　in　a　foray　by　elevating　a　handkerchief　on　a　lance　for　a　banner　and　leading　on　his　disheartened　comrades　to　victory。　　As　soon　as　Don　Francisco　beheld　a　little　band　collected　round　him；　he　set　out　with　all　speed　for　Salobrena。　　The　march　was　rugged　and　severe；　climbing　and　descending　immense　mountains；　and　sometimes　winding　along　the　edge　of　giddy　precipices；　with　the　surges　of　the　sea　raging　far　below。　　When　Don　Francisco　arrived　with　his　followers　at　the　lofty　promontory　that　stretches　along　one　side　of　the　little　vega　of　Salobrena；　he　looked　down　with　sorrow　and　anxiety　upon　a　Moorish　army　of　great　force　encamped　at　the　foot　of　the　fortress；　while　Moorish　banners　on　various　parts　of　the　walls　proved　that　the　town　was　already　in　possession　of　the　infidels。　　A　solitary　Christian　standard　alone　floated　on　the　top　of　the　castle…keep；　showing　that　the　brave　garrison　were　hemmed　up　in　their　rock…built　citadel。　　They　were；　in　fact；　reduced　to　great　extremity　through　want　of　water　and　provisions。

Don　Francisco　found　it　impossible；　with　his　small　force；　to　make　any　impression　on　the　camp　of　the　Moors　or　to　get　to　the　relief　of　the　castle。　　He　stationed　his　little　band　upon　a　rocky　height　near　the　sea；　where　they　were　safe　from　the　assaults　of　the　enemy。　　The　sight　of　his　friendly　banner　waving　in　their　neighborhood　cheered　the　heart　of　the　garrison；　and　gave　them　assurance　of　speedy　succor　from　the　king；　while　the　hostile　menaces　of　Don　Francisco　served　to　check　the　attacks　of　the　Moors　upon　the　citadel。

In　the　mean　time；　Hernan　Perez　del　Pulgar；　who　always　burned　to　distinguish　himself　by　bold　and　striking　exploits；　had　discovered　in　the　course　of　his　prowlings　a　postern　gate　of　the　castle　opening　upon　the　steep　part　of　the　rocky　hill　looking　toward　the　mountains。　The　thought　occurred　to　him　that　by　a　bold　dash　at　a　favorable　moment　this　postern　might　be　attained　and　succor　thrown　into　the　castle。　　He　pointed　the　place　out　to　his　comrades。　　〃Who　will　follow　my　banner；〃　said　he；　〃and　make　a　dash　for　yonder　postern？〃　　A　bold　proposition　in　time　of　warfare　never　wants　for　bold　spirits　to　accept　it。　　Seventy　resolute　men　stepped　forward　to　second　him。　Pulgar　chose　the　early　daybreak　for　his　enterprise；　when　the　Moors；　just　aroused　from　sleep；　were　changing　guard　and　making　the　various　arrangements　of　the　morning。　　Favored　by　these　movements　and　the　drowsiness　of　the　hour；　Pulgar　approached　the　Moorish　line　silently　and　steadily；　most　of　his　followers　armed　with　crossbows　and　espingardas；　or　muskets。　　Then；　suddenly　making　an　onset；　they　broke　through　a　weak　part　of　the　camp　before　the　alarm　had　spread　through　the　army；　and　succeeded　in　fighting　their　way　up　to　the　gate；　which　was　eagerly　thrown　open　to　receive　them。

The　garrison；　roused　to　new　spirit　by　this　unlooked…for　reinforcement；　was　enabled　to　make　a　more　vigorous　resistance。　　The　Moors；　however；　who　knew　there　was　a　great　scarcity　of　water　in　the　castle；　exulted　in　the　idea　that　this　additional　number　of　warriors　would　soon　exhaust　the　cisterns　and　compel　a　surrender。　　Pulgar；　hearing　of　this　hope；　caused　a　bucket　of　water　to　be　lowered　from　the　battlements　and　threw　a　silver　cup　in　bravado　to　the　Moors。

The　garrison；　in　truth；　suffered　intensely　from　thirst；　while；　to　tantalize　them　in　their　sufferings；　they　beheld　limpid　streams　winding　in　abundance　through　the　green　plain　below　them。　　They　began　to　fear　that　all　succor　would　arrive　too　late；　when　one　day　they　beheld　a　little　squadron　of　vessels　far　at　sea；　but　standing　toward　the　shore。　　There　was　some　doubt　at　first　whether　it　might　not　be　a　hostile　armament　from　Africa；　but　as　it　approached　they　descried；　to　their　great　joy；　the　banner　of　Castile。

It　was　a　reinforcement；　brought　in　all　haste　by　the　governor　of　the　fortress；　Don　Francisco　Ramirez。　　The　squadron　anchored　at　a　steep　rocky　island　which　rises　from　the　very　margin　of　the　smooth　sandy　beach　directly　in　front　of　the　rock　of　Salobrena　and　stretches　out　into　the　sea。　　On　this　island　Ramirez　landed　his　men；　and　was　as　strongly　posted　as　if　in　a　fortress。　　His　force　was　too　scanty　to　attempt　a　battle；　but　he　assisted　to　harass　and　distract　the　besiegers。　　Whenever　King　Boabdil　made　an　attack　upon　the　fortress　his　camp　was　assailed　on　one　side　by　the　troops　of　Ramirez；　who　landed　from　their　island；　and　on　another　by　those　of　Don　Francisco　Enriquez；　who　swept　down　from　their　rock；　while　Hernan　del　Pulgar　kept　up　a　brave　defence　from　every　tower　and　battlement　of　the　castle。

The　attention　of　the　Moorish　king　was　diverted　also；　for　a　time；　by　an　ineffectual　attempt　to　relieve　the　little　port　of　Adra；　which　had　recently　declared　in　his　favor；　but　which　had　been　recaptured　for　the　Christians　by　Cid　Hiaya　and　his　son　Alnayar。　　Thus；　the　unlucky　Boabdil；　bewildered　on　every　hand；　lost　all　the　advantage　that　he　had　gained　by　his　rapid　march　from　Granada。　　While　he　was　yet　besieging　the　obstinate　citadel；　tidings　were　brought　him　that　King　Ferdinand　was　in　full　march　with　a　powerful　host　to　its　assistance。　There　was　no　time　for　further　delay：　he　made　a　furi