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thought of her father； and shrank back。 But fruitless is the attempt
to describe the conflict in the bosom of one so young and tender and
loving； but so timid； and so ignorant of the world。
In vain her sisters implored； the duenna scolded； and the renegado
blasphemed beneath the balcony； the gentle little Moorish maid stood
doubting and wavering on the verge of elopement； tempted by the
sweetness of the sin； but terrified at its perils。
Every moment increased the danger of discovery。 A distant tramp
was heard。 〃The patrols are walking their rounds；〃 cried the renegado；
〃if we linger； we perish。 Princess； descend instantly； or we leave
you。〃
Zorahayda was for a moment in fearful agitation； then loosening
the ladder of ropes； with desperate resolution； she flung it from
the balcony。
〃It is decided！〃 cried she； 〃flight is now out of my power！ Allah
guide and bless ye； my dear sisters！〃
The two eldest princesses were shocked at the thoughts of leaving
her behind； and would fain have lingered； but the patrol was
advancing； the renegado was furious； and they were hurried away to the
subterraneous passage。 They groped their way through a fearful
labyrinth； cut through the heart of the mountain； and succeeded in
reaching； undiscovered； an iron gate that opened outside of the walls。
The Spanish cavaliers were waiting to receive them； disguised as
Moorish soldiers of the guard； commanded by the renegado。
The lover of Zorahayda was frantic； when he learned that she had
refused to leave the tower； but there was no time to waste in
lamentations。 The two princesses were placed behind their lovers；
the discreet Kadiga mounted behind the renegado； and they all set
off at a round pace in the direction of the Pass of Lope； which
leads through the mountains towards Cordova。
They had not proceeded far when they heard the noise of drums and
trumpets from the battlements of the Alhambra。
〃Our flight is discovered！〃 said the renegado。
〃We have fleet steeds； the night is dark； and we may distance all
pursuit；〃 replied the cavaliers。
They put spurs to their horses； and scoured across the Vega。 They
attained the foot of the mountain of Elvira； which stretches like a
promontory into the plain。 The renegado paused and listened。 〃As yet；〃
said he； 〃there is no one on our traces； we shall make good our escape
to the mountains。〃 While he spoke； a light blaze sprang up on the
top of the watchtower of the Alhambra。
〃Confusion！〃 cried the renegado； 〃that bale fire will put all the
guards of the passes on the alert。 Away！ away！ Spur like mad… there is
no time to be lost。〃
Away they dashed… the clattering of their horses' hoofs echoed
from rock to rock； as they swept along the road that skirts the
rocky mountain of Elvira。 As they galloped on； the bale fire of the
Alhambra was answered in every direction； light after light blazed
on the atalayas； or watchtowers of the mountains。
〃Forward！ forward！〃 cried the renegado； with many an oath； 〃to the
bridge… to the bridge； before the alarm has reached there！〃
They doubled the promontory of the mountains； and arrived in sight
of the famous Bridge of Pinos； that crosses a rushing stream often
dyed with Christian and Moslem blood。 To their confusion； the tower on
the bridge blazed with lights and glittered with armed men。 The
renegado pulled up his steed； rose in his stirrups and looked about
him for a moment； then beckoning to the cavaliers； he struck off
from the road； skirted the river for some distance； and dashed into
its waters。 The cavaliers called upon the princesses to cling to them；
and did the same。 They were borne for some distance down the rapid
current； the surges roared round them； but the beautiful princesses
clung to their Christian knights； and never uttered a complaint。 The
cavaliers attained the opposite bank in safety； and were conducted
by the renegado； by rude and unfrequented paths； and wild barrancos；
through the heart of the mountains； so as to avoid all the regular
passes。 In a word； they succeeded in reaching the ancient city of
Cordova； where their restoration to their country and friends was
celebrated with great rejoicings； for they were of the noblest
families。 The beautiful princesses were forthwith received into the
bosom of the Church； and； after being in all due form made regular
Christians； were rendered happy wives。
In our hurry to make good the escape of the princesses across the
river； and up the mountains； we forgot to mention the fate of the
discreet Kadiga。 She had clung like a cat to Hussein Baba in the
scamper across the Vega； screaming at every bound； and drawing many an
oath from the whiskered renegado； but when he prepared to plunge his
steed into the river； her terror knew no bounds。 〃Grasp me not so
tightly；〃 cried Hussein Baba； 〃hold on by my belt and fear nothing。〃
She held firmly with both hands by the leathern belt that girded the
broad…backed renegado； but when he halted with the cavaliers to take
breath on the mountain summit； the duenna was no longer to be seen。
〃What has become of Kadiga？〃 cried the princesses in alarm。
〃Allah alone knows！〃 replied the renegado； 〃my belt came loose
when in the midst of the river； and Kadiga was swept with it down
the stream。 The will of Allah be done！ but it was an embroidered belt；
and of great price。〃
There was no time to waste in idle regrets； yet bitterly did the
princesses bewail the loss of their discreet counsellor。 That
excellent old woman； however； did not lose more than half of her
nine lives in the water： a fisherman； who was drawing his nets some
distance down the stream； brought her to land； and was not a little
astonished at his miraculous draught。 What further became of the
discreet Kadiga； the legend does not mention； certain it is that she
evinced her discretion in never venturing within the reach of
Mohamed the Left…handed。
Almost as little is known of the conduct of that sagacious monarch
when he discovered the escape of his daughters； and the deceit
practised upon him by the most faithful of servants。 It was the only
instance in which he had called in the aid of counsel； and he was
never afterwards known to be guilty of a similar weakness。 He took
good care； however； to guard his remaining daughter； who had no
disposition to elope： it is thought； indeed； that she secretly
repented having remained behind： now and then she was seen leaning
on the battlements of the tower； and looking mournfully towards the
mountains in the direction of Cordova； and sometimes the notes of
her lute were heard accompanying plaintive ditties； in which she was
said to lament the loss of her sisters and her lover； and to bewail
her solitary life。 She died young； and； according to popular rumor；
was buried in a vault beneath the tower； and her untimely fate has
given rise to more than one traditionary fable。
The following legend； which seems in some measure to spring out of
the foregoing story； is too closely connected with high historic names
to be entirely doubted。 The Count's daughter； and some of her young
companions； to whom it was read in one of the evening tertulias；
thought certain parts of it had much appearance of reality； and
Dolores； who was much more versed than they in the improbable truths
of the Alhambra； believed every word of it。