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was about over。 Under the relentless measures of Ferdinand and
Isabella； with whose story all American children； at least；
should be familiar； the last Moorish stronghold had fallen； in
the very year in which Columbus discovered America； and Spain；
from the Pyrenees to the Straits of Gibraltar； acknowledged the
mastership of its Christian sovereigns。
But the centuries of warfare that had made the Spaniards a fierce
and warlike race； had also filled Spain with frowning castles and
embattled towns。 And such an embattled town was this same city of
Avila； in which； in 1525； lived the stern and pious old grandee；
Don Alphonso Sanchez de Cepeda； his sentimental and
romance…loving wife； the Donna Beatrix； and their twelve sturdy
and healthy children。
Religious warfare； as it is the most bitter and relentless of
strifes； is also the most brutal。 It turns the natures of men and
women into quite a different channel from the one in which the
truths they are fighting for would seek to lead them； and of all
relentless and brutal religious wars； few have been more bitter
than the one that for fully five hundred years had wasted the
land of Spain。
To battle for the Cross； to gain renown in fights against the
Infidelsas the Moors were then called；to 〃obtain martyrdom〃
among the followers of Mohammedthese were reckoned by the
Christians of crusading days as the highest honor that life could
bring or death bestow。 It is no wonder； therefore； that in a
family； the father of which had been himself a fighter of
Infidels； and the mother a reader and dreamer of all the romantic
stories that such conflicts create； the children also should be
full of that spirit of hatred toward a conquered foe that came
from so bitter and long…continuing a warfare。
Don Alphonso's religion had little in it of cheerfulness and
love。 It was of the stern and pitiless kind that called for
sacrifice and penance； and all those uncomfortable and
unnecessary forms by which too many good people； even in this
more enlightened day； think to ease their troubled consciences；
or to satisfy the fancied demands of the Good Father； who really
requires none of these foolish and most unpleasant
self…punishments。
But such a belief was the rule in Don Alphonso's day； and when it
could lay so strong a hold upon grown men and women； it would； of
course； be likely to work in peculiar ways with thoughtful and
conscientious children； who； understanding little of the real
meaning of sacrifice and penance； felt it their duty to do
something as proof of their belief。
So it came about that little ten…year…old Theresa； one of the
numerous girls of the Cepeda family； thought as deeply of these
things as her small mind was capable。 She was of a peculiarly
sympathetic； romantic； and conscientious nature； and she felt it
her duty to do something to show her devotion to the faith for
which her father had fought so valiantly； and which the nuns and
priests； who were her teachers； so vigorously impressed upon her。
She had been taught that alike the punishment or the glory that
must follow her life on earth were to last forever。 Forever！ this
was a word that even a thoughtful little maiden like Theresa
could not comprehend。 So she sought her mother。
〃Forever？ how long is forever； mother mine？〃 she asked。
But the Donna Beatrix was just then too deeply interested in the
tragic story of the two lovers； Calixto and Melibea； in the Senor
Fernando de Rojas' tear…compelling story； to be able to enter
into the discussion of so deep a question。
〃Forever；〃 she said； looking up from the thick and crabbed
black…letter pages； 〃why forever is forever； childalways。 Pray
do not trouble me with such questions； just as I am in the midst
of this beautiful death…scene too。〃
The little girl found she could gain no knowledge from this
source； and she feared to question her stern and bigoted old
father。 So she sought her favorite brother Pedroa bright little
fellow of seven； who adored and thoroughly believed in his sister
Theresa。
To Pedro； then； Theresa confided her belief that； if forever was
so long a time as 〃always；〃 it would be most unpleasant to suffer
〃always；〃 if by any chance they should do any thing wrong。 It
would be far better； so argued this little logician； to die now
and end the problem； than to live and run so great a risk。 She
told him； too； that； as they knew from their mother's tales； the
most beautiful； the most glorious way to die was as a martyr
among the infidel Moors。 So she proposed to Pedro that she and he
should not say a word to any one； but just start off at once as
crusaders on their own accounts； and lose their lives but save
their souls as martyrs among the Moors。
The suggestion had all the effect of novelty to the little Pedro；
and while he did not altogether relish the idea of losing his
life among the Moors； still the possibility of a change presented
itself with all the attractions that the thought of trying
something new always has for children。 Besides； he had great
respect for his sister's judgment。
〃Well； let us be crusaders；〃 he said； 〃and perhaps we need not be
martyrs； sister。 I don't think that would be so very pleasant； do
you？ Who knows； perhaps we may be victorious crusaders and
conquer the Infidels just as did Ruy Diaz the Cid。＇1＇ See here；
Theresa； I have my sword and you can take your cross； and we can
have such a nice crusade； and may be the infidel Moors will run
away from us just as they did from the Cid and leave us their
cities and their gold and treasure？ Don't you remember what
mother read us； how the Cid won Castelon； with its silver and its
gold？〃
＇1＇ The Cid was the great hero of Spanish romance。 The stories of
his valor have been the joy of Spaniards； old and young； for
centuries。 Cid is a corruption of the Moorish word seyd or said；
and means master。
And the little fellow spouted most valiantly this portion of the
famous poem of the exploits of the Cid （the Poema del Cid）； with
the martial spirit of which stirring rhyme his romantic mother
had filled her children：
Smite； smite； my knights； for mercy's sakeon boldly to the
war；
I am Ruy Diaz of Bivar； the Cid Campeador！
Three hundred lances then were couched； with pennons
streaming gay；
Three hundred shields were pierced throughno steel the
shock might stay；
Three hundred hauberks were torn off in that encounter sore；
Three hundred snow…white pennons were crimson…dyed in
gore；
Three hundred chargers wandered loosetheir lords were
overthrown；
The Christians cry 'St。 James for Spain！' the Moormen
cry 'Mahoun！' 〃
Theresa applauded her little brother's eloquent recitation； and
thought him a very smart boy； but she said rather sadly： 〃I fear
me it will not be that way； my Pedro； for martyrdom means； as
mother has told us； the giving up of our life rather than bow to
the false faith of the Infidel； and thus to save our souls and
have a crown of glory。〃
〃The crown would be very nice； I suppose； sister；〃 said practical
young Pedro； 〃especially if it was all so fine as the one they
say the young King Carlos＇1＇ wearsEmperor； too； now； is he not？
Could we be emperors； too； sister； if we were martyrs； and had
each a crown？ But we must be crusaders first； I suppose。 Come；
let us go at once。〃
＇1＇ King Charles the Fifth was at this time King of Spain； and
had just been elected Emperor of Germany。
The road from granite…walled Avila to the south is across a wild
and desolate waste； frowned down upon on either hand by the
savage crests of the grim sierras of the Guadarrama。 It winds
along gorges and ravines and rocky river…beds； and has always
been； even in the days of Spanish power and glory； about as
untamed and savagely picturesque a road as one could well
imagine。
Along this hard and desolate road； only a few days after their
determination had been reached； to start upon a crusade the
brother and sister plodded。 Theresa carried her crucifix； and
Pedro his toy sword； while in a little wallet at his side were a
few bits of food taken from the home larder。 This stock of food
had； of course； been taken without the knowledge of the mother；
who knew nothing of their crusade； and this； therefore； furnished
for Theresa another sin； for which she must do penance； and
another reason for the desired martyrdom。
They had really only proceeded a few miles into the mountains
beyond Avila； but already their sturdy little legs were tired；
and their stout little backs were sore。 Pedro thought crusading
not such very great fun after all； be was always hungry and
thirsty； and Theresa would only let him take a bite once in a
while。
〃Don't you suppose there is a Moorish castle somewhere around
here that we could capture； and so get plenty to eat？〃 he