按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The king and his commanders saw the imminent peril of the moment； and made face to the Moors； each commander guarding his quarter and repelling all assaults while the tents were struck and the artillery and ammunition conveyed away。 The king； with a handful of cavaliers； galloped to a rising ground； exposed to the fire of the enemy； calling upon the flying troops and endeavoring in vain to rally them。 Setting upon the Moors； he and his cavaliers charged them so vigorously； that they put a squadron to flight； slaying many with their swords and lances and driving others into the river； where they were drowned。 The Moors； however； were soon reinforced； and returned in great numbers。 The king was in danger of being surrounded； and twice owed his safety to the valor of Don Juan de Ribera； senior of Montemayor。
The marques of Cadiz beheld from a distance the peril of his sovereign。 Summoning about seventy horsemen to follow him； he galloped to the spot； threw himself between the king and the enemy； and； hurling his lance； transpierced one of the most daring of the Moors。 For some time he remained with no other weapon than his sword； his horse was wounded by an arrow and many of his followers were slain； but he succeeded in beating off the Moors and rescuing the king from imminent jeopardy； whom he then prevailed upon to retire to less dangerous ground。
The marques continued throughout the day to expose himself to the repeated assaults of the enemy： he was ever found in the place of the greatest danger； and through his bravery a great part of the army and camp was preserved from destruction。*
*Cura de los Palacios； c。 58。
It was a perilous day for the commanders； for in a retreat of the kind it is the noblest cavaliers who most expose themselves to save their people。 The duke of Medina Celi was struck to the ground； but rescued by his troops。 The count de Tendilla； whose tents were nearest to the city； received several wounds； and various other cavaliers of the most distinguished note were exposed to fearful jeopardy。 The whole day was passed in bloody skirmishings； in which the hidalgos and cavaliers of the royal household distinguished themselves by their bravery： at length； the encampments being all broken up and most of the artillery and baggage removed； the bloody height of Albohacen was abandoned and the neighborhood of Loxa evacuated。 Several tents； a quantity of provisions； and a few pieces of artillery were left upon the spot from the want of horses and mules to carry them off。
Ali Atar hung upon the rear of the retiring army； and harassed it until it reached Rio Frio； Ferdinand returned thence to Cordova； deeply mortified； though greatly benefited； by the severe lesson he had received； which served to render him more cautious in his campaigns and more diffident of fortune。 He sent letters to all parts excusing his retreat； imputing it to the small number of his forces； and the circumstance that many of them were quotas sent from various cities； and not in royal pay； in the mean time； to console his troops for their disappointment and to keep up their spirits； he led them upon another inroad to lay waste the Vega of Granada。
CHAPTER XI。
HOW MULEY ABUL HASSAN MADE A FORAY INTO THE LANDS OF MEDINA SIDONIA； AND HOW HE WAS RECEIVED。
Muley Abul Hassan had mustered an army and marched to the relief of Loxa； but arrived too late； the last squadron of Ferdinand had already passed over the border。 〃They have come and gone；〃 said he； 〃like a summer cloud； and all their vaunting has been mere empty thunder。〃 He turned to make another attempt upon Alhama； the garrison of which was in the utmost consternation at the retreat of Ferdinand； and would have deserted the place had it not been for the courage and perseverance of the alcayde； Luis Fernandez Puerto Carrero。 That brave and loyal commander cheered up the spirits of his men and kept the old Moorish king at bay until the approach of Ferdinand； on his second incursion into the Vega； obliged him to make an unwilling retreat to Malaga。
Muley Abul Hassan felt that it would be in vain； with his inferior force； to oppose the powerful army of the Christian monarch； but to remain idle and see his territories laid waste would ruin him in the estimation of his people。 〃If we cannot parry；〃 said he； 〃we can strike； if we cannot keep our own lands from being ravaged； we can ravage the lands of the enemy。〃 He inquired and learnt that most of the chivalry of Andalusia； in their eagerness for a foray； had marched off with the king； and left their own country almost defenceless。 The territories of the duke of Medina Sidonia were particularly unguarded： here were vast plains of pasturage covered with flocks and herdsthe very country for a hasty inroad。 The old monarch had a bitter grudge against the duke for having foiled him at Alhama。 〃I'll give this cavalier a lesson；〃 said he； exultingly； 〃that will cure him of his love of campaigning。〃 So he prepared in all haste for a foray into the country about Medina Sidonia。
Muley Abul Hassan sallied out of Malaga with fifteen hundred horse and six thousand foot； and took the way by the sea…coast； marching through Estiponia； and entering the Christian country between Gibraltar and Castellar。 The only person that was likely to molest him on this route was one Pedro de Vargas； a shrewd； hardy； and vigilant soldier； alcayde of Gibraltar； and who lay ensconced in his old warrior rock as in a citadel。 Muley Abul Hassan knew the watchful and daring character of the man； but had ascertained that his garrison was too small to enable him to make a sally； or at least to ensure him any success。 Still； he pursued his march with great silence and caution； sent parties in advance to explore every pass where a foe might lie in ambush； cast many an anxious eye toward the old rock of Gibraltar as its cloud…capped summit was seen towering in the distance on his left； nor did he feel entirely at ease until he had passed through the broken and mountainous country of Castellar and descended into the plains。 Here he encamped on the banks of the Celemin； and sent four hundred corredors； or fleet horsemen； armed with lances； to station themselves near Algeziras and keep a strict watch across the bay upon the opposite fortress of Gibraltar。 If the alcayde attempted to sally forth； they were to waylay and attack him； being almost four times his supposed force； and were to send swift tidings to the camp。 In the mean time two hundred corredors were sent to scour that vast plain called the Campina de Tarifa； abounding with flocks and herds； and two hundred more were to ravage the lands about Medina Sidonia。 Muley Abul Hassan remained with the main body of the army as a rallying…point on the banks of the Celemin。
The foraging parties scoured the country to such effect that they came driving vast flocks and herds before them； enough to supply the place of all that had been swept from the Vega of Granada。 The troops which had kept watch upon the rock of Gibraltar returned with word that they had not seen a Christian helmet stirring。 The old king congratulated himself upon the secrecy and promptness with which he had conducted his foray； and upon having baffled the vigilance of Pedro de Vargas。
He had not been so secret； however； as he imagined； the watchful alcayde of Gibraltar had received notice of his movements； but his garrison was barely sufficient for the defence of his post。 Luckily； there arrived at this juncture a squadron of the armed galleys； under Carlos de Valera； recently stationed in the Straits。 Pedro de Vargas prevailed upon him to take charge of Gibraltar during his temporary absence； and forthwith sallied out at midnight at the head of seventy chosen horsemen。 By his command alarm…fires were lighted on the mountains； signals that the Moors were on the ravage； at sight of which the peasants were accustomed to drive their flocks and herds to places of refuge。 He sent couriers also spurring in every direction； summoning all capable of bearing arms to meet him at Castellar。 This was a town strongly posted on a steep height； by which the Moorish king would have to return。
Muley Abul Hassan saw by the fires blazing on the mountains that the country was rising。 He struck his tents； and pushed forward as rapidly as possible for the border； but he was encumbered with booty and with the vast cavalgada swept from the pastures of the Campina de Tarifa。 His scouts brought him word that there were troops in the field； but he made light of the intelligence； knowing that they could only be those of the alcayde of Gibraltar； and that he had not more than a hundred horsemen in his garrison。 He threw in advance two hundred and fifty of his bravest troops； and with them the alcaydes of Marabella and Casares。 Behind this van…guard followed a great cavalgada of cattle； and in the rear marched the king with the main force of his little army。
It was near the middle of a sultry summer day when they approached Castellar。 De Vargas was on the watch； and beheld； by an immense cloud of dust； that they were descending one of the heights of that wild and broken country。 The van…guard and rear…guard were above half a