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he evening in broken and dejected parties。
The fortune of war bore hard against the old monarch； his mind was harassed by disastrous tidings brought each day from Baza； of the sufferings of the inhabitants； and the numbers of the garrison slain in the frequent skirmishes。 He dared not go in person to the relief of the place； for his presence was necessary in Guadix to keep a check upon his nephew in Granada。 He sent reinforcements and supplies； but they were intercepted and either captured or driven back。 Still； his situation was in some respects preferable to that of his nephew Boabdil。 He was battling like a warrior on the last step of his throne； El Chico remained a kind of pensioned vassal in the luxurious abode of the Alhambra。 The chivalrous part of the inhabitants of Granada could not but compare the generous stand made by the warriors of Baza for their country and their faith with their own time…serving submission to the yoke of an unbeliever。 Every account they received of the woes of Baza wrung their hearts with agony； every account of the exploits of its devoted defenders brought blushes to their cheeks。 Many stole forth secretly with their weapons and hastened to join the besieged； and the partisans of El Zagal wrought upon the patriotism and passions of the remainder until another of those conspiracies was formed that were continually menacing the unsteady throne of Granada。 It was concerted by the conspirators to assail the Alhambra on a sudden； slay Boabdil； assemble the troops； and march to Guadix； where； being reinforced by the garrison of that place and led on by the old warrior monarch； they might fall with overwhelming power upon the Christian army before Baza。
Fortunately for Boabdil； he discovered the conspiracy in time； and the heads of the leaders were struck off and placed upon the walls of the Alhambraan act of severity unusual with this mild and wavering monarch； which struck terror into the disaffected； and produced a kind of mute tranquillity throughout the city。
Ferdinand had full information of all the movements and measures for the relief of Baza； and took precautions to prevent them。 Bodies of horsemen held watch in the mountain…passes to prevent supplies and intercept any generous volunteers from Granada； and watch…towers were erected or scouts placed on every commanding height to give the alarm at the least sign of a hostile turban。
The prince Cid Hiaya and his brave companions…in…arms were thus gradually walled up； as it were； from the rest of the world。 A line of towers； the battlements of which bristled with troops； girded their city； and behind the intervening bulwarks and palisadoes passed and repassed continual squadrons of troops。 Week after week and month after month passed away； but Ferdinand waited in vain for the garrison to be either terrified or starved into surrender。 Every day they sallied forth with the spirit and alacrity of troops high fed and flushed with confidence。 〃The Christian monarch；〃 said the veteran Mohammed Ibn Hassan； 〃builds his hopes upon our growing faint and despondingwe must manifest unusual cheerfulness and vigor。 What would be rashness in other service becomes prudence with us。〃 The prince Cid Hiaya agreed with him in opinion； and sallied forth with his troops upon all kinds of hare…brained exploits。 They laid ambushes； concerted surprises； and made the most desperate assaults。 The great extent of the Christian works rendered them weak in many parts： against these the Moors directed their attacks； suddenly breaking into them； making a hasty ravage； and bearing off their booty in triumph to the city。 Sometimes they would sally forth by passes and clefts of the mountain in the rear of the city which it was difficult to guard； and； hurrying down into the plain； sweep off all cattle and sheep that were grazing near the suburbs and all stragglers from the camp。
These partisan sallies brought on many sharp and bloody encounters； in some of which Don Alonso de Aguilar and the alcayde de los Donceles distinguished themselves greatly。 During one of these hot skirmishes； which happened on the skirts of the mountain about twilight； a cavalier named Martin Galindo beheld a powerful Moor dealing deadly blows about him and making great havoc among the Christians。 Galindo pressed forward and challenged him to single combat。 The Moor was not slow in answering the call。
Couching their lances； they rushed furiously upon each other。 At the first shock the Moor was wounded in the face and borne out of his saddle。 Before Galindo could check his steed and turn from his career the Moor sprang upon his feet； recovered his lance； and； rushing upon him； wounded him in the head and the arm。 Though Galindo was on horseback and the Moor on foot； yet such was the prowess and address of the latter that the Christian knight； being disabled in the arm； was in the utmost peril when his comrades hastened to his assistance。 At their approach the valiant pagan retreated slowly up the rocks； keeping them at bay until he found himself among his companions。
Several of the young Spanish cavaliers； stung by the triumph of this Moslem knight； would have challenged others of the Moors to single combat； but King Ferdinand prohibited all vaunting encounters of the kind。 He forbade his troops also to provoke skirmishes； well knowing that the Moors were more dextrous than most people in this irregular mode of fighting； and were better acquainted with the ground。
CHAPTER LXXVI。
HOW TWO FRIARS FROM THE HOLY LAND ARRIVED AT THE CAMP。
While the holy Christian army （says Fray Antonio Agapida） was thus beleaguering this infidel city of Baza there rode into the camp one day two reverend friars of the order of St。 Francis。 One was of portly person and authoritative air： he bestrode a goodly steed； well conditioned and well caparisoned； while his companion rode beside him upon a humble hack； poorly accoutred； and； as he rode； he scarcely raised his eyes from the ground； but maintained a meek and lowly air。
The arrival of two friars in the camp was not a matter of much note； for in these holy wars the Church militant continually mingled in the affray； and helmet and cowl were always seen together； but it was soon discovered that these worthy saints…errant were from a far country and on a mission of great import。
They were； in truth； just arrived from the Holy Land； being two of the saintly men who kept vigil over the sepulchre of our Blessed Lord at Jerusalem。 He of the tall and portly form and commanding presence was Fray Antonio Millan； prior of the Franciscan convent in the Holy City。 He had a full and florid countenance； a sonorous voice； and was round and swelling and copious in his periods； like one accustomed to harangue and to be listened to with deference。 His companion was small and spare in form； pale of visage； and soft and silken and almost whispering in speech。 〃He had a humble and lowly way；〃 says Agapida； 〃evermore bowing the head； as became one of his calling。〃 Yet he was one of the most active； zealous； and effective brothers of the convent； and when he raised his small black eye from the earth there was a keen glance out of the corner which showed that； though harmless as a dove； he was nevertheless as wise as a serpent。
These holy men had come on a momentous embassy from the grand soldan of Egypt； or； as Agapida terms him in the language of the day； the soldan of Babylon。 The league which had been made between that potentate and his arch…foe the Grand Turk； Bajazet II。； to unite in arms for the salvation of Granada； as has been mentioned in a previous chapter of this chronicle； had come to naught。 The infidel princes had again taken up arms against each other； and had relapsed into their ancient hostility。 Still； the grand soldan； as head of the whole Moslem religion； considered himself bound to preserve the kingdom of Granada from the grasp of unbelievers。 He despatched； therefore； these two holy friars with letters to the Castilian sovereigns； as well as to the pope and to the king of Naples； remonstrating against the evils done to the Moors of the kingdom of Granada； who were of his faith and kindred whereas it was well known that great numbers of Christians were indulged and protected in the full enjoyment of their property； their liberty； and their faith in his dominions。 He insisted； therefore； that this war should cease that the Moors of Granada should be reinstated in the territory of which they had been dispossessed： otherwise he threatened to put to death all the Christians beneath his sway； to demolish their convents and temples； and to destroy the Holy Sepulchre。
This fearful menace had spread consternation among the Christians of Palestine； and when the intrepid Fray Antonio Millan and his lowly companion departed on their mission they were accompanied far from the gates of Jerusalem by an anxious throng of brethren and disciples； who remained watching them with tearful eyes as long as they were in sight。 These holy ambassadors were received with great distinction by King Ferdinand； for men of their cloth had ever high honor and consideration in his court。 He had long and frequent conversations with them abo