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The late ravages of Ferdinand and the continual skirmishings in the Vega had roused the vigilance of the castle。 One morning early； as the sentinels kept watch upon the battlements； they beheld a cloud of dust advancing rapidly from a distance： turbans and Moorish weapons soon caught their eyes； and as the whole approached they descried a drove of cattle urged on in great haste and convoyed by one hundred and fifty Moors； who led with them two Christian captives in chains。
When the cavalgada arrived near the castle； a Moorish cavalier of noble and commanding mien and splendid attire rode up to the foot of the tower and entreated admittance。 He stated that they were returning with rich booty from a foray into the lands of the Christians； but that the enemy was on their traces； and they feared to be overtaken before they could reach Granada。 The sentinels descended in all haste and flung open the gates。 The long cavalgada defiled into the courts of the castle； which were soon filled with bleating and lowing flocks and herds； with neighing and stamping steeds； and with fierce…looking Moors from the mountains。 The cavalier who had asked admission was the chief of the party； he was somewhat advanced in life； of a lofty and gallant bearing； and had with him a son； a young man of great spirit and fire。 Close by them followed the two Christian captives； with looks cast down and disconsolate。
The soldiers of the garrison had roused themselves from their sleep； and were busily occupied attending to the cattle which crowded the courts； while the foraging party distributed themselves about the castle to seek refreshment or repose。 Suddenly a shout arose that was echoed from courtyard and hall and battlement。 The garrison； astonished and bewildered； would have rushed to their arms； but found themselves； almost before they could make resistance； completely in the power of an enemy。
The pretended foraging party consisted of mudexares； or Moors tributary to the Christians； and the commanders were the prince Cid Hiaya and his son Alnayar。 They had hastened from the mountains with this small force to aid the Catholic sovereigns during the summer's campaign； and had concerted to surprise this important castle and present it to King Ferdinand as a gage of their faith and the first fruits of their devotion。
The politic monarch overwhelmed his new converts and allies with favors and distinctions in return for this important acquisition； but he took care to despatch a strong force of veteran and genuine Christian troops to man the fortress。
As to the Moors who had composed the garrison； Cid Hiaya remembered that they were his countrymen； and could not prevail upon himself to deliver them into Christian bondage。 He set them at liberty； and permitted them to repair to Granada〃a proof；〃 says the pious Agapida； 〃that his conversion was not entirely consummated； but that there were still some lingerings of the infidel in his heart。〃 His lenity was far from procuring him indulgence in the opinions of his countrymen； on the contrary； the inhabitants of Granada； when they learnt from the liberated garrison the stratagem by which Roma had been captured； cursed Cid Hiaya for a traitor； and the garrison joined in the malediction。*
*Pulgar； Cron。； part 3； cap。 130； Cura de los Palacios； cap。 90。
But the indignation of the people of Granada was destined to be roused to tenfold violence。 The old warrior Muley Abdallah el Zagal had retired to his little mountain…territory； and for a short time endeavored to console himself with his petty title of king of Andarax。 He soon grew impatient； however； of the quiet and inaction of his mimic kingdom。 His fierce spirit was exasperated by being shut up within such narrow limits； and his hatred rose to downright fury against Boabdil； whom he considered as the cause of his downfall。 When tidings were brought him that King Ferdinand was laying waste the Vega； he took a sudden resolution。 Assembling the whole disposable force of his kingdom； which amounted but to two hundred men； he descended from the Alpuxarras and sought the Christian camp； content to serve as a vassal the enemy of his faith and his nation； so that he might see Granada wrested from the sway of his nephew。
In his blind passion the old wrathful monarch injured his cause and strengthened the cause of his adversary。 The Moors of Granada had been clamorous in his praise； extolling him as a victim to his patriotism； and had refused to believe all reports of his treaty with the Christians； but when they beheld from the walls of the city his banner mingling with the banners of the unbelievers and arrayed against his late people and the capital he had commanded； they broke forth into revilings and heaped curses upon his name。
Their next emotion； of course； was in favor of Boabdil。 They gathered under the walls of the Alhambra and hailed him as their only hope； as the sole dependence of the country。 Boabdil could scarcely believe his senses when he heard his name mingled with praises and greeted with acclamations。 Encouraged by this unexpected gleam of popularity； he ventured forth from his retreat and was received with rapture。 All his past errors were attributed to the hardships of his fortune and the usurpation of his tyrant uncle； and whatever breath the populace could spare from uttering curses on El Zagal was expended in shouts in honor of El Chico。
CHAPTER LXXXVI。
HOW BOABDIL EL CHICO TOOK THE FIELD； AND HIS EXPEDITION AGAINST ALHENDIN。
For thirty days had the Vega been overrun by the Christian forces； and that vast plain； late so luxuriant and beautiful； was one wide scene of desolation。 The destroying army； having accomplished its task； passed over the bridge of Pinos and wound up into the mountains on the way to Cordova； bearing away the spoils of towns and villages and driving off flocks and herds in long dusty columns。 The sound of the last Christian trumpet died away along the side of the mountain of Elvira； and not a hostile squadron was seen glistening on the mournful fields of the Vega。
The eyes of Boabdil el Chico were at length opened to the real policy of King Ferdinand； and he saw that he had no longer anything to depend upon but the valor of his arm。 No time was to be lost in hastening to counteract the effect of the late Christian ravage and
in opening the channel for distant supplies to Granada。
Scarcely had the retiring squadrons of Ferdinand disappeared among the mountains when Boabdil buckled on his armor； sallied forth from the Alhambra； and prepared to take the field。 When the populace beheld him actually in arms against his late ally； both parties thronged with zeal to his standard。 The hardy inhabitants also of the Sierra Nevada； or chain of snow…capped mountains which rise above Granada； descended from their heights and hastened into the city gates to proffer their devotion to their youthful king。 The great square of the Vivarrambla shone with legions of cavalry decked with the colors and devices of the most ancient Moorish families； and marshalled forth by the patriot Muza to follow the king to battle。
It was on the 15th of June that Boabdil once more issued forth from the gates of Granada on martial enterprise。 A few leagues from the city； within full view of it； and at the entrance of the Alpuxarras mountains； stood the powerful castle of Alhendin。 It was built on an eminence rising from the midst of a small town； and commanding a great part of the Vega and the main road to the rich valleys of the Alpuxarras。 The castle was commanded by a valiant Christian cavalier named Mendo de Quexada； and garrisoned by two hundred and fifty men； all seasoned and experienced warriors。 It was a continual thorn in the side of Granada： the laborers of the Vega were swept off from their fields by its hardy soldiers； convoys were cut off in the passes of the mountains； and； as the garrison commanded a full view of the gates of the city； no band of merchants could venture forth on their needful journeys without being swooped up by the war…hawks of Alhendin。
It was against this important fortress that Boabdil first led his troops； and for six days and nights it was closely besieged。 The alcayde and his veteran garrison defended themselves valiantly； but were exhausted by fatigue and constant watchfulness； for the Moors； being continually relieved by fresh troops from Granada； kept up an unremitted and vigorous attack。 Twice the barbican was forced； and twice the assailants were driven forth headlong with excessive loss。 The garrison； however； was diminished in number by the killed and wounded； there were no longer soldiers sufficient to man the walls and gateway； and the brave alcayde was compelled to retire with his surviving force to the keep of the castle； in which he continued to make a desperate resistance。
The Moors now approached the foot of the tower under shelter of wooden screens covered with wet hides to ward off missiles and combustibles。 They went to work vigorously to undermine the tower； placing props of wood under the foundations； to be afterward set on fire； so as to give the besiegers time to escape before the edifice should fall。 Some of the Moors pl