The　sultana　Ayxa；　apprised　of　the　imminent　danger　of　her　son；　concerted　a　plan　for　his　escape。　　At　the　dead　of　the　night　she　gained　access　to　his　prison；　and；　tying　together　the　shawls　and　scarfs　of　herself　and　her　female　attendants；　lowered　him　down　from　a　balcony　of　the　Alhambra　to　the　steep　rocky　hillside　which　sweeps　down　to　the　Darro。　　Here　some　of　her　devoted　adherents　were　waiting　to　receive　him；　who；　mounting　him　on　a　swift　horse；　spirited　him　away　to　the　city　of　Guadix；　in　the　Alpuxarras。
  CHAPTER　V。
  EXPEDITION　OF　THE　MARQUES　OF　CADIZ　AGAINST　ALHAMA。
  Great　was　the　indignation　of　King　Ferdinand　when　he　heard　of　the　storming　of　Zahara；　though　the　outrage　of　the　Moor　happened　most　opportunely。　　The　war　between　Castile　and　Portugal　had　come　to　a　close；　the　factions　of　Spanish　nobles　were　for　the　most　part　quelled。　The　Castilian　monarchs　had　now；　therefore；　turned　their　thoughts　to　the　cherished　object　of　their　ambition；　the　conquest　of　Granada。　The　pious　heart　of　Isabella　yearned　to　behold　the　entire　Peninsula　redeemed　from　the　domination　of　the　infidel；　while　Ferdinand；　in　whom　religious　zeal　was　mingled　with　temporal　policy；　looked　with　a　craving　eye　to　the　rich　territory　of　the　Moor；　studded　with　wealthy　towns　and　cities。　　Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　rashly　or　unwarily　thrown　the　brand　that　was　to　produce　the　wide　conflagration。　　Ferdinand　was　not　the　one　to　quench　the　flames。　　He　immediately　issued　orders　to　all　the　adelantados　and　alcaydes　of　the　frontiers　to　maintain　the　utmost　vigilance　at　their　several　posts；　and　to　prepare　to　carry　fire　and　sword　into　the　territories　of　the　Moors。
  Among　the　many　valiant　cavaliers　who　rallied　round　the　throne　of　Ferdinand　and　Isabella；　one　of　the　most　eminent　in　rank　and　renowned　in　arms　was　Don　Roderigo　Ponce　de　Leon；　marques　of　Cadiz。　　As　he　was　the　distinguished　champion　of　this　holy　war；　and　commanded　in　most　of　its　enterprises　and　battles；　it　is　meet　that　some　particular　account　should　be　given　of　him。　　He　was　born　in　1443　of　the　valiant　lineage　of　the　Ponces；　and　from　his　earliest　youth　had　rendered　himself　illustrious　in　the　field。　　He　was　of　the　middle　stature；　with　a　muscular　and　powerful　frame；　capable　of　great　exertion　and　fatigue。　His　hair　and　beard　were　red　and　curled；　his　countenance　was　open　and　magnanimous；　of　a　ruddy　complexion　and　slightly　marked　with　the　small…　pox。　　He　was　temperate；　chaste；　valiant；　vigilant；　a　just　and　generous　master　to　his　vassals；　frank　and　noble　in　his　deportment　toward　his　equals；　loving　and　faithful　to　his　friends；　fierce　and　terrible；　yet　magnanimous；　to　his　enemies。　　He　was　considered　the　mirror　of　chivalry　of　his　times；　and　compared　by　contemporary　historians　to　the　immortal　Cid。
  The　marques　of　Cadiz　had　vast　possessions　in　the　most　fertile　parts　of　Andalusia；　including　many　towns　and　castles；　and　could　lead　forth　an　army　into　the　field　from　his　own　vassals　and　dependants。　　On　receiving　the　orders　of　the　king　he　burned　to　signalize　himself　by　some　sudden　incursion　into　the　kingdom　of　Granada　that　should　give　a　brilliant　commencement　to　the　war；　and　should　console　the　sovereigns　for　the　insult　they　had　received　in　the　capture　of　Zahara。　　As　his　estates　lay　near　to　the　Moorish　frontiers　and　were　subject　to　sudden　inroads；　he　had　always　in　his　pay　numbers　of　adalides；　or　scouts　and　guides；　many　of　them　converted　Moors。　　These　he　sent　out　in　all　directions　to　watch　the　movements　of　the　enemy　and　to　procure　all　kinds　of　information　important　to　the　security　of　the　frontier。　　One　of　these　spies　came　to　him　one　day　in　his　town　of　Marchena；　and　informed　him　that　the　Moorish　town　of　Alhama　was　slightly　garrisoned　and　negligently　guarded；　and　might　be　taken　by　surprise。　　This　was　a　large；　wealthy；　and　populous　place　within　a　few　leagues　of　Granada。　It　was　situated　on　a　rocky　height；　nearly　surrounded　by　a　river；　and　defended　by　a　fortress　to　which　there　was　no　access　but　by　a　steep　and　cragged　ascent。　　The　strength　of　its　situation　and　its　being　embosomed　in　the　centre　of　the　kingdom　had　produced　the　careless　security　which　now　invited　attack。
  To　ascertain　fully　the　state　of　the　fortress　the　marques　despatched　secretly　a　veteran　soldier　who　was　highly　in　his　confidence。　　His　name　was　Ortega　de　Prado；　a　man　of　great　activity；　shrewdness；　and　valor；　and　captain　of　escaladors　（soldiers　employed　to　scale　the　walls　of　fortresses　in　time　of　attack）。　　Ortega　approached　Alhama　one　moonless　night；　and　paced　along　its　walls　with　noiseless　step；　laying　his　ear　occasionally　to　the　ground　or　to　the　wall。　　Every　time　he　distinguished　the　measured　tread　of　a　sentinel；　and　now　and　then　the　challenge　of　the　night…watch　going　its　rounds。　　Finding　the　town　thus　guarded；　he　clambered　to　the　castle：　there　all　was　silent。　　As　he　ranged　its　lofty　battlements　between　him　and　the　sky　he　saw　no　sentinel　on　duty。　　He　noticed　certain　places　where　the　wall　might　be　ascended　by　scaling…ladders；　and；　having　marked　the　hour　of　relieving　guard　and　made　all　necessary　observations；　he　retired　without　being　discovered。
  Ortega　returned　to　Marchena；　and　assured　the　marques　of　Cadiz　of　the　practicability　of　scaling　the　castle　of　Alhama　and　taking　it　by　surprise。　The　marques　had　a　secret　conference　with　Don　Pedro　Enriques；　adelantado　of　Andalusia；　Don　Diego　de　Merlo；　commander　of　Seville；　Sancho　de　Avila；　alcayde　of　Carmona；　and　others；　who　all　agreed　to　aid　him　with　their　forces。　　On　an　appointed　day　the　several　commanders　assembled　at　Marchena　with　their　troops　and　retainers。　　None　but　the　leaders　knew　the　object　or　destination　of　the　enterprise；　but　it　was　enough　to　rouse　the　Andalusian　spirit　to　know　that　a　foray　was　intended　into　the　country　of　their　old　enemies；　the　Moors。　　Secrecy　and　celerity　were　necessary　for　success。　　They　set　out　promptly　with　three　thousand　genetes　or　light　cavalry　and　four　thousand　infantry。　　They　chose　a　route　but　little　travelled；　by　the　way　of　Antiquera；　passing　with　great　labor　through　rugged　and　solitary　defiles　of　the　sierra　or　chain　of　mountains　of　Arrecife；　and　left　all　their　baggage　on　the　banks　of　the　river　Yeguas；　to　be　brought　after　them。　　This　march　was　principally　in　the　night；　all　day　they　remained　quiet；　no　noise　was　suffered　in　their　camp；　and　no　fires　were　made；　lest　the　smoke　should　betray　them。　　On　the　third　day　they　resumed　their　march　as　the　evening　darkened；　and；　forcing　themselves　forward　at　as　quick　a　pace　as　the　rugged　and　dangerous　mountain…roads　would　permit；　they　descended　toward　midnight　into　a　small　deep　valley　only　half　a　league　from　Alhama。　Here　they　made　a　halt；　fatigued　by　this　forced　march；　during　a　long　dark　evening　toward　the　end　of　February。
  The　marques　of　Cadiz　now　explained　to　the　troops　the　object　of　the　expedition。　　He　told　them　it　was　for　the　glory　of　the　most　holy　faith　and　to　avenge　the　wrongs　of　their　countrymen　at　Zahara；　and　that　the　town　of　Alhama；　full　of　wealthy　spoil；　was　the　place　to　be　attacked。　　The　troops　were　roused　to　new　ardor　by　these　words；　and　desired　to　be　led　forthwith　to　the　assault。　　They　arrived　close　to　Alhama　about　two　hours　before　daybreak。　　Here　the　army　remained　in　ambush；　while　three　hundred　men　were　despatched　to　scale　the　walls　and　get　possession　of　the　castle。　　They　were　picked　men；　many　of　them　alcaydes　and　officers；　men　who　preferred　death　to　dishonor。　This　gallant　band　was　guided　by　the　escalador　Ortega　de　Prado　at　the　head　of　thirty　men　with　scaling…ladders。　　They　clambered　the　ascent　to　the　castle　in　silence；　and　arrived　under　the　dark　shadow　of　its　towers　without　being　discovered。　　Not　a　light　was　to　be　seen；　not　a　sound　to　be　heard；　the　whole　place　was　wrapped　in　profound　repose。
  Fixing　their　ladders；　they　ascended　cautiously　and　with　noiseless　steps。　Ortega　was　the　first　that　mounted　upon　the　battlements；　followed　by　one　Martin　Galindo；　a　youthful　esquire　full　of　spirit　and　eager　for　distinction。　　Moving　stealthily　along　the　parapet　to　the　portal　of　the　citadel；　they　came　upon　the　sentinel　by　surprise。　Ortega　seized　him　by　the　throat；　brandished　a　dagger　before　his　eyes；　and　ordered　him　to　point　the　way　to　the　guard…room。　　The　infidel　obeyed；　and　was　instantly　despatched；　to　prevent　his　giving　an　alarm。　　The　guard…room　was　a　scene　rather　of　massacre　than　combat。　　Some　of　the　soldiery　were　killed　while　sleeping；　others　were　cut　down　almost　without　resistance；　bewildered　by　so　unexpected　an　assault：　all　were　despatched；　for　the　scaling　party　was　too　small　to　make　prisoners　or　to　spare。　　The　alarm　spread　throughout　the　castle；　but　by　this　time　the　three　hundred　picked　men　had　mounted　the　battlements。　　The　garrison；　startled　from　sleep；　found　the　enemy　already　masters　of　the　towers。　　Some　of　the　Moors　were　cut　down　at　once；　others　fought　desperately　from　room　to　room；　and　the　whole　castle　resounded　with　the　clash　of　arms；　the　cries　of　the　combatants；　and　the　groans　of　the　wounded。　　The　army　in　ambush；　finding　by　the　uproar　that　the　castle　was　surprised；　now　rushed　from　their　concealment；　and　approached　the　walls　with　loud　shouts　and　sound　of　kettle…drums　and　trumpets　to　increase　the　confusion　and　dismay　of　the　garrison。　　A　violent　conflict　took　place　in　the　court　of　the　castle；　where　several　of　the　scaling　party　sought　to　throw　open　the　gates　to　admit　their