he　scaling　party　sought　to　throw　open　the　gates　to　admit　their　countrymen。　　Here　fell　two　valiant　alcaydes；　Nicholas　de　Roja　and　Sancho　de　Avila；　but　they　fell　honorably；　upon　a　heap　of　slain。　　At　length　Ortega　de　Prado　succeeded　in　throwing　open　a　postern　through　which　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　the　adelantado　of　Andalusia；　and　Don　Diego　de　Merlo　entered　with　a　host　of　followers；　and　the　citadel　remained　in　full　possession　of　the　Christians。
  As　the　Spanish　cavaliers　were　ranging　from　room　to　room；　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　entering　an　apartment　of　superior　richness　to　the　rest；　beheld；　by　the　light　of　a　silver　lamp；　a　beautiful　Moorish　female；　the　wife　of　the　alcayde　of　the　castle；　whose　husband　was　absent　attending　a　wedding…feast　at　Velez　Malaga。　　She　would　have　fled　at　the　sight　of　a　Christian　warrior　in　her　apartment；　but；　entangled　in　the　covering　of　the　bed；　she　fell　at　the　feet　of　the　marques；　imploring　mercy。　　That　Christian　cavalier；　who　had　a　soul　full　of　honor　and　courtesy　toward　the　sex；　raised　her　from　the　floor　and　endeavored　to　allay　her　fears；　but　they　were　increased　at　the　sight　of　her　female　attendants　pursued　into　the　room　by　the　Spanish　soldiery。　　The　marques　reproached　his　soldiers　with　unmanly　conduct；　and　reminded　them　that　they　made　war　upon　men；　not　on　defenceless　women。　Having　soothed　the　terrors　of　the　females　by　the　promise　of　honorable　protection；　he　appointed　a　trusty　guard　to　watch　over　the　security　of　their　apartment。
  The　castle　was　now　taken；　but　the　town　below　it　was　in　arms。　　It　was　broad　day；　and　the　people；　recovered　from　their　panic；　were　enabled　to　see　and　estimate　the　force　of　the　enemy。　　The　inhabitants　were　chiefly　merchants　and　tradespeople；　but　the　Moors　all　possessed　a　knowledge　of　the　use　of　weapons　and　were　of　brave　and　warlike　spirit。　　They　confided　in　the　strength　of　their　walls　and　the　certainty　of　speedy　relief　from　Granada；　which　was　but　about　eight　leagues　distant。　　Manning　the　battlements　and　towers；　they　discharged　showers　of　stones　and　arrows　whenever　the　part　of　the　Christian　army　without　the　walls　attempted　to　approach。　　They　barricadoed　the　entrances　of　their　streets　also　which　opened　toward　the　castle；　stationing　men　expert　at　the　crossbow　and　arquebuse。　　These　kept　up　a　constant　fire　upon　the　gate　of　the　castle；　so　that　no　one　could　sally　forth　without　being　instantly　shot　down。　　Two　valiant　cavaliers　who　attempted　to　lead　forth　a　party　in　defiance　of　this　fatal　tempest　were　shot　dead　at　the　very　portal。
  The　Christians　now　found　themselves　in　a　situation　of　great　peril。　Reinforcements　must　soon　arrive　to　the　enemy　from　Granada：　unless；　therefore；　they　gained　possession　of　the　town　in　the　course　of　the　day；　they　were　likely　to　be　surrounded　and　beleaguered；　without　provisions；　in　the　castle。　　Some　observed　that　even　if　they　took　the　town　they　should　not　be　able　to　maintain　possession　of　it。　　They　proposed；　therefore；　to　make　booty　of　everything　valuable；　to　sack　the　castle；　set　it　on　fire；　and　make　good　their　retreat　to　Seville。
  The　marques　of　Cadiz　was　of　different　counsel。　　〃God　has　given　the　citadel　into　Christian　hands；〃　said　he；　〃he　will　no　doubt　strengthen　them　to　maintain　it。　　We　have　gained　the　place　with　difficulty　and　bloodshed；　it　would　be　a　stain　upon　our　honor　to　abandon　it　through　fear　of　imaginary　dangers。〃　　The　adelantado　and　Don　Diego　de　Merlo　joined　in　his　opinion；　but　without　their　earnest　and　united　remonstrances　the　place　would　have　been　abandoned；　so　exhausted　were　the　troops　by　forced　marches　and　hard　fighting；　and　so　apprehensive　of　the　approach　of　the　Moors　of　Granada。
  The　strength　and　spirits　of　the　party　within　the　castle　were　in　some　degree　restored　by　the　provisions　which　they　found。　　The　Christian　army　beneath　the　town；　being　also　refreshed　by　a　morning's　repast；　advanced　vigorously　to　the　attack　of　the　walls。　　They　planted　their　scaling…ladders；　and；　swarming　up；　sword　in　hand；　fought　fiercely　with　the　Moorish　soldiery　upon　the　ramparts。
  In　the　mean　time；　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　seeing　that　the　gate　of　the　castle；　which　opened　toward　the　city；　was　completely　commanded　by　the　artillery　of　the　enemy；　ordered　a　large　breach　to　be　made　in　the　wall；　through　which　he　might　lead　his　troops　to　the　attack；　animating　them　in　this　perilous　moment　by　assuring　them　that　the　place　should　be　given　up　to　plunder　and　its　inhabitants　made　captives。
  The　breach　being　made；　the　marques　put　himself　at　the　head　of　his　troops；　and　entered　sword　in　hand。　　A　simultaneous　attack　was　make　by　the　Christians　in　every　partby　the　ramparts；　by　the　gate；　by　the　roofs　and　walls　which　connected　the　castle　with　the　town。　　The　Moors　fought　valiantly　in　their　streets；　from　their　windows；　and　from　the　tops　of　their　houses。　　They　were　not　equal　to　the　Christians　in　bodily　strength；　for　they　were　for　the　most　part　peaceful　men；　of　industrious　callings；　and　enervated　by　the　frequent　use　of　the　warm　bath；　but　they　were　superior　in　number　and　unconquerable　in　spirit；　old　and　young；　strong　and　weak；　fought　with　the　same　desperation。　The　Moors　fought　for　property；　for　liberty；　for　life。　　They　fought　at　their　thresholds　and　their　hearths；　with　the　shrieks　of　their　wives　and　children　ringing　in　their　ears；　and　they　fought　in　the　hope　that　each　moment　would　bring　aid　from　Granada。　　They　regarded　neither　their　own　wounds　nor　the　death　of　their　companions；　but　continued　fighting　until　they　fell；　and　seemed　as　if；　when　they　could　no　longer　contend；　they　would　block　up　the　thresholds　of　their　beloved　homes　with　their　mangled　bodies。　　The　Christians　fought　for　glory；　for　revenge；　for　the　holy　faith；　and　for　the　spoil　of　these　wealthy　infidels。　　Success　would　place　a　rich　town　at　their　mercy；　failure　would　deliver　them　into　the　hands　of　the　tyrant　of　Granada。
  The　contest　raged　from　morning　until　night；　when　the　Moors　began　to　yield。　　Retreating　to　a　large　mosque　near　the　walls；　they　kept　up　so　galling　a　fire　from　it　with　lances；　crossbows；　and　arquebuses　that　for　some　time　the　Christians　dared　not　approach。　　Covering　themselves；　at　length；　with　bucklers　and　mantelets*　to　protect　them　from　the　deadly　shower；　the　latter　made　their　way　to　the　mosque　and　set　fire　to　the　doors。　　When　the　smoke　and　flames　rolled　in　upon　them　the　Moors　gave　up　all　as　lost。　　Many　rushed　forth　desperately　upon　the　enemy；　but　were　immediately　slain；　the　rest　surrendered　themselves　captives。
  *Manteleta　movable　parapet；　made　of　thick　planks；　to　protect　　troops　when　advancing　to　sap　or　assault　a　walled　place。
  The　struggle　was　now　at　an　end：　the　town　remained　at　the　mercy　of　the　Christians；　and　the　inhabitants；　both　male　and　female；　became　the　slaves　of　those　who　made　them　prisoners。　　Some　few　escaped　by　a　mine　or　subterranean　way　which　led　to　the　river；　and　concealed　themselves；　their　wives　and　children；　in　caves　and　secret　places；　but　in　three　or　four　days　were　compelled　to　surrender　themselves　through　hunger。
  The　town　was　given　up　to　plunder；　and　the　booty　was　immense。　There　were　found　prodigious　quantities　of　gold　and　silver；　and　jewels　and　rich　silks　and　costly　stuffs　of　all　kinds；　together　with　horses　and　beeves；　and　abundance　of　grain　and　oil　and　honey；　and　all　other　productions　of　this　fruitful　kingdom；　for　in　Alhama　were　collected　the　royal　rents　and　tributes　of　the　surrounding　country：　it　was　the　richest　town　in　the　Moorish　territory；　and　from　its　great　strength　and　its　peculiar　situation　was　called　the　key　to　Granada。
  Great　waste　and　devastation　were　committed　by　the　Spanish　soldiery；　for；　thinking　it　would　be　impossible　to　keep　possession　of　the　place；　they　began　to　destroy　whatever　they　could　not　take　away。　　Immense　jars　of　oil　were　broken；　costly　furniture　shattered　to　pieces；　and　magazines　of　grain　broken　open　and　their　contents　scattered　to　the　winds。　　Many　Christian　captives　who　had　been　taken　at　Zahara　were　found　buried　in　a　Moorish　dungeon；　and　were　triumphantly　restored　to　light　and　liberty；　and　a　renegado　Spaniard；　who　had　often　served　as　guide　to　the　Moors　in　their　incursions　into　the　Christian　territories；　was　hanged　on　the　highest　part　of　the　battlements　for　the　edification　of　the　army。
  CHAPTER　VI。
  HOW　THE　PEOPLE　OF　GRANADA　WERE　AFFECTED　ON　HEARING　　　　　OF　THE　CAPTURE　OF　ALHAMA；　AND　HOW　THE　MOORISH　KING　　　　　SALLIED　FORTH　TO　REGAIN　IT。
  A　moorish　horseman　had　spurred　across　the　Vega；　nor　reined　his　panting　steed　until　he　alighted　at　the　gate　of　the　Alhambra。　　He　brought　tidings　to　Muley　Abul　Hassan　of　the　attack　upon　Alhama。　〃The　Christians；〃　said　he；　〃are　in　the　land。　　They　came　upon　us；　we　know　not　whence　or　how；　and　scaled　the　walls　of　the　castle　in　the　night。　　There　have　been　dreadful　fighting　and　carnage　in　its　towers　and　courts；　and　when　I　spurred　my　steed　from　the　gate　of　Alhama　the　castle　was　in　possession　of　the　unbelievers。〃
  Muley　Abul　Hassan　felt　for　a　moment　as　if　swift　retribution　had　come　upon　him　for　the　woes　he　had　inflicted　upon　Zahara。　　Still；　he　flattered　himself　that　this　had　only　been　some　transient　inroad　of　a　party　of　marauders　intent　upon　plunder；　and　that　a　little　succor　thrown　into　the　town　would　be　sufficient　to　expel　them　from　the　castle　and　drive　them　from　the　land。　　He　ordered　out；　therefore；　a　thousand　of　his　chosen　cavalry；　and　sent　them