ance　and　buckler；　to　resist　the　sudden　incursions　of　the　Moors。　　The　count　of　Cabra　was　a　hardy　and　experienced　warrior；　shrewd　in　council；　prompt　in　action；　rapid　and　fearless　in　the　field。　　He　was　one　of　the　bravest　of　cavaliers　for　an　inroad；　and　had　been　quickened　and　sharpened　in　thought　and　action　by　living　on　the　borders。
  On　the　night　of　the　20th　of　April；　1483；　the　count　was　about　to　retire　to　rest　when　the　watchman　from　the　turret　brought　him　word　that　there　were　alarm…fires　on　the　mountains　of　Horquera；　and　that　they　were　made　on　the　signal…tower　overhanging　the　defile　through　which　the　road　passes　to　Cabra　and　Lucena。
  The　count　ascended　the　battlement　and　beheld　five　lights　blazing　on　the　towera　sign　that　there　was　a　Moorish　army　attacking　some　place　on　the　frontier。　　The　count　instantly　ordered　the　alarm…bells　to　be　sounded；　and　despatched　couriers　to　rouse　the　commanders　of　the　neighboring　towns。　　He　called　upon　his　retainers　to　prepare　for　action；　and　sent　a　trumpet　through　the　town　summoning　the　men　to　assemble　at　the　castle…gate　at　daybreak　armed　and　equipped　for　the　field。
  Throughout　the　remainder　of　the　night　the　castle　resounded　with　the　din　of　preparation。　　Every　house　in　the　town　was　in　equal　bustle；　for　in　these　frontier　towns　every　house　had　its　warrior；　and　the　lance　and　buckler　were　ever　hanging　against　the　wall　ready　to　be　snatched　down　for　instant　service。　　Nothing　was　heard　but　the　din　of　armorers；　the　shoeing　of　steeds；　and　furbishing　up　of　weapons；　and　all　night　long　the　alarm…fires　kept　blazing　on　the　mountains。
  When　the　morning　dawned　the　count　of　Cabra　sallied　forth　at　the　head　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　cavaliers　of　the　best　families　of　Vaena；　all　well　appointed；　exercised　in　arms；　and　experienced　in　the　warfare　of　the　borders。　　There　were　besides　twelve　hundred　foot…soldiers；　brave　and　well…seasoned　men　of　the　same　town。　　The　count　ordered　them　to　hasten　forward；　whoever　could　make　most　speed；　taking　the　road　to　Cabra；　which　was　three　leagues　distant。　　That　they　might　not　loiter　on　the　road　he　allowed　none　of　them　to　break　their　fast　until　they　arrived　at　that　place。　　The　provident　count　despatched　couriers　in　advance；　and　the　little　army　on　reaching　Cabra　found　tables　spread　with　food　and　refreshments　at　the　gates　of　the　town。　　Here　they　were　joined　by　Don　Alonso　de　Cordova；　senior　of　Zuheros。
  Having　made　a　hearty　repast；　they　were　on　the　point　of　resuming　their　march　when　the　count　discovered　that　in　the　hurry　of　his　departure　from　home　he　had　forgotten　to　bring　the　standard　of　Vaena；　which　for　upward　of　eighty　years　had　always　been　borne　to　battle　by　his　family。　　It　was　now　noon；　and　there　was　no　time　to　return：　he　took；　therefore；　the　standard　of　Cabra；　the　device　of　which　is　a　goat；　and　which　had　not　been　seen　in　the　wars　for　the　last　half　century。　　When　about　to　depart　a　courier　came　galloping　at　full　speed；　bringing　missives　to　the　count　from　his　nephew；　Don　Diego　Fernandez　de　Cordova；　senior　of　Lucena　and　alcayde　de　los　Donceles；*　entreating　him　to　hasten　to　his　aid；　as　his　town　was　beset　by　the　Moorish　king；　Boabdil　el　Chico；　with　a　powerful　army；　who　were　actually　setting　fire　to　the　gates。
  *The　〃Donceles〃　were　young　cavaliers　who　had　been　pages　in　　the　royal　household；　but　now　formed　an　elite　corps　in　the　army。
  The　count　put　his　little　army　instantly　in　movement　for　Lucena；　which　is　only　one　league　from　Cabra；　he　was　fired　with　the　idea　of　having　the　Moorish　king　in　person　to　contend　with。　　By　the　time　he　reached　Lucena　the　Moors　had　desisted　from　the　attack　and　were　ravaging　the　surrounding　country。　　He　entered　the　town　with　a　few　of　his　cavaliers；　and　was　received　with　joy　by　his　nephew；　whose　whole　force　consisted　but　of　eighty　horse　and　three　hundred　foot。　　Don　Diego　Fernandez　de　Cordova　was　a　young　man；　yet　he　was　a　prudent；　careful；　and　capable　officer。　　Having　learnt；　the　evening　before；　that　the　Moors　had　passed　the　frontiers；　he　had　gathered　within　his　walls　all　the　women　and　children　from　the　environs；　had　armed　the　men；　sent　couriers　in　all　directions　for　succor；　and　had　lighted　alarm…fires　on　the　mountains。
  Boabdil　had　arrived　with　his　army　at　daybreak；　and　had　sent　in　a　message　threatening　to　put　the　garrison　to　the　sword　if　the　place　were　not　instantly　surrendered。　　The　messenger　was　a　Moor　of　Granada；　named　Hamet；　whom　Don　Diego　had　formerly　known：　he　contrived　to　amuse　him　with　negotiation　to　gain　time　for　succor　to　arrive。　　The　fierce　old　Ali　Atar；　losing　all　patience；　had　made　an　assault　upon　the　town　and　stormed　like　a　fury　at　the　gate；　but　had　been　repulsed。　Another　and　more　serious　attack　was　expected　in　the　course　of　the　night。
  When　the　count　de　Cabra　had　heard　this　account　of　the　situation　of　affairs；　he　turned　to　his　nephew　with　his　usual　alacrity　of　manner；　and　proposed　that　they　should　immediately　sally　forth　in　quest　of　the　enemy。　　The　prudent　Don　Diego　remonstrated　at　the　rashness　of　attacking　so　great　a　force　with　a　mere　handful　of　men。　　〃Nephew；〃　said　the　count；　〃I　came　from　Vaena　with　a　determination　to　fight　this　Moorish　king；　and　I　will　not　be　disappointed。〃
  〃At　any　rate；〃　replied　Don　Diego；　〃let　us　wait　but　two　hours；　and　we　shall　have　reinforcements　which　have　been　promised　me　from　Rambla；　Santaella；　Montilla；　and　other　places　in　the　neighborhood。〃　　〃If　we　await　these；〃　said　the　hardy　count；　〃the　Moors　will　be　off；　and　all　our　trouble　will　have　been　in　vain。　　You　may　await　them　if　you　please；　I　am　resolved　on　fighting。〃
  The　count　paused　for　no　reply；　but　in　his　prompt　and　rapid　manner　sallied　forth　to　his　men。　　The　young　alcayde　de　los　Donceles；　though　more　prudent　than　his　ardent　uncle；　was　equally　brave；　he　determined　to　stand　by　him　in　his　rash　enterprise；　and；　summoning　his　little　force；　marched　forth　to　join　the　count；　who　was　already　on　the　move。　They　then　proceeded　together　in　quest　of　the　enemy。
  The　Moorish　army　had　ceased　ravaging　the　country；　and　was　not　to　be　seen；　the　neighborhood　being　hilly　and　broken　with　deep　ravines。　The　count　despatched　six　scouts　on　horseback　to　reconnoitre；　ordering　them　to　return　with　all　speed　on　discovering　the　enemy；　and　by　no　means　to　engage　in　skirmishing　with　stragglers。　　The　scouts；　ascending　a　high　hill；　beheld　the　Moorish　army　in　a　valley　behind　it；　the　cavalry　ranged　in　five　battalions　keeping　guard；　while　the　foot…soldiers　were　seated　on　the　grass　making　a　repast。　　They　returned　immediately　with　the　intelligence。
  The　count　now　ordered　the　troops　to　march　in　the　direction　of　the　enemy。　　He　and　his　nephew　ascended　the　hill；　and　saw　that　the　five　battalions　of　Moorish　cavalry　had　been　formed　into　two；　one　of　about　nine　hundred　lances；　the　other　of　about　six　hundred。　　The　whole　force　seemed　prepared　to　march　for　the　frontier。　　The　foot…soldiers　were　already　under　way　with　many　prisoners　and　a　great　train　of　mules　and　beasts　of　burden　laden　with　booty。　　At　a　distance　was　Boabdil　el　Chico：　they　could　not　distinguish　his　person；　but　they　knew　him　by　his　superb　black　and　white　charger；　magnificently　caparisoned；　and　by　his　being　surrounded　by　a　numerous　guard　sumptuously　armed　and　attired。　　Old　Ali　Atar　was　careering　about　the　valley　with　his　usual　impatience；　hurrying　the　march　of　the　loitering　troops。
  The　eyes　of　the　count　de　Cabra　glistened　with　eager　joy　as　he　beheld　the　royal　prize　within　his　reach。　　The　immense　disparity　of　their　forces　never　entered　into　his　mind。　　〃By　Santiago！〃　said　he　to　his　nephew　as　they　hastened　down　the　hill；　〃had　we　waited　for　more　forces　the　Moorish　king　and　his　army　would　have　escaped　us。〃
  The　count　now　harangued　his　men　to　inspirit　them　to　this　hazardous　encounter。　　He　told　them　not　to　be　dismayed　at　the　number　of　the　Moors；　for　God　often　permitted　the　few　to　conquer　the　many；　and　he　had　great　confidence　that　through　the　divine　aid　they　were　that　day　to　achieve　a　signal　victory　which　should　win　them　both　riches　and　renown。　　He　commanded　that　no　man　should　hurl　his　lance　at　the　enemy；　but　should　keep　it　in　his　hands　and　strike　as　many　blows　with　it　as　he　could。　　He　warned　them　also　never　to　shout　except　when　the　Moors　did；　for　when　both　armies　shouted　together　there　was　no　perceiving　which　made　the　most　noise　and　was　the　strongest。　He　desired　his　uncle　Lope　de　Mendoza；　and　Diego　de　Cabrera；　alcayde　of　Dona　Mencia；　to　alight　and　enter　on　foot　in　the　battalion　of　infantry　to　animate　them　to　the　combat。　　He　appointed　also　the　alcayde　of　Vaena　and　Diego　de　Clavijo；　a　cavalier　of　his　household；　to　remain　in　the　rear；　and　not　to　permit　any　one　to　lag　behind；　either　to　despoil　the　dead　or　for　any　other　purpose。
  Such　were　the　orders　given　by　this　most　adroit；　active；　and　intrepid　cavalier　to　his　little　army；　supplying　by　admirable　sagacity　and　subtle　management　the　want　of　a　more　numerous　force。　　His　orders　being　given　and　all　arrangements　made；　he　threw　aside　his　lance；　drew　his　sword；　and　commanded　his　standard　to　be　advanced　against　the　enemy。
  CHAPTER　XVI。
  THE　BATTLE　OF　LUCENA。
  The　Moorish　king　had　descried　the　Spanish　forces　at　a　distance；　although　a　slight　fog　prevented　his　seeing　them　distinctly　and　ascertaining　their　numbers。　　His　old　father…in…law；　Ali　Atar；　was　by　his　side；　who；　being　a　veteran　marauder；　was　well　acquainte