In　the　mean　time　the　sultana　Ayxa　had　taken　prompt　and　vigorous　measures　to　strengthen　her　party。　　The　Albaycin　was　the　part　of　the　city　filled　by　the　lower　orders。　　The　return　of　Boabdil　was　proclaimed　throughout　the　streets；　and　large　sums　of　money　were　distributed　among　the　populace。　　The　nobles　assembled　in　the　Alcazaba　were　promised　honors　and　rewards　by　Boabdil　as　soon　as　he　should　be　firmly　seated　on　the　throne。　　These　well…timed　measures　had　the　customary　effect；　and　by　daybreak　all　the　motley　populace　of　the　Albaycin　were　in　arms。
  A　doleful　day　succeeded。　　All　Granada　was　a　scene　of　tumult　and　horror。　　Drums　and　trumpets　resounded　in　every　part；　all　business　was　interrupted；　the　shops　were　shut；　the　doors　barricadoed。　　Armed　bands　paraded　the　streets；　some　shouting　for　Boabdil；　and　some　for　Muley　Abul　Hassan。　　When　they　encountered　each　other　they　fought　furiously　and　without　mercy；　every　public　square　became　a　scene　of　battle。　　The　great　mass　of　the　lower　orders　was　in　favor　of　Boabdil；　but　it　was　a　multitude　without　discipline　or　lofty　spirit：　part　of　the　people　were　regularly　armed；　but　the　greater　number　had　sallied　forth　with　the　implements　of　their　trade。　　The　troops　of　the　old　king；　among　whom　were　many　cavaliers　of　pride　and　valor；　soon　drove　the　populace　from　the　squares。　　They　fortified　themselves；　however；　in　the　streets　and　lanes；　which　they　barricadoed。　　They　made　fortresses　of　their　houses；　and　fought　desperately　from　the　windows　and　the　roofs；　and　many　a　warrior　of　the　highest　blood　of　Granada　was　laid　low　by　plebeian　hands　and　plebeian　weapons　in　this　civic　brawl。*
  *Conde；　Domin。　de　los　Arabes；　p。　4；　c。　37。
  It　was　impossible　that　such　violent　convulsions　should　last　long　in　the　heart　of　the　city。　　The　people　soon　longed　for　repose　and　a　return　to　their　peaceful　occupations；　and　the　cavaliers　detested　these　conflicts　with　the　multitude；　in　which　were　all　the　horrors　of　war　without　its　laurels。　　By　the　interference　of　the　alfaquis　an　armistice　was　at　length　effected。　　Boabdil　was　persuaded　that　there　was　no　dependence　upon　the　inconstant　favor　of　the　multitude；　and　was　prevailed　upon　to　quit　a　capital　where　he　could　only　maintain　a　precarious　seat　upon　his　throne　by　a　perpetual　and　bloody　struggle。　He　fixed　his　court　at　the　city　of　Almeria；　which　was　entirely　devoted　to　him；　and　which　at　that　time　vied　with　Granada　in　splendor　and　importance。　　This　compromise　of　grandeur　for　tranquillity；　however；　was　sorely　against　the　counsels　of　his　proud…spirited　mother；　the　sultana　Ayxa。　　Granada　appeared；　in　her　eyes；　the　only　legitimate　seat　of　dominion；　and　she　observed；　with　a　smile　of　disdain；　that　he　was　not　worthy　of　being　called　a　monarch　who　was　not　master　of　his　capital。
  CHAPTER　XXII。
  FORAY　OF　THE　MOORISH　ALCAYDES；　AND　BATTLE　OF　LOPERA。
  Though　Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　regained　undivided　sway　over　the　city　of　Granada；　and　the　alfaquis；　by　his　command；　had　denounced　his　son　Boabdil　as　an　apostate　doomed　by　Heaven　to　misfortune；　still　the　latter　had　many　adherents　among　the　common　people。　　Whenever；　therefore；　any　act　of　the　old　monarch　was　displeasing　to　the　turbulent　multitude；　they　were　prone　to　give　him　a　hint　of　the　slippery　nature　of　his　standing　by　shouting　out　the　name　of　Boabdil　el　Chico。　　Long　experience　had　instructed　Muley　Abul　Hassan　in　the　character　of　the　inconstant　people　over　whom　he　ruled。　　〃A　successful　inroad　into　the　country　of　the　unbelievers；〃　said　he；　〃will　make　more　converts　to　my　cause　than　a　thousand　texts　of　the　Koran　expounded　by　ten　thousand　alfaquis。〃
  At　this　time　King　Ferdinand　was　absent　from　Andalusia　on　a　distant　expedition　with　many　of　his　troops。　　The　moment　was　favorable　for　a　foray；　and　Muley　Abul　Hassan　cast　about　his　thoughts　for　a　leader　to　conduct　it。　　Ali　Atar；　the　terror　of　the　border；　the　scourge　of　Andalusia；　was　dead；　but　there　was　another　veteran　general；　scarce　inferior　to　him　for　predatory　warfare。　　This　was　old　Bexir；　the　gray　and　crafty　alcayde　of　Malaga；　and　the　people　under　his　command　were　ripe　for　an　expedition　of　the　kind。　　The　signal　defeat　and　slaughter　of　the　Spanish　knights　in　the　neighboring　mountains　had　filled　the　people　of　Malaga　with　vanity　and　self…conceit。　　They　had　attributed　to　their　own　valor　the　defeat　caused　by　the　nature　of　the　country。　Many　of　them　wore　the　armor　and　paraded　in　public　with　the　horses　of　the　unfortunate　cavaliers　slain　on　that　occasion；　vauntingly　displaying　them　as　trophies　of　their　boasted　victory。　　They　had　talked　themselves　into　a　contempt　for　the　chivalry　of　Andalusia；　and　were　impatient　for　an　opportunity　to　overrun　a　country　defended　by　such　troops。　　This　Muley　Abul　Hassan　considered　a　favorable　state　of　mind　for　a　daring　inroad；　and　sent　orders　to　old　Bexir　to　gather　together　the　choicest　warriors　of　the　borders　and　carry　fire　and　sword　into　the　very　heart　of　Andalusia。　　Bexir　immediately　despatched　his　emissaries　among　the　alcaydes　of　the　border　towns；　calling　upon　them　to　assemble　with　their　troops　at　the　city　of　Ronda。
  Ronda　was　the　most　virulent　nest　of　Moorish　depredators　in　the　whole　border　country。　　It　was　situated　in　the　midst　of　the　wild　Serrania；　or　chain　of　mountains　of　the　same　name；　which　are　uncommonly　lofty；　broken；　and　precipitous。　　It　stood　on　an　almost　isolated　rock；　nearly　encircled　by　a　deep　valley；　or　rather　chasm；　through　which　ran　the　beautiful　river　called　Rio　Verde。　　The　Moors　of　this　city　were　the　most　active；　robust；　and　warlike　of　all　the　mountaineers；　and　their　very　children　discharged　the　crossbow　with　unerring　aim。　　They　were　incessantly　harassing　the　rich　plains　of　Andalusia；　their　city　abounded　with　Christian　captives；　who　might　sigh　in　vain　for　deliverance　from　this　impregnable　fortress。　　Such　was　Ronda　in　the　time　of　the　Moors；　and　it　has　ever　retained　something　of　the　same　character；　even　to　the　present　day。　　Its　inhabitants　continue　to　be　among　the　boldest；　fiercest；　and　most　adventurous　of　the　Andalusian　mountaineers；　and　the　Serrania　de　Ronda　is　famous　as　the　most　dangerous　resort　of　the　bandit　and　the　contrabandista。
  Hamet　Zeli；　surnamed　El　Zegri；　was　the　commander　of　this　belligerent　city　and　its　fierce　inhabitants。　　He　was　of　the　tribe　of　the　Zegries；　and　one　of　the　most　proud　and　daring　of　that　warlike　race。　　Besides　the　inhabitants　of　Ronda　and　some　of　his　own　tribe；　he　had　a　legion　of　African　Moors　in　his　immediate　service。　　They　were　of　the　tribe　of　the　Gomeres；　so　called　from　their　native　mountainsmercenary　troops　whose　hot　African　blood　had　not　yet　been　tempered　by　the　softer　living　of　Spain；　and　whose　whole　business　was　to　fight。　　These　he　kept　always　well　armed　and　well　appointed。　　The　rich　pasturage　of　the　valley　of　Ronda　produced　a　breed　of　horses　famous　for　strength　and　speed；　no　cavalry；　therefore；　was　better　mounted　than　the　band　of　Gomeres。　　Rapid　on　the　march；　fierce　in　the　attack；　it　would　sweep　down　upon　the　Andalusian　plains　like　a　sudden　blast　from　the　mountains；　and　pass　away　as　suddenly　before　there　was　time　for　pursuit。
  There　was　nothing　that　stirred　up　the　spirit　of　the　Moors　of　the　frontiers　more　thoroughly　than　the　idea　of　a　foray。　　The　summons　of　Bexir　was　gladly　obeyed　by　the　alcaydes　of　the　border　towns；　and　in　a　little　while　there　was　a　force　of　fifteen　hundred　horse　and　four　thousand　foot；　the　very　pith　and　marrow　of　the　surrounding　country；　assembled　within　the　walls　of　Ronda。　　The　people　of　the　place　anticipated　with　eagerness　the　rich　spoils　of　Andalusia　soon　to　crowd　their　gates；　throughout　the　day　the　city　resounded　with　the　noise　of　kettle…drum　and　trumpet；　the　high…mettled　steeds　stamped　and　neighed　in　their　stalls　as　if　they　shared　the　impatience　for　the　foray；　while　the　Christian　captives　sighed　as　the　varied　din　of　preparation　reached　their　rocky　dungeons；　denoting　a　fresh　expedition　against　their　countrymen。
  The　infidel　host　sallied　forth　full　of　spirits；　anticipating　an　easy　ravage　and　abundant　booty。　　They　encouraged　each　other　in　a　contempt　for　the　prowess　of　the　foe。　　Many　of　the　warriors　of　Malaga　and　of　some　of　the　mountain…towns　had　insultingly　arrayed　themselves　in　the　splendid　armor　of　the　Christian　knights　slain　or　taken　prisoners　in　the　famous　massacre；　and　some　of　them　rode　the　Andalusian　steeds　captured　on　that　occasion。
  The　wary　Bexir　concerted　his　plans　so　secretly　and　expeditiously　that　the　Christian　towns　of　Andalusia　had　not　the　least　suspicion　of　the　storm　gathering　beyond　the　mountains。　　The　vast　rocky　range　of　the　Serrania　de　Ronda　extended　like　a　screen；　covering　all　their　movements　from　observation。
  The　army　made　its　way　as　rapidly　as　the　rugged　nature　of　the　mountains　would　permit；　guided　by　Hamet　el　Zegri；　the　bold　alcayde　of　Ronda；　who　knew　every　pass　and　defile：　not　a　drum　nor　the　clash　of　a　cymbal　nor　the　blast　of　a　trumpet　was　permitted　to　be　heard。　The　mass　of　war　rolled　quietly　on　as　the　gathering　cloud　to　the　brow　of　the　mountains；　intending　to　burst　down　like　the　thunderbolt　upon　the　plain。
  Never　let　the　most　wary　commander　fancy　himself　secure　from　discovery；　for　rocks　have　eyes；　and　trees　have　ears；　and　the　birds　of　the　air　have　tongues；　to　betray　the　most　secret　enterprise。　　There　chanced　at　this　time　to　be　six　Christian　scouts　prowling　about　the　savage　heig