Their　approach　was　so　noiseless　that　the　Moorish　sentinels　upon　the　walls　heard　not　a　voice　or　a　footfall。　　The　marques　was　accompanied　by　his　old　escalador；　Ortega　de　Prado；　who　had　distinguished　himself　at　the　scaling　of　Alhama。　　This　hardy　veteran　was　stationed；　with　ten　men　furnished　with　scaling…ladders；　in　a　cavity　among　the　rocks　close　to　the　walls。　　At　a　little　distance　seventy　men　were　hid　in　a　ravine；　to　be　at　hand　to　second　him　when　he　should　have　fixed　his　ladders。　　The　rest　of　the　troops　were　concealed　in　another　ravine　commanding　a　fair　approach　to　the　gate　of　the　fortress。　　A　shrewd　and　wary　adalid；　well　acquainted　with　the　place；　was　appointed　to　give　signals；　and　so　stationed　that　he　could　be　seen　by　the　various　parties　in　ambush；　but　not　by　the　garrison。
  By　orders　of　the　marques　a　small　body　of　light　cavalry　passed　along　the　glen；　and；　turning　round　a　point　of　rock；　showed　themselves　before　the　town：　they＇6＇skirred　the　fields　almost　to　the　gates；　as　if　by　way　of　bravado　and　to　defy　the　garrison　to　a　skirmish。　　The　Moors　were　not　slow　in　replying　to　it。　　About　seventy　horse　and　a　number　of　foot　who　had　guarded　the　walls　sallied　forth　impetuously；　thinking　to　make　easy　prey　of　these　insolent　marauders。　　The　Christian　horsemen　fled　for　the　ravine；　the　Moors　pursued　them　down　the　hill；　until　they　heard　a　great　shouting　and　tumult　behind　them。　　Looking　round　toward　the　town；　they　beheld　a　scaling　party　mounting　the　walls　sword　in　hand。　　Wheeling　about；　they　galloped　for　the　gate：　the　marques　of　Cadiz　and　Luis　Fernandez　Puerto　Carrero　rushed　forth　at　the　same　time　with　their　ambuscade；　and　endeavored　to　cut　them　off；　but　the　Moors　succeeded　in　throwing　themselves　within　the　walls。
  While　Puerto　Carrero　stormed　at　the　gate　the　marques　put　spurs　to　his　horse　and　galloped　to　the　support　of　Ortega　de　Prado　and　his　scaling　party。　　He　arrived　at　a　moment　of　imminent　peril；　when　the　party　was　assailed　by　fifty　Moors　armed　with　cuirasses　and　lances；　who　were　on　the　point　of　thrusting　them　from　the　walls。　　The　marques　sprang　from　his　horse；　mounted　a　ladder　sword　in　hand；　followed　by　a　number　of　his　troops；　and　made　a　vigorous　attack　upon　the　enemy。*　They　were　soon　driven　from　the　walls；　and　the　gates　and　towers　remained　in　possession　of　the　Christians。　　The　Moors　defended　themselves　for　a　short　time　in　the　streets；　but　at　length　took　refuge　in　the　castle；　the　walls　of　which　were　strong　and　capable　of　holding　out　until　relief　should　arrive。　　The　marques　had　no　desire　to　carry　on　a　siege；　and　he　had　not　provisions　sufficient　for　many　prisoners；　he　granted　them；　therefore；　favorable　terms。　　They　were　permitted；　on　leaving　their　arms　behind　them；　to　march　out　with　as　much　of　their　effects　as　they　could　carry；　and　it　was　stipulated　that　they　should　pass　over　to　Barbary。　　The　marques　remained　in　the　place　until　both　town　and　castle　were　put　in　a　perfect　state　of　defence　and　strongly　garrisoned。
  *Cura　de　los　Palacios；　c。　68。
  Thus　did　Zahara　return　once　more　in　possession　of　the　Christians；　to　the　great　confusion　of　old　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　who；　having　paid　the　penalty　of　his　ill…timed　violence；　was　now　deprived　of　its　vaunted　fruits。　　The　Castilian　sovereigns　were　so　gratified　by　this　achievement　of　the　valiant　Ponce　de　Leon　that　they　authorized　him　thenceforth　to　entitle　himself　duke　of　Cadiz　and　marques　of　Zahara。　　The　warrior；　however；　was　so　proud　of　the　original　title　under　which　he　had　so　often　signalized　himself　that　he　gave　it　the　precedence；　and　always　signed　himself　marques；　duke　of　Cadiz。　　As　the　reader　may　have　acquired　the　same　predilection；　we　shall　continue　to　call　him　by　his　ancient　title。
  CHAPTER　XXVI。
  OF　THE　FORTRESS　OF　ALHAMA；　AND　HOW　WISELY　IT　WAS　GOVERNED　　　　　BY　THE　COUNT　DE　TENDILLA。
  In　this　part　of　his　chronicle　the　worthy　father　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　indulges　in　triumphant　exultation　over　the　downfall　of　Zahara。　Heaven　sometimes　speaks　（says　he）　through　the　mouths　of　false　prophets　for　the　confusion　of　the　wicked。　　By　the　fall　of　this　fortress　was　the　prediction　of　the　santon　of　Granada　in　some　measure　fulfilled；　that　〃the　ruins　of　Zahara　should　fall　upon　the　heads　of　the　infidels。〃
  Our　zealous　chronicler　scoffs　at　the　Moorish　alcayde　who　lost　his　fortress　by　surprise　in　broad　daylight；　and　contrasts　the　vigilance　of　the　Christian　governor　of　Alhama；　the　town　taken　in　retaliation　for　the　storming　of　Zahara。
  The　important　post　of　Alhama　was　at　this　time　confided　by　King　Ferdinand　to　Don　Inigo　Lopez　de　Mendoza；　count　of　Tendilla；　a　cavalier　of　noble　blood；　brother　to　the　grand　cardinal　of　Spain。　　He　had　been　instructed　by　the　king　not　merely　to　maintain　his　post；　but　also　to　make　sallies　and　lay　waste　the　surrounding　country。　　His　fortress　was　critically　situated。　　It　was　within　seven　leagues　of　Granada；　and　at　no　great　distance　from　the　warlike　city　of　Loxa。　　It　was　nestled　in　the　lap　of　the　mountains　commanding　the　high…road　to　Malaga　and　a　view　over　the　extensive　Vega。　　Thus　situated；　in　the　heart　of　the　enemy's　country；　surrounded　by　foes　ready　to　assail　him　and　a　rich　country　for　him　to　ravage；　it　behooved　this　cavalier　to　be　for　ever　on　the　alert。　　He　was　in　fact　an　experienced　veteran；　a　shrewd　and　wary　officer；　and　a　commander　amazingly　prompt　and　fertile　in　expedients。
  On　assuming　the　command　he　found　that　the　garrison　consisted　but　of　one　thousand　men；　horse　and　foot。　　They　were　hardy　troops；　seasoned　in　rough　mountain…campaigning；　but　reckless　and　dissolute；　as　soldiers　are　apt　to　be　when　accustomed　to　predatory　warfare。　　They　would　fight　hard　for　booty；　and　then　gamble　it　heedlessly　away　or　squander　it　in　licentious　revelling。　　Alhama　abounded　with　hawking；　sharping；　idle　hangers…on；　eager　to　profit　by　the　vices　and　follies　of　the　garrison。　　The　soldiers　were　oftener　gambling　and　dancing　beneath　the　walls　than　keeping　watch　upon　the　battlements；　and　nothing　was　heard　from　morning　till　night　but　the　noisy　contests　of　cards　and　dice；　mingled　with　the　sound　of　the　bolero　or　fandango；　the　drowsy　strumming　of　the　guitar；　and　the　rattling　of　the　castanets；　while　often　the　whole　was　interrupted　by　the　loud　brawl　and　fierce　and　bloody　contest。
  The　count　of　Tendilla　set　himself　vigorously　to　reform　these　excesses：　he　knew　that　laxity　of　morals　is　generally　attended　by　neglect　of　duty；　and　that　the　least　breach　of　discipline　in　the　exposed　situation　of　his　fortress　might　be　fatal。　　〃Here　is　but　a　handful　of　men；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　necessary　that　each　man　should　be　a　hero。〃
  He　endeavored　to　awaken　a　proper　ambition　in　the　minds　of　his　soldiers　and　to　instil　into　them　the　high　principles　of　chivalry。　　〃A　just　war；〃　he　observed；　〃is　often　rendered　wicked　and　disastrous　by　the　manner　in　which　it　is　conducted；　for　the　righteousness　of　the　cause　is　not　sufficient　to　sanction　the　profligacy　of　the　means；　and　the　want　of　order　and　subordination　among　the　troops　may　bring　ruin　and　disgrace　upon　the　best…concerted　plans。〃　　But　we　cannot　describe　the　character　and　conduct　of　this　renowned　commander　in　more　forcible　language　than　that　of　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　excepting　that　the　pious　father　places　in　the　foreground　of　his　virtues　his　hatred　of　the　Moors。　　〃The　count　de　Tendilla；〃　says　he；　〃was　a　mirror　of　Christian　knighthoodwatchful；　abstemious；　chaste；　devout；　and　thoroughly　filled　with　the　spirit　of　the　cause。　　He　labored　incessantly　and　strenuously　for　the　glory　of　the　faith　and　the　prosperity　of　their　most　Catholic　majesties；　and；　above　all；　he　hated　the　infidels　with　a　pure　and　holy　hatred。　　This　worthy　cavalier　discountenanced　all　idleness；　rioting；　chambering；　and　wantonness　among　his　soldiery。　　He　kept　them　constantly　to　the　exercise　of　arms；　making　them　adroit　in　the　use　of　their　weapons　and　management　of　their　steeds；　and　prompt　for　the　field　at　a　moment's　notice。　　He　permitted　no　sound　of　lute　or　harp　or　song　or　other　loose　minstrelsy　to　be　heard　in　his　fortress；　debauching　the　ear　and　softening　the　valor　of　the　soldier；　no　other　music　was　allowed　but　the　wholesome　rolling　of　the　drum　and　braying　of　the　trumpet；　and　such　like　spirit…stirring　instruments　as　fill　the　mind　with　thoughts　of　iron　war。　　All　wandering　minstrels；　sharping　peddlers；　sturdy　trulls；　and　other　camp　trumpery　were　ordered　to　pack　up　their　baggage；　and　were　drummed　out　of　the　gates　of　Alhama。　　In　place　of　such　lewd　rabble　he　introduced　a　train　of　holy　friars　to　inspirit　his　people　by　exhortation　and　prayer　and　choral　chanting；　and　to　spur　them　on　to　fight　the　good　fight　of　faith。　　All　games　of　chance　were　prohibited　except　the　game　of　war；　and　this　he　labored；　by　vigilance　and　vigor；　to　reduce　to　a　game　of　certainty。　　Heaven　smiled　upon　the　efforts　of　this　righteous　cavalier。　　His　men　became　soldiers　at　all　points　and　terrors　to　the　Moors。　　The　good　count　never　set　forth　on　a　ravage　without　observing　the　rites　of　confession；　absolution；　and　communion；　and　obliging　his　followers　to　do　the　same。　　Their　banners　were　blessed　by　the　holy　friars　whom　he　maintained　in　Alhama；　and　in
  this　way　success　was　secured　to　his　arms　and　he　was　enabled　to　lay　waste　the　land　of　the　heathen。〃
  The　fortress　of　Alhama　（continues　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　overlooked　from　its　lofty　site　a　great　part　of　the　fertile　Vega；　watered　by　the