Muley　Abul　Hassan　did　not　wait　for　the　arrival　of　his　brother。　Unable　any　longer　to　buffet　with　the　storms　of　the　times；　his　only　solicitude　was　to　seek　some　safe　and　quiet　harbor　of　repose。　　In　one　of　the　deep　valleys　which　indent　the　Mediterranean　coast；　and　which　are　shut　up　on　the　land　side　by　stupendous　mountains；　stood　the　little　city　of　Almunecar。　　The　valley　was　watered　by　the　limpid　river　Frio；　and　abounded　with　fruits；　with　grain；　and　pasturage。　　The　city　was　strongly　fortified；　and　the　garrison　and　alcayde　were　devoted　to　the　old　monarch。　　This　was　the　place　chosen　by　Muley　Abul　Hassan　for　his　asylum。　　His　first　care　was　to　send　thither　all　his　treasures；　his　next　care　was　to　take　refuge　there　himself；　his　third；　that　his　sultana　Zoraya　and　their　two　sons　should　follow　him。
  In　the　mean　time；　Muley　Abdallah　el　Zagal　pursued　his　journey　toward　the　capital；　attended　by　his　three　hundred　cavaliers。　　The　road　from　Malaga　to　Granada　winds　close　by　Alhama；　and　is　dominated　by　that　lofty　fortress。　　This　had　been　a　most　perilous　pass　for　the　Moors　during　the　time　that　Alhama　was　commanded　by　the　count　de　Tendilla：　not　a　traveller　could　escape　his　eagle　eye；　and　his　garrison　was　ever　ready　for　a　sally。　　The　count　de　Tendilla；　however；　had　been　relieved　from　this　arduous　post；　and　it　had　been　given　in　charge　to　Don　Gutiere　de　Padilla；　clavero　（or　treasurer）　of　the　order　of　Calatravaan　easy；　indulgent　man；　who　had　with　him　three　hundred　gallant　knights　of　his　order；　besides　other　mercenary　troops。　　The　garrison　had　fallen　off　in　discipline；　the　cavaliers　were　hardy　in　fight　and　daring　in　foray；　but　confident　in　themselves　and　negligent　of　proper　precautions。　　Just　before　the　journey　of　El　Zagal　a　number　of　these　cavaliers；　with　several　soldiers　of　fortune　of　the　garrison；　in　all　about　one　hundred　and　seventy　men；　had　sallied　forth　to　harass　the　Moorish　country　during　its　present　distracted　state；　and；　having　ravaged　the　valleys　of　the　Sierra　Nevada；　or　Snowy　Mountains；　were　returning　to　Alhama　in　gay　spirits　and　laden　with　booty。
  As　El　Zagal　passed　through　the　neighborhood　of　Alhama　he　recollected　the　ancient　perils　of　the　road；　and　sent　light　cerradors　in　advance　to　inspect　each　rock　and　ravine　where　a　foe　might　lurk　in　ambush。　　One　of　these　scouts；　overlooking　a　narrow　valley　which　opened　upon　the　road；　descried　a　troop　of　horsemen　on　the　banks　of　a　little　stream。　They　were　dismounted；　and　had　taken　the　bridles　from　their　steeds；　that　they　might　crop　the　fresh　grass　on　the　banks　of　the　river。　　The　horsemen　were　scattered　about；　some　reposing　in　the　shades　of　rocks　and　trees；　others　gambling　for　the　spoil　they　had　taken：　not　a　sentinel　was　posted　to　keep　guard；　everything　showed　the　perfect　security　of　men　who　consider　themselves　beyond　the　reach　of　danger。
  These　careless　cavaliers　were　in　fact　the　knights　of　Calatrava　returning　from　their　foray。　　A　part　of　their　force　had　passed　on　with　the　cavalgada；　ninety　of　the　principal　cavaliers　had　halted　to　refresh　themselves　in　this　valley。　　El　Zagal　smiled　with　ferocious　joy　when　he　heard　of　their　negligent　security。　　〃Here　will　be　trophies；〃　said　he；　〃to　grace　our　entrance　into　Granada。〃
  Approaching　the　valley　with　cautious　silence；　he　wheeled　into　it　at　full　speed　at　the　head　of　his　troop；　and　attacked　the　Christians　so　suddenly　that　they　had　no　time　to　put　the　bridles　upon　their　horses　or　even　to　leap　into　the　saddles。　　They　made　a　confused　but　valiant　defence；　fighting　among　the　rocks　and　in　the　rugged　bed　of　the　river。　Their　defence　was　useless；　seventy…nine　were　slain；　and　the　remaining　eleven　were　taken　prisoners。
  A　party　of　the　Moors　galloped　in　pursuit　of　the　cavalgada：　they　soon　overtook　it　winding　slowly　up　a　hill。　　The　horsemen　who　convoyed　it；　perceiving　the　enemy　at　a　distance；　made　their　escape；　and　left　the　spoil　to　be　retaken　by　the　Moors。　　El　Zagal　gathered　together　his　captives　and　his　booty；　and　proceeded；　elate　with　success；　to　Granada。
  He　paused　before　the　gate　of　Elvira；　for　as　yet　he　had　not　been　proclaimed　king。　　This　ceremony　was　immediately　performed；　for　the　fame　of　his　recent　exploit　had　preceded　him　and　intoxicated　the　minds　of　the　giddy　populace。　　He　entered　Granada　in　a　sort　of　triumph。　　The　eleven　captive　knights　of　Calatrava　walked　in　front：　next　were　paraded　the　ninety　captured　steeds；　bearing　the　armor　and　weapons　of　their　late　owners；　and　led　by　as　many　mounted　Moors：　then　came　seventy　Moorish　horsemen；　with　as　many　Christian　heads　hanging　at　their　saddle…bows：　Muley　Abdallah　followed；　surrounded　by　a　number　of　distinguished　cavaliers　splendidly　attired；　and　the　pageant　was　closed　by　a　long　cavalgada　of　the　flocks　and　herds　and　other　booty　recovered　from　the　Christians。*
  *Zurita；　lib。　20；　c。　62；　Mariana；　Hist。　de　Espana；　Abarca；　Anales　　de　Aragon。
  The　populace　gazed　with　almost　savage　triumph　at　these　captive　cavaliers　and　the　gory　heads　of　their　companions；　knowing　them　to　have　been　part　of　the　formidable　garrison　of　Alhama；　so　long　the　scourge　of　Granada　and　the　terror　of　the　Vega。　　They　hailed　this　petty　triumph　as　an　auspicious　opening　of　the　reign　of　their　new　monarch；　for　several　days　the　name　of　Muley　Abul　Hassan　and　Boabdil　el　Chico　were　never　mentioned　but　with　contempt；　and　the　whole　city　resounded　with　the　praises　of　El　Zagal；　or　the　Valiant。
  CHAPTER　XXXII。
  HOW　THE　COUNT　DE　CABRA　ATTEMPTED　TO　CAPTURE　ANOTHER　　　　　KING；　AND　HOW　HE　FARED　IN　HIS　ATTEMPT。
  The　elevation　of　a　bold　and　active　veteran　to　the　throne　of　Granada　in　place　of　its　late　bedridden　king　made　an　important　difference　in　the　aspect　of　the　war；　and　called　for　some　blow　that　should　dash　the　confidence　of　the　Moors　in　their　new　monarch　and　animate　the　Christians　to　fresh　exertions。
  Don　Diego　de　Cordova；　the　brave　count　de　Cabra；　was　at　this　time　in　his　castle　of　Vaena；　where　he　kept　a　wary　eye　upon　the　frontier。　It　was　now　the　latter　part　of　August；　and　he　grieved　that　the　summer　should　pass　away　without　an　inroad　into　the　country　of　the　foe。　　He　sent　out　his　scouts　on　the　prowl；　and　they　brought　him　word　that　the　important　post　of　Moclin　was　but　weakly　garrisoned。　　This　was　a　castellated　town；　strongly　situated　upon　a　high　mountain；　partly　surrounded　by　thick　forests　and　partly　girdled　by　a　river。　　It　defended　one　of　the　rugged　and　solitary　passes　by　which　the　Christians　were　wont　to　make　their　inroads；　insomuch　that　the　Moors；　in　their　figurative　way；　denominated　it　the　shield　of　Granada。
  The　count　de　Cabra　sent　word　to　the　monarchs　of　the　feeble　state　of　the　garrison；　and　gave　it　as　his　opinion　that　by　a　secret　and　rapid　expedition　the　place　might　be　surprised。　　King　Ferdinand　asked　the　advice　of　his　councillors。　　Some　cautioned　him　against　the　sanguine　temperament　of　the　count　and　his　heedlessness　of　danger：　Moclin；　they　observed；　was　near　to　Granada　and　might　be　promptly　reinforced。　The　opinion　of　the　count；　however；　prevailed；　the　king　considering　him　almost　infallible　in　matters　of　border　warfare　since　his　capture　of　Boabdil　el　Chico。
  The　king　departed；　therefore；　from　Cordova；　and　took　post　at　Alcala　la　Real；　for　the　purpose　of　being　near　to　Moclin。　　The　queen　also　proceeded　to　Vaena；　accompanied　by　her　children；　Prince　Juan　and　the　princess　Isabella；　and　her　great　counsellor　in　all　matters；　public　and　private；　spiritual　and　temporal；　the　venerable　grand　cardinal　of　Spain。
  Nothing　could　exceed　the　pride　and　satisfaction　of　the　loyal　count　de　Cabra　when　he　saw　the　stately　train　winding　along　the　dreary　mountain…roads　and　entering　the　gates　of　Vaena。　　He　received　his　royal　guests　with　all　due　ceremony；　and　lodged　them　in　the　best　apartments　that　the　warrior　castle　afforded。
  King　Ferdinand　had　concerted　a　wary　plan　to　ensure　the　success　of　the　enterprise。　　The　count　de　Cabra　and　Don　Martin　Alonso　de　Montemayor　were　to　set　forth　with　their　troops　so　as　to　reach　Moclin　by　a　certain　hour；　and　to　intercept　all　who　should　attempt　to　enter　or　should　sally　from　the　town。　　The　master　of　Calatrava；　the　troops　of　the　grand　cardinal；　commanded　by　the　count　of　Buendia；　and　the　forces　of　the　bishop　of　Jaen；　led　by　that　belligerent　prelate；　amounting　in　all　to　four　thousand　horse　and　six　thousand　foot；　were　to　set　off　in　time　to　co…operate　with　the　count　de　Cabra；　so　as　to　surround　the　town。　　The　king　was　to　follow　with　his　whole　force　and　encamp　before　the　place。
  And　here　the　worthy　padre　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　breaks　forth　into　a　triumphant　eulogy　of　the　pious　prelates　who　thus　mingled　personally　in　these　scenes　of　warfare。　　As　this　was　a　holy　crusade　（says　he）；　undertaken　for　the　advancement　of　the　faith　and　the　glory　of　the　Church；　so　was　it　always　countenanced　and　upheld　by　saintly　men；　for　the　victories　of　their　most　Catholic　majesties　were　not　followed；　like　those　of　mere　worldly　sovereigns；　by　erecting　castles　and　towers　and　appointing　alcaydes　and　garrisons；　but　by　the　founding　of　convents　and　cathedrals　and　the　establishment　of　wealthy　bishoprics。　　Wherefore　their　majesties　were　always　surrounded　in　court　or　camp；　in　the　cabinet　or　in　the　field；　by　a　crowd　of　ghostly　advisers　inspiriting　them　to　the　prosecution　of　this　most　righteous　war。　　Nay；　the　holy　men　of　the　Church　did　not　scruple；　at　times；　to　buckle　on　the　cuirass　over　t