After　some　consultation　it　was　determined　to　invest　Loxa　on　both　sides：　one　part　of　the　army　should　seize　upon　the　dangerous　but　commanding　height　of　Santo　Albohacen　in　front　of　the　city；　while　the　remainder；　making　a　circuit；　should　encamp　on　the　opposite　side。
  No　sooner　was　this　resolved　upon　than　the　marques　of　Cadiz　stood　forth　and　claimed　the　post　of　danger　in　behalf　of　himself　and　those　cavaliers；　his　companions…in…arms；　who　had　been　compelled　to　relinquish　it　by　the　general　retreat　of　the　army　on　the　former　siege。　　The　enemy　had　exulted　over　them　as　if　driven　from　it　in　disgrace。　　To　regain　that　perilous　height；　to　pitch　their　tents　upon　it；　and　to　avenge　the　blood　of　their　valiant　compeer；　the　master　of　Calatrava；　who　had　fallen　upon　it；　was　due　to　their　fame：　the　marques　demanded；　therefore；　that　they　might　lead　the　advance　and　secure　that　height；　engaging　to　hold　the　enemy　employed　until　the　main　army　should　take　its　position　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　city。
  King　Ferdinand　readily　granted　his　permission；　upon　which　the　count　de　Cabra　entreated　to　be　admitted　to　a　share　of　the　enterprise。　　He　had　always　been　accustomed　to　serve　in　the　advance；　and　now　that　Boabdil　was　in　the　field　and　a　king　was　to　be　taken；　he　could　not　content　himself　with　remaining　in　the　rear。　　Ferdinand　yielded　his　consent；　for　he　was　disposed　to　give　the　good　count　every　opportunity　to　retrieve　his　late　disaster。
  The　English　earl；　when　he　heard　there　was　an　enterprise　of　danger　in　question；　was　hot　to　be　admitted　to　the　party；　but　the　king　restrained　his　ardor。　　〃These　cavaliers；〃　said　he；　〃conceive　that　they　have　an　account　to　settle　with　their　pride；　let　them　have　the　enterprise　to　themselves；　my　lord：　if　you　follow　these　Moorish　wars　long；　you　will　find　no　lack　of　perilous　service。〃
  The　marques　of　Cadiz　and　his　companions…in…arms　struck　their　tents　before　daybreak；　they　were　five　thousand　horse　and　twelve　thousand　foot；　and　marched　rapidly　along　the　defiles　of　the　mountains；　the　cavaliers　being　anxious　to　strike　the　blow　and　get　possession　of　the　height　of　Albohacen　before　the　king　with　the　main　army　should　arrive　to　their　assistance。
  The　city　of　Loxa　stands　on　a　high　hill　between　two　mountains　on　the　banks　of　the　Xenil。　　To　attain　the　height　of　Albohacen　the　troops　had　to　pass　over　a　tract　of　rugged　and　broken　country　and　a　deep　valley　intersected　by　those　canals　and　watercourses　with　which　the　Moors　irrigated　their　lands：　they　were　extremely　embarrassed　in　this　part　of　their　march；　and　in　imminent　risk　of　being　cut　up　in　detail　before　they　could　reach　the　height。
  The　count　de　Cabra；　with　his　usual　eagerness；　endeavored　to　push　across　this　valley　in　defiance　of　every　obstacle：　he；　in　consequence；　soon　became　entangled　with　his　cavalry　among　the　canals；　but　his　impatience　would　not　permit　him　to　retrace　his　steps　and　choose　a　more　practicable　but　circuitous　route。　　Others　slowly　crossed　another　part　of　the　valley　by　the　aid　of　pontoons；　while　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar；　and　the　count　de　Urena；　being　more　experienced　in　the　ground　from　their　former　campaign；　made　a　circuit　round　the　bottom　of　the　height；　and；　winding　up　it；　began　to　display　their　squadrons　and　elevate　their　banners　on　the　redoubtable　post　which　in　their　former　siege　they　had　been　compelled　so　reluctantly　to　abandon。
  CHAPTER　XXXIX。
  HOW　THE　ROYAL　ARMY　APPEARED　BEFORE　THE　CITY　OF　LOXA；　AND　　　　　HOW　IT　WAS　RECEIVED；　AND　OF　THE　DOUGHTY　ACHIEVEMENTS　　　　　OF　THE　ENGLISH　EARL。
  The　advance　of　the　Christian　army　upon　Loxa　threw　the　wavering　Boabdil　el　Chico　into　one　of　his　usual　dilemmas；　and　he　was　greatly　perplexed　between　his　oath　of　allegiance　to　the　Spanish　sovereigns　and　his　sense　of　duty　to　his　subjects。　　His　doubts　were　determined　by　the　sight　of　the　enemy　glittering　upon　the　height　of　Albohacen　and　by　the　clamors　of　the　people　to　be　led　forth　to　battle。　　〃Allah；〃　exclaimed　he；　〃thou　knowest　my　heart：　thou　knowest　I　have　been　true　in　my　faith　to　this　Christian　monarch。　　I　have　offered　to　hold　Loxa　as　his　vassal；　but　he　has　preferred　to　approach　it　as　an　enemy：　on　his　head　be　the　infraction　of　our　treaty！〃
  Boabdil　was　not　wanting　in　courage；　he　only　needed　decision。　When　he　had　once　made　up　his　mind　he　acted　vigorously；　the　misfortune　was；　he　either　did　not　make　it　up　at　all　or　he　made　it　up　too　late。　　He　who　decides　tardily　generally　acts　rashly；　endeavoring　to　make　up　by　hurry　of　action　for　slowness　of　deliberation。　　Boabdil　hastily　buckled　on　his　armor　and　sallied　forth　surrounded　by　his　guards；　and　at　the　head　of　five　hundred　horse　and　four　thousand　foot；　the　flower　of　his　army。　　Some　he　detached　to　skirmish　with　the　Christians；　who　were　scattered　and　perplexed　in　the　valley；　and　to　prevent　their　concentrating　their　forces；　while　with　his　main　body　he　pressed　forward　to　drive　the　enemy　from　the　height　of　Albohacen　before　they　had　time　to　collect　there　in　any　number　or　to　fortify　themselves　in　that　important　position。
  The　worthy　count　de　Cabra　was　yet　entangled　with　his　cavalry　among　the　water…courses　of　the　valley　when　he　heard　the　war…cries　of　the　Moors　and　saw　their　army　rushing　over　the　bridge。　　He　recognized　Boabdil　himself；　by　his　splendid　armor；　the　magnificent　caparison　of　his　steed；　and　the　brilliant　guard　which　surrounded　him。　　The　royal　host　swept　on　toward　the　height　of　Albohacen：　an　intervening　hill　hid　it　from　his　sight；　but　loud　shouts　and　cries；　the　din　of　drums　and　trumpets；　and　the　reports　of　arquebuses　gave　note　that　the　battle　had　begun。
  Here　was　a　royal　prize　in　the　field；　and　the　count　de　Cabra　unable　to　get　into　the　action！　　The　good　cavalier　was　in　an　agony　of　impatience；　every　attempt　to　force　his　way　across　the　valley　only　plunged　him　into　new　difficulties。　　At　length；　after　many　eager　but　ineffectual　efforts；　he　was　obliged　to　order　his　troops　to　dismount；　and　slowly　and　carefully　to　lead　their　horses　back　along　slippery　paths　and　amid　plashes　of　mire　and　water　where　often　there　was　scarce　a　foothold。　　The　good　count　groaned　in　spirit　and　sweat　with　mere　impatience　as　he　went；　fearing　the　battle　might　be　fought　and　the　prize　won　or　lost　before　he　could　reach　the　field。　　Having　at　length　toilfully　unravelled　the　mazes　of　the　valley　and　arrived　at　firmer　ground；　he　ordered　his　troops　to　mount；　and　led　them　full　gallop　to　the　height。　　Part　of　the　good　count's　wishes　were　satisfied；　but　the　dearest　were　disappointed：　he　came　in　season　to　partake　of　the　very　hottest　of　the　fight；　but　the　royal　prize　was　no　longer　in　the　field。
  Boabdil　had　led　on　his　men　with　impetuous　valor；　or　rather　with　hurried　rashness。　　Heedlessly　exposing　himself　in　the　front　of　the　battle；　he　received　two　wounds　in　the　very　first　encounter。　　His　guards　rallied　round　him；　defended　him　with　matchless　valor；　and　bore　him　bleeding　out　of　the　action。　　The　count　de　Cabra　arrived　just　in　time　to　see　the　loyal　squadron　crossing　the　bridge　and　slowly　conveying　their　disabled　monarch　toward　the　gate　of　the　city。
  The　departure　of　Boabdil　made　no　difference　in　the　fury　of　the　battle。　　A　Moorish　warrior；　dark　and　terrible　in　aspect；　mounted　on　a　black　charger；　and　followed　by　a　band　of　savage　Gomeres；　rushed　forward　to　take　the　lead。　　It　was　Hamet　el　Zegri；　the　fierce　alcayde　of　Ronda；　with　the　remnant　of　his　once…redoubtable　garrison。　Animated　by　his　example；　the　Moors　renewed　their　assaults　upon　the　height。　　It　was　bravely　defended；　on　one　side　by　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　on　another　by　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar；　and　as　fast　as　the　Moors　ascended　they　were　driven　back　and　dashed　down　the　declivities。　　The　count　de　Urena　took　his　stand　upon　the　fatal　spot　where　his　brother　had　fallen；　his　followers　entered　with　zeal　into　the　feelings　of　their　commander；　and　heaps　of　the　enemy　sunk　beneath　their　weaponssacrifices　to　the　manes　of　the　lamented　master　of　Calatrava。
  The　battle　continued　with　incredible　obstinacy。　　The　Moors　knew　the　importance　of　the　height　to　the　safety　of　the　city；　the　cavaliers　felt　their　honors　staked　to　maintain　it。　　Fresh　supplies　of　troops　were　poured　out　of　the　city：　some　battled　on　the　height；　while　some　attacked　the　Christians　who　were　still　in　the　valley　and　among　the　orchards　and　gardens　to　prevent　their　uniting　their　forces。　　The　troops　in　the　valley　were　gradually　driven　back；　and　the　whole　host　of　the　Moors　swept　around　the　height　of　Albohacen。　　The　situation　of　the　marques　de　Cadiz　and　his　companions　was　perilous　in　the　extreme：　they　were　a　mere　handful；　and；　while　fighting　hand　to　hand　with　the　Moors　who　assailed　the　height；　were　galled　from　a　distance　by　the　crossbows　and　arquebuses　of　a　host　that　augmented　each　moment　in　number。　　At　this　critical　juncture　King　Ferdinand　emerged　from　the　mountains　with　the　main　body　of　the　army；　and　advanced　to　an　eminence　commanding　a　full　view　of　the　field　of　action。　　By　his　side　was　the　noble　English　cavalier；　the　earl　of　Rivers。　　This　was　the　first　time　he　had　witnessed　a　scene　of　Moorish　warfare。　　He　looked　with　eager　interest　at　the　chance…medley　fight　before　him；　where　there　was　the　wild　career　of　cavalry；　the　irregular　and　tumultuous　rush　of　infantry；　and　where　Christian　and　Moor　were　intermingled　in　deadly　struggle。　　The　high　blood　of　the　English　knight　mounted　at　the　sight