re　apt　to　act　with　a　daring　impulse　unknown　to　steadier　judgments。　　The　message　of　the　sultana　roused　him　from　a　dream。　Granada；　beautiful　Granada；　with　its　stately　Alhambra；　its　delicious　gardens；　its　gushing　and　limpid　fountains　sparkling　among　groves　of　orange；　citron；　and　myrtle；　rose　before　him。　　〃What　have　I　done；〃　exclaimed　he；　〃that　I　should　be　an　exile　from　this　paradise　of　my　forefathersa　wanderer　and　fugitive　in　my　own　kingdom；　while　a　murderous　usurper　sits　proudly　upon　my　throne？　　Surely　Allah　will　befriend　the　righteous　cause；　one　blow；　and　all　may　be　my　own。〃
  He　summoned　his　scanty　band　of　cavaliers。　　〃Who　is　ready　to　follow　his　monarch　unto　the　death？〃　said　he；　and　every　one　laid　his　hand　upon　his　scimetar。　　〃Enough！〃　said　he；　〃let　each　man　arm　himself　and　prepare　his　steed　in　secret　for　an　enterprise　of　toil　and　peril；　if　we　succeed；　our　reward　is　empire。〃
  CHAPTER　XLVI。
  HOW　BOABDIL　RETURNED　SECRETLY　TO　GRANADA；　AND　HOW　HE　　　　　WAS　RECEIVED。SECOND　EMBASSY　OF　DON　JUAN　DE　VERA；　　　　　AND　HIS　PERILS　IN　THE　ALHAMBRA。
  〃In　the　hand　of　God；〃　exclaimed　an　old　Arabian　chronicler；　〃is　the　destiny　of　princes；　he　alone　giveth　empire。　　A　Moorish　horseman；　mounted　on　a　fleet　Arabian　steed；　was　one　day　traversing　the　mountains　which　extended　between　Granada　and　the　frontier　of　Murcia。　He　galloped　swiftly　through　the　valleys；　but　paused　and　looked　out　cautiously　from　the　summit　of　every　height。　　A　squadron　of　cavaliers　followed　warily　at　a　distance。　　There　were　fifty　lances。　　The　richness　of　their　armor　and　attire　showed　them　to　be　warriors　of　noble　rank；　and　their　leader　had　a　lofty　and　prince…like　demeanor。''　　The　squadron　thus　described　by　the　Arabian　chronicler　was　the　Moorish　king　Boabdil　and　his　devoted　followers。
  For　two　nights　and　a　day　they　pursued　their　adventurous　journey；　avoiding　all　populous　parts　of　the　country　and　choosing　the　most　solitary　passes　of　the　mountains。　　They　suffered　severe　hardships　and　fatigues；　but　suffered　without　a　murmur：　they　were　accustomed　to　rugged　campaigning；　and　their　steeds　were　of　generous　and　unyielding　spirit。　　It　was　midnight；　and　all　was　dark　and　silent　as　they　descended　from　the　mountains　and　approached　the　city　of　Granada。　　They　passed　along　quietly　under　the　shadow　of　its　walls；　until　they　arrived　near　the　gate　of　the　Albaycin。　　Here　Boabdil　ordered　his　followers　to　halt　and　remain　concealed。　　Taking　but　four　or　five　with　him；　he　advanced　resolutely　to　the　gate　and　knocked　with　the　hilt　of　his　scimetar。　　The　guards　demanded　who　sought　to　enter　at　that　unseasonable　hour。　〃Your　king！〃　exclaimed　Boabdil；　〃open　the　gate　and　admit　him！〃
  The　guards　held　forth　a　light　and　recognized　the　person　of　the　youthful　monarch。　　They　were　struck　with　sudden　awe　and　threw　open　the　gates；　and　Boabdil　and　his　followers　entered　unmolested。　They　galloped　to　the　dwellings　of　the　principal　inhabitants　of　the　Albaycin；　thundering　at　their　portals　and　summoning　them　to　arise　and　take　arms　for　their　rightful　sovereign。　　The　summons　was　instantly　obeyed：　trumpets　resounded　throughout　the　streetsthe　gleam　of　torches　and　the　flash　of　arms　showed　the　Moors　hurrying　to　their　gathering…places；　by　daybreak　the　whole　force　of　the　Albaycin　was　rallied　under　the　standard　of　Boabdil；　and　Aben　Comixa　was　made　alcayde　of　the　fortress。　　Such　was　the　success　of　this　sudden　and　desperate　act　of　the　young　monarch；　for　we　are　assured　by　contemporary　historians　that　there　had　been　no　previous　concert　or　arrangement。　　〃As　the　guards　opened　the　gates　of　the　city　to　admit　him；〃　observes　a　pious　chronicler；　〃so　God　opened　the　hearts　of　the　Moors　to　receive　him　as　their　king。〃*
  *Pulgar。
  In　the　morning　early　the　tidings　of　this　event　roused　El　Zagal　from　his　slumbers　in　the　Alhambra。　　The　fiery　old　warrior　assembled　his　guard　in　haste　and　made　his　way；　sword　in　hand；　to　the　Albaycin；　hoping　to　come　upon　his　nephew　by　surprise。　　He　was　vigorously　met　by　Boabdil　and　his　adherents；　and　driven　back　into　the　quarter　of　the　Alhambra。　　An　encounter　took　place　between　the　two　kings　in　the　square　before　the　principal　mosque；　here　they　fought　hand　to　hand　with　implacable　fury；　as　though　it　had　been　agreed　to　decide　their　competition　for　the　crown　by　single　combat。　　In　the　tumult　of　this　chance…medley　affray；　however；　they　were　separated；　and　the　party　of　El　Zagal　was　ultimately　driven　from　the　square。
  The　battle　raged　for　some　time　in　the　streets　and　places　of　the　city；　but；　finding　their　powers　of　mischief　cramped　within　such　narrow　limits；　both　parties　sallied　forth　into　the　fields　and　fought　beneath　the　walls　until　evening。　　Many　fell　on　both　sides；　and　at　night　each　party　withdrew　into　its　quarter　until　the　morning　gave　them　light　to　renew　the　unnatural　conflict。　　For　several　days　the　two　grand　divisions　of　the　city　remained　like　hostile　powers　arrayed　against　each　other。　　The　party　of　the　Alhambra　was　more　numerous　than　that　of　the　Albaycin；　and　contained　most　of　the　nobility　and　chivalry；　but　the　adherents　of　Boabdil　were　men　hardened　and　strengthened　by　labor　and　habitually　skilled　in　the　exercise　of　arms。
  The　Albaycin　underwent　a　kind　of　siege　by　the　forces　of　El　Zagal；　they　effected　breaches　in　the　walls；　and　made　repeated　attempts　to　carry　it　sword　in　hand；　but　were　as　often　repulsed。　　The　troops　of　Boabdil；　on　the　other　hand；　made　frequent　sallies；　and　in　the　conflicts　which　took　place　the　hatred　of　the　combatants　arose　to　such　a　pitch　of　fury　that　no　quarter　was　given　on　either　side。
  Boabdil　perceived　the　inferiority　of　his　force；　he　dreaded　also　that　his　adherents；　being　for　the　most　part　tradesmen　and　artisans；　would　become　impatient　of　this　interruption　of　their　gainful　occupations　and　disheartened　by　these　continual　scenes　of　carnage。　　He　sent　missives；　therefore；　in　all　haste　to　Don　Fadrique　de　Toledo；　who　commanded　the　Christian　forces　on　the　frontier；　entreating　his　assistance。
  Don　Fadrique　had　received　instructions　from　the　politic　Ferdinand　to　aid　the　youthful　monarch　in　all　his　contests　with　his　uncle。　　He　advanced　with　a　body　of　troops　near　to　Granada。　　The　moment　Boabdil　discerned；　from　the　towers　of　the　Albaycin；　the　Christian　banners　and　lances　winding　round　the　base　of　the　mountain　of　Elvira；　he　sallied　forth　to　meet　them；　escorted　by　a　squadron　of　Abencerrages　under　Aben　Comixa。　　El　Zagal；　who　was　equally　on　the　alert；　and　apprised　that　the　Christian　troops　came　in　aid　of　his　nephew；　likewise　sallied　forth　and　drew　up　his　troops　in　battle　array。　　Don　Fadrique；　wary　lest　some　treachery　should　be　intended；　halted　among　some　plantations　of　olives；　retained　Boabdil　by　his　side；　and　signified　his　wish　that　Aben　Comixa　would　advance　with　his　squadron　and　offer　battle　to　the　old　king。　　The　provocation　was　given；　but　El　Zagal　maintained　his　position。　　He　threw　out　some　light　parties；　however；　which　skirmished　with　the　Abencerrages　of　Aben　Comixa；　after　which　he　caused　his　trumpets　to　sound　a　recall；　and　retired　into　the　city；　mortified；　it　is　said；　that　the　Christian　cavaliers　should　witness　these　fratricidal　discords　between　true　believers。
  Don　Fadrique；　still　distrustful；　drew　off　to　a　distance；　and　encamped　for　the　night　near　the　bridge　of　Cabillas。
  Early　in　the　morning　a　Moorish　cavalier　with　an　escort　approached　the　advance　guard；　and　his　trumpets　sounded　a　parley。　　He　craved　an　audience　as　an　envoy　from　El　Zagal；　and　was　admitted　to　the　tent　of　Don　Fadrique。　　El　Zagal　had　learnt　that　the　Christian　troops　had　come　to　aid　his　nephew；　and　now　offered　to　enter　into　an　alliance　with　them　on　terms　still　more　advantageous　than　those　of　Boabdil。　　The　wary　Don　Fadrique　listened　to　the　Moor　with　apparent　complacency；　but　determined　to　send　one　of　his　most　intrepid　and　discreet　cavaliers；　under　the　protection　of　a　flag；　to　hold　a　conference　with　the　old　king　within　the　very　walls　of　the　Alhambra。　　The　officer　chosen　for　this　important　mission　was　Don　Juan　de　Vera；　the　same　stanch　and　devout　cavalier　who　in　times　preceding　the　war　had　borne　the　message　from　the　Castilian　sovereigns　to　old　Muley　Abul　Hassan　demanding　arrears　of　tribute。　　Don　Juan　was　received　with　great　ceremony　by　the　king。　　No　records　remain　of　his　diplomatic　negotiations；　but　they　extended　into　the　night；　and；　it　being　too　late　to　return　to　camp；　he　was　sumptuously　lodged　in　an　apartment　of　the　Alhambra。　　In　the　morning　one　of　the　courtiers　about　the　palace；　somewhat　given　to　jest　and　raillery；　invited　Don　Juan　to　a　ceremony　which　some　of　the　alfaquis　were　about　to　celebrate　in　the　mosque　of　the　palace。　　The　religious　punctilio　of　this　most　discreet　cavalier　immediately　took　umbrage　at　what　he　conceived　a　banter。　　〃The　servants　of　Queen　Isabella　of　Castile；〃　replied　he；　stiffly　and　sternly；　〃who　bear　on　their　armor　the　cross　of　St。　Jago；　never　enter　the　temples　of　Mahomet　but　to　level　them　to　the　earth　and　trample　on　them。''
  The　Moslem　courtier　retired　somewhat　disconcerted　by　this　Catholic　but　not　very　courteous　reply；　and　reported　it　to　a　renegado　of　Antiquera。　　The　latter；　eager；　like　all　renegados；　to　show　devotion　to　his　newly…adopted　creed；　volunteered　to　return　with　the　courtier　and　have　a　tilt　of　words　with　the　testy　diplomatist。　　They　found　Don　Juan　playing　a　game　of　chess　with　the　alcayde　of　the　Alhambra；　an