the　Prophet！　he　will　at　once　be　transported　to　the　paradise　of　the　faithful　and　surrounded　by　immortal　houris。　　Happy　he　who　shall　survive　victorious！　he　will　behold　Granadaan　earthly　paradise！once　more　delivered　from　its　foes　and　restored　to　all　its　glory。〃　　The　words　of　El　Zagal　were　received　with　acclamations　by　his　troops；　who　waited　impatiently　for　the　appointed　hour　to　pour　down　from　their　mountain…　hold　upon　the　Christians。
  CHAPTER　XLIX。
  RESULT　OF　THE　STRATAGEM　OF　EL　ZAGAL　TO　SURPRISE　　　　　KING　FERDINAND。
  Queen　Isabella　and　her　court　had　remained　at　Cordova　in　great　anxiety　for　the　result　of　the　royal　expedition。　　Every　day　brought　tidings　of　the　difficulties　which　attended　the　transportation　of　the　ordnance　and　munitions　and　of　the　critical　state　of　the　army。
  While　in　this　state　of　anxious　suspense　couriers　arrived　with　all　speed　from　the　frontiers；　bringing　tidings　of　the　sudden　sally　of　El　Zagal　from　Granada　to　surprise　the　camp。　　All　Cordova　was　in　consternation。　　The　destruction　of　the　Andalusian　chivalry　among　the　mountains　of　this　very　neighborhood　was　called　to　mind；　it　was　feared　that　similar　ruin　was　about　to　burst　forth　from　rocks　and　precipices　upon　Ferdinand　and　his　army。
  Queen　Isabella　shared　in　the　public　alarm；　but　it　served　to　rouse　all　the　energies　of　her　heroic　mind。　　Instead　of　uttering　idle　apprehensions；　she　sought　only　how　to　avert　the　danger。　　She　called　upon　all　the　men　of　Andalusia　under　the　age　of　seventy　to　arm　and　hasten　to　the　relief　of　their　sovereign；　and　she　prepared　to　set　out　with　the　first　levies。　　The　grand　cardinal　of　Spain；　old　Pedro　Gonzalez　de　Mendoza；　in　whom　the　piety　of　the　saint　and　the　wisdom　of　the　counsellor　were　mingled　with　the　fire　of　the　cavalier；　offered　high　pay　to　all　horsemen　who　would　follow　him　to　aid　their　king　and　the　Christian　cause；　and；　buckling　on　armor；　prepared　to　lead　them　to　the　scene　of　danger。
  The　summons　of　the　queen　roused　the　quick　Andalusian　spirit。　Warriors　who　had　long　since　given　up　fighting　and　had　sent　their　sons　to　battle　now　seized　the　sword　and　lance　rusting　on　the　wall；　and　marshalled　forth　their　gray…headed　domestics　and　their　grandchildren　for　the　field。　　The　great　dread　was；　that　all　aid　would　arrive　too　late；　El　Zagal　and　his　host　had　passed　like　a　storm　through　the　mountains；　and　it　was　feared　the　tempest　had　already　burst　upon　the　Christian　camp。
  In　the　mean　time；　the　night　had　closed　which　had　been　appointed　by　El　Zagal　for　the　execution　of　his　plan。　　He　had　watched　the　last　light　of　day　expire；　and　all　the　Spanish　camp　remained　tranquil。　　As　the　hours　wore　away　the　camp…fires　were　gradually　extinguished。　No　drum　nor　trumpet　sounded　from　below。　　Nothing　was　heard　but　now　and　then　the　dull　heavy　tread　of　troops　or　the　echoing　tramp　of　horsesthe　usual　patrols　of　the　campand　the　changes　of　the　guards。　　El　Zagal　restrained　his　own　impatience　and　that　of　his　troops　until　the　night　should　be　advanced　and　the　camp　sunk　in　that　heavy　sleep　from　which　men　are　with　difficulty　awakened；　and　when　awakened　prone　to　be　bewildered　and　dismayed。
  At　length　the　appointed　hour　arrived。　　By　order　of　the　Moorish　king　a　bright　flame　sprang　up　from　the　height　of　Bentomiz；　but　El　Zagal　looked　in　vain　for　the　responding　light　from　the　city。　　His　impatience　would　brook　no　longer　delay；　he　ordered　the　advance　of　the　army　to　descend　the　mountain…defile　and　attack　the　camp。　　The　defile　was　narrow　and　overhung　by　rocks；　as　the　troops　proceeded　they　came　suddenly；　in　a　shadowy　hollow；　upon　a　dark　mass　of　warriors　who；　with　a　loud　shout；　rushed　to　assail　them。　　Surprised　and　disconcerted；　they　retreated　in　confusion　to　the　height。　　When　El　Zagal　heard　of　a　Christian　force　in　the　defile；　he　doubted　some　counter…plan　of　the　enemy；　and　gave　orders　to　light　the　mountain…fires。　　On　a　signal　given　bright　flames　sprang　up　on　every　height　from　pyres　of　wood　prepared　for　the　purpose：　cliff　blazed　out　after　cliff　until　the　whole　atmosphere　was　in　a　glow　of　furnace　light。
  The　ruddy　glare　lit　up　the　glens　and　passes；　and　fell　strongly　upon　the　Christian　camp；　revealing　all　its　tents　and　every　post　and　bulwark。　　Wherever　El　Zagal　turned　his　eyes　he　beheld　the　light　of　his　fires　flashed　back　from　cuirass　and　helm　and　sparkling　lance；　he　beheld　a　grove　of　spears　planted　in　every　pass；　every　assailable　point　bristling　with　arms；　and　squadrons　of　horse　and　foot　in　battle　array　awaiting　his　attack。
  In　fact；　his　letter　to　the　alcayde　of　Velez　Malaga　had　been　intercepted　by　the　vigilant　Ferdinand；　the　renegado　messenger　hanged；　and　secret　measures　taken　after　nightfall　to　give　the　Moors　a　warm　reception。　　El　Zagal　saw　that　his　plan　of　surprise　was　discovered　and　foiled；　furious　with　disappointment；　he　ordered　his　troops　forward　to　the　attack。　　They　rushed　down　the　defile；　but　were　again　encountered　by　the　mass　of　Christian　warriors；　being　the　advance　guard　of　the　army　commanded　by　Don　Hurtado　de　Mendoza；　brother　of　the　grand　cardinal。　　The　Moors　were　again　repulsed；　and　retreated　up　the　height。　　Don　Hurtado　would　have　followed　them；　but　the　ascent　was　steep　and　rugged　and　easily　defended。　　A　sharp　action　was　kept　up　through　the　night　with　crossbows；　darts；　and　arquebuses。　The　cliffs　echoed　with　deafening　uproar；　while　the　fires　blazing　upon　the　mountains　threw　a　lurid　and　uncertain　light　upon　the　scene。
  When　the　day　dawned　and　the　Moors　saw　that　there　was　no　co…　operation　from　the　city；　they　slackened　in　their　ardor：　they　beheld　also　every　pass　of　the　mountain　filled　with　Christian　troops；　and　began　to　apprehend　an　assault　in　return。　　Just　then　King　Ferdinand　sent　the　marques　of　Cadiz　with　horse　and　foot　to　seize　upon　a　height　occupied　by　a　battalion　of　the　enemy。　　The　marques　assailed　the　Moors　with　his　usual　intrepidity；　and　soon　put　them　to　flight。　　The　others；　who　were　above；　seeing　their　comrades　fly；　threw　down　their　arms　and　retreated。　　One　of　those　unaccountable　panics　which　now　and　then　seize　upon　great　bodies　of　people；　and　to　which　the　light…spirited　Moors　were　prone；　now　spread　throughout　the　camp。　　They　were　terrified；　they　knew　not　why　nor　at　what；　and；　throwing　away　swords；　lances；　breast…plates；　crossbows；　everything　that　could　impede　their　motions；　scattered　themselves　wildly　in　every　direction。　　They　fled　without　pursuersfrom　the　glimpse　of　each　other's　arms；　from　the　sound　of　each　other's　footsteps。　　Reduan　de　Vanegas；　the　brave　alcayde　of　Granada；　alone　succeeded　in　collecting　a　body　of　the　fugitives；　he　made　a　circuit　with　them　through　the　passes　of　the　mountain；　and；　forcing　his　way　across　a　weak　part　of　the　Christian　lines；　galloped　toward　Velez　Malaga。　　The　rest　of　the　Moorish　host　was　completely　scattered。　　In　vain　did　El　Zagal　and　his　knights　attempt　to　rally　them；　they　were　left　almost　alone；　and　had　to　consult　their　own　security　by　flight。
  The　marques　of　Cadiz；　finding　no　opposition；　ascended　from　height　to　height；　cautiously　reconnoitring　and　fearful　of　some　stratagem　or　ambush。　　All；　however；　was　quiet。　　He　reached　with　his　men　the　place　which　the　Moorish　army　had　occupied：　the　heights　were　abandoned　and　strewed　with　cuirasses；　scimetars；　crossbows；　and　other　weapons。　His　force　was　too　small　to　pursue　the　enemy；　but　returned　to　the　royal　camp　laden　with　spoils。
  Ferdinand　at　first　could　not　credit　so　signal　and　miraculous　a　defeat；　but　suspected　some　lurking　stratagem。　　He　ordered；　therefore；　that　a　strict　watch　should　be　maintained　throughout　the　camp　and　every　one　be　ready　for　instant　action。　　The　following　night　a　thousand　cavaliers　and　hidalgos　kept　guard　about　the　royal　tent；　as　they　had　done　for　several　preceding　nights；　nor　did　the　king　relax　this　vigilance　until　he　received　certain　intelligence　that　the　enemy　was　completely　scattered　and　El　Zagal　flying　in　confusion。
  The　tidings　of　this　rout　and　of　the　safety　of　the　Christian　army　arrived　at　Cordova　just　as　reinforcements　were　on　the　point　of　setting　out。　　The　anxiety　and　alarm　of　the　queen　and　the　public　were　turned　to　transports　of　joy　and　gratitude。　　The　forces　were　disbanded；　solemn　processions　were　made；　and　〃Te　Deums〃　chanted　in　the　churches　for　so　signal　a　victory。
  CHAPTER　L。
  HOW　THE　PEOPLE　OF　GRANADA　REWARDED　THE　VALOR　OF　　　　　EL　ZAGAL。
  The　daring　spirit　of　Muley　Abdallah　el　Zagal　in　sallying　forth　to　defend　his　territories　while　he　left　an　armed　rival　in　his　capital　struck　the　people　of　Granada　with　admiration。　　They　recalled　his　former　exploits；　and　again　anticipated　some　hardy　achievement　from　his　valor。　　Couriers　from　the　army　reported　its　formidable　position　on　the　height　of　Bentomiz。　　For　a　time　there　was　a　pause　in　the　bloody　commotions　of　the　city；　all　attention　was　turned　to　the　blow　about　to　be　struck　at　the　Christian　camp。　　The　same　considerations　which　diffused　anxiety　and　terror　through　Cordova　swelled　every　bosom　with　exulting　confidence　in　Granada。　　The　Moors　expected　to　hear　of　another　massacre　like　that　in　the　mountains　of　Malaga。　　〃El　Zagal　has　again　entrapped　the　enemy！〃　was　the　cry。　　〃The　power　of　the　unbelievers　is　about　to　be　struck　to　the　heart。　　We　shall　soon　see　the　Christian　king　led　captive　to　the　capital。〃　　Thus　was　the　name　of　El　Zagal　on　every　tongue。　　He　was　extolled　as　the　savior　of　the　country；　the　only　one