as　the　name　of　El　Zagal　on　every　tongue。　　He　was　extolled　as　the　savior　of　the　country；　the　only　one　worthy　of　wearing　the　Moorish　crown。　　Boabdil　was　reviled　as　basely　remaining　passive　while　his　country　was　invaded　and　so　violent　became　the　clamor　of　the　populace　that　his　adherents　trembled　for　his　safety。
  While　the　people　of　Granada　were　impatiently　looking　out　for　tidings　of　the　anticipated　victory　scattered　horsemen　came　spurring　across　the　Vega。　　They　were　fugitives　from　the　Moorish　army；　and　brought　the　first　incoherent　account　of　its　defeat。　　Every　one　who　attempted　to　tell　the　tale　of　this　unaccountable　panic　and　dispersion　was　as　if　bewildered　by　the　broken　recollection　of　some　frightful　dream。　　He　knew　not　how　or　why　it　came　to　pass。　　He　talked　of　a　battle　in　the　night；　among　rocks　and　precipices；　by　the　glare　of　bale…fires；　of　multitudes　of　armed　foes　in　every　pass；　seen　by　gleams　and　flashes；　of　the　sudden　horror　that　seized　upon　the　army　at　daybreak；　its　headlong　flight；　and　total　dispersion。　　Hour　after　hour　the　arrival　of　other　fugitives　confirmed　the　story　of　ruin　and　disgrace。
  In　proportion　to　their　recent　vaunting　was　the　humiliation　that　now　fell　upon　the　people　of　Granada。　　There　was　a　universal　burst；　not　of　grief；　but　indignation。　　They　confounded　the　leader　with　the　army　the　deserted　with　those　who　had　abandoned　him；　and　El　Zagal；　from　being　their　idol；　became　suddenly　the　object　of　their　execration。　　He　had　sacrificed　the　army；　he　had　disgraced　the　nation；　he　had　betrayed　the　country。　　He　was　a　dastard；　a　traitor；　he　was　unworthy　to　reign。
  On　a　sudden　one　among　the　multitude　shouted；　〃Long　live　Boabdil　el　Chico！〃　　The　cry　was　echoed　on　all　sides；　and　every　one　shouted；　〃Long　live　Boabdil　el　Chico！　long　live　the　legitimate　king　of　Granada！　and　death　to　all　usurpers！〃　　In　the　excitement　of　the　moment　they　thronged　to　the　Albaycin；　and　those　who　had　lately　besieged　Boabdil　with　arms　now　surrounded　his　palace　with　acclamations。　　The　keys　of　the　city　and　of　all　the　fortresses　were　laid　at　his　feet；　he　was　borne　in　state　to　the　Alhambra；　and　once　more　seated　with　all　due　ceremony　on　the　throne　of　his　ancestors。
  Boabdil　had　by　this　time　become　so　accustomed　to　be　crowned　and　uncrowned　by　the　multitude　that　he　put　no　great　faith　in　the　duration　of　their　loyalty。　　He　knew　that　he　was　surrounded　by　hollow　hearts；　and　that　most　of　the　courtiers　of　the　Alhambra　were　secretly　devoted　to　his　uncle。　　He　ascended　the　throne　as　the　rightful　sovereign　who　had　been　dispossessed　of　it　by　usurpation；　and　he　ordered　the　heads　of　four　of　the　principal　nobles　to　be　struck　off　who　had　been　most　zealous　in　support　of　the＇9＇usurper。　　Executions　of　the　kind　were　matters　of　course　on　any　change　in　Moorish　government；　and　Boabdil　was　lauded　for　his　moderation　and　humanity　in　being　content　with　so　small　a　sacrifice。　　The　factions　were　awed　into　obedience；　the　populace；　delighted　with　any　change；　extolled　Boabdil　to　the　skies；　and　the　name　of　Muley　Abdallah　el　Zagal　was　for　a　time　a　by…word　of　scorn　and　opprobrium　throughout　the　city。
  Never　was　any　commander　more　astonished　and　confounded　by　a　sudden　reverse　of　fortune　than　El　Zagal。　　The　evening　had　seen　him　with　a　powerful　army　at　his　command；　his　enemy　within　his　grasp；　and　victory　about　to　cover　him　with　glory　and　to　consolidate　his　power：　the　morning　beheld　him　a　fugitive　among　the　mountains；　his　army；　his　prosperity；　his　power；　all　dispelled；　he　knew　not　howgone　like　a　dream　of　the　night。　　In　vain　had　he　tried　to　stem　the　headlong　flight　of　the　army。　　He　saw　his　squadrons　breaking　and　dispersing　among　the　cliffs　of　the　mountains；　until　of　all　his　host　only　a　handful　of　cavaliers　remained　faithful。　　With　these　he　made　a　gloomy　retreat　toward　Granada；　but　with　a　heart　full　of　foreboding。　　As　he　drew　near　to　the　city　he　paused　on　the　banks　of　the　Xenil　and　sent　forth　scouts　to　collect　intelligence。　　They　returned　with　dejected　countenances。　〃The　gates　of　Granada；〃　said　they；　〃are　closed　against　you。　　The　banner　of　Boabdil　floats　on　the　tower　of　the　Alhambra。〃
  El　Zagal　turned　his　steed　and　departed　in　silence。　　He　retreated　to　the　town　of　Almunecar；　and　thence　to　Almeria；　which　places　still　remained　faithful　to　him。　　Restless　and　uneasy　at　being　so　distant　from　the　capital；　he　again　changed　his　abode；　and　repaired　to　the　city　of　Guadix；　within　a　few　leagues　of　Granada。　　Here　he　remained；　endeavoring　to　rally　his　forces　and　preparing　to　avail　himself　of　any　sudden　change　in　the　fluctuating　politics　of　the　metropolis。
  CHAPTER　LI。
  SURRENDER　OF　VELEZ　MALAGA　AND　OTHER　PLACES。
  The　people　of　Velez　Malaga　had　beheld　the　camp　of　Muley　Abdallah　covering　the　summit　of　Bentomiz　and　glittering　in　the　last　rays　of　the　setting　sun。　　During　the　night　they　had　been　alarmed　and　perplexed　by　signal…fires　on　the　mountain　and　by　the　sound　of　distant　battle。　　When　the　morning　broke　the　Moorish　army　had　vanished　as　if　by　enchantment。　　While　the　inhabitants　were　lost　in　wonder　and　conjecture；　a　body　of　cavalry；　the　fragment　of　the　army　saved　by　Reduan　de　Vanegas；　the　brave　alcayde　of　Granada；　came　galloping　to　the　gates。　　The　tidings　of　the　strange　discomfiture　of　the　host　filled　the　city　with　consternation；　but　Reduan　exhorted　the　people　to　continue　their　resistance。　　He　was　devoted　to　El　Zagal　and　confident　in　his　skill　and　prowess；　and　felt　assured　that　he　would　soon　collect　his　scattered　forces　and　return　with　fresh　troops　from　Granada。　　The　people　were　comforted　by　the　words　and　encouraged　by　the　presence　of　Reduan；　and　they　had　still　a　lingering　hope　that　the　heavy　artillery　of　the　Christians　might　be　locked　up　in　the　impassable　defiles　of　the　mountains。　　This　hope　was　soon　at　an　end。　　The　very　next　day　they　beheld　long　laborious　lines　of　ordnance　slowly　moving　into　the　Spanish　camplombards；　ribadoquines；　catapults；　and　cars　laden　with　munitionswhile　the　escort；　under　the　brave　master　of　Alcantara；　wheeled　in　great　battalions　into　the　camp　to　augment　the　force　of　the　besiegers。
  The　intelligence　that　Granada　had　shut　its　gates　against　El　Zagal；　and　that　no　reinforcements　were　to　be　expected；　completed　the　despair　of　the　inhabitants；　even　Reduan　himself　lost　confidence　and　advised　capitulation。
  Ferdinand　granted　favorable　conditions；　for　he　was　eager　to　proceed　against　Malaga。　　The　inhabitants　were　permitted　to　depart　with　their　effects　except　their　arms；　and　to　reside；　if　they　chose　it；　in　Spain　in　any　place　distant　from　the　sea。　　One　hundred　and　twenty　Christians　of　both　sexes　were　rescued　from　captivity　by　the　surrender；　and　were　sent　to　Cordova；　where　they　were　received　with　great　tenderness　by　the　queen　and　her　daughter　the　infanta　Isabella　in　the　famous　cathedral　in　the　midst　of　public　rejoicings　for　the　victory。
  The　capture　of　Velez　Malaga　was　followed　by　the　surrender　of　Bentomiz；　Comares；　and　all　the　towns　and　fortresses　of　the　Axarquia；　which　were　strongly　garrisoned；　and　discreet　and　valiant　cavaliers　appointed　as　their　alcaydes。　　The　inhabitants　of　nearly　forty　towns　of　the　Alpuxarras　mountains　also　sent　deputations　to　the　Castilian　sovereigns；　taking　the　oath　of　allegiance　as　mudexares　or　Moslem　vassals。
  About　the　same　time　came　letters　from　Boabdil　el　Chico　announcing　to　the　sovereigns　the　revolution　of　Granada　in　his　favor。　　He　solicited　kindness　and　protection　for　the　inhabitants　who　had　returned　to　their　allegiance；　and　for　those　of　all　other　places　which　should　renounce　adherence　to　his　uncle。　　By　this　means　（he　observed）　the　whole　kingdom　of　Granada　would　soon　be　induced　to　acknowledge　his　sway；　and　would　be　held　by　him　in　faithful　vassalage　to　the　Castilian　Crown。
  The　Catholic　sovereigns　complied　with　his　request。　　Protection　was　immediately　extended　to　the　inhabitants　of　Granada；　permitting　them　to　cultivate　their　fields　in　peace　and　to　trade　with　the　Christian　territories　in　all　articles　excepting　arms；　being　provided　with　letters　of　surety　from　some　Christian　captain　or　alcayde。　　The　same　favor　was　promised　to　all　other　places　which　within　six　months　should　renounce　El　Zagal　and　come　under　allegiance　to　the　younger　king。　Should　they　not　do　so　within　that　time；　the　sovereigns　threatened　to　make　war　upon　them　and　conquer　them　for　themselves。　　This　measure　had　a　great　effect　in　inducing　many　to　return　to　the　standard　of　Boabdil。
  Having　made　every　necessary　arrangement　for　the　government　and　security　of　the　newly…conquered　territory；　Ferdinand　turned　his　attention　to　the　great　object　of　his　campaign；　the　reduction　of　Malaga。
  CHAPTER　LII。
  OF　THE　CITY　OF　MALAGA　AND　ITS　INHABITANTS。MISSION　OF　　　　　HERNANDO　DEL　PULGAR。
  The　city　of　Malaga　lies　in　the　lap　of　a　fertile　valley；　surrounded　by　mountains；　excepting　on　the　part　which　lies　open　to　the　sea。　　As　it　was　one　of　the　most　important；　so　it　was　one　of　the　strongest；　cities　of　the　Moorish　kingdom。　　It　was　fortified　by　walls　of　prodigious　strength　studded　with　a　great　number　of　huge　towers。　　On　the　land　side　it　was　protected　by　a　natural　barrier　of　mountains；　and　on　the　other　the　waves　of　the　Mediterranean　beat　against　the　foundations　of　its　massive　bulwarks。
  At　one　end　of　the　city；　near　the　sea；　on　a　high　mound；　stood　the　Alcazaba；　or　citadel；　a　fortress　of　great　strength。　　Immediat