iled　with　advantage；　and　gave　the　besieging　army　no　repose　night　or　day。　　While　his　troops　sallied　on　the　land；　his　floating　batteries　attacked　the　besiegers　on　the　sea；　so　that　there　was　incessant　skirmishing。　　The　tents　called　the　Queen's　Hospital　were　crowded　with　wounded；　and　the　whole　army　suffered　from　constant　watchfulness　and　fatigue。　　To　guard　against　the　sudden　assaults　of　the　Moors；　the　trenches　were　deepened　and　palisadoes　erected　in　front　of　the　camp；　and　in　that　part　facing　Gibralfaro；　where　the　rocky　heights　did　not　admit　of　such　defences；　a　high　rampart　of　earth　was　thrown　up。　　The　cavaliers　Garcilasso　de　la　Vega；　Juan　de　Zuniga；　and　Diego　de　Atayde　were　appointed　to　go　the　rounds　and　keep　vigilant　watch　that　these　fortifications　were　maintained　in　good　order。
  In　a　little　while　Hamet　discovered　the　mines　secretly　commenced　by　the　Christians：　he　immediately　ordered　counter…mines。　　The　soldiers　mutually　worked　until　they　met　and　fought　hand　to　hand　in　these　subterranean　passages。　　The　Christians　were　driven　out　of　one　of　their　mines；　fire　was　set　to　the　wooden　framework　and　the　mine　destroyed。　　Encouraged　by　this　success；　the　Moors　attempted　a　general　attack　upon　the　camp；　the　mines；　and　the　besieging　fleet。　The　battle　lasted　for　six　hours　on　land　and　water；　above　and　below　ground；　on　bulwark；　and　in　trench　and　mine；　the　Moors　displayed　wonderful　intrepidity；　but　were　finally　repulsed　at　all　points；　and　obliged　to　retire　into　the　city；　where　they　were　closely　invested；　without　the　means　of　receiving　any　assistance　from　abroad。
  The　horrors　of　famine　were　now　added　to　the　other　miseries　of　Malaga。　　Hamet；　with　the　spirit　of　a　man　bred　up　to　war；　considered　everything　as　subservient　to　the　wants　of　the　soldier；　and　ordered　all　the　grain　in　the　city　to　be　gathered　and　garnered　up　for　the　sole　use　of　those　who　fought。　　Even　this　was　dealt　out　sparingly；　and　each　soldier　received　four　ounces　of　bread　in　the　morning　and　two　in　the　evening　for　his　daily　allowance。
  The　wealthy　inhabitants　and　all　those　peacefully　inclined　mourned　over　a　resistance　which　brought　destruction　upon　their　houses；　death　into　their　families；　and　which　they　saw　must　end　in　their　ruin　and　captivity；　still；　none　of　them　dared　to　speak　openly　of　capitulation；　or　even　to　manifest　their　grief；　lest　they　should　awaken　the　wrath　of　their　fierce　defenders。　　They　surrounded　their　civic　champion；　Ali　Dordux；　the　great　and　opulent　merchant；　who　had　buckled　on　shield　and　cuirass　and　taken　spear　in　hand　for　the　defence　of　his　native　city；　and　with　a　large　body　of　the　braver　citizens　had　charge　of　one　of　the　gates　and　a　considerable　portion　of　the　walls。　　Drawing　Ali　Dordux　aside；　they　poured　forth　their　griefs　to　him　in　secret。　　〃Why；〃　said　they；　〃should　we　suffer　our　native　city　to　be　made　a　mere　bulwark　and　fighting…place　for　foreign　barbarians　and　desperate　men？　　They　have　no　families　to　care　for；　no　property　to　lose；　no　love　for　the　soil；　and　no　value　for　their　lives。　　They　fight　to　gratify　a　thirst　for　blood　or　a　desire　for　revenge；　and　will　fight　on　until　Malaga　becomes　a　ruin　and　its　people　slaves。　　Let　us　think　and　act　for　ourselves；　our　wives；　and　our　children。　　Let　us　make　private　terms　with　the　Christians　before　it　is　too　late；　and　save　ourselves　from　destruction。〃
  The　bowels　of　Ali　Dordux　yearned　toward　his　fellow　citizens；　he　bethought　him　also　of　the　sweet　security　of　peace　and　the　bloodless　yet　gratifying　triumphs　of　gainful　traffic。　　The　idea　also　of　a　secret　negotiation　or　bargain　with　the　Castilian　sovereigns　for　the　redemption　of　his　native　city　was　more　conformable　to　his　accustomed　habits　than　this　violent　appeal　to　arms；　for；　though　he　had　for　a　time　assumed　the　warrior；　he　had　not　forgotten　the　merchant。　　Ali　Dordux　communed；　therefore；　with　the　citizen…soldiers　under　his　command；　and　they　readily　conformed　to　his　opinion。　　Concerting　together；　they　wrote　a　proposition　to　the　Castilian　sovereigns；　offering　to　admit　the　army　into　the　part　of　the　city　entrusted　to　their　care　on　receiving　assurance　of　protection　for　the　lives　and　properties　of　the　inhabitants。　　This　writing　they　delivered　to　a　trusty　emissary　to　take　to　the　Christian　camp；　appointing　the　hour　and　place　of　his　return　that　they　might　be　ready　to　admit　him　unperceived。
  The　Moor　made　his　way　in　safety　to　the　camp；　and　was　admitted　to　the　presence　of　the　sovereigns。　　Eager　to　gain　the　city　without　further　cost　of　blood　or　treasure；　they　gave　a　written　promise　to　grant　the　condition；　and　the　Moor　set　out　joyfully　on　his　return。　As　he　approached　the　walls　where　Ali　Dordux　and　his　confederates　were　waiting　to　receive　him；　he　was　descried　by　a　patrolling　band　of　Gomeres；　and　considered　a　spy　coming　from　the　camp　of　the　besiegers。　They　issued　forth　and　seized　him　in　sight　of　his　employers；　who　gave　themselves　up　for　lost。　　The　Gomeres　had　conducted　him　nearly　to　the　gate；　when　he　escaped　from　their　grasp　and　fled。　　They　endeavored　to　overtake　him；　but　were　encumbered　with　armor；　he　was　lightly　clad；　and　he　fled　for　his　life。　　One　of　the　Gomeres　paused；　and；　levelling　his　crossbow；　let　fly　a　bolt　which　pierced　the　fugitive　between　the　shoulders；　he　fell　and　was　nearly　within　their　grasp；　but　rose　again　and　with　a　desperate　effort　attained　the　Christian　camp。　　The　Gomeres　gave　over　the　pursuit；　and　the　citizens　returned　thanks　to　Allah　for　their　deliverance　from　this　fearful　peril。　　As　to　the　faithful　messenger；　he　died　of　his　wound　shortly　after　reaching　the　camp；　consoled　with　the　idea　that　he　had　preserved　the　secret　and　the　lives　of　his　employers。*
  *Pulgar；　Cronica；　p。　3；　c。　80。
  CHAPTER　LVIII。
  SUFFERINGS　OF　THE　PEOPLE　OF　MALAGA。
  The　sufferings　of　Malaga　spread　sorrow　and　anxiety　among　the　Moors；　and　they　dreaded　lest　this　beautiful　city；　once　the　bulwark　of　the　kingdom；　should　fall　into　the　hands　of　the　unbelievers。　　The　old　warrior…king；　Abdallah　el　Zagal；　was　still　sheltered　in　Guadix；　where　he　was　slowly　gathering　together　his　shattered　forces。　　When　the　people　of　Guadix　heard　of　the　danger　and　distress　of　Malaga；　they　urged　to　be　led　to　its　relief；　and　the　alfaquis　admonished　El　Zagal　not　to　desert　so　righteous　and　loyal　a　city　in　its　extremity。　His　own　warlike　nature　made　him　feel　a　sympathy　for　a　place　that　made　so　gallant　a　resistance；　and　he　despatched　as　powerful　a　reinforcement　as　he　could　spare　under　conduct　of　a　chosen　captain；　with　orders　to　throw　themselves　into　the　city。
  Intelligence　of　this　reinforcement　reached　Boabdil　el　Chico　in　his　royal　palace　of　the　Alhambra。　　Filled　with　hostility　against　his　uncle；　and　desirous　of　proving　his　loyalty　to　the　Castilian　sovereigns；　he　immediately　sent　forth　a　superior　force　of　horse　and　foot　under　an　able　commander　to　intercept　the　detachment。　　A　sharp　conflict　ensued；　the　troops　of　El　Zagal　were　routed　with　great　loss　and　fled　back　in　confusion　to　Guadix。
  Boabdil；　not　being　accustomed　to　victories；　was　flushed　with　this　melancholy　triumph。　　He　sent　tidings　of　it　to　the　Castilian　sovereigns；　accompanied　with　rich　silks；　boxes　of　Arabian　perfume；　a　cup　of　gold　richly　wrought；　and　a　female　captive　of　Ubeda　as　presents　to　the　queen；　and　four　Arabian　steeds　magnificently　caparisoned；　a　sword　and　dagger　richly　mounted；　and　several　albornozes　and　other　robes　sumptuously　embroidered　for　the　king。　　He　entreated　them　at　the　same　time　always　to　look　upon　him　with　favor　as　their　devoted　vassal。
  Boabdil　was　fated　to　be　unfortunate；　even　in　his　victories。　　His　defeat　of　the　forces　of　his　uncle　destined　to　the　relief　of　unhappy　Malaga　shocked　the　feelings　and　cooled　the　loyalty　of　many　of　his　best　adherents。　　The　mere　men　of　traffic　might　rejoice　in　their　golden　interval　of　peace；　but　the　chivalrous　spirits　of　Granada　spurned　a　security　purchased　by　such　sacrifices　of　pride　and　affection。　　The　people　at　large；　having　gratified　their　love　of　change；　began　to　question　whether　they　had　acted　generously　by　their　old　fighting　monarch。　　〃El　Zagal；〃　said　they；　〃was　fierce　and　bloody；　but　then　he　was　faithful　to　his　country；　he　was　an　usurper；　it　is　true；　but　then　he　maintained　the　glory　of　the　crown　which　he　usurped。　　If　his　sceptre　was　a　rod　of　iron　to　his　subjects；　it　was　a　sword　of　steel　against　their　enemies。　　This　Boabdil　sacrifices　religion；　friends；　country；　everything；　to　a　mere　shadow　of　royalty；　and　is　content　to　hold　a　rush　for　a　sceptre。〃
  These　factious　murmurs　soon　reached　the　ears　of　Boabdil；　and　he　apprehended　another　of　his　customary　reverses。　　He　sent　in　all　haste　to　the　Castilian　sovereigns　beseeching　military　aid　to　keep　him　on　his　throne。　　Ferdinand　graciously　complied　with　a　request　so　much　in　unison　with　his　policy。　　A　detachment　of　one　thousand　cavalry　and　two　thousand　infantry　was　sent　under　the　command　of　Don　Fernandez　Gonsalvo　of　Cordova；　subsequently　renowned　as　the　grand　captain。　With　this　succor　Boabdil　expelled　from　the　city　all　those　who　were　hostile　to　him　and　in　favor　of　his　uncle。　　He　felt　secure　in　these　troops；　from　their　being　distinct　in　manners；　language；　and　religion　from　his　subjects；　and　compromised　with　his　pride　in　thus　exhibiting　that　most　unnatural　and　humiliating　of　all　regal　spectacles；　a　monarch　supported　on　his　throne　by　foreign　weapons　and　by　soldiers　hostile　to　hi