were above half a league asunder； with the cavalgada between them； and a long and close forest hid them from each other。 De Vargas saw that they could render but little assistance to each other in case of a sudden attack； and might be easily thrown into confusion。 He chose fifty of his bravest horsemen； and； making a circuit； took his post secretly in a narrow glen opening into a defile between two rocky heights through which the Moors had to pass。 It was his intention to suffer the van…guard and the cavalgada to pass； and to fall upon the rear。
While thus lying perdu six Moorish scouts； well mounted and well armed； entered the glen； examining every place that might conceal an enemy。 Some of the Christians advised that they should slay these six men and retreat to Gibraltar。 〃No；〃 said De Vargas； 〃I have come out for higher game than these； and I hope； by the aid of God and Santiago； to do good work this day。 I know these Moors well； and doubt not but that they may readily be thrown into confusion。〃
By this time the six horsemen approached so near that they were on the point of discovering the Christian ambush。 De Vargas gave the word； and ten horsemen rushed upon them； in an instant four of the Moors rolled in the dust； the other two put spurs to their steeds and fled toward their army； pursued by the ten Christians。 About eighty of the Moorish van…guard came galloping to the relief of their companions； the Christians turned and fled toward their ambush。 De Vargas kept his men concealed until the fugitives and their pursuers came clattering pell…mell into the glen。 At a signal trumpet his men sallied forth with great heat and in close array。 The Moors almost rushed upon their weapons before they perceived them； forty of the infidels were overthrown； the rest turned their back。 〃Forward！〃 cried De Vargas； 〃let us give the van…guard a brush before it can be joined by the rear。〃 So saying； he pursued the flying Moors down hill； and came with such force and fury upon the advance…guard as to overturn many of them at the first encounter。 As he wheeled off with his men the Moors discharged their lances； upon which he returned to the charge and made great slaughter。 The Moors fought valiantly for a short time； until the alcaydes of Marabella and Casares were slain； when they gave way and fled for the rear…guard。 In their flight they passed through the cavalgada of cattle； threw the whole in confusion； and raised such a cloud of dust that the Christians could no longer distinguish objects。 Fearing that the king and the main body might be at hand； and finding that De Vargas was badly wounded； they contented themselves with despoiling the slain and taking above twenty…eight horses； and then retreated to Castellar。
When the routed Moors came flying back upon the rear…guard； Muley Abul Hassan feared that the people of Xeres were in arms。 Several of his followers advised him to abandon the cavalgada and retreat by another road。 〃No；〃 said the old king； 〃he is no true soldier who gives up his booty without fighting。〃 Putting spurs to his horse； he galloped forward through the centre of the cavalgada； driving the cattle to the right and left。 When he reached the field of battle； he found it strewed with the bodies of upward of one hundred Moors； among which were those of the two alcaydes。 Enraged at the sight； he summoned all his crossbowmen and cavalry； pushed on to the very gates of Castellar； and set fire to two houses close to the walls。 Pedro de Vargas was too severely wounded to sally forth in person； but he ordered out his troops； and there was brisk skirmishing under the walls； until the king drew off and returned to the scene of the recent encounter。 Here he had the bodies of the principal warriors laid across mules； to be interred honorably at Malaga； the rest of the slain were buried on the field of battle。 Then； gathering together the scattered cavalgada； he paraded it slowly； in an immense line； past the walls of Castellar by way of taunting his foe。
With all his fierceness； old Muley Abul Hassan had a gleam of warlike courtesy； and admired the hardy and soldier…like character of Pedro de Vargas。 He summoned two Christian captives； and demanded what were the revenues of the alcayde of Gibraltar。 They told him that； among other things； he was entitled to one out of every drove of cattle that passed his boundaries。 〃Allah forbid；〃 cried the old monarch； 〃that so brave a cavalier should be defrauded of his dues！〃
He immediately chose twelve of the finest cattle from the twelve droves which formed the cavalgada。 These he gave in charge to an alfaqui to deliver to Pedro de Vargas。 〃Tell him；〃 said he； 〃that I crave his pardon for not having sent these cattle sooner； but I have this moment learnt the nature of his rights； and I hasten to satisfy them with the punctuality due to so worthy a cavalier。 Tell him； at the same time； that I had no idea the alcayde of Gibraltar was so active and vigilant in collecting his tolls。〃
The brave alcayde relished the stern soldier…like pleasantry of the old Moorish monarch。 He ordered a rich silken vest and a scarlet mantle to be given to the alfaqui； and dismissed him with great courtesy。 〃Tell His Majesty；〃 said he； 〃that I kiss his hands for the honor he has done me； and regret that my scanty force has not permitted me to give him a more signal reception on his coming into these parts。 Had three hundred horsemen； whom I have been promised from Xeres； arrived in time； I might have served up an entertainment more befitting such a monarch。 I trust； however； they will arrive in the course of the night； in which case His Majesty may be sure of a royal regale in the dawning。〃
Muley Abul Hassan shook his head when he received the reply of De Vargas。 〃Allah preserve us；〃 said he； 〃from any visitation of these hard riders of Xeres！ A handful of troops acquainted with the wild passes of these mountains may destroy an army encumbered as ours is with booty。〃
It was some relief to the king； however； to learn that the hardy alcayde of Gibraltar was too severely wounded to take the field in person。 He immediately beat a retreat with all speed before the close of day； hurrying with such precipitation that the cavalgada was frequently broken and scattered among the rugged defiles of the mountains； and above five thousand of the cattle turned back and were regained by the Christians。 Muley Abul Hassan returned triumphantly with the residue to Malaga； glorying in the spoils of the duke of Medina Sidonia。
King Ferdinand was mortified at finding his incursion into the Vega of Granada counterbalanced by this inroad into his dominions； and saw that there were two sides to the game of war； as to all other games。 The only one who reaped real glory in this series of inroads and skirmishings was Pedro de Vargas； the stout alcayde of Gibraltar。*
*Alonzo de Palencia； 1。 28； c。 3； MS。
CHAPTER XII。
FORAY OF SPANISH CAVALIERS AMONG THE MOUNTAINS OF MALAGA。
The foray of old Muley Abul Hassan had touched the pride of the Andalusian chivalry； and they determined on retaliation。 For this purpose a number of the most distinguished cavaliers assembled at Antiquera in the month of March； 1483。 The leaders of the enterprise were； the gallant marques of Cadiz； Don Pedro Henriquez； adelantado of Andalusia； Don Juan de Silva； count of Cifuentes and bearer of the royal standard； who commanded in Seville； Don Alonso de Cardenas； master of the religious and military order of Santiago； and Don Alonso de Aguilar。 Several other cavaliers of note hastened to take part in the enterprise； and in a little while about twenty…seven hundred horse and several companies of foot were assembled within the old warlike city of Antiquera； comprising the very flower of Andalusian chivalry。
A council of war was held by the chiefs to determine in what quarter they should strike a blow。 The rival Moorish kings were waging civil war with each other in the vicinity of Granada； and the whole country lay open to inroads。 Various plans were proposed by the different cavaliers。 The marques of Cadiz was desirous of scaling the walls of Zahara and regaining possession of that important fortress。 The master of Santiago； however； suggested a wider range and a still more important object。 He had received information from his adalides； who were apostate Moors； that an incursion might be safely made into a mountainous region near Malaga called the Axarquia。 Here were valleys of pasture…land well stocked with flocks and herds； and there were numerous villages and hamlets； which would be an easy prey。 The city of Malaga was too weakly garrisoned and had too few cavalry to send forth any force in opposition； nay； he added； they might even extend their ravages to its very gates； and peradventure carry that wealthy place by sudden assault。
The adventurous spirits of the cavaliers were inflamed by this suggestion： in their sanguine confidence they already beheld Malaga in their power； and they were eager for the enterprise。 The marques of Cadiz endeavored to interpose a little cool caution。 He likewise had apostate adalides； the most intelligent and experienced on the borders： among these he pla