be led forward。 Upon this Pero Ruyz de Alarcon put himself at their head； and； seizing their mantas or portable bulwarks； and their other defences； they made a gallant assault and fought their way in at the breach。 The Moors were so overcome by the fury of their assault that they retreated； fighting； to the square of the town。 Pero Ruyz de Alarcon thought the place was carried； when suddenly Hamet and his Gomeres came scouring through the streets with wild war…cries； and fell furiously upon the Christians。 The latter were in their turn beaten back； and； while attacked in front by the Gomeres； were assailed by the inhabitants with all kinds of missiles from their roofs and windows。 They at length gave way and retreated through the breach。 Pero Ruyz de Alarcon still maintained his ground in one of the principal streets： the few cavaliers that stood by him urged him to fly： 〃No；〃 said he； 〃I came here to fight； and not to fly。〃 He was presently surrounded by the Gomeres； his companions fled for their lives： the last they saw of him he was covered with wounds； but still fighting desperately for the fame of a good cavalier。*
*Pulgar； part 3； cap。 42。
The resistance of the inhabitants； though aided by the valor of the Gomeres； was of no avail。 The battering artillery of the Christians demolished their walls； combustibles thrown into their town set it on fire in various places； and they were at length compelled to capitulate。 They were permitted to depart with their effects； and the Gomeres with their arms。 Hamet el Zegri and his African band rode proudly through the Christian camp； nor could the Spanish cavaliers refrain from regarding with admiration that haughty warrior and his devoted and dauntless followers。
The capture of Coin was accompanied by that of Cartama： the fortifications of the latter were repaired and garrisoned； but Coin； being too extensive to be defended by a moderate force； its walls were demolished。 The siege of these places struck such terror into the surrounding country that the Moors of many of the neighboring towns abandoned their homes； and fled with such of their effects as they could carry away； upon which the king gave orders to demolish their walls and towers。
King Ferdinand now left his camp and his heavy artillery near Cartama； and proceeded with his lighter troops to reconnoitre Malaga。 By this time the secret plan of attack arranged in the council of war at Cordova was known to all the world。 The vigilant warrior； El Zagal； had thrown himself into the place； put all the fortifications； which were of vast strength； into a state of defence； and sent orders to the alcaydes of the mountain…towns to hasten with their forces to his assistance。
The very day that Ferdinand appeared before the place El Zagal sallied forth to receive him at the head of a thousand cavalry； the choicest warriors of Granada。 A sharp skirmish took place among the gardens and olive trees near the city。 Many were killed on both sides； and this gave the Christians a foretaste of what they might expect if they attempted to besiege the place。
When the skirmish was over the marques of Cadiz had a private conference with the king。 He represented the difficulty of besieging Malaga with their present force； especially as their plans had been discovered and anticipated； and the whole country was marching to oppose them。 The marques； who had secret intelligence from all quarters； had received a letter from Juceph Xerife； a Moor of Ronda of Christian lineage； apprising him of the situation of that important place and its garrison； which at that moment laid it open to attack； and the marques was urgent with the king to seize upon this critical moment； and secure a place which was one of the most powerful Moorish fortresses on the frontiers； and in the hands of Hamet el Zegri had been the scourge of Andalusia。 The good marques had another motive for his advice； becoming a true and loyal knight。 In the deep dungeons of Ronda languished several of his companion… in…arms who had been captured in the defeat in the Axarquia。 To break their chains and restore them to liberty and light he felt to be his peculiar duty as one of those who had most promoted that disastrous enterprise。
King Ferdinand listened to the advice of the marques。 He knew the importance of Ronda； which was considered one of the keys to the kingdom of Granada； and he was disposed to punish the inhabitants for the aid they had rendered to the garrison of Coin。 The siege of Malaga therefore； was abandoned for the present； and preparations made for a rapid and secret move against the city of Ronda。
CHAPTER XXX。
SIEGE OF RONDA。
The bold Hamet el Zegri； the alcayde of Ronda； had returned sullenly to his stronghold after the surrender of Coin。 He had fleshed his sword in battle with the Christians； but his thirst for vengeance was still unsatisfied。 Hamet gloried in the strength of his fortress and the valor of his people。 A fierce and warlike populace was at his command； his signal…fires could summon all the warriors of the Serrania； his Gomeres almost subsisted on the spoils of Andalusia； and in the rock on which his fortress was built were hopeless dungeons filled with Christian captives carried off by these war… hawks of the mountains。
Ronda was considered as impregnable。 It was situated in the heart of wild and rugged mountains； and perched upon an isolated rock crested by a strong citadel； with triple walls and towers。 A deep ravine； or rather a perpendicular chasm of the rocks； of frightful depth； surrounded three parts of the city； through this flowed the Rio Verde； or Green River。 There were two suburbs to the city； fortified by walls and towers； and almost inaccessible from the natural asperity of the rocks。 Around this rugged city were deep rich valleys； sheltered by the mountains； refreshed by constant streams； abounding with grain and the most delicious fruits； and yielding verdant meadows； in which was reared a renowned breed of horses； the best in the whole kingdom for a foray。
Hamet el Zegri had scarcely returned to Ronda when he received intelligence that the Christian army was marching to the siege of Malaga； and orders from El Zagal to send troops to his assistance。 Hamet sent a part of his garrison for that purpose； in the mean time he meditated an expedition to which he was stimulated by pride and revenge。 All Andalusia was now drained of its troops； there was an opportunity； therefore； for an inroad by which he might wipe out the disgrace of his defeat at the battle of Lopera。 Apprehending no danger to his mountain…city； now that the storm of war had passed down into the vega of Malaga； he left but a remnant of his garrison to man its walls； and； putting himself at the head of his band of Gomeres； swept down suddenly into the plains of Andalusia。 He careered； almost without resistance； over those vast campinas or pasture…lands which formed a part of the domains of the duke of Medina Sidonia。 In vain the bells were rung and the alarm…fires kindled： the band of Hamet had passed by before any force could be assembled； and was only to be traced； like a hurricane； by the devastation it had made。
Hamet regained in safety the Serrania de Ronda； exulting in his successful inroad。 The mountain…glens were filled with long droves of cattle and flocks of sheep from the campinas of Medina Sidonia。 There were mules； too； laden with the plunder of the villages； and every warrior had some costly spoil of jewels for his favorite mistress。
As the Zegri drew near to Ronda he was roused from his dream of triumph by the sound of heavy ordnance bellowing through the mountain…defiles。 His heart misgave him： he put spurs to his horse and galloped in advance of his lagging cavalgada。 As he proceeded the noise of the ordnance increased； echoing from cliff to cliff。 Spurring his horse up a craggy height which commanded an extensive view； he beheld； to his consternation； the country about Ronda white with the tents of a besieging army。 The royal standard； displayed before a proud encampment； showed that Ferdinand himself was present； while the incessant blaze and thunder of artillery and the volumes of overhanging smoke told the work of destruction that was going on。
The royal army had succeeded in coming upon Ronda by surprise during the absence of its alcayde and most of its garrison； but its inhabitants were warlike and defended themselves bravely； trusting that Hamet and his Gomeres would soon return to their assistance。
The fancied strength of their bulwarks had been of little avail against the batteries of the besiegers。 In the space of four days three towers and great masses of the walls which defended the suburbs were battered down and the suburbs taken and plundered。 Lombards and other heavy ordnance were now levelled at the walls of the city； and stones and missiles of all kinds hurled into the streets。 The very rock on which the city stood shook with the thunder of the artillery； and the Christian captives； deep within its dungeons； hailed the sound as a promise of deliverance。
When Hamet el＇8＇Zegri beheld his city thus surrounded and assailed； he called upon his men to follow him and cut their w