re apt to act with a daring impulse unknown to steadier judgments。 The message of the sultana roused him from a dream。 Granada； beautiful Granada； with its stately Alhambra； its delicious gardens； its gushing and limpid fountains sparkling among groves of orange； citron； and myrtle； rose before him。 〃What have I done；〃 exclaimed he； 〃that I should be an exile from this paradise of my forefathersa wanderer and fugitive in my own kingdom； while a murderous usurper sits proudly upon my throne？ Surely Allah will befriend the righteous cause； one blow； and all may be my own。〃
He summoned his scanty band of cavaliers。 〃Who is ready to follow his monarch unto the death？〃 said he； and every one laid his hand upon his scimetar。 〃Enough！〃 said he； 〃let each man arm himself and prepare his steed in secret for an enterprise of toil and peril； if we succeed； our reward is empire。〃
CHAPTER XLVI。
HOW BOABDIL RETURNED SECRETLY TO GRANADA； AND HOW HE WAS RECEIVED。SECOND EMBASSY OF DON JUAN DE VERA； AND HIS PERILS IN THE ALHAMBRA。
〃In the hand of God；〃 exclaimed an old Arabian chronicler； 〃is the destiny of princes； he alone giveth empire。 A Moorish horseman； mounted on a fleet Arabian steed； was one day traversing the mountains which extended between Granada and the frontier of Murcia。 He galloped swiftly through the valleys； but paused and looked out cautiously from the summit of every height。 A squadron of cavaliers followed warily at a distance。 There were fifty lances。 The richness of their armor and attire showed them to be warriors of noble rank； and their leader had a lofty and prince…like demeanor。'' The squadron thus described by the Arabian chronicler was the Moorish king Boabdil and his devoted followers。
For two nights and a day they pursued their adventurous journey； avoiding all populous parts of the country and choosing the most solitary passes of the mountains。 They suffered severe hardships and fatigues； but suffered without a murmur： they were accustomed to rugged campaigning； and their steeds were of generous and unyielding spirit。 It was midnight； and all was dark and silent as they descended from the mountains and approached the city of Granada。 They passed along quietly under the shadow of its walls； until they arrived near the gate of the Albaycin。 Here Boabdil ordered his followers to halt and remain concealed。 Taking but four or five with him； he advanced resolutely to the gate and knocked with the hilt of his scimetar。 The guards demanded who sought to enter at that unseasonable hour。 〃Your king！〃 exclaimed Boabdil； 〃open the gate and admit him！〃
The guards held forth a light and recognized the person of the youthful monarch。 They were struck with sudden awe and threw open the gates； and Boabdil and his followers entered unmolested。 They galloped to the dwellings of the principal inhabitants of the Albaycin； thundering at their portals and summoning them to arise and take arms for their rightful sovereign。 The summons was instantly obeyed： trumpets resounded throughout the streetsthe gleam of torches and the flash of arms showed the Moors hurrying to their gathering…places； by daybreak the whole force of the Albaycin was rallied under the standard of Boabdil； and Aben Comixa was made alcayde of the fortress。 Such was the success of this sudden and desperate act of the young monarch； for we are assured by contemporary historians that there had been no previous concert or arrangement。 〃As the guards opened the gates of the city to admit him；〃 observes a pious chronicler； 〃so God opened the hearts of the Moors to receive him as their king。〃*
*Pulgar。
In the morning early the tidings of this event roused El Zagal from his slumbers in the Alhambra。 The fiery old warrior assembled his guard in haste and made his way； sword in hand； to the Albaycin； hoping to come upon his nephew by surprise。 He was vigorously met by Boabdil and his adherents； and driven back into the quarter of the Alhambra。 An encounter took place between the two kings in the square before the principal mosque； here they fought hand to hand with implacable fury； as though it had been agreed to decide their competition for the crown by single combat。 In the tumult of this chance…medley affray； however； they were separated； and the party of El Zagal was ultimately driven from the square。
The battle raged for some time in the streets and places of the city； but； finding their powers of mischief cramped within such narrow limits； both parties sallied forth into the fields and fought beneath the walls until evening。 Many fell on both sides； and at night each party withdrew into its quarter until the morning gave them light to renew the unnatural conflict。 For several days the two grand divisions of the city remained like hostile powers arrayed against each other。 The party of the Alhambra was more numerous than that of the Albaycin； and contained most of the nobility and chivalry； but the adherents of Boabdil were men hardened and strengthened by labor and habitually skilled in the exercise of arms。
The Albaycin underwent a kind of siege by the forces of El Zagal； they effected breaches in the walls； and made repeated attempts to carry it sword in hand； but were as often repulsed。 The troops of Boabdil； on the other hand； made frequent sallies； and in the conflicts which took place the hatred of the combatants arose to such a pitch of fury that no quarter was given on either side。
Boabdil perceived the inferiority of his force； he dreaded also that his adherents； being for the most part tradesmen and artisans； would become impatient of this interruption of their gainful occupations and disheartened by these continual scenes of carnage。 He sent missives； therefore； in all haste to Don Fadrique de Toledo； who commanded the Christian forces on the frontier； entreating his assistance。
Don Fadrique had received instructions from the politic Ferdinand to aid the youthful monarch in all his contests with his uncle。 He advanced with a body of troops near to Granada。 The moment Boabdil discerned； from the towers of the Albaycin； the Christian banners and lances winding round the base of the mountain of Elvira； he sallied forth to meet them； escorted by a squadron of Abencerrages under Aben Comixa。 El Zagal； who was equally on the alert； and apprised that the Christian troops came in aid of his nephew； likewise sallied forth and drew up his troops in battle array。 Don Fadrique； wary lest some treachery should be intended； halted among some plantations of olives； retained Boabdil by his side； and signified his wish that Aben Comixa would advance with his squadron and offer battle to the old king。 The provocation was given； but El Zagal maintained his position。 He threw out some light parties； however； which skirmished with the Abencerrages of Aben Comixa； after which he caused his trumpets to sound a recall； and retired into the city； mortified； it is said； that the Christian cavaliers should witness these fratricidal discords between true believers。
Don Fadrique； still distrustful； drew off to a distance； and encamped for the night near the bridge of Cabillas。
Early in the morning a Moorish cavalier with an escort approached the advance guard； and his trumpets sounded a parley。 He craved an audience as an envoy from El Zagal； and was admitted to the tent of Don Fadrique。 El Zagal had learnt that the Christian troops had come to aid his nephew； and now offered to enter into an alliance with them on terms still more advantageous than those of Boabdil。 The wary Don Fadrique listened to the Moor with apparent complacency； but determined to send one of his most intrepid and discreet cavaliers； under the protection of a flag； to hold a conference with the old king within the very walls of the Alhambra。 The officer chosen for this important mission was Don Juan de Vera； the same stanch and devout cavalier who in times preceding the war had borne the message from the Castilian sovereigns to old Muley Abul Hassan demanding arrears of tribute。 Don Juan was received with great ceremony by the king。 No records remain of his diplomatic negotiations； but they extended into the night； and； it being too late to return to camp； he was sumptuously lodged in an apartment of the Alhambra。 In the morning one of the courtiers about the palace； somewhat given to jest and raillery； invited Don Juan to a ceremony which some of the alfaquis were about to celebrate in the mosque of the palace。 The religious punctilio of this most discreet cavalier immediately took umbrage at what he conceived a banter。 〃The servants of Queen Isabella of Castile；〃 replied he； stiffly and sternly； 〃who bear on their armor the cross of St。 Jago； never enter the temples of Mahomet but to level them to the earth and trample on them。''
The Moslem courtier retired somewhat disconcerted by this Catholic but not very courteous reply； and reported it to a renegado of Antiquera。 The latter； eager； like all renegados； to show devotion to his newly…adopted creed； volunteered to return with the courtier and have a tilt of words with the testy diplomatist。 They found Don Juan playing a game of chess with the alcayde of the Alhambra； an