past offences； for those who are charitable toward each other will be victorious over the foe。〃 The words of the dervise were received with rapture； all Gibralfaro and the Alcazaba resounded immediately with the din of arms； and Hamet sent throughout the towers and fortifications of the city and selected the choicest troops and most distinguished captains for this eventful combat。
In the morning early the rumor went throughout the city that the sacred banner had disappeared from the tower of Gibralfaro； and all Malaga was roused to witness the sally that was to destroy the unbelievers。 Hamet descended from his stronghold； accompanied by his principal captain； Ibrahim Zenete； and followed by his Gomeres。 The dervise led the way； displaying the white banner； the sacred pledge of victory。 The multitude shouted 〃Allah Akbar！〃 and prostrated themselves before the banner as it passed。 Even the dreaded Hamet was hailed with praises； for in their hopes of speedy relief through the prowess of his arm the populace forgot everything but his bravery。 Every bosom in Malaga was agitated by hope and fear： the old men； the women； and children； and all who went not forth to battle mounted on tower and battlement and roof to watch a combat that was to decide their fate。
Before sallying forth from the city the dervise addressed the troops； reminding them of the holy nature of this enterprise； and warning them not to forfeit the protection of the sacred banner by any unworthy act。 They were not to pause to make spoil nor to take prisoners： they were to press forward； fighting valiantly； and granting no quarter。 The gate was then thrown open； and the dervise issued forth； followed by the army。 They directed their assaults upon the encampments of the master of Santiago and the master of Alcantara； and came upon them so suddenly that they killed and wounded several of the guards。 Ibrahim Zenete made his way into one of the tents； where he beheld several Christian striplings just starting from their slumber。 The heart of the Moor was suddenly touched with pity for their youth； or perhaps he scorned the weakness of the foe。
He smote them with the flat instead of the edge of the sword。 〃Away； imps！〃 cried he； 〃away to your mothers！〃 The fanatic dervise reproached him with his clemency。 〃I did not kill them；〃 replied Zenete； 〃because I saw no beards！〃*
*Cura de los Palacios； c。 84。
The alarm was given in the camp； and the Christians rushed from all quarters to defend the gates of the bulwarks。 Don Pedro Puerto Carrero； senior of Moguer； and his brother； Don Alonzo Pacheco； planted themselves with their followers in the gateway of the encampment of the master of Santiago； and bore the whole brunt of battle until they were reinforced。 The gate of the encampment of the master of Calatrava was in like manner defended by Lorenzo Saurez de Mendoza。 Hamet was furious at being thus checked where he had expected a miraculous victory。 He led his troops repeatedly to the attack； hoping to force the gates before succor should arrive： they fought with vehement ardor； but were as often repulsed； and every time they returned to the assault they found their enemies doubled in number。 The Christians opened a cross…fire of all kinds of missiles from their bulwarks； the Moors could effect but little damage upon a foe thus protected behind their works； while they themselves were exposed from head to foot。 The Christians singled out the most conspicuous cavaliers； the greater part of whom were either slain or wounded。 Still； the Moors； infatuated by the predictions of the prophet； fought desperately and devotedly； and they were furious to revenge the slaughter of their leaders。 They rushed upon certain death； endeavoring madly to scale the bulwarks or force the gates； and fell amidst showers of darts and lances； filling the ditches with their mangled bodies。
Hamet el Zegri raged along the front of the bulwarks seeking an opening for attack。 He gnashed his teeth with fury as he saw so many of his chosen warriors slain around him。 He seemed to have a charmed life； for； though constantly in the hottest of the fight amidst showers of missiles； he still escaped uninjured。 Blindly confiding in the prophecy of victory； he continued to urge on his devoted troops。 The dervise too ran like a maniac through the ranks； waving his white banner and inciting the Moors by howlings rather than by shouts。 〃Fear not！ the victory is ours； for so it is written！〃 cried he。 In the midst of his frenzy a stone from a catapult struck him in the head and dashed out his bewildered brains。*
*Garibay； lib。 18； c。 33。
When the Moors beheld their prophet slain and his banner in the dust； they were seized with despair and fled in confusion to the city。 Hamet el Zegri made some effort to rally them； but was himself confounded by the fall of the dervise。 He covered the flight of his broken forces； turning repeatedly upon their pursuers and slowly making his retreat into the city。
The inhabitants of Malaga witnessed from their walls with trembling anxiety the whole of this disastrous conflict。 At the first onset； when they beheld the guards of the camp put to flight； they exclaimed； 〃Allah has given us the victory！〃 and they sent up shouts of triumph。 Their exultation； however； was soon turned into doubt when they beheld their troops repulsed in repeated attacks。 They could see from time to time some distinguished warrior laid low and others brought back bleeding to the city。 When at length the sacred banner fell and the routed troops came flying to the gates； pursued and cut down by the foe； horror and despair seized upon the populace。
As Hamet entered the gates he heard nothing but loud lamentations： mothers whose sons had been slain shrieked curses after him as he passed； some in the anguish of their hearts threw down their famishing babes before him； exclaiming； 〃Trample on them with thy horse's feet； for we have no food to give them； and we cannot endure their cries。〃 All heaped execrations on his head as the cause of the woes of Malaga。
The warlike part of the citizens also； and many warriors who with their wives and children had taken refuge in Malaga from the mountain…fortresses； now joined in the popular clamor； for their hearts were overcome by the sufferings of their families。
Hamet el Zegri found it impossible to withstand this torrent of lamentations； curses； and reproaches。 His military ascendancy was at an end； for most of his officers and the prime warriors of his African band had fallen in this disastrous sally。 Turning his back； therefore； upon the city and abandoning it to its own counsels； he retired with the remnant of his Gomeres to his stronghold in the Gibralfaro。
CHAPTER LXIV。
HOW THE CITY OF MALAGA CAPITULATED。
The people of Malaga； being no longer overawed by Hamet el Zegri and his Gomeres； turned to Ali Dordux； the magnanimous merchant； and put the fate of the city into his hands。 He had already gained the alcaydes of the castle of the Genoese and of the citadel into his party； and in the late confusion had gained the sway over those important fortresses。 He now associated himself with the alfaqui Abraham Alhariz and four of the principal inhabitants； and； forming a provisional junta； they sent heralds to the Christian sovereigns offering to surrender the city on certain terms protecting the persons and property of the inhabitants； permitting them to reside as mudexares or tributary vassals either in Malaga or elsewhere。
When the herald arrived at the camp and made known their mission to King Ferdinand； his anger was kindled。 〃Return to your fellow… citizens；〃 said he； 〃and tell them that the day of grace is gone by。 They have persisted in a fruitless defence until they are driven by necessity to capitulate； they must surrender unconditionally and abide the fate of the vanquished。 Those who merit death shall suffer death； those who merit captivity shall be made captives。〃
This stern reply spread consternation among the people of Malaga； but Ali Dordux comforted them； and undertook to go in person and pray for favorable terms。 When the people beheld this great and wealthy merchant； who was so eminent in their city； departing with his associates on this mission； they plucked up heart； for they said； 〃Surely the Christian king will not turn a deaf ear to such a man as Ali Dordux。〃
Ferdinand； however； would not even admit the ambassadors to his presence。 〃Send them to the devil！〃 said he in a great passion to the commander of Leon； 〃I'll not see them。 Let them get back to their city。 They shall all surrender to my mercy as vanquished enemies。〃*
*Cura de los Palacios； cap。 84。
To give emphasis to this reply he ordered a general discharge from all the artillery and batteries； and there was a great shout throughout the camp； and all the lombards and catapults and other engines of war thundered furiously upon the city； doing great damage。
Ali Dordux and his companions returned to the city with downcast countenances； and could scarce make the reply of the Christian sovereign be heard for the roaring of the artillery； the tumbling of the walls； and the cries of women and children。 The