r the roaring of the artillery； the tumbling of the walls； and the cries of women and children。 The citizens were greatly astonished and dismayed when they found the little respect paid to their most eminent man； but the warriors who were in the city exclaimed； 〃What has this merchant to do with questions between men of battle？ Let us not address the enemy as abject suppliants who have no power to injure； but as valiant men who have weapons in their hands。〃
So they despatched another message to the Christian sovereigns； offering to yield up the city and all their effects on condition of being secured in their personal liberty。 Should this be denied； they declared they would hang from the battlements fifteen hundred Christian captives； male and femalethat they would put all their old men； their women； and children into the citadel； set fire to the city； and sally forth； sword in hand； to fight until the last gasp。 〃In this way；〃 said they； 〃the Spanish sovereigns shall gain a bloody victory； and the fall of Malaga be renowned while the world endures。〃
To this fierce and swelling message Ferdinand replied that if a single Christian captive were injured； not a Moor in Malaga but should be put to the edge of the sword。
A great conflict of counsels now arose in Malaga。 The warriors were for following up their menace by some desperate act of vengeance or of self…devotion。 Those who had families looked with anguish upon their wives and daughters； and thought it better to die than live to see them captives。 By degrees； however； the transports of passion and despair subsided； the love of life resumed its sway； and they turned once more to Ali Dordux as the man most prudent in council and able in negotiation。 By his advice fourteen of the principal inhabitants were chosen from the fourteen districts of the city； and sent to the camp bearing a long letter couched in terms of the most humble supplication。
Various debates now took place in the Christian camp。 Many of the cavaliers were exasperated against Malaga for its long resistance； which had caused the death of many of their relatives and favorite companions。 It had long been a stronghold also for Moorish depredators and the mart where most of the warriors captured in the Axarquia had been exposed in triumph and sold to slavery。 They represented； moreover； that there were many Moorish cities yet to be besieged； and that an example ought to be made of Malaga to prevent all obstinate resistance thereafter。 They advised； therefore； that all the inhabitants should be put to the sword。*
*Pulgar。
The humane heart of Isabella revolted at such sanguinary counsels： she insisted that their triumph should not be disgraced by cruelty。 Ferdinand； however； was inflexible in refusing to grant any preliminary terms； insisting on an unconditional surrender。
The people of Malaga now abandoned themselves to paroxysms of despair； on one side they saw famine and death； on the other slavery and chains。 The mere men of the sword； who had no families to protect； were loud for signalizing their fall by some illustrious action。 〃Let us sacrifice our Christian captives； and then destroy ourselves；〃 cried some。 〃Let us put all the women and children to death； set fire to the city； fall on the Christian camp； and die sword in hand；〃 cried others。
Ali Dordux gradually made his voice be heard amidst the general clamor。 He addressed himself to the principal inhabitants and to those who had children。 〃Let those who live by the sword die by the sword；〃 cried he； 〃but let us not follow their desperate counsels。 Who knows what sparks of pity may be awakened in the bosoms of the Christian sovereigns when they behold our unoffending wives and daughters and our helpless little ones？ The Christian queen； they say； is full of mercy。〃
At these words the hearts of the unhappy people of Malaga yearned over their families； and they empowered Ali Dordux to deliver up their city to the mercy of the Castilian sovereigns。
The merchant now went to and fro； and had several communications with Ferdinand and Isabella； and interested several principal cavaliers in his cause； and he sent rich presents to the king and queen of Oriental merchandise and silks and stuffs of gold and jewels and precious stones and spices and perfumes； and many other sumptuous things； which he had accumulated in his great tradings with the East； and he gradually found favor in the eyes of the sovereigns。* Finding that there was nothing to be obtained for the city； he now； like a prudent man and able merchant； began to negotiate for himself and his immediate friends。 He represented that from the first they had been desirous of yielding up the city； but had been prevented by warlike and high…handed men； who had threatened their lives； he entreated； therefore； that mercy might be extended to them； and that they might not be confounded with the guilty。
*MS。 Chron。 of Valera。
The sovereigns had accepted the presents of Ali Dorduxhow could they then turn a deaf ear to his petition？ So they granted a pardon to him and to forty families which he named； and it was agreed that they should be protected in their liberties and property； and permitted to reside in Malaga as mudexares or Moslem vassals； and to follow their customary pursuits。* All this being arranged； Ali Dordux delivered up twenty of the principal inhabitants to remain as hostages until the whole city should be placed in the possession of the Christians。
*Cura de los Palacios； cap。 84。
Don Gutierrez de Cardenas； senior commander of Leon； now entered the city armed cap…a…pie； on horseback； and took possession in the name of the Castilian sovereigns。 He was followed by his retainers and by the captains and cavaliers of the army； and in a little while the standards of the cross and of the blessed Santiago and of the Catholic sovereigns were elevated on the principal tower of the Alcazaba。 When these standards were beheld from the camp； the queen and the princess and the ladies of the court and all the royal retinue knelt down and gave thanks and praises to the Holy Virgin and to Santiago for this great triumph of the faith； and the bishops and other clergy who were present and the choristers of the royal chapel chanted 〃Te Deum Laudamus〃 and 〃Gloria in Excelsis。〃
CHAPTER LXV。
FULFILMENT OF THE PROPHECY OF THE DERVISE。FATE OF HAMET EL ZEGRI。
No sooner was the city delivered up than the wretched inhabitants implored permission to purchase bread for themselves and their children from the heaps of grain which they had so often gazed at wistfully from their walls。 Their prayer was granted； and they issued forth with the famished eagerness of starving men。 It was piteous to behold the struggles of those unhappy people as they contended who first should have their necessities relieved。
〃Thus；〃 says the pious Fray Antonio Agapida；〃thus are the predictions of false prophets sometimes permitted to be verified； but always to the confusion of those who trust in them； for the words of the Moorish nigromancer came to pass that the people of Malaga should eat of those heaps of bread； but they ate in humiliation and defeat and with sorrow and bitterness of heart。〃
Dark and fierce were the feelings of Hamet el Zegri as he looked down from the castle of Gibralfaro and beheld the Christian legions pouring into the city and the standard of the cross supplanting the crescent on the citadel。 〃The people of Malaga；〃 said he； 〃have trusted to a man of trade； and he has trafficked them away； but let us not suffer ourselves to be bound hand and foot and delivered up as part of his bargain。 We have yet strong walls around us and trusty weapons in our hands。 Let us fight until buried beneath the last tumbling tower of Gibralfaro； or； rushing down from among its ruins； carry havoc among the unbelievers as they throng the streets of Malaga。〃
The fierceness of the Gomeres； however； was broken。 They could have died in the breach had their castle been assailed； but the slow advances of famine subdued their strength without rousing their passions； and sapped the force of both soul and body。 They were almost unanimous for a surrender。
It was a hard struggle for the proud spirit of Hamet to bow itself to ask for terms。 Still； he trusted that the valor of his defence would gain him respect in the eyes of a chivalrous foe。 〃Ali；〃 said he； 〃has negotiated like a merchant； I will capitulate as a soldier。〃 He sent a herald； therefore； to Ferdinand； offering to yield up his castle； but demanding a separate treaty。＇15＇ The Castilian sovereign made a laconic and stern reply： 〃He shall receive no terms but such as have been granted to the community of Malaga。〃
For two days Hamet el Zegri remained brooding in his castle after the city was in possession of the Christians； at length the clamors of his followers compelled him to surrender。 When the remnant of this fierce African garrison descended from their cragged fortress； they were so worn by watchfulness； famine； and battle； yet carried such a lurking fury in their eyes； that they looked more like fiends than men。 They were all condemned to slavery； excepting Ibrahim Zenete。 The instance of clemency