hey were； in fact； reduced to great extremity through want of water and provisions。
Don Francisco found it impossible； with his small force； to make any impression on the camp of the Moors or to get to the relief of the castle。 He stationed his little band upon a rocky height near the sea； where they were safe from the assaults of the enemy。 The sight of his friendly banner waving in their neighborhood cheered the heart of the garrison； and gave them assurance of speedy succor from the king； while the hostile menaces of Don Francisco served to check the attacks of the Moors upon the citadel。
In the mean time； Hernan Perez del Pulgar； who always burned to distinguish himself by bold and striking exploits； had discovered in the course of his prowlings a postern gate of the castle opening upon the steep part of the rocky hill looking toward the mountains。 The thought occurred to him that by a bold dash at a favorable moment this postern might be attained and succor thrown into the castle。 He pointed the place out to his comrades。 〃Who will follow my banner；〃 said he； 〃and make a dash for yonder postern？〃 A bold proposition in time of warfare never wants for bold spirits to accept it。 Seventy resolute men stepped forward to second him。 Pulgar chose the early daybreak for his enterprise； when the Moors； just aroused from sleep； were changing guard and making the various arrangements of the morning。 Favored by these movements and the drowsiness of the hour； Pulgar approached the Moorish line silently and steadily； most of his followers armed with crossbows and espingardas； or muskets。 Then； suddenly making an onset； they broke through a weak part of the camp before the alarm had spread through the army； and succeeded in fighting their way up to the gate； which was eagerly thrown open to receive them。
The garrison； roused to new spirit by this unlooked…for reinforcement； was enabled to make a more vigorous resistance。 The Moors； however； who knew there was a great scarcity of water in the castle； exulted in the idea that this additional number of warriors would soon exhaust the cisterns and compel a surrender。 Pulgar； hearing of this hope； caused a bucket of water to be lowered from the battlements and threw a silver cup in bravado to the Moors。
The garrison； in truth； suffered intensely from thirst； while； to tantalize them in their sufferings； they beheld limpid streams winding in abundance through the green plain below them。 They began to fear that all succor would arrive too late； when one day they beheld a little squadron of vessels far at sea； but standing toward the shore。 There was some doubt at first whether it might not be a hostile armament from Africa； but as it approached they descried； to their great joy； the banner of Castile。
It was a reinforcement； brought in all haste by the governor of the fortress； Don Francisco Ramirez。 The squadron anchored at a steep rocky island which rises from the very margin of the smooth sandy beach directly in front of the rock of Salobrena and stretches out into the sea。 On this island Ramirez landed his men； and was as strongly posted as if in a fortress。 His force was too scanty to attempt a battle； but he assisted to harass and distract the besiegers。 Whenever King Boabdil made an attack upon the fortress his camp was assailed on one side by the troops of Ramirez； who landed from their island； and on another by those of Don Francisco Enriquez； who swept down from their rock； while Hernan del Pulgar kept up a brave defence from every tower and battlement of the castle。
The attention of the Moorish king was diverted also； for a time； by an ineffectual attempt to relieve the little port of Adra； which had recently declared in his favor； but which had been recaptured for the Christians by Cid Hiaya and his son Alnayar。 Thus； the unlucky Boabdil； bewildered on every hand； lost all the advantage that he had gained by his rapid march from Granada。 While he was yet besieging the obstinate citadel； tidings were brought him that King Ferdinand was in full march with a powerful host to its assistance。 There was no time for further delay： he made a furious attack with all his forces upon the castle； but was again repulsed by Pulgar and his coadjutors； when； abandoning the siege in despair； he retreated with his army； lest King Ferdinand should get between him and his capital。 On his way back to Granada； however； he in some sort consoled himself for his late disappointment by overrunning a part of the territories and possessions lately assigned to his uncle El Zagal and to Cid Hiaya。 He defeated their alcaydes； destroyed several of their fortresses； burnt their villages； and； leaving the country behind him reeking and smoking with his vengeance； returned with considerable booty to repose himself within the walls of the Alhambra。*
*Pulgar； Cron。； p。 3； c 。131； Cura de los Palacios； cap。 97。
CHAPTER LXXXIX。
HOW KING FERDINAND TREATED THE PEOPLE OF GUADIX； AND HOW EL ZAGAL FINISHED HIS REGAL CAREER。
Scarcely had Boabdil＇11＇ensconced himself in his capital when King Ferdinand； at the head of seven thousand horse and twenty thousand foot； again appeared in the Vega。 He had set out in all haste from Cordova to the relief of Salobrena； but hearing on his march that the siege was raised； he turned to make a second ravage round the walls of devoted Granada。 His present forage lasted fifteen days； in the course of which almost everything that had escaped his former desolating visit was destroyed； and scarce a green thing or a living animal was left on the face of the land。 The Moors sallied frequently and fought desperately in defence of their fields； but the work of destruction was accomplished； and Granada； once the queen of gardens； was left surrounded by a desert。
Ferdinand next hastened to crush a conspiracy in the cities of Guadix； Baza； and Almeria。 These recently conquered places had entered into secret correspondence with Boabdil； inviting him to march to their gates； promising to rise upon the Christian garrisons； seize upon the citadels； and surrender them into his power。 The marques of Villena had received notice of the conspiracy； and suddenly thrown himself with a large force into Guadix。 Under pretence of a review of the inhabitants he made them sally forth into the fields before the city。 When the whole Moorish population capable of bearing arms was thus without the walls； he ordered the gates to be closed。 He then permitted them to enter two by two and three by three； and take forth their wives； children； and effects。 The houseless Moors were fain to make themselves temporary hovels in the gardens and orchards about the city； they were clamorous in their complaints at being thus excluded from their homes； but were told they must wait with patience until the charges against them could be investigated and the pleasure of the king be known。*
*Zurita； lib。； c。 85； Cura de los Palacios； c。 97。
When Ferdinand arrived at Guadix； he found the unhappy Moors in their cabins among the orchards。 They complained bitterly of the deception practised upon them； and implored permission to return into the city and live peaceably in their dwellings； as had been promised them in their articles of capitulation。
King Ferdinand listened graciously to their complaints。 〃My friends；〃 said he in reply； 〃I have been informed that there has been a conspiracy among you to kill my alcayde and garrison and to take part with my enemy； the king of Granada。 I shall make a thorough investigation of this conspiracy。 Those among you who shall be proved innocent shall be restored to their dwellings； but the guilty shall incur the penalty of their offences。 As I wish； however； to proceed with mercy as well as justice； I now give you your choiceeither to depart at once without further question； going wherever you please； and taking with you your families and effects under an assurance of safety； or to deliver up those who are guilty； not one of whom； I give you my royal word； shall escape punishment。〃
When the people of Guadix heard these words they communed among themselves； and； as most of them （says the worthy Agapida） were either culpable or feared to be considered so； they accepted the alternative and departed sorrowfully； they and their wives and their little ones。 〃Thus；〃 in the words of that excellent and contemporary historian Andres Bernaldez； commonly called the curate of Los Palacios；〃thus did the king deliver Guadix from the hands of the enemies of our holy faith after seven hundred and seventy years that it had been in their possession； ever since the time of Roderick the Goth； and this was one of the mysteries of our Lord； who would not consent that the city should remain longer in the power of the Moors〃a pious and sage remark which is quoted with peculiar approbation by the worthy Agapida。
King Ferdinand offered similar alternatives to the Moors of Baza； Almeria； and other cities accused of participation in this conspiracy； who generally preferred to abandon their homes rather than incur the risk of an investigation。 Most of them relinquished Spain as a country where they could no longer live in security and independence； and depa