登陆注册
14814700000038

第38章

Boabdil had arrived with his army at daybreak, and had sent in a message threatening to put the garrison to the sword if the place were not instantly surrendered. The messenger was a Moor of Granada, named Hamet, whom Don Diego had formerly known: he contrived to amuse him with negotiation to gain time for succor to arrive. The fierce old Ali Atar, losing all patience, had made an assault upon the town and stormed like a fury at the gate, but had been repulsed.

Another and more serious attack was expected in the course of the night.

When the count de Cabra had heard this account of the situation of affairs, he turned to his nephew with his usual alacrity of manner, and proposed that they should immediately sally forth in quest of the enemy. The prudent Don Diego remonstrated at the rashness of attacking so great a force with a mere handful of men. "Nephew," said the count, "I came from Vaena with a determination to fight this Moorish king, and I will not be disappointed."

"At any rate," replied Don Diego, "let us wait but two hours, and we shall have reinforcements which have been promised me from Rambla, Santaella, Montilla, and other places in the neighborhood." "If we await these," said the hardy count, "the Moors will be off, and all our trouble will have been in vain. You may await them if you please; I am resolved on fighting."

The count paused for no reply, but in his prompt and rapid manner sallied forth to his men. The young alcayde de los Donceles, though more prudent than his ardent uncle, was equally brave; he determined to stand by him in his rash enterprise, and, summoning his little force, marched forth to join the count, who was already on the move. They then proceeded together in quest of the enemy.

The Moorish army had ceased ravaging the country, and was not to be seen, the neighborhood being hilly and broken with deep ravines.

The count despatched six scouts on horseback to reconnoitre, ordering them to return with all speed on discovering the enemy, and by no means to engage in skirmishing with stragglers. The scouts, ascending a high hill, beheld the Moorish army in a valley behind it, the cavalry ranged in five battalions keeping guard, while the foot-soldiers were seated on the grass making a repast. They returned immediately with the intelligence.

The count now ordered the troops to march in the direction of the enemy. He and his nephew ascended the hill, and saw that the five battalions of Moorish cavalry had been formed into two, one of about nine hundred lances, the other of about six hundred. The whole force seemed prepared to march for the frontier. The foot-soldiers were already under way with many prisoners and a great train of mules and beasts of burden laden with booty. At a distance was Boabdil el Chico: they could not distinguish his person, but they knew him by his superb black and white charger, magnificently caparisoned, and by his being surrounded by a numerous guard sumptuously armed and attired. Old Ali Atar was careering about the valley with his usual impatience, hurrying the march of the loitering troops.

The eyes of the count de Cabra glistened with eager joy as he beheld the royal prize within his reach. The immense disparity of their forces never entered into his mind. "By Santiago!" said he to his nephew as they hastened down the hill, "had we waited for more forces the Moorish king and his army would have escaped us."

The count now harangued his men to inspirit them to this hazardous encounter. He told them not to be dismayed at the number of the Moors, for God often permitted the few to conquer the many, and he had great confidence that through the divine aid they were that day to achieve a signal victory which should win them both riches and renown. He commanded that no man should hurl his lance at the enemy, but should keep it in his hands and strike as many blows with it as he could. He warned them also never to shout except when the Moors did, for when both armies shouted together there was no perceiving which made the most noise and was the strongest.

He desired his uncle Lope de Mendoza, and Diego de Cabrera, alcayde of Dona Mencia, to alight and enter on foot in the battalion of infantry to animate them to the combat. He appointed also the alcayde of Vaena and Diego de Clavijo, a cavalier of his household, to remain in the rear, and not to permit any one to lag behind, either to despoil the dead or for any other purpose.

Such were the orders given by this most adroit, active, and intrepid cavalier to his little army, supplying by admirable sagacity and subtle management the want of a more numerous force. His orders being given and all arrangements made, he threw aside his lance, drew his sword, and commanded his standard to be advanced against the enemy.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 我拿过整个青春去爱你

    我拿过整个青春去爱你

    我曾拿过整个青春去爱你,二十五岁后的我青春已经结束,而你才刚刚开始我想我们曾经爱过是最好的,感谢老天让我在人生中的第一个十年遇见了你,我爱了你十五年,最终还是选择放弃。
  • EXO:MY深深地眷恋

    EXO:MY深深地眷恋

    我爱你,就像呼吸一样,平淡到无奇。||我爱你,就像血液一样,循环到不息。人生就像荡秋千、来回终究要停在原点。任何时候都不会松开你的手能抓多久就抓多久Donotgiveup.Fightforwhatyoulove.别放弃,为你所爱的奋斗
  • 现世玄幻

    现世玄幻

    史前文明的各种种族传承到现代,引发一场绝世之战。
  • 虚古神境

    虚古神境

    天古时代,噬古【亦骨】天神以一己之力,独斩十大天神,震动整个太始界,也由此掀开了诸神之乱的序端,太始界崩碎,化为无数尘埃,飘散在宇宙深处,噬古天神陨落,但即使是集诸神之力,也无法彻底泯灭他在这个世间的最后痕迹,噬神遗骨被放逐于宇宙深处。五十万个轮回之后,天坠山下,邪神遗骨重临世间,在天地间掀起了一次腥风血雨,无数强者接连陨落。十万年后,一个被逐出家族的卑微蝼蚁,在痛苦与黑暗中觉醒,从此踏上了漫长的复仇之路。且看一个卑微的蝼蚁,如何一步又一步成长为天地的至尊,谱写一曲荡气回肠的史诗巨歌。
  • 残酷而美丽的世界

    残酷而美丽的世界

    一场车祸,一场令人闻风丧胆的车祸,而在这车祸中出现的不是死人,而是神.....
  • DNF之绝世王者

    DNF之绝世王者

    来自于异乡的维尔,梦想成为最强格斗士的少年!
  • 名柯之风雨交加

    名柯之风雨交加

    莱雪加入了一个杀手组织,但是那个组织杀掉了莱雪的父母,并且威胁莱雪要是反抗就杀掉莱雪,所以莱雪决定在18岁生日那天和组织的人同归于尽。一瞬间,组织基地就变成了一片火海,令人惊讶的是莱雪并没有死,而且穿越到了二次元名侦探柯南的世界里,变成了工藤新一的妹妹:工藤千雪,遗传哥哥足球技术特别好,绝对音感,五音不全,推理能力超强,智商高。十一岁的时候去了美国,十七岁回来日本,希望可以组织哥哥变成江户川柯南,但是晚了一步,决定和哥哥一起对抗组织……
  • 归虚灭世

    归虚灭世

    百年的轮回,失去的记忆,人世的残酷,一切的一切,到底会让这个肩负着特殊使命的少年做出什么举动?
  • 48号露天咖啡厅

    48号露天咖啡厅

    48号露天咖啡厅,那是一个优雅美丽的环境,她与他在这里许诺下了海誓山盟的爱情。
  • 现代剑圣混都市

    现代剑圣混都市

    一个从大山里走出来的妖孽,重回都市,本想寻找自己失散多年的妹妹,却不想一段段艳遇扑面而来。因为误会相隔两年依旧对他深情未了的女人,以及成熟妩媚的女总裁,性感妖娆的女杀手,这样的人生真是想低调都低调不了。……我坚信,阅读本书的时候,你会有一种温暖和感动。专注描写人物性格,相信你会喜欢。新书开启,求推荐票,求收藏,求打赏,求评论!