o escape was to preserve a life that might be devoted to vengeance on the Moors。 The master reluctantly yielded to the advice。 〃O Lord of hosts！〃 exclaimed he again； 〃from thy wrath do I fly； not from these infidels： they are but instruments in thy hands to chastise us for our sins。〃 So saying； he sent the guides in the advance； and； putting spurs to his horse； dashed through a defile of the mountains before the Moors could intercept him。 The moment the master put his horse to speed； his troops scattered in all directions。 Some endeavored to follow his traces； but were confounded among the intricacies of the mountain。 They fled hither and thither； many perishing among the precipices； others being slain by the Moors； and others taken prisoners。
The gallant marques of Cadiz； guided by his trusty adalid； Luis Amar； had ascended a different part of the mountain。 He was followed by his friend； Don Alonso de Aguilar； the adelantado； and the count of Cifuentes； but in the darkness and confusion the bands of these commanders became separated from each other。 When the marques attained the summit； he looked around for his companions…in…arms； but they were no longer following him； and there was no trumpet to summon them。 It was a consolation to the marques； however； that his brothers and several of his relations； with a number of his retainers； were still with him： he called his brothers by name； and their replies gave comfort to his heart。
His guide now led the way into another valley； where he would be less exposed to danger： when he had reached the bottom of it the marques paused to collect his scattered followers and to give time for his fellow…commanders to rejoin him。 Here he was suddenly assailed by the troops of El Zagal； aided by the mountaineers from the cliffs。 The Christians； exhausted and terrified； lost all presence of mind： most of them fled； and were either slain or taken captive。 The marques and his valiant brothers； with a few tried friends； made a stout resistance。 His horse was killed under him； his brothers； Don Diego and Don Lope； with his two nephews； Don Lorenzo and Don Manuel； were one by one swept from his side； either transfixed with darts and lances by the soldiers of El Zagal or crushed by stones from the heights。 The marques was a veteran warrior； and had been in many a bloody battle； but never before had death fallen so thick and close around him。 When he saw his remaining brother； Don Beltran； struck out of his saddle by a fragment of a rock and his horse running wildly about without his rider； he gave a cry of anguish and stood bewildered and aghast。 A few faithful followers surrounded him and entreated him to fly for his life。 He would still have remained； to have shared the fortunes of his friend Don Alonso de Aguilar and his other companions…in…arms； but the forces of El Zagal were between him and them； and death was whistling by on every wind。 Reluctantly； therefore； he consented to fly。 Another horse was brought him： his faithful adalid guided him by one of the steepest paths； which lasted for four leagues； the enemy still hanging on his traces and thinning the scanty ranks of his followers。 At length the marques reached the extremity of the mountain…defiles； and with a haggard remnant of his men escaped by dint of hoof to Antiquera。
The count of Cifuentes； with a few of his retainers； in attempting to follow the marques of Cadiz wandered into a narrow pass； where they were completely surrounded by the band of El Zagal。 The count himself was assailed by six of the enemy； against whom he was defending himself with desperation； when their leader； struck with the inequality of the fight； ordered the others to desist； and continued the combat alone。 The count； already exhausted； was soon compelled to surrender； his brother； Don Pedro de Silva； and the few of his retainers who survived； were likewise taken prisoners。 The Moorish cavalier who had manifested such a chivalrous spirit in encountering the count singly was＇3＇Reduan Vanegas； brother of the former vizier of Muley Abul Hassan； and one of the leaders of the faction of the sultana Zoraya。
The dawn of day found Don Alonso de Aguilar with a handful of his followers still among the mountains。 They had attempted to follow the marques of Cadiz； but had been obliged to pause and defend themselves against the thickening forces of the enemy。 They at length traversed the mountain； and reached the same valley where the marques had made his last disastrous stand。 Wearied and perplexed； they sheltered themselves in a natural grotto under an overhanging rock； which kept off the darts of the enemy； while a bubbling fountain gave them the means of slaking their raging thirst and refreshing their exhausted steeds。 As day broke the scene of slaughter unfolded its horrors。 There lay the noble brothers and nephews of the gallant marques； transfixed with darts or gashed and bruised with unseemly wounds； while many other gallant cavaliers lay stretched out dead and dying around； some of them partly stripped and plundered by the Moors。 De Aguilar was a pious knight； but his piety was not humble and resigned； like that of the worthy master of Santiago。 He imprecated holy curses upon the infidels for having thus laid low the flower of Christian chivalry； and he vowed in his heart bitter vengeance upon the surrounding country。
By degrees the little force of De Aguilar was augmented by numbers of fugitives who issued from caves and chasms where they had taken refuge in the night。 A little band of mounted knights was gradually formed； and； the Moors having abandoned the heights to collect the spoils of the slain； this gallant but forlorn squadron was enabled to retreat to Antiquera。
This disastrous affair lasted from Thursday evening； throughout Friday； the twenty…first of March； the festival of St。 Benedict。 It is still recorded in Spanish calendars as the defeat of the mountains of Malaga； and the spot where the greatest slaughter took place is called 〃la Cuesta de la Matanza；〃 or the Hill of the Massacre。 The principal leaders who survived returned to Antiquera。 Many of the knights took refuge in Alhama and other towns： many wandered about the mountains for eight days； living on roots and herbs； hiding themselves during the day and sallying forth at night。 So enfeebled and disheartened were they that they offered no resistance if attacked。 Three or four soldiers would surrender to a Moorish peasant； and even the women of Malaga sallied forth and made prisoners。 Some were thrown into the dungeons of frontier towns； others led captive to Granada； but by far the greater number were conducted to Malaga； the city they had threatened to attack。 Two hundred and fifty principal cavaliers； alcaydes； commanders； and hidalgos of generous blood were confined in the alcazaba； or citadel； of Malaga to await their ransom； and five hundred and seventy of the common soldiery were crowded in an enclosure or courtyard of the alcazaba to be sold as slaves。*
*Cura de los Palacios。
Great spoils were collected of splendid armor and weapons taken from the slain or thrown away by the cavaliers in their flight； and many horses； magnificently caparisoned； together with numerous standards；all which were paraded in triumph in the Moorish towns。
The merchants also who had come with the army； intending to traffic in the spoils of the Moors； were themselves made objects of traffic。 Several of them were driven like cattle before the Moorish viragoes to the market of Malaga； and； in spite of all their adroitness in trade and their attempts to buy themselves off at a cheap ransom； they were unable to purchase their freedom without such draughts upon their money…bags at home as drained them to the very bottom。
CHAPTER XIII。
EFFECTS OF THE DISASTERS AMONG THE MOUNTAINS OF MALAGA。
The people of Antiquera had scarcely recovered from the tumult of excitement and admiration caused by the departure of the gallant band of cavaliers upon their foray when they beheld the scattered wrecks flying for refuge to their walls。 Day after day and hour after hour brought some wretched fugitive； in whose battered plight and haggard woebegone demeanor it was almost impossible to recognize the warrior who had lately issued so gayly and gloriously from their gates。
The arrival of the marques of Cadiz almost alone； covered with dust and blood； his armor shattered and defaced； his countenance the picture of despair； filled every heart with sorrow； for he was greatly beloved by the people。 The multitude asked of his companions where was the band of brothers which had rallied round him as he went forth to the field； and when told that one by one they had been slaughtered at his side； they hushed their voices or spake to each other only in whispers as he passed； gazing at him in silent sympathy。 No one attempted to console him in so great an affliction； nor did the good marques speak ever a word； but； shutting himself up； brooded in lonely anguish over his misfortune。 It was only the arrival of Don Alonso de Aguilar that gave him a gleam of consolation； rejoicing to find that amidst the shafts of death which had fallen so thickly among his family his chosen friend and brother…in…arms had escaped uninjured。
For several days every eye was turned in fearful suspense toward the Moorish border； anxiously looking in every fugitive from the mountains for the lineaments of some friend or relative whose fate was yet a mystery。 At length every hope and doubt subsided into certainty； the whole extent of this great calamity was known； spreading grief and consternation throughout the land and laying desolate the pride and hopes of palaces。 It was a sorrow that visited the marble hall and silken pillow。 Stately dames mourned over the loss of their sons； the joy and glory of their age； and many a fair cheek was blanched with woe which had lately mantled with secret admiration。 〃All Andalusia；〃 says a historian of the time； 〃was overwhelmed by a great affliction； there was no drying of the eyes which wept in her。〃*
*Cura de los Palacios。
Fear and trembling reigned for a time along the frontier。 Their spear seemed broken； their buckler cleft in twain： every border town