on one of his fleetest horses and followed by a handful of adherents； he galloped in the confusion out of the gates of Almeria。 Several of the cavalry of El Zagal； stationed without the walls； perceived his flight and attempted to pursue him； their horses were jaded with travel； and he soon left them far behind。 But whither was he to fly？ Every fortress and castle in the kingdom of Granada was closed against him； he knew not whom among the Moors to trust； for they had been taught to detest him as a traitor and an apostate。 He had no alternative but to seek refuge among the Christians； his hereditary enemies。 With heavy heart he turned his horse's head toward Cordova。 He had to lurk； like a fugitive； through a part of his own dominions； nor did he feel himself secure until he had passed the frontier and beheld the mountain…barrier of his country towering behind him。 Then it was that he became conscious of his humiliated statea fugitive from his throne； an outcast from his nation； a king without a kingdom。 He smote his breast in an agony of grief。 〃Evil indeed；〃 exclaimed he； 〃was the day of my birth； and truly I was named El Zogoybi； the Unlucky。〃
He entered the gates of Cordova with downcast countenance and with a train of but forty followers。 The sovereigns were absent； but the cavaliers of Andalusia manifested that sympathy in the misfortunes of the monarch which becomes men of lofty and chivalrous souls。 They received him with great distinction； attended him with the utmost courtesy； and he was honorably entertained by the civil and military commanders of that ancient city。
In the mean time； El Zagal put a new alcayde over Almeria to govern in the name of his brother； and； having strongly garrisoned the place； repaired to Malaga； where an attack of the Christians was apprehended。 The young monarch being driven out of the land； and the old monarch blind and bedridden； El Zagal at the head of the armies was virtually the sovereign of Granada。 He was supported by the brave and powerful families of the Alnayans and Vanegas； the people were pleased with having a new idol to look up to and a new name to shout forth； and El Zagal was hailed with acclamations as the main hope of the nation。
CHAPTER XXIX。
HOW KING FERDINAND COMMENCED ANOTHER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MOORS； AND HOW HE LAID SIEGE TO COIN AND CARTAMA。
The recent effect of the battering ordnance in demolishing the Moorish fortresses induced King Ferdinand to procure a powerful train for the campaign of 1485； intending to assault some of the most formidable holds of the enemy。
An army of nine thousand cavalry and twenty thousand infantry assembled at Cordova early in the spring； and the king took the field on the 5th of April。 It had been determined in secret council to attack the city of Malaga； that ancient and important seaport on which Granada depended for foreign aid and supplies。 It was thought proper previously； however； to get possession of various towns and fortresses in the valleys of Santa Maria and Cartama； through which pass the roads to Malaga。
The first place assailed was the town of Benamexi or Bonameji。 It had submitted to the Catholic sovereigns in the preceding year； but had since renounced its allegiance。 King Ferdinand was enraged at the rebellion of the inhabitants。 〃I will make their punishment；〃 said he； 〃a terror to others： they shall be loyal through force； if not through faith。〃 The place was carried by storm： one hundred and eight of the principal inhabitants were either put to the sword or hanged on the battlements； the rest were carried into captivity。*
*Pulgar； Garibay； Cura de los Palacios。
The towns of Coin and Cartama were besieged on the same day the first by a division of the army led on by the marques of Cadiz； the second by another division commanded by Don Alonso de Aguilar and Luis Fernandez Puerto Carrero； the brave senior of Palma。 The king； with the rest of the army； remained posted between the two places to render assistance to either division。 The batteries opened upon both places at the same time； and the thunder of the lombards was mutually heard from one camp to the other。 The Moors made frequent sallies and a valiant defence； but they were confounded by the tremendous uproar of the batteries and the destruction of their walls。 In the mean time； the alarm…fires gathered together the Moorish mountaineers of all the Serrania； who assembled in great numbers in the city of Monda； about a league from Coin。 They made several attempts to enter the besieged town； but in vain： they were each time intercepted and driven back by the Christians； and were reduced to gaze at a distance in despair on the destruction of the place。 While thus situated there rode one day into Monda a fierce and haughty Moorish chieftain at the head of a band of swarthy African horsemen： it was Hamet el Zegri； the fiery…spirited alcayde of Ronda； at the head of his band of Gomeres。 He had not yet recovered from the rage and mortification of his defeat on the banks of the Lopera in the disastrous foray of old Bexir； when he had been obliged to steal back furtively to his mountains with the loss of the bravest of his followers。 He had ever since panted for revenge。 He now rode among the host of warriors assembled at Monda。 〃Who among you；〃 cried he； 〃feels pity for the women and children of Coin exposed to captivity and death？ Whoever he is； let him follow me； who am ready to die as a Moslem for the relief of Moslems。〃 So saying； he seized a white banner； and； waving it over his head； rode forth from the town； followed by the Gomeres。 Many of the warriors； roused by his words and his example； spurred resolutely after his banner。 The people of Coin； being prepared for this attempt； sallied forth as they saw the white banner and made an attack upon the Christian camp； and in the confusion of the moment Hamet and his followers galloped into the gates。 This reinforcement animated the besieged； and Hamet exhorted them to hold out obstinately in defence of life and town。 As the Gomeres were veteran warriors； the more they were attacked the harder they fought。
At length a great breach was made in the walls； and Ferdinand； who was impatient of the resistance of the place； ordered the duke of Naxara and the count of Benavente to enter with their troops； and； as their forces were not sufficient； he sent word to Luis de Cerda； duke of Medina Celi； to send a part of his people to their assistance。
The feudal pride of the duke was roused at this demand。 〃Tell my lord the king；〃 said the haughty grandee； 〃that I have come to succor him with my household troops： if my people are ordered to any place； I am to go with them； but if I am to remain in the camp； my people must remain with me。 For the troops cannot serve without their commander； nor their commander without his troops。〃
The reply of the high…spirited grandee perplexed the cautious Ferdinand； who knew the jealous pride of his powerful nobles。 In the mean time； the people of the camp； having made all preparations for the assault； were impatient to be led forward。 Upon this Pero Ruyz de Alarcon put himself at their head； and； seizing their mantas or portable bulwarks； and their other defences； they made a gallant assault and fought their way in at the breach。 The Moors were so overcome by the fury of their assault that they retreated； fighting； to the square of the town。 Pero Ruyz de Alarcon thought the place was carried； when suddenly Hamet and his Gomeres came scouring through the streets with wild war…cries； and fell furiously upon the Christians。 The latter were in their turn beaten back； and； while attacked in front by the Gomeres； were assailed by the inhabitants with all kinds of missiles from their roofs and windows。 They at length gave way and retreated through the breach。 Pero Ruyz de Alarcon still maintained his ground in one of the principal streets： the few cavaliers that stood by him urged him to fly： 〃No；〃 said he； 〃I came here to fight； and not to fly。〃 He was presently surrounded by the Gomeres； his companions fled for their lives： the last they saw of him he was covered with wounds； but still fighting desperately for the fame of a good cavalier。*
*Pulgar； part 3； cap。 42。
The resistance of the inhabitants； though aided by the valor of the Gomeres； was of no avail。 The battering artillery of the Christians demolished their walls； combustibles thrown into their town set it on fire in various places； and they were at length compelled to capitulate。 They were permitted to depart with their effects； and the Gomeres with their arms。 Hamet el Zegri and his African band rode proudly through the Christian camp； nor could the Spanish cavaliers refrain from regarding with admiration that haughty warrior and his devoted and dauntless followers。
The capture of Coin was accompanied by that of Cartama： the fortifications of the latter were repaired and garrisoned； but Coin； being too extensive to be defended by a moderate force； its walls were demolished。 The siege of these places struck such terror into the surrounding country that the Moors of many of the neighboring towns abandoned their homes； and fled with such of their effects as they could carry away； upon which the king gave orders to demolish their walls and towers。
King Ferdinand now left his camp and his heavy artillery near Cartama； and proceeded with his lighter troops to reconnoitre Malaga。 By this time the secret plan of attack arranged in the council of war at Cordova was known to all the world。 The vigilant warrior； El Zagal； had thrown himself into the place； put all the fortifications； which were of vast strength； into a state of defence； and sent orders to the alcaydes of the mountain…towns to hasten with their forces to his assistance。
The very day that Ferdinand appeared before the place El Zagal sallied forth to receive him at the head of a thousand cavalry； the choicest warriors of Granada。 A sharp skirmish took place among the gardens and olive trees near the city。 Many were killed on both sides； and this gave the Christians a foretaste of what they might expect if they attempted to besiege the place。
When the skirmish was over the marques of Cad