ight expect if they attempted to besiege the place。
When the skirmish was over the marques of Cadiz had a private conference with the king。 He represented the difficulty of besieging Malaga with their present force； especially as their plans had been discovered and anticipated； and the whole country was marching to oppose them。 The marques； who had secret intelligence from all quarters； had received a letter from Juceph Xerife； a Moor of Ronda of Christian lineage； apprising him of the situation of that important place and its garrison； which at that moment laid it open to attack； and the marques was urgent with the king to seize upon this critical moment； and secure a place which was one of the most powerful Moorish fortresses on the frontiers； and in the hands of Hamet el Zegri had been the scourge of Andalusia。 The good marques had another motive for his advice； becoming a true and loyal knight。 In the deep dungeons of Ronda languished several of his companion… in…arms who had been captured in the defeat in the Axarquia。 To break their chains and restore them to liberty and light he felt to be his peculiar duty as one of those who had most promoted that disastrous enterprise。
King Ferdinand listened to the advice of the marques。 He knew the importance of Ronda； which was considered one of the keys to the kingdom of Granada； and he was disposed to punish the inhabitants for the aid they had rendered to the garrison of Coin。 The siege of Malaga therefore； was abandoned for the present； and preparations made for a rapid and secret move against the city of Ronda。
CHAPTER XXX。
SIEGE OF RONDA。
The bold Hamet el Zegri； the alcayde of Ronda； had returned sullenly to his stronghold after the surrender of Coin。 He had fleshed his sword in battle with the Christians； but his thirst for vengeance was still unsatisfied。 Hamet gloried in the strength of his fortress and the valor of his people。 A fierce and warlike populace was at his command； his signal…fires could summon all the warriors of the Serrania； his Gomeres almost subsisted on the spoils of Andalusia； and in the rock on which his fortress was built were hopeless dungeons filled with Christian captives carried off by these war… hawks of the mountains。
Ronda was considered as impregnable。 It was situated in the heart of wild and rugged mountains； and perched upon an isolated rock crested by a strong citadel； with triple walls and towers。 A deep ravine； or rather a perpendicular chasm of the rocks； of frightful depth； surrounded three parts of the city； through this flowed the Rio Verde； or Green River。 There were two suburbs to the city； fortified by walls and towers； and almost inaccessible from the natural asperity of the rocks。 Around this rugged city were deep rich valleys； sheltered by the mountains； refreshed by constant streams； abounding with grain and the most delicious fruits； and yielding verdant meadows； in which was reared a renowned breed of horses； the best in the whole kingdom for a foray。
Hamet el Zegri had scarcely returned to Ronda when he received intelligence that the Christian army was marching to the siege of Malaga； and orders from El Zagal to send troops to his assistance。 Hamet sent a part of his garrison for that purpose； in the mean time he meditated an expedition to which he was stimulated by pride and revenge。 All Andalusia was now drained of its troops； there was an opportunity； therefore； for an inroad by which he might wipe out the disgrace of his defeat at the battle of Lopera。 Apprehending no danger to his mountain…city； now that the storm of war had passed down into the vega of Malaga； he left but a remnant of his garrison to man its walls； and； putting himself at the head of his band of Gomeres； swept down suddenly into the plains of Andalusia。 He careered； almost without resistance； over those vast campinas or pasture…lands which formed a part of the domains of the duke of Medina Sidonia。 In vain the bells were rung and the alarm…fires kindled： the band of Hamet had passed by before any force could be assembled； and was only to be traced； like a hurricane； by the devastation it had made。
Hamet regained in safety the Serrania de Ronda； exulting in his successful inroad。 The mountain…glens were filled with long droves of cattle and flocks of sheep from the campinas of Medina Sidonia。 There were mules； too； laden with the plunder of the villages； and every warrior had some costly spoil of jewels for his favorite mistress。
As the Zegri drew near to Ronda he was roused from his dream of triumph by the sound of heavy ordnance bellowing through the mountain…defiles。 His heart misgave him： he put spurs to his horse and galloped in advance of his lagging cavalgada。 As he proceeded the noise of the ordnance increased； echoing from cliff to cliff。 Spurring his horse up a craggy height which commanded an extensive view； he beheld； to his consternation； the country about Ronda white with the tents of a besieging army。 The royal standard； displayed before a proud encampment； showed that Ferdinand himself was present； while the incessant blaze and thunder of artillery and the volumes of overhanging smoke told the work of destruction that was going on。
The royal army had succeeded in coming upon Ronda by surprise during the absence of its alcayde and most of its garrison； but its inhabitants were warlike and defended themselves bravely； trusting that Hamet and his Gomeres would soon return to their assistance。
The fancied strength of their bulwarks had been of little avail against the batteries of the besiegers。 In the space of four days three towers and great masses of the walls which defended the suburbs were battered down and the suburbs taken and plundered。 Lombards and other heavy ordnance were now levelled at the walls of the city； and stones and missiles of all kinds hurled into the streets。 The very rock on which the city stood shook with the thunder of the artillery； and the Christian captives； deep within its dungeons； hailed the sound as a promise of deliverance。
When Hamet el＇8＇Zegri beheld his city thus surrounded and assailed； he called upon his men to follow him and cut their way through to its relief。 They proceeded stealthily through the mountains until they came to the nearest heights above the Christian camp。 When night fell and part of the army was sunk in sleep； they descended the rocks； and； rushing suddenly upon the weakest part of the camp； endeavored to break their way through and gain the city。 The camp was too strong to be forced； they were driven back to the crags of the mountains； whence they defended themselves by showering down darts and stones upon their pursuers。
Hamet now lit alarm…fires about the heights： his standard was joined by the neighboring mountaineers and by troops from Malaga。 Thus reinforced； he made repeated assaults upon the Christians； cutting off all stragglers from the camp。 All his attempts to force his way into the city； however； were fruitless； many of his bravest men were slain； and he was obliged to retreat into the fastnesses of the mountains。
In the mean while the distress of Ronda increased hourly。 The marques of Cadiz； having possession of the suburbs； was enabled to approach to the very foot of the perpendicular precipice rising from the river on the summit of which the city is built。 At the foot of this rock is a living fountain of limpid water gushing into a great natural basin。 A secret mine led down from within the city to this fountain by several hundred steps cut in the solid rock。 Hence the city obtained its chief supply of water； and these steps were deeply worn by the weary feet of Christian captives employed in this painful labor。 The marques of Cadiz discovered this subterraneous passage； and directed his pioneers to countermine in the side of the rock； they pierced to the shaft； and； stopping it up； deprived the city of the benefit of this precious fountain。
While the marques was thus pressing the siege with the generous thought of soon delivering his companions…in…arms from the Moorish dungeons； far other were the feelings of the alcayde； Hamet el Zegri。 He smote his breast and gnashed his teeth in impotent fury as he beheld from the mountain…cliffs the destruction of the city。 Every thunder of the Christian ordnance seemed to batter against his heart。 He saw tower after tower tumbling by day； and various parts of the city in a blaze at night。 〃They fired not merely stones from their ordnance；〃 says a chronicler of the times； 〃but likewise great balls of iron cast in moulds； which demolished everything they struck。 They threw also balls of tow steeped in pitch and oil and gunpowder； which； when once on fire； were not to be extinguished； and which set the houses in flames。 Great was the horror of the inhabitants： they knew not where to fly for refuge： their houses were in a blaze or shattered by the ordnance； the streets were perilous from the falling ruins and the bounding balls； which dashed to pieces everything they encountered。 At night the city looked like a fiery furnace； the cries and wailings of the women between the thunders of the ordnance reached even to the Moors on the opposite mountains； who answered them by yells of fury and despair。
All hope of external succor being at an end； the inhabitants of Ronda were compelled to capitulate。 Ferdinand was easily prevailed upon to grant them favorable terms。 The place was capable of longer resistance； and he feared for the safety of his camp； as the forces were daily augmenting on the mountains and making frequent assaults。 The inhabitants were permitted to depart with their effects； either to Barbary； Granada； or elsewhere； and those who chose to reside in Spain had lands assigned them and were indulged in the practice of their religion。
No sooner did the place surrender than detachments were sent to attack the Moors who hovered about the neighboring mountains。 Hamet el Zegri； however； did not remain to make a fruitless battle。 He gave up the game as lost； and retreated with his Gomeres； filled with grief and rage； but trusting to fortune to give him future vengeance。
The first care of the good marques of Cadiz on entering Ronda was to deliver hi