old men； the women； and the children to be removed to the capital。
Such was the strength of the fortress and the difficulties of its position that Ferdinand anticipated much trouble in reducing it； and made every preparation for a regular siege。 In the centre of his camp were two great mounds； one of sacks of flour； the other of grain； which were called the royal granary。 Three batteries of heavy ordnance were opened against the citadel and principal towers； while smaller artillery； engines for the discharge of missiles； arquebuses； and crossbows； were distributed in various places to keep up a fire into any breaches that might be made； and upon those of the garrison who should appear on the battlements。
The lombards soon made an impression on the works； demolishing a part of the wall and tumbling down several of those haughty towers which； from their height； had been impregnable before the invention of gunpowder。 The Moors repaired their walls as well as they were able； and； still confiding in the strength of their situation； kept up a resolute defence； firing down from their lofty battlements and towers upon the Christian camp。 For two nights and a day an incessant fire was kept up； so that there was not a moment in which the roaring of ordnance was not heard or some damage sustained by the Christians or the Moors。 It was a conflict； however； more of engineers and artillerists than of gallant cavaliers； there was no sally of troops nor shock of armed men nor rush and charge of cavalry。 The knights stood looking on with idle weapons； waiting until they should have an opportunity of signalizing their prowess by scaling the walls or storming the breaches。 As the place； however； was assailable only in one part； there was every prospect of a long and obstinate resistance。
The engineers； as usual； discharged not merely balls of stone and iron to demolish the walls； but flaming balls of inextinguishable combustibles designed to set fire to the houses。 One of these； which passed high through the air like a meteor； sending out sparks and crackling as it went； entered the window of a tower which was used as a magazine of gunpowder。 The tower blew up with a tremendous explosion； the Moors who were upon its battlements were hurled into the air； and fell mangled in various parts of the town； and the houses in its vicinity were rent and overthrown as with an earthquake。
The Moors； who had never witnessed an explosion of the kind； ascribed the destruction of the tower to a miracle。 Some who had seen the descent of the flaming ball imagined that fire had fallen from heaven to punish them for their pertinacity。 The pious Agapida himself believes that this fiery missive was conducted by divine agency to confound the infidelsan opinion in which he is supported by other Catholic historians。*
*Pulgar； Garibay； Lucio Marino Siculo； Cosas Memoral。 de Hispan。； lib。20。
Seeing heaven and earth； as it were； combined against them； the Moors lost all heart： they capitulated； and were permitted to depart with their effects； leaving behind all arms and munitions of war。
The Catholic army （says Antonio Agapida） entered Moclin in solemn state； not as a licentious host intent upon plunder and desolation； but as a band of Christian warriors coming to purify and regenerate the land。 The standard of the cross； that ensign of this holy crusade； was borne in the advance； followed by the other banners of the army。 Then came the king and queen at the head of a vast number of armed cavaliers。 They were accompanied by a band of priests and friars； with the choir of the royal chapel chanting the canticle 〃Te Deum laudamus。〃 As they were moving through the streets in this solemn manner； every sound hushed excepting the anthem of the choir； they suddenly heard； issuing as it were from under ground； a chorus of voices chanting in solemn response 〃Benedictum qui venit in nomine Domini。〃* The procession paused in wonder。 The sounds rose from Christian captives； and among them several priests； who were confined in subterraneous dungeons。
*Marino Siculo。
The heart of Isabella was greatly touched。 She ordered the captives to be drawn forth from their cells； and was still more moved at beholding； by their wan； discolored； and emaciated appearance； how much they had suffered。 Their hair and beards were overgrown and shagged； they were wasted by hunger； half naked； and in chains。 She ordered that they should be clothed and cherished； and money furnished them to bear them to their homes。*
*Illescas； Hist。 Pontif。； lib。 6； c。 20； 0xA4 1。
Several of the captives were brave cavaliers who had been wounded and made prisoners in the defeat of the count de Cabra by El Zagal in the preceding year。 There were also found other melancholy traces of that disastrous affair。 On visiting the narrow pass where the defeat had taken place； the remains of several Christian warriors were found in thickets or hidden behind rocks or in the clefts of the mountains。 These were some who had been struck from their horses and wounded too severely to fly。 They had crawled away from the scene of action； and concealed themselves to avoid falling into the hands of the enemy； and had thus perished miserably and alone。 The remains of those of note were known by their armor and devices； and were mourned over by their companions who had shared the disaster of that day。*
*Pulgar； part 3； cap。 61。
The queen had these remains piously collected as the relics of so many martyrs who had fallen in the cause of the faith。 They were interred with great solemnity in the mosques of Moclin； which had been purified and consecrated to Christian worship。 〃There；〃 says Antonio Agapida； 〃rest the bones of those truly Catholic knights； in the holy ground which in a manner had been sanctified by their blood； and all pilgrims passing through those mountains offer up prayers and masses for the repose of their souls。〃
The queen remained for some time at Moclin； administering comfort to the wounded and the prisoners； bringing the newly…acquired territory into order； and founding churches and monasteries and other pious institutions。 〃While the king marched in front； laying waste the land of the Philistines；〃 says the figurative Antonio Agapida； 〃Queen Isabella followed his traces as the binder follows the reaper； gathering and garnering the rich harvest that has fallen beneath his sickle。 In this she was greatly assisted by the counsels of that cloud of bishops； friars； and other saintly men which continually surrounded her； garnering the first fruits of this infidel land into the granaries of the Church。〃 Leaving her thus piously employed； the king pursued his career of conquest； determined to lay waste the Vega and carry fire and sword to the very gates of Granada。
CHAPTER XLIV。
HOW KING FERDINAND FORAGED THE VEGA； AND OF THE BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE OF PINOS； AND THE FATE OF THE TWO MOORISH BROTHERS。
Muley Abdallah el Zagal had been under a spell of ill…fortune ever since the suspicious death of the old king his brother。 Success had deserted his standard； and with his fickle subjects want of success was one of the greatest crimes in a sovereign。 He found his popularity declining； and he lost all confidence in his people。 The Christian army marched in open defiance through his territories； and sat down deliberately before his fortresses； yet he dared not lead forth his legions to oppose them； lest the inhabitants of the Albaycin； ever ripe for a revolt； should rise and shut the gates of Granada against his return。
Every few days some melancholy train entered the metropolis； the inhabitants of some captured town bearing the few effects spared them； and weeping and bewailing the desolation of their homes。 When the tidings arrived that Illora and Moclin had fallen； the people were seized with consternation。 〃The right eye of Granada is extinguished；〃 exclaimed they； 〃the shield of Granada is broken： what shall protect us from the inroad of the foe？〃 When the survivors of the garrisons of those towns arrived； with downcast looks； bearing the marks of battle and destitute of arms and standards； the populace reviled them in their wrath； but they answered； 〃We fought as long as we had force to fight or walls to shelter us； but the Christians laid our town and battlements in ruins； and we looked in vain for aid from Granada。〃
The alcaydes of Illora and Moclin were brothers； they were alike in prowess and the bravest among the Moorish cavaliers。 They had been the most distinguished in those tilts and tourneys which graced the happier days of Granada； and had distinguished themselves in the sterner conflicts of the field。 Acclamation had always followed their banners； and they had long been the delight of the people。 Yet now； when they returned after the capture of their fortresses； they were followed by the unsteady populace with execrations。 The hearts of the alcaydes swelled with indignation； they found the ingratitude of their countrymen still more intolerable than the hostility of the Christians。
Tidings came that the enemy was advancing with his triumphant legions to lay waste the country about Granada。 Still El Zagal did not dare to take the field。 The two alcaydes of Illora and Moclin stood before him。 〃We have defended your fortresses；〃 said they； 〃until we were almost buried under their ruins； and for our reward we receive scoffings and revilings： give us； O king； an opportunity where knightly valor may signalize itselfnot shut up behind stone walls； but in the open conflict of the field。 The enemy approaches to lay our country desolate： give us men to meet him in the advance； and let shame light upon our heads if we be found wanting in the battle！〃
The two brothers were sent forth with a large force of horse and foot； El Zagal intended； should they be successful； to issue forth with his whole force； and by a decisive victory repair the losses he had suffered。 When the people saw the well…known standards of the brothers going forth to battle； there was a feeble shout； but the alcaydes passed on with stern countenances； for they knew the same voices would curse them were they to return unfortunate。 They cast a farewell look upo