42. CHAPTER XLII.
Exploit of the Count de Tendilla.
Boabdil el Chico followed up his success, by
capturing the two fortresses of Marchena and Bulduy;
he sent his alfaquis in every direction, to proclaim a
holy war, and to summon all true Moslems of town
or castle, mountain or valley, to saddle steed and
buckle on armor, and hasten to the standard of the
faith. The tidings spread far and wide, that Boabdil
el Chico was once more in the field, and was victorious.
The Moors of various places, dazzled by this
gleam of success, hastened to throw off their sworn
allegiance to the Castilian crown, and to elevate the
standard of Boabdil; and the youthful monarch flattered
himself that the whole kingdom was on the
point of returning to its allegiance.
The fiery cavaliers of Granada were eager to renew
those forays into the christian lands, in which
they had formerly delighted. A number of them
therefore concerted an irruption to the north, into
the territory of Jaen, to harass the country about
Quezada. They had heard of a rich convoy of merchants
and wealthy travellers, on the way to the city
of Baza; and they anticipated a glorious conclusion
to their foray, in capturing this convoy.
Assembling a number of horsemen, lightly armed
and fleetly mounted, and one hundred foot-soldiers,
these hardy cavaliers issued forth by night from Granada,
made their way in silence through the defiles
of the mountains, crossed the frontier without opposition,
and suddenly appeared, as if fallen from the
clouds, in the very heart of the christian country.
The mountainous frontier which separates Granada
from Jaen was at this time under the command of the
count de Tendilla, the same veteran who had distinguished
himself by his vigilance and sagacity when
commanding the fortress of Alhama. He held his
head-quarters at the city of Alcala la Real, in its impregnable
fortress, perched high among the mountains,
about six leagues from Granada, and dominating
all the frontier. From this cloud-capt hold among
the rocks, he kept an eagle eye upon Granada, and
had his scouts and spies in all directions, so that a
crow could not fly over the border without his knowledge.
His fortress was a place of refuge for the
christian captives who escaped by night from the
Moorish dungeons of Granada. Often, however,
they missed their way in the defiles of the mountains,
and, wandering about bewildered, either repaired by
mistake to some Moorish town, or were discovered
and retaken at daylight by the enemy. To prevent
these accidents, the count had a tower built at his
own expense, on the top of one of the heights near
Alcala, which commanded a view of the vega and
the surrounding country. Here he kept a light blazing
throughout the night, as a beacon for all christian
fugitives, to guide them to a place of safety.
The count was aroused one night from his repose,
by shouts and cries, which came up from the town
and approached the castle walls. “To arms! to
arms! the Moor is over the border!” was the cry.
A christian soldier, pale and emaciated, and who still
bore traces of the Moorish chains, was brought before
the count. He had been taken as guide by the Moorish
cavaliers who had sallied from Granada, but had
escaped from them among the mountains, and, after
much wandering, had found his way to Alcala by the
signal-fire.
Notwithstanding the bustle and agitation of the
moment, the count de Tendilla listened calmly and
attentively to the account of the fugitive, and questioned
him minutely as to the time of departure of
the Moors, and the rapidity and direction of their
march. He saw that it was too late to prevent their
incursion and ravage; but he determined to await
them, and give them a warm reception on their return.
His soldiers were always on the alert, and ready to
take the field at a moment's warning. Choosing one
hundred and fifty lances, hardy and valiant men, well
disciplined and well seasoned, as indeed were all his
troops, he issued forth quietly before break of day,
and, descending through the defiles of the mountains,
stationed his little force in ambush, in a deep barranca,
or dry channel of a torrent, near Barzina, but
three leagues from Granada, on the road by which
the marauders would have to return. In the mean
time, he sent out scouts, to post themselves upon
different heights, and look out for the approach of
the enemy.
All day they remained concealed in the ravine,
and for a great part of the following night; not a
turban, however, was to be seen, excepting now and
then a peasant returning from his labor, or a solitary
muleteer hastening towards Granada. The cavaliers
of the count began to grow restless and impatient;
they feared that the enemy might have taken some
other route, or might have received intelligence of
their ambuscade. They urged the count to abandon
the enterprise, and return to Alcala. “We are here,”
said they, “almost at the gates of the Moorish capital,
our movements may have been descried, and, before
we are aware, Granada may pour forth its legions of
swift cavalry, and crush us with an overwhelming
force.” The count de Tendilla, however, persisted
in remaining until his scouts should come in. About
two hours before daybreak, there were signal-fires
on certain Moorish watch-towers of the mountains.
While they were regarding these with anxiety, the
scouts came hurrying into the ravine: “The Moors
are approaching,” said they; “we have reconnoitred
them near at hand. They are between one and two
hundred strong, but encumbered with many prisoners
and much booty.” The christian cavaliers laid their
ears to the ground, and heard the distant tramp of
horses and the tread of foot-soldiers. They mounted
their horses, braced their shields, couched their lances,
and drew near to the entrance of the ravine where it
opened upon the road.
The Moors had succeeded in waylaying and surprising
the christian convoy, on its way to Baza.
They had captured a great number of prisoners, male
and female, with great store of gold and jewels, and
sumpter mules laden with rich merchandise. With
these they had made a forced march over the dangerous
parts of the mountains; but now, finding themselves
so near to Granada, they fancied themselves
in perfect security. They loitered along the road,
therefore, irregularly and slowly, some singing, others
laughing and exulting at having eluded the boasted
vigilance of the count de Tendilla; while ever and
anon were heard the plaint of some female captive
bewailing the jeopardy of her honor, and the heavy
sighing of the merchant at beholding his property in
the grasp of ruthless spoilers.
The count de Tendilla waited until some of the
escort had passed the ravine; then, giving the signal
for assault, his cavaliers set up great shouts and cries,
and charged furiously into the centre of the foe. The
obscurity of the place and the hour added to the
terrors of the surprise. The Moors were thrown into
confusion; some rallied, fought desperately, and fell
covered with wounds. Thirty-six were killed, and
fifty-five were made prisoners; the rest, under cover
of the darkness, made their escape to the rocks and
defiles of the mountains.
The good count unbound the prisoners, gladdening
the hearts of the merchants by restoring to them
their merchandise. To the female captives also he
restored the jewels of which they had been despoiled,
excepting such as had been lost beyond recovery.
Forty-five saddle horses, of the choice Barbary breed,
remained as captured spoils of the Moors, together
with costly armor, and booty of various kinds. Having
collected every thing in haste, and arranged his
cavalgada, the count urged his way with all speed
for Alcala la Real, lest he should be pursued and
overtaken by the Moors of Granada. As he wound
up the steep ascent to his mountain city, the inhabitants
poured forth to meet him with shouts of joy.
His triumph was doubly enhanced by being received
at the gates of the city by his wife, the daughter of
the marques of Villena, a lady of distinguished merit,
whom he had not seen for two years, that he had
been separated from his home by the arduous duties
of these iron wars.
