A　desperate　conflict　ensued　on　the　banks　of　the　river；　the　Moors　endeavoring　to　plant　palisades　in　its　bed　to　divert　the　stream；　and　the　Christians　striving　to　prevent　them。　　The　Spanish　commanders　exposed　themselves　to　the　utmost　danger　to　animate　their　men；　who　were　repeatedly　driven　back　into　the　town。　　The　marques　of　Cadiz　was　often　up　to　his　knees　in　the　stream　fighting　hand　to　hand　with　the　Moors。　　The　water　ran　red　with　blood；　and　was　encumbered　with　dead　bodies。　　At　length　the　overwhelming　numbers　of　the　Moors　gave　them　the　advantage；　and　they　succeeded　in　diverting　the　greater　part　of　the　water。　　The　Christians　had　to　struggle　severely　to　supply　themselves　from　the　feeble　rill　which　remained。　　They　sallied　to　the　river　by　a　subterraneous　passage；　but　the　Moorish　crossbowmen　stationed　themselves　on　the　opposite　bank；　keeping　up　a　heavy　fire　upon　the　Christians　whenever　they　attempted　to　fill　their　vessels　from　the　scanty　and　turbid　stream。　　One　party　of　the　Christians　had；　therefore；　to　fight　while　another　drew　water。　　At　all　hours　of　the　day　and　night　this　deadly　strife　was　maintained；　until　it　seemed　as　if　every　drop　of　water　were　purchased　with　a　drop　of　blood。
  In　the　mean　time　the　sufferings　of　the　town　became　intense。　　None　but　the　soldiery　and　their　horses　were　allowed　the　precious　beverage　so　dearly　earned；　and　even　that　in　quantities　that　only　tantalized　their　wants。　The　wounded；　who　could　not　sally　to　procure　it；　were　almost　destitute；　while　the　unhappy　prisoners　shut　up　in　the　mosques　were　reduced　to　frightful　extremities。　　Many　perished　raving　mad；　fancying　themselves　swimming　in　boundless　seas；　yet　unable　to　assuage　their　thirst。　　Many　of　the　soldiers　lay　parched　and　panting　along　the　battlements；　no　longer　able　to　draw　a　bowstring　or　hurl　a　stone；　while　above　five　thousand　Moors；　stationed　upon　a　rocky　height　which　overlooked　part　of　the　town；　kept　up　a　galling　fire　into　it　with　slings　and　crossbows；　so　that　the　marques　of　Cadiz　was　obliged　to　heighten　the　battlements　by　using　the　doors　from　the　private　dwellings。
  The　Christian　cavaliers；　exposed　to　this　extreme　peril　and　in　imminent　danger　of　falling　into　the　hands　of　the　enemy；　despatched　fleet　messengers　to　Seville　and　Cordova；　entreating　the　chivalry　of　Andalusia　to　hasten　to　their　aid。　　They　sent　likewise；　imploring　assistance　from　the　king　and　queen；　who　at　that　time　held　their　court　in　Medina　del　Campo。　　In　the　midst　of　their　distress　a　tank　or　cistern　of　water　was　fortunately　discovered　in　the　city；　which　gave　temporary　relief　to　their　sufferings。
  CHAPTER　VII。
  HOW　THE　DUKE　OF　MEDINA　SIDONIA　AND　THE　CHIVALRY　OF　　　　　ANDALUSIA　HASTENED　TO　THE　RELIEF　OF　ALHAMA。
  The　perilous　situation　of　the　Christian　cavaliers；　pent　up　and　beleaguered　within　the　walls　of　the　Alhama；　spread　terror　among　their　friends　and　anxiety　throughout　all　Andalusia。　　Nothing；　however；　could　equal　the　anguish　of　the　marchioness　of　Cadiz；　the　wife　of　the　gallant　Roderigo　Ponce　de　Leon。　In　her　deep　distress　she　looked　round　for　some　powerful　noble　who　had　the　means　of　rousing　the　country　to　the　assistance　of　her　husband。　　No　one　appeared　more　competent　for　the　purpose　than　Don　Juan　de　Guzman；　the　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia。　　He　was　one　of　the　most　wealthy　and　puissant　grandees　of　Spain；　his　possessions　extended　over　some　of　the　most　fertile　parts　of　Andalusia；　embracing　towns　and　seaports　and　numerous　villages。　　Here　he　reigned　in　feudal　state　like　a　petty　sovereign；　and　could　at　any　time　bring　into　the　field　an　immense　force　of　vassals　and　retainers。
  The　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia　and　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　however；　were　at　this　time　deadly　foes。　　An　hereditary　feud　existed　between　them；　which　had　often　risen　to　bloodshed　and　open　war；　for　as　yet　the　fierce　contests　between　the　proud　and　puissant　Spanish　nobles　had　not　been　completely　quelled　by　the　power　of　the　Crown；　and　in　this　respect　they　exerted　a　right　of　sovereignty　in　leading　their　vassals　against　each　other　in　open　field。
  The　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia　would　have　appeared；　to　many；　the　very　last　person　to　whom　to　apply　for　aid　of　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　but　the　marchioness　judged　of　him　by　the　standard　of　her　own　high　and　generous　mind。　　She　knew　him　to　be　a　gallant　and　courteous　knight；　and　had　already　experienced　the　magnanimity　of　his　spirit；　having　been　relieved　by　him　when　besieged　by　the　Moors　in　her　husband's　fortress　of　Arcos。　　To　the　duke；　therefore；　she　applied　in　this　moment　of　sudden　calamity；　imploring　him　to　furnish　succor　to　her　husband。　　The　event　showed　how　well　noble　spirits　understand　each　other。　　No　sooner　did　the　duke　receive　this　appeal　from　the　wife　of　his　enemy　than　he　generously　forgot　all　feeling　of　animosity　and　determined　to　go　in　person　to　his　succor。　　He　immediately　despatched　a　courteous　letter　to　the　marchioness；　assuring　her　that　in　consideration　of　the　request　of　so　honorable　and　estimable　a　lady；　and　to　rescue　from　peril　so　valiant　a　cavalier　as　her　husband；　whose　loss　would　be　great；　not　only　to　Spain；　but　to　all　Christendom；　he　would　forego　the　recollection　of　all　past　grievances；　and　hasten　to　his　relief　with　all　the　forces　he　could　raise。
  The　duke　wrote　at　the　same　time　to　the　alcaydes　of　his　towns　and　fortresses；　ordering　them　to　join　him　forthwith　at　Seville　with　all　the　forces　they　could　spare　from　their　garrisons。　　He　called　on　all　the　chivalry　of　Andalusia　to　make　a　common　cause　in　the　rescue　of　those　Christian　cavaliers；　and　he　offered　large　pay　to　all　volunteers　who　would　resort　to　him　with　horses；　armor；　and　provisions。　　Thus　all　who　could　be　incited　by　honor；　religion；　patriotism；　or　thirst　of　gain　were　induced　to　hasten　to　his　standard；　and　he　took　the　field　with　an　army　of　five　thousand　horse　and　fifty　thousand　foot。*　　Many　cavaliers　of　distinguished　name　accompanied　him　in　this　generous　enterprise。　　Among　these　was　the　redoubtable　Alonso　de　Aguilar；　the　chosen　friend　of　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　and　with　him　his　younger　brother；　Gonsalvo　Fernandez　de　Cordova；　afterward　renowned　as　the　grand　captain；　Don　Roderigo　Giron　also；　master　of　the　order　of　Calatrava；　together　with　Martin　Alonso　de　Montemayor　and　the　marques　de　Villena；　esteemed　the　best　lance　in　Spain。　　It　was　a　gallant　and　splendid　army；　comprising　the　flower　of　Spanish　chivalry；　and　poured　forth　in　brilliant　array　from　the　gates　of　Seville　bearing　the　great　standard　of　that　ancient　and　renowned　city。
  *Cronica　de　los　Duques　de　Medina　Sidonia；　por　Pedro　de　Medina；　MS。
  Ferdinand　and　Isabella　were　at　Medina　del　Campo　when　tidings　came　of　the　capture　of　Alhama。　　The　king　was　at　mass　when　he　received　the　news；　and　ordered　〃Te　Deum〃　to　be　chanted　for　this　signal　triumph　of　the　holy　faith。　　When　the　first　flush　of　triumph　had　subsided；　and　the　king　learnt　the　imminent　peril　of　the　valorous　Ponce　de　Leon　and　his　companions；　and　the　great　danger　that　this　stronghold　might　again　be　wrested　from　their　grasp；　he　resolved　to　hurry　in　person　to　the　scene　of　action。　　So　pressing　appeared　to　him　the　emergency　that　he　barely　gave　himself　time　to　take　a　hasty　repast　while　horses　were　providing；　and　then　departed　at　furious　speed　for　Andalusia；　leaving　a　request　for　the　queen　to　follow　him。*　　He　was　attended　by　Don　Beltram　de　la　Cueva；　duke　of　Albuquerque；　Don　Inigo　Lopez　de　Mendoza；　count　of　Tendilla；　and　Don　Pedro　Mauriques；　count　of　Trevino；　with　a　few　more　cavaliers　of　prowess　and　distinction。　　He　travelled　by　forced　journeys；　frequently　changing　his　jaded　horses；　being　eager　to　arrive　in　time　to　take　command　of　the　Andalusian　chivalry。　　When　he　arrived　within　five　leagues　of　Cordova　the　duke　of　Albuquerque　remonstrated　with　him　upon　entering　with　such　incautious　haste　into　the　enemies'　country。　　He　represented　to　him　that　there　were　troops　enough　assembled　to　succor　Alhama；　and　that　it　was　not　for　him　to　venture　his　royal　person　in　doing　what　could　be　done　by　his　subjects；　especially　as　he　had　such　valiant　and　experienced　captains　to　act　for　him。　　〃Besides；　sire；〃　added　the　duke；　〃Your　Majesty　should　bethink　you　that　the　troops　about　to　take　the　field　are　mere　men　of　Andalusia；　whereas　your　illustrious　predecessors　never　made　an　inroad　into　the　territory　of　the　Moors　without　being　accompanied　by　a　powerful　force　of　the　stanch　and　iron　warriors　of　Old　Castile。〃
  *Illescas；　Hist。　Pontifical。
  〃Duke；〃　replied　the　king；　〃your　counsel　might　have　been　good　had　I　not　departed　from　Medina　with　the　avowed　determination　of　succoring　these　cavaliers　in　person。　　I　am　now　near　the　end　of　my　journey；　and　it　would　be　beneath　my　dignity　to　change　my　intention　before　even　I　had　met　with　an　impediment。　　I　shall　take　the　troops　of　this　country　who　are　assembled；　without　waiting　for　those　of　Castile；　and　with　the　aid　of　God　shall　prosecute　my　journey。〃*
  *Pulgar；　Cronica；　p。　3；　cap。　3。
  As　King　Ferdinand　approached　Cordova　the　principal　inhabitants　came　forth　to　receive　him。　　Learning；　however；　that　the　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia　was　already　on　the　march　and　pressing　forward　into　the　territory　of　the　Moors；　the　king　was　all　on　fire　to　overtake　him　and　to　lead　in　person　the　succor　to　Alhama。　　Without　entering　Cordova；　therefore；　he　exchanged　his　weary　horses　for　those　of　the　inhabitants　who　had　come　forth　to　meet　him；　and　pressed　forwa