onor　of　his　guest；　for　a　day　and　night　his　palace　was　thrown　open　and　was　the　scene　of　continual　revel　and　festivity。　　When　the　duke　departed　for　his　estates　at　St。　Lucar　the　marques　attended　him　for　some　distance　on　his　journey；　and　when　they　separated　it　was　as　the　parting　scene　of　brothers。　　Such　was　the　noble　spectacle　exhibited　to　the　chivalry　of　Spain　by　these　two　illustrious　rivals。　　Each　reaped　universal　renown　from　the　part　he　had　performed　in　the　campaignthe　marques　from　having　surprised　and　captured　one　of　the　most　important　and　formidable　fortresses　of　the　kingdom　of　Granada；　and　the　duke　from　having　subdued　his　deadliest　foe　by　a　great　act　of　magnanimity。
  CHAPTER　IX。
  EVENTS　AT　GRANADA；　AND　RISE　OF　THE　MOORISH　KING；　BOABDIL　　　　　EL　CHICO。
  The　Moorish　king；　Abul　Hassan；　returned；　baffled　and　disappointed；　from　before　the　walls　of　Alhama；　and　was　received　with　groans　and　smothered　execrations　by　the　people　of　Granada。　　The　prediction　of　the　santon　was　in　every　mouth；　and　appeared　to　be　rapidly　fulfilling；　for　the　enemy　was　already　strongly　fortified　in　Alhama；　in　the　very　heart　of　the　kingdom。　　At　the　same　time；　the　nobles　who　had　secretly　conspired　to　depose　the　old　king　and　elevate　his　son　Boabdil　to　the　throne　had　matured　their　plans　in　concert　with　the　prince；　who　had　been　joined　in　Guadix　by　hosts　of　adherents。　　An　opportunity　soon　presented　to　carry　their　plans　into　operation。
  Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　a　royal　country　palace；　with　gardens　and　fountains；　called　the　Alixares；　situated　on　the　Cerro　del　Sol；　or　Mountain　of　the　Sun；　a　height　the　ascent　to　which　leads　up　from　the　Alhambra；　but　which　towers　far　above　that　fortress；　and　looks　down　as　from　the　clouds　upon　it　and　upon　the　subjacent　city　of　Granada。　It　was　a　favorite　retreat　of　the　Moorish　kings　to　inhale　the　pure　mountain…breezes　and　leave　far　below　the　din　and　turmoil　of　the　city；　Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　passed　a　day　among　its　bowers；　in　company　with　his　favorite　wife　Zoraya；　when　toward　evening　he　heard　a　strange　sound　rising　from　the　city；　like　the　gathering　of　a　storm　or　the　sullen　roar　of　the　ocean。　　Apprehensive　of　evil；　he　ordered　the　officers　of　his　guard　to　descend　with　all　speed　to　the　city　and　reconnoitre。　　The　intelligence　brought　back　was　astounding。　A　civil　war　was　raging　in　the　city。　　Boabdil　had　been　brought　from　Guadix　by　the　conspirators；　the　foremost　of　whom　were　the　gallant　race　of　the　Abencerrages。　　He　had　entered　the　Albaycin　in　triumph；　and　been　hailed　with　rapture　and　proclaimed　king　in　that　populous　quarter　of　the　city。　　Abul　Cacim　Vanegas；　the　vizier；　at　the　head　of　the　royal　guards　had　attacked　the　rebels；　and　the　noise　which　had　alarmed　the　king　was　the　din　of　fighting　in　the　streets　and　squares。
  Muley　Abul　Hassan　hastened　to　descend　to　the　Alhambra；　confident　that；　ensconced　in　that　formidable　fortress；　he　could　soon　put　an　end　to　the　rash　commotion。　　To　his　surprise　and　dismay；　he　found　the　battlements　lined　with　hostile　troops：　Aben　Comixa；　the　alcayde；　had　declared　in　favor　of　Boabdil　and　elevated　his　standard　on　the　towers：　thus　cut　off　from　his　stronghold；　the　old　monarch　was　fain　to　return　to　the　Alixares。
  The　conflict　lasted　throughout　the　night　with　carnage　on　both　sides。　In　the　morning　Abul　Cacim；　driven　out　of　the　city；　appeared　before　the　old　king　with　his　broken　squadrons；　and　told　him　there　was　no　safety　but　in　flight。　　〃Allah　Akbar！〃　（God　is　great！）　exclaimed　old　Muley；　〃it　is　in　vain　to　contend　against　what　is　written　in　the　book　of　fate。　　It　was　predestined　that　my　son　should　sit　upon　the　throne　Allah　forfend　the　rest　of　the　prediction。〃　　So　saying；　he　made　a　hasty　retreat；　escorted　by　Abul　Cacim　Vanegas　and　his　troops；　who　conducted　him　to　the　castle　of　Mondujar　in　the　valley　of　Locrin。　Here　he　was　joined　by　many　powerful　cavaliers；　relatives　of　Abul　Cacim　and　partisans　of　Zoraya；　among　whom　were　Cid　Hiaya；　Aben　Jamy；　and　Reduan　Vanegas；　men　who　had　alcaydes；　vassals；　at　their　command；　and　possessed　great　influence　in　Almeria　and　Baza。　　He　was　joined　also　by　his　brother　Abdallah；　commonly　called　El　Zagal；　or　the　Valiant；　who　was　popular　in　many　parts　of　the　kingdom。　All　these　offered　to　aid　him　with　their　swords　in　suppressing　the　rebellion。
  Thus　reinforced；　Muley　Abul　Hassan　determined　on　a　sudden　blow　for　the　recovery　of　his　throne　and　the　punishment　of　the　rebels。　He　took　his　measures　with　that　combination　of　dexterity　and　daring　which　formed　his　character；　and　arrived　one　night　under　the　walls　of　Granada　with　five　hundred　chosen　followers。　　Scaling　the　walls　of　the　Alhambra；　he　threw　himself　with　sanguinary　fury　into　its　silent　courts。　　The　sleeping　inmates　were　roused　from　their　repose　only　to　fall　by　the　exterminating　scimetar。　　The　rage　of　Abul　Hassan　spared　neither　age　nor　rank　nor　sex；　the　halls　resounded　with　shrieks　and　yells；　and　the　fountains　ran　red　with　blood。　　The　alcayde；　Aben　Comixa；　retreated　to　a　strong　tower　with　a　few　of　the　garrison　and　inhabitants。　　The　furious　Abul　Hassan　did　not　lose　time　in　pursuing　him；　he　was　anxious　to　secure　the　city　and　to　wreak　his　vengeance　on　its　rebellious　inhabitants。　　Descending　with　his　bloody　band　into　the　streets；　he　cut　down　the　defenceless　inhabitants　as；　startled　from　their　sleep；　they　rushed　forth　to　learn　the　cause　of　the　alarm。　The　city　was　soon　completely　roused；　the　people　flew　to　arms；　lights　blazed　in　every　street；　revealing　the　scanty　number　of　this　band　that　had　been　dealing　such　fatal　vengeance　in　the　dark。　　Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　been　mistaken　in　his　conjectures：　the　great　mass　of　the　people；　incensed　by　his　tyranny；　were　zealous　in　favor　of　his　son。　A　violent　but　transient　conflict　took　place　in　the　streets　and　squares：　many　of　the　followers　of　Abul　Hassan　were　slain；　the　rest　driven　out　of　the　city；　and　the　old　monarch；　with　the　remnant　of　his　band；　retreated　to　his　loyal　city　of　Malaga。
  Such　was　the　commencement　of　those　great　internal　feuds　and　divisions　which　hastened　the　downfall　of　Granada。　　The　Moors　became　separated　into　two　hostile　factions；　headed　by　the　father　and　the　son；　the　latter　of　whom　was　called　by　the　Spaniards　〃El　Rey　Chico；〃　or　the　Young　King；　but；　though　bloody　encounters　took　place　between　them；　they　never　failed　to　act　with　all　their　separate　force　against　the　Christians　as　a　common　enemy　whenever　an　opportunity　occurred。
  CHAPTER　X。
  ROYAL　EXPEDITION　AGAINST　LOXA。
  King　Ferdinand　held　a　council　of　war　at　Cordova；　where　it　was　deliberated　what　was　to　be　done　with　Alhama。　　Most　of　the　council　advised　that　it　should　be　demolished；　inasmuch　as；　being　in　the　centre　of　the　Moorish　kingdom；　it　would　be　at　all　times　liable　to　attack；　and　could　only　be　maintained　by　a　powerful　garrison　and　at　a　vast　expense。　　Queen　Isabella　arrived　at　Cordova　in　the　midst　of　these　deliberations；　and　listened　to　them　with　surprise　and　impatience。　　〃What！〃　said　she；　〃destroy　the　first　fruits　of　our　victories？　　Abandon　the　first　place　we　have　wrested　from　the　Moors？　Never　let　us　suffer　such　an　idea　to　occupy　our　minds。　　It　would　argue　fear　or　feebleness；　and　give　new　courage　to　the　enemy。　　You　talk　of　the　toil　and　expense　of　maintaining　Alhama。　　Did　we　doubt　on　undertaking　this　war　that　it　was　to　be　one　of　infinite　cost；　labor；　and　bloodshed？　　And　shall　we　shrink　from　the　cost　the　moment　a　victory　is　obtained　and　the　question　is　merely　to　guard　or　abandon　its　glorious　trophy？　　Let　us　hear　no　more　about　the　destruction　of　Alhama；　let　us　maintain　its　walls　sacred；　as　a　stronghold　granted　us　by　Heaven　in　the　centre　of　this　hostile　land；　and　let　our　only　consideration　be　how　to　extend　our　conquest　and　capture　the　surrounding　cities。〃
  The　language　of　the　queen　infused　a　more　lofty　and　chivalrous　spirit　into　the　royal　council。　　Preparations　were　made　to　maintain　Alhama　at　all　risk　and　expense；　and　King　Ferdinand　appointed　as　alcayde　Luis　Fernandez　Puerto　Carrero；　senior　of　the　house　of　Palma；　supported　by　Diego　Lopez　de　Ayala；　Pero　Ruiz　de　Alarcon；　and　Alonso　Ortis；　captains　of　four　hundred　lances　and　a　body　of　one　thousand　foot；　supplied　with　provisions　for　three　months。
  Ferdinand　resolved　also　to　lay　siege　to　Loxa；　or　Loja；　a　city　of　great　strength　at　no　great　distance　from　Alhama；　and　all…important　to　its　protection。　　It　was；　in　fact；　a　military　point　situated　in　a　pass　of　the　mountains　between　the　kingdoms　of　Granada　and　Castile；　and　commanded　a　main　entrance　to　the　Vega。　　The　Xenil　flowed　by　its　walls；　and　it　had　a　strong　castle　or　citadel　built　on　a　rock。　　In　preparing　for　the　siege　of　this　formidable　place　Ferdinand　called　upon　all　the　cities　and　towns　of　Andalusia　and　Estramadura；　and　the　domains　of　the　orders　of　Santiago；　Calatrava；　and　Alcantara；　and　of　the　priory　of　San　Juan；　and　the　kingdom　of　Toledo；　and　beyond　to　the　cities　of　Salamanca；　Toro；　and　Valladolid；　to　furnish；　according　to　their　repartimientos　or　allotments；　a　certain　quantity　of　bread；　wine；　and　cattle　to　be　delivered　at　the　royal　camp　before　Loxa；　one　half　at　the　end　of　June　and　one　half　in　July。　　These　lands；　also；　together　with　Biscay　and　Guipuscoa；　were　ordered　to　send　reinforcements　of　horse　and　foot；　each　town　furnishing　its　quota；　and　great　diligence　was　used　in　providing　lombards；　powder；　and　other　warlike　munitions。
  The　Moors　were　n