een　companions；　all　of　powerful　arm　and　dauntless　heart。
  His　project　was　to　penetrate　Granada　in　the　dead　of　the　night　by　a　secret　pass　made　known　to　him　by　a　Moorish　renegade　of　the　city；　whom　he　had　christened　Pedro　Pulgar；　and　who　was　to　act　as　guide。　　They　were　to　set　fire　to　the　Alcaiceria　and　other　principal　edifices；　and　then　effect　their　retreat　as　best　they　might。　　At　the　hour　appointed　the　adventurous　troops　set　forth　provided　with　combustibles。　　The　renegade　led　them　silently　to　a　drain　or　channel　of　the　river　Darro；　up　which　they　proceeded　cautiously；　single　file；　until　they　halted　under　a　bridge　near　the　royal　gate。　　Here　dismounting；　Pulgar　stationed　six　of　his　companions　to　remain　silent　and　motionless　and　keep　guard；　while；　followed　by　the　rest　and　still　guided　by　the　renegade；　he　continued　up　the　drain　or　channel　of　the　Darro；　which　passes　under　a　part　of　the　city；　and　was　thus　enabled　to　make　his　way　undiscovered　into　the　streets。　　All　was　dark　and　silent。　　At　the　command　of　Pulgar　the　renegade　led　him　to　the　principal　mosque。　　Here　the　cavalier；　pious　as　brave；　threw　himself　on　his　knees；　and；　drawing　forth　a　parchment　scroll　on　which　was　inscribed　in　large　letters　〃AVE　MARIA；〃　nailed　it　to　the　door　of　the　mosque；　thus　converting　the　heathen　edifice　into　a　Christian　chapel　and　dedicating　it　to　the　Blessed　Virgin。　　This　done；　he　hastened　to　the　Alcaiceria　to　set　it　in　a　blaze。　　The　combustibles　were　all　placed；　but　Tristan　de　Montemayor；　who　had　charge　of　the　firebrand；　had　carelessly　left　it　at　the　door　of　the　mosque。　　It　was　too　late　to　return　there。　　Pulgar　was　endeavoring　to　strike　fire　with　flint　and　steel　into　the　ravelled　end　of　a　cord　when　he　was　startled　by　the　approach　of　the　Moorish　guards　going　the　rounds。　　His　hand　was　on　his　sword　in　an　instant。　　Seconded　by　his　brave　companions；　he　assailed　the　astonished　Moors　and　put　them　to　flight。　　In　a　little　while　the　whole　city　resounded　with　alarms；　soldiers　were　hurrying　through　the　streets　in　every　direction；　but　Pulgar；　guided　by　the　renegade；　made　good　his　retreat　by　the　channel　of　the　Darro　to　his　companions　at　the　bridge；　and　all；　mounting　their　horses；　spurred　back　to　the　camp。　The　Moors　were　at　a　loss　to　imagine　the　meaning　of　this　wild　and　apparently　fruitless　assault；　but　great　was　their　exasperation　on　the　following　day　when　the　trophy　of　hardihood　and　prowess；　the　〃AVE　MARIA；〃　was　discovered　thus　elevated　in　bravado　in　the　very　centre　of　the　city。　　The　mosque　thus　boldly　sanctified　by　Hernan　del　Pulgar　was　actually　consecrated　into　a　cathedral　after　the　capture　of　Granada。*
  *The　account　here　given　of　the　exploit　of　Hernan　del　Pulgar　differs　　from　that　given　in　the　first　edition；　and　is　conformable　to　the　　record　of　the　fact　in　a　manuscript　called　〃The　House　of　Salar；〃　　existing　in　the　library　of　Salazar　and　cited　by　Alcantara　in　his　　History　of　　Granada。
  In　commemoration　of　this　daring　feat　of　Pulgar；　the　emperor　Charles　V。　in　after　years　conferred　on　that　cavalier　and　on　his　descendants；　the　marqueses　of　Salar；　the　privilege　of　sitting　in　the　choir　during　high　mass；　and　assigned　as　the　place　of　sepulture　of　Pulgar　himself　the　identical　spot　where　he　kneeled　to　affix　the　sacred　scroll；　and　his　tomb　is　still　held　in　great　veneration。　　This　Hernan　Perez　del　Pulgar　was　a　man　of　letters；　as　well　as　art；　and　inscribed　to　Charles　V。　a　summary　of　the　achievements　of　Gonsalvo　of　Cordova；　surnamed　the　Great　Captain；　who　had　been　one　of　his　comrades…　in…arms。　　He　is　often　confounded　with　Hernando　del　Pulgar；　historian　and　secretary　to　Queen　Isabella。　　（See　note　to　Pulgar's　Chron。　of　the　Catholic　Sovereigns；　part　3；　c。　iii。；　edit。　Valencia；　1780。）
  CHAPTER　XCIII。
  HOW　QUEEN　ISABELLA　TOOK　A　VIEW　OF　THE　CITY　OF　GRANADA；　　　　　AND　HOW　HER　CURIOSITY　COST　THE　LIVES　OF　MANY　　　　　CHRISTIANS　AND　MOORS。
  The　royal　encampment　lay　so　distant　from　Granada　that　the　general　aspect　of　the　city　only　could　be　seen　as　it　rose　gracefully　from　the　Vega；　covering　the　sides　of　the　hills　with　palaces　and　towers。　　Queen　Isabella　had　expressed　an　earnest　desire　to　behold　nearer　at　hand　a　city　whose　beauty　was　so　renowned　throughout　the　world；　and　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　with　his　accustomed　courtesy；　prepared　a　great　military　escort　and　guard　to　protect　her　and　the　ladies　of　the　court　while　they　enjoyed　this　perilous　gratification。
  On　the　morning　of　June　the　18th　a　magnificent　and　powerful　train　issued　from　the　Christian　camp。　　The　advanced　guard　was　composed　of　legions　of　cavalry；　heavily　armed；　looking　like　moving　masses　of　polished　steel。　　Then　came　the　king　and　queen；　with　the　prince　and　princess　and　the　ladies　of　the　court；　surrounded　by　the　royal　body…　guard；　sumptuously　arrayed；　composed　of　the　sons　of　the　most　illustrious　houses　of　Spain；　after　these　was　the　rear…guard；　a　powerful　force　of　horse　and　foot；　for　the　flower　of　the　army　sallied　forth　that　day。　　The　Moors　gazed　with　fearful　admiration　at　this　glorious　pageant；　wherein　the　pomp　of　the　court　was　mingled　with　the　terrors　of　the　camp。　　It　moved　along　in　radiant　line　across　the　Vega　to　the　melodious　thunders　of　martial　music；　while　banner　and　plume　and　silken　scarf　and　rich　brocade　gave　a　gay　and　gorgeous　relief　to　the　grim　visage　of　iron　war　that　lurked　beneath。
  The　army　moved　toward　the　hamlet　of　Zubia；　built　on　the　skirts　of　the　mountain　to　the　left　of　Granada；　and　commanding　a　view　of　the　Alhambra　and　the　most　beautiful　quarter　of　the　city。　　As　they　approached　the　hamlet　the　marques　of　Villena；　the　count　Urena；　and　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar　fled　off　with　their　battalions；　and　were　soon　seen　glittering　along　the　side　of　the　mountain　above　the　village。　　In　the　mean　time；　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　the　count　de　Tendilla；　the　count　de　Cabra；　and　Don　Alonso　Fernandez；　senior　of　Alcaudrete　and　Montemayor；　drew　up　their　forces　in　battle　array　on　the　plain　below　the　hamlet；　presenting　a　living　barrier　of　loyal　chivalry　between　the　sovereigns　and　the　city。
  Thus　securely　guarded；　the　royal　party　alighted；　and；　entering　one　of　the　houses　of　the　hamlet　which　had　been　prepared　for　their　reception；　enjoyed　a　full　view　of　the　city　from　its　terraced　roof。　The　ladies　of　the　court　gazed　with　delight　at　the　red　towers　of　the　Alhambra　rising　from　amid　shady　groves；　anticipating　the　time　when　the　Catholic　sovereigns　should　be　enthroned　within　its　walls　and　its　courts　shine　with　the　splendor　of　Spanish　chivalry。　　〃The　reverend　prelates　and　holy　friars　who　always　surrounded　the　queen　looked　with　serene　satisfaction；〃　says　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　〃at　this　modern　Babylon；　enjoying　the　triumph　that　awaited　them　when　those　mosques　and　minarets　should　be　converted　into　churches；　and　goodly　priests　and　bishops　should　succeed　to　the　infidel　alfaquis。〃
  When　the　Moors　beheld　the　Christians　thus　drawn　forth　in　full　array　in　the　plain；　they　supposed　it　was　to　offer　battle；　and　hesitated　not　to　accept　it。　　In　a　little　while　the　queen　beheld　a　body　of　Moorish　cavalry　pouring　into　the　Vega；　the　riders　managing　their　fleet　and　fiery　steeds　with　admirable　address。　　They　were　richly　armed　and　clothed　in　the　most　brilliant　colors；　and　the　caparisons　of　their　steeds　flamed　with　gold　and　embroidery。　　This　was　the　favorite　squadron　of　Muza；　composed　of　the　flower　of　the　youthful　cavaliers　of　Granada。　　Others　succeeded；　some　heavily　armed；　others　〃a　la　gineta〃　with　lance　and　buckler；　and　lastly　came　the　legions　of　foot…soldiers　with　arquebuse　and　crossbow　and　spear　and　scimetar。
  When　the　queen　saw　this　army　issuing　from　the　city　she　sent　to　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　and　forbade　any　attack　upon　the　enemy　or　the　acceptance　of　any　challenge　to　a　skirmish；　for　she　was　loth　that　her　curiosity　should　cost　the　life　of　a　single　human　being。
  The　marques　promised　to　obey；　though　sorely　against　his　will；　and　it　grieved　the　spirit　of　the　Spanish　cavaliers　to　be　obliged　to　remain　with　sheathed　sword's　while　bearded　by　the　foe。　　The　Moors　could　not　comprehend　the　meaning　of　this　inaction　of　the　Christians　after　having　apparently　invited　a　battle。　　They　sallied　several　times　from　their　ranks；　and　approached　near　enough　to　discharge　their　arrows；　but　the　Christians　were　immovable。　　Many　of　the　Moorish　horsemen　galloped　close　to　the　Christian　ranks；　brandishing　their　lances　and　scimetars　and　defying　various　cavaliers　to　single　combat；　but　Ferdinand　had　rigorously　prohibited　all　duels　of　the　kind；　and　they　dared　not　transgress　his　orders　under　his　very　eye。
  Here；　however；　the　worthy　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　in　his　enthusiasm　for　the　triumphs　of　the　faith；　records　the　following　incident；　which　we　fear　is　not　sustained　by　any　grave　chronicler　of　the　times；　but　rests　merely　on　tradition　or　the　authority　of　certain　poets　and　dramatic　writers　who　have　perpetuated　the　tradition　in　their　works：　While　this　grim　and　reluctant　tranquillity　prevailed　along　the　Christian　line；　says　Agapida；　there　rose　a　mingled　shout　and　sound　of　laughter　near　the　gate　of　the　city。　　A　Moorish　horseman；　armed　at　all　points；　issued　forth；　followed　by　a　rabble　who　drew　back　as　he　approached　the　scene　of　danger。　　The　Moor　was　more　robust　and　brawny　than　was　common　with　his　countrymen。　　His　visor　was　closed；　he　bore　a　huge　buckler　and　a　ponderous　lance；　his　scimetar　was　of　a　Damascus　blade；　and　his