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not yield to softness like common men。 Thou hast done well； my son； in throwing thyself resolutely into Granada： it must depend upon thyself whether thou remain here a king or a captive。〃
The old king； Muley Abul Hassan； had retired to his couch that night in one of the strongest towers of the Alhambra； but his restless anxiety kept him from repose。 In the first watch of the night he heard a shout faintly rising from the quarter of the Albaycin； which is on the opposite side of the deep valley of the Darro。 Shortly afterward horsemen came galloping up the hill that leads to the main gate of the Alhambra； spreading the alarm that Boabdil had entered the city and possessed himself of the Alcazaba。
In the first transports of his rage the old king would have struck the messenger to earth。 He hastily summoned his counsellors and commanders； exhorting them to stand by him in this critical moment； and during the night made every preparation to enter the Albaycin sword in hand in the morning。
In the mean time the sultana Ayxa had taken prompt and vigorous measures to strengthen her party。 The Albaycin was the part of the city filled by the lower orders。 The return of Boabdil was proclaimed throughout the streets； and large sums of money were distributed among the populace。 The nobles assembled in the Alcazaba were promised honors and rewards by Boabdil as soon as he should be firmly seated on the throne。 These well…timed measures had the customary effect； and by daybreak all the motley populace of the Albaycin were in arms。
A doleful day succeeded。 All Granada was a scene of tumult and horror。 Drums and trumpets resounded in every part； all business was interrupted； the shops were shut； the doors barricadoed。 Armed bands paraded the streets； some shouting for Boabdil； and some for Muley Abul Hassan。 When they encountered each other they fought furiously and without mercy； every public square became a scene of battle。 The great mass of the lower orders was in favor of Boabdil； but it was a multitude without discipline or lofty spirit： part of the people were regularly armed； but the greater number had sallied forth with the implements of their trade。 The troops of the old king； among whom were many cavaliers of pride and valor； soon drove the populace from the squares。 They fortified themselves； however； in the streets and lanes； which they barricadoed。 They made fortresses of their houses； and fought desperately from the windows and the roofs； and many a warrior of the highest blood of Granada was laid low by plebeian hands and plebeian weapons in this civic brawl。*
*Conde； Domin。 de los Arabes； p。 4； c。 37。
It was impossible that such violent convulsions should last long in the heart of the city。 The people soon longed for repose and a return to their peaceful occupations； and the cavaliers detested these conflicts with the multitude； in which were all the horrors of war without its laurels。 By the interference of the alfaquis an armistice was at length effected。 Boabdil was persuaded that there was no dependence upon the inconstant favor of the multitude； and was prevailed upon to quit a capital where he could only maintain a precarious seat upon his throne by a perpetual and bloody struggle。 He fixed his court at the city of Almeria； which was entirely devoted to him； and which at that time vied with Granada in splendor and importance。 This compromise of grandeur for tranquillity； however； was sorely against the counsels of his proud…spirited mother； the sultana Ayxa。 Granada appeared； in her eyes； the only legitimate seat of dominion； and she observed； with a smile of disdain； that he was not worthy of being called a monarch who was not master of his capital。
CHAPTER XXII。
FORAY OF THE MOORISH ALCAYDES； AND BATTLE OF LOPERA。
Though Muley Abul Hassan had regained undivided sway over the city of Granada； and the alfaquis； by his command； had denounced his son Boabdil as an apostate doomed by Heaven to misfortune； still the latter had many adherents among the common people。 Whenever； therefore； any act of the old monarch was displeasing to the turbulent multitude； they were prone to give him a hint of the slippery nature of his standing by shouting out the name of Boabdil el Chico。 Long experience had instructed Muley Abul Hassan in the character of the inconstant people over whom he ruled。 〃A successful inroad into the country of the unbelievers；〃 said he； 〃will make more converts to my cause than a thousand texts of the Koran expounded by ten thousand alfaquis。〃
At this time King Ferdinand was absent from Andalusia on a distant expedition with many of his troops。 The moment was favorable for a foray； and Muley Abul Hassan cast about his thoughts for a leader to conduct it。 Ali Atar； the terror of the border； the scourge of Andalusia； was dead； but there was another veteran general； scarce inferior to him for predatory warfare。 This was old Bexir； the gray and crafty alcayde of Malaga； and the people under his command were ripe for an expedition of the kind。 The signal defeat and slaughter of the Spanish knights in the neighboring mountains had filled the people of Malaga with vanity and self…conceit。 They had attributed to their own valor the defeat caused by the nature of the country。 Many of them wore the armor and paraded in public with the horses of the unfortunate cavaliers slain on that occasion； vauntingly displaying them as trophies of their boasted victory。 They had talked themselves into a contempt for the chivalry of Andalusia； and were impatient for an opportunity to overrun a country defended by such troops。 This Muley Abul Hassan considered a favorable state of mind for a daring inroad； and sent orders to old Bexir to gather together the choicest warriors of the borders and carry fire and sword into the very heart of Andalusia。 Bexir immediately despatched his emissaries among the alcaydes of the border towns； calling upon them to assemble with their troops at the city of Ronda。
Ronda was the most virulent nest of Moorish depredators in the whole border country。 It was situated in the midst of the wild Serrania； or chain of mountains of the same name； which are uncommonly lofty； broken； and precipitous。 It stood on an almost isolated rock； nearly encircled by a deep valley； or rather chasm； through which ran the beautiful river called Rio Verde。 The Moors of this city were the most active； robust； and warlike of all the mountaineers； and their very children discharged the crossbow with unerring aim。 They were incessantly harassing the rich plains of Andalusia； their city abounded with Christian captives； who might sigh in vain for deliverance from this impregnable fortress。 Such was Ronda in the time of the Moors； and it has ever retained something of the same character； even to the present day。 Its inhabitants continue to be among the boldest； fiercest； and most adventurous of the Andalusian mountaineers； and the Serrania de Ronda is famous as the most dangerous resort of the bandit and the contrabandista。
Hamet Zeli； surnamed El Zegri； was the commander of this belligerent city and its fierce inhabitants。 He was of the tribe of the Zegri