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ithout having his sword girt to his side。*
*Illescas； Hist。 Pontif。； lib。 6； c。 20； Vedmar； Hist。 Velez Malaga。
When this achievement of the king was related to Isabella； she trembled amidst her joy at his safety； and afterward； in memorial of the event； granted to Velez Malaga； as the arms of the city； the figure of the king on horseback； with a groom lying dead at his feet and the Moors flying。*
*Ibid。
The camp was formed； but the artillery was yet on the road； advancing with infinite labor at the rate of merely a league a day； for heavy rains had converted the streams of the valleys into raging torrents and completely broken up the roads。 In the mean time； King Ferdinand ordered an assault on the suburbs of the city。 They were carried after a sanguinary conflict of six hours； in which many Christian cavaliers were killed and wounded； and among the latter Don Alvaro of Portugal； son of the duke of Braganza。 The suburbs were then fortified toward the city with trenches and palisades； and garrisoned by a chosen force under Don Fadrique de Toledo。 Other trenches were digged round the city and from the suburbs to the royal camp； so as to cut off all communication with the surrounding country。
Bodies of troops were also sent to take possession of the mountain… passes by which the supplies for the army had to be brought。 The mountains； however； were so steep and rugged； and so full of defiles and lurking…places； that the Moors could sally forth and retreat in perfect security； frequently swooping down upon Christian convoys and bearing off both booty and prisoners to their strongholds。 Sometimes the Moors would light fires at night on the sides of the mountains； which would be answered by fires from the watch…towers and fortresses。 By these signals they would concert assaults upon the Christian camp； which in consequence was obliged to be continually on the alert。
King Ferdinand flattered himself that the manifestation of his force had struck sufficient terror into the city； and that by offers of clemency it might be induced to capitulate。 He wrote a letter； therefore； to the commanders； promising； in case of immediate surrender； that all the inhabitants should be permitted to depart with their effects； but threatening them with fire and sword if they persisted in defence。 This letter was despatched by a cavalier named Carvajal； who； putting it on the end of a lance； reached it to the Moors on the walls of the city。 Abul Cacim Vanegas； son of Reduan； and alcayde of the fortress； replied that the king was too noble and magnanimous to put such a threat in execution； and that he should not surrender； as he knew the artillery could not be brought to the camp； and he was promised succor by the king of Granada。
At the same time that he received this reply the king learnt that at the strong town of Comares； upon a height about two leagues distant from the camp； a large number of warriors had assembled from the Axarquia； the same mountains in which the Christian cavaliers had been massacred in the beginning of the war； and that others were daily expected； for this rugged sierra was capable of furnishing fifteen thousand fighting…men。
King Ferdinand felt that his army； thus disjoined and enclosed in an enemy's country； was in a perilous situation； and that the utmost discipline and vigilance were necessary。 He put the camp under the strictest regulations； forbidding all gaming； blasphemy； or brawl； and expelling all loose women and their attendant bully ruffians； the usual fomenters of riot and contention among soldiery。 He ordered that none should sally forth to skirmish without permission from their commanders； that none should set fire to the woods on the neighboring mountains； and that all word of security given to Moorish places or individuals should be inviolably observed。 These regulations were enforced by severe penalties； and had such salutary effect that； though a vast host of various people was collected together； not an opprobrious epithet was heard nor a weapon drawn in quarrel。
In the mean time the cloud of war continued to gather about the summits of the mountains； and multitudes of the fierce warriors of the sierra descended to the lower heights of Bentomiz； which overhung the camp； intending to force their way to the city。 A detachment was sent against them； which； after sharp fighting； drove them to the higher cliffs； where it was impossible to pursue them。
Ten days had elapsed since the encampment of the army； yet still the artillery had not arrived。 The lombards and other heavy ordnance were left in despair at Antiquera； the rest came groaning slowly through the narrow valleys； which were filled with long trains of artillery and cars laden with munitions。 At length part of the smaller ordnance arrived within half a league of the camp； and the Christians were animated with the hopes of soon being able to make a regular attack upon the fortifications of the city。
CHAPTER XLVIII。
HOW KING FERDINAND AND HIS ARMY WERE EXPOSED TO IMMINENT PERIL BEFORE VELEZ MALAGA。
While the standard of the cross waved on the hills before Velez Malaga； and every height and cliff bristled with hostile arms； the civil war between the factions of the Alhambra and the Albaycin； or rather between El Zagal and El Chico； continued to convulse the city of Granada。 The tidings of the investment of Velez Malaga at length roused the attention of the old men and the alfaquis； whose heads were not heated by the daily broils； and they endeavored to arouse the people to a sense of their common danger。
〃Why；〃 said they； 〃continue these brawls between brethren and kindred？ What battles are these where even triumph is ignominious； and the victor blushes and conceals his scars？ Behold the Christians ravaging the land won by the valor and blood of your forefathers； dwelling in the houses they built； sitting under the trees they planted； while your brethren wander about houseless and desolate。 Do you wish to seek your real foe？he is encamped on the mountain of Bentomiz。 Do you want a field for the display of your valor？you will find it before the walls of Velez Malaga。〃
When they had roused the spirit of the people they made their way to the rival kings； and addressed them with like remonstrances。 Hamet Aben Zarraz； the inspired santon； reproached El Zagal with his blind and senseless ambition。 〃You are striving to be king；〃 said he； bitterly； 〃yet suffer the kingdom to be lost！〃
El Zagal found himself in a perplexing dilemma。 He had a double war to wagewith the enemy without and the enemy within。 Should the Christians gain possession of the sea…coast； it would be ruinous to the kingdom； should he leave Granada to oppose them； his vacant throne might be seized on by his nephew。 He made a merit of necessity； and； pretending to yield to the remonstrances of the alfaquis； endeavored to compromise with Boabdil。 He expressed deep concern at the daily losses of the country caused by the dissensions of the capital： an opportunity now presented to retrieve all by a blow。 The Christians had in a manner put themselves in a tomb between the mountainsnothing remained but to throw the earth u