of their consternation, the Gothic noble, Pelistes, arrived
at their gates, haggard with fatigue of body and anguish of mind, and
leading a remnant of his devoted cavaliers, who had survived the dreadful
battle of the Guadalete. The people of Cordova knew the valiant and
steadfast spirit of Pelistes, and rallied round him as a last hope.
'Roderick is fallen,' cried they, 'and we have neither king nor captain:
be unto us as a sovereign; take command of our city, and protect us in
this hour of peril!'

The heart of Pelistes was free from ambition, and was too much broken by
grief to be flattered by the offer of command; but he felt above
everything for the woes of his country, and was ready to assume any
desperate service in her cause. 'Your city,' said he, 'is surrounded by
walls and towers, and may yet check the progress of the foe. Promise to
stand by me to the last, and I will undertake your defence.' The
inhabitants all promised implicit obedience and devoted zeal: for what
will not the inhabitants of a wealthy city promise and profess in a moment
of alarm? The instant, however, that they heard of the approach of the
Moslem troops, the wealthier citizens packed up their effects and fled to
the mountains, or to the distant city of Toledo. Even the monks collected
the riches of their convents and churches, and fled. Pelistes, though he
saw himself thus deserted by those who had the greatest interest in the
safety of the city, yet determined not to abandon its defence. He had
still his faithful though scanty band of cavaliers, and a number of
fugitives of the army; in all amounting to about four hundred men. He
stationed guards, therefore, at the gates and in the towers, and made
every preparation for a desperate resistance.

In the mean time, the army of Moslems and apostate Christians advanced,
under the command of the Greek renegado, Magued, and guided by the traitor
Julian. While they were yet at some distance from the city, their scouts
brought to them a shepherd, whom they had surprised on the banks of the
Guadalquiver. The trembling hind was an inhabitant of Cordova, and
revealed to them the state of the place, and the weakness of its garrison.

'And the walls and gates,' said Magued, 'are they strong and well
guarded?'

'The walls are high, and of wondrous strength,' replied the shepherd; 'and
soldiers hold watch at the gates by day and night. But there is one place
where the city may be secretly entered. In