rossed his lip for a moment, but it vanished ere the king could detect
it. Boabdil continued:

"Under the influence of this warning, I issued the order for thy arrest.
Let this pass--I resume my tale. I attempted to throw myself at the
spectre's feet--it glided from me, motionless and impalpable. I asked
the Dead One if he forgave his unhappy son the sin of rebellion alas!
too well requited even upon earth. And the voice again came forth, and
bade me keep the crown that I had gained, as the sole atonement for the
past. Then again I asked, whether the hour for action had arrived! and
the spectre, while it faded gradually into air, answered, 'No!' 'Oh!'
I exclaimed, 'ere thou leavest me, be one sign accorded me, that I have
not dreamt this vision; and give me, I pray thee, note and warning,
when the evil star of Boabdil shall withhold its influence, and he may
strike, without resistance from the Powers above, for his glory and his
throne.' 'The sign and the warning are bequeathed thee,' answered the
ghostly image. It vanished,--thick darkness fell around; and, when once
more the light of the lamps we bore became visible, behold there stood
before me a skeleton, in the regal robe of the kings of Granada, and
on its grisly head was the imperial diadem. With one hand raised, it
pointed to the opposite wall, wherein burned, like an orb of gloomy
fire, a broad dial-plate, on which were graven these words, BEWARE--FEAR
NOT--ARM! The finger of the dial moved rapidly round, and rested at the
word beware. From that hour to the one in which I last beheld it, it
hath not moved. Muza, the tale is done; wilt thou visit with me this
enchanted chamber, and see if the hour be come?"

"Commander of the faithful," said Muza, "the story is dread and awful.
But pardon thy friend--wert thou alone, or was the santon Almamen thy
companion?"

"Why the question?" said Boabdil, evasively, and slightly colouring.

"I fear his truth," answered Muza; "the Christian king conquers more
foes by craft than force; and his spies are more deadly than his
warriors. Wherefore this caution against me, but (pardon me) for thine
own undoing? Were I a traitor, could Ferdinand himself have endangered
thy crown so imminently as the revenge of the leader of thine own
armies? Why, too, this desire to keep thee inactive? For the brave every
hour hath its chances; but, for us, every hour increases our peril. If
we seize not the present time,--our supplies are cut of