hers to fire
the surrounding gardens and orchards; so that the action might consist
rather of many battles than of one, and the Moors might lose the
concentration and union, which made, at present, their most formidable
strength.

Thus, while the Mussulmans were waiting in order for the attack, they
suddenly beheld the main body of the Christians dispersing, and, while
yet in surprise and perplexed, they saw the fires breaking out from
their delicious gardens, to the right and left of the walls, and hear
the boom of the Christian artillery against the scattered bulwarks that
guarded the approaches of that city.

At that moment a cloud of dust rolled rapidly towards the post occupied
in the van by Muza, and the shock of the Christian knights, in their
mighty mail, broke upon the centre of the prince's squadron.

Higher, by several inches, than the plumage of his companions, waved
the crest of the gigantic del Pulgar; and, as Moor after Moor went
down before his headlong lance, his voice, sounding deep and sepulchral
through his visor, shouted out--"Death to the infidel!"

The rapid and dexterous horsemen of Granada were not, however,
discomfited by this fierce assault: opening their ranks with
extraordinary celerity, they suffered the charge to pass comparatively
harmless through their centre, and then, closing in one long and
bristling line, cut off the knights from retreat. The Christians wheeled
round, and charged again upon their foe.

"Where art thou, O Moslem dog! that wouldst play the lion'?--Where art
thou, Muza Ben Abil Gazan'?"

"Before thee, Christian!" cried a stern and clear voice; and from
amongst the helmets of his people, gleamed the dazzling turban of the
Moor.

Hernando checked his steed, gazed a moment at his foe, turned back,
for greater impetus to his charge, and, in a moment more, the bravest
warriors of the two armies met, lance to lance.

The round shield of Muza received the Christian's weapon; his own spear
shivered, harmless, upon the breast of the giant. He drew his sword,
whirled it rapidly over his head, and, for some minutes, the eyes of
the bystanders could scarcely mark the marvellous rapidity with which
strokes were given and parried by those redoubted swordsmen.

At length, Hernando, anxious to bring to bear his superior strength,
spurred close to Muza; and, leaving his sword pendant by a thong to his
wrist, seized the shield of Muza in his formidable grasp, and plucked
it a