ed to release the army in
exchange for the city of Ceuta, Prince Fernando and some of the noblest
of his followers remaining as hostages, while news of the disaster and
of the terms offered was carried to Lisbon. The royal prisoner and his
companions were treated with all honour and courtesy, and assured that
their captivity could only be a short one, for the Portuguese King would
lose no time in redeeming his gallant brother.

But the Christian prince knew better. The city which had been so
gallantly won from the infidel might not be lightly given back. Some say
that Fernando himself sent a message to the King at Lisbon, forbidding
him to weigh his brother's freedom against the fair prize of their first
deed of arms. At any rate, he showed neither surprise nor dismay when
the answer was returned that the King of Portugal would pay any sum the
Moors could ask for his brother's ransom, but would not part with Ceuta.
It must have been heart-breaking work for the King and his brothers to
agree with the decision of the Council, that the city must be held at
the cost of the freedom of the youngest and best-beloved of their
gallant band, even though they knew that Fernando himself would be the
first to applaud them. Grief and anxiety must have added to the sickness
of which King Duarte died a year later, leaving a child heir and much
trouble and confusion behind him. Enrique left camp and court to live in
seclusion at Algarve, and there gave himself up to the study of naval
science and astronomy. His name is famous yet as 'Prince Henry the
Navigator,' and his renown spread over Europe in his lifetime. But, as
he planned and sent forth exploring expeditions or studied the stars in
his long night watches, the wise prince's heart must have ached many a
time at the thought of the younger brother, paying the penalty of their
failure among the dark-skinned foe.

For the Moors, who had hoped to hoist the crescent once more over their
ancient stronghold, wreaked a bitter vengeance on the man who would not
plead for his own freedom.

Fernando and his companions, sons of the noblest families in Portugal,
were set to the hardest and most menial work, loaded with chains, and
driven to their tasks with blows and threats. But no ill-usage could
break the spirit of the prince, or induce him to send home entreaties
for the only ransom his captors would accept. The lad who had promised
at his dying mother's bedside to fight as become a Chri