invading army across the
Straits. Twelve thousand men were chosen for this expedition: most of them
light Arabian troops, seasoned in warfare, and fitted for hardy and rapid
enterprise. Among them were many horsemen, mounted on fleet Arabian
steeds. The whole was put under the command of the veteran, Taric el
Tuerto, or the one-eyed, in whom Muza reposed implicit confidence, as in a
second self. Taric accepted the command with joy: his martial fire was
roused at the idea of having such an army under his sole command, and such
a country to overrun; and he secretly determined never to return unless
victorious.

He chose a dark night to convey his troops across the Straits of Hercules;
and, by break of day they began to disembark at Tarifa, before the country
had time to take the alarm. A few Christians hastily assembled from the
neighborhood and opposed their landing, but were easily put to flight.
Taric stood on the sea-side, and watched until the last squadron had
landed; and all the horses, armour, and munitions of war were brought on
shore: he then gave orders to set fire to the ships. The Moslems were
struck with terror when they beheld their fleet wrapped in flames and
smoke, and sinking beneath the waves. 'How shall we escape,' exclaimed
they, 'if the fortune of war should be against us?' 'There is no escape
for the coward!' cried Taric: 'the brave man thinks of none: your only
chance is victory.' 'But how, without ships, shall we ever return to our
homes?' 'Your home,' replied Taric, 'is before you; but you must win it
with your swords.'

While Taric was yet talking with his followers, says one of the ancient
chroniclers, a Christian female was described, waving a white pennon on a
reed, in signal of peace. On being brought into the presence of Taric she
prostrated herself before him. 'Senior,' said she, 'I am an ancient woman;
and it is now full sixty years, past and gone, since, as I was keeping
vigils one winter's night by the fireside, I heard my father, who was an
exceeding old man, read a prophecy, said to have been written by a holy
friar; and this was the purport of the prophecy: that a time would arrive
when our country would be invaded and conquered by a people from Africa,
of a strange garb, a strange tongue, and a strange religion. They were to
be led by a strong and valiant captain, who would be known by these signs:
on his right shoulder he would have a hairy mole, and his right arm would
be much lo