t from the circumstance of being a place of secure retreat
to the Moors of the surrounding country. At this moment the fortress
was closely beleaguered by the troops under the command of the Alcayde
de los Donceles and other chiefs, who deprived the rebels of the
smallest communication with their friends of the mountains, and had thus
reduced them to an utter state of destitution.

Under these distressing circumstances, el Negro assembled his men, and
in a short but animated speech endeavoured to make them sensible of the
importance of keeping possession of Lanjaron, till the other leaders had
gained time to organise their means of defence in the Alpujarras. The
words of el Negro were received with a burst of enthusiasm, and for some
time the Moors vied with each other in giving the most heroic proofs of
courage and perseverance. As the fortress, however, was completely
surrounded, and the means of subsistence began to fail them, as a last
hope, they made a desperate sally during the night, but were driven back
with considerable loss. The failure of this attempt damped their
resolution, and some of the less courageous even murmured against an
exploit beset with difficulties, which it appeared next to an
impossibility to surmount.

El Negro beheld these symptoms of discontent with heartfelt sorrow, but
at the same time with a countenance expressive of coolness and undaunted
fortitude. He exerted his utmost endeavour to quell the rising storm,
soothing some with pleasing hopes and promises, and thundering horrible
threats on the most refractory. The following morning three grisly
heads, dripping blood, appeared affixed to poles upon the battlements;
but this salutary punishment did not produce the expected effect, for
though it appalled the discontented, it inspired not a single spark of
valour in their hearts; whilst the Christians, who beheld the ghastly
spectacle, augured favorably from this bloody proof of disaffection.

The numbers of the besieged were daily decreasing, until at length they
came to an open resolution of surrendering at discretion. The principal
men of the garrison, without the knowledge of their chief, had already
sent privately a messenger into the camp of the Spaniards to treat about
the surrender, and the conspirators had assembled in a clandestine
meeting, when el Negro, whom they supposed to be reposing from his
fatigue, suddenly came, and threw them into consternation.

"Traitors! what means