on, reckless of the thousand shafts which assailed them on every
side. Fresh men supplied, according to instruction, the place of the
Moors who retreated; and the wearied Christians had nothing to carry
them through the unequal contest but the undaunted courage which had
supported them in so many battles. Still they advanced, although the
enemy, in spite of the numbers that fell, preserved a fresh and unbroken
front, disputing every inch of ground apparently with undiminished
numbers.

In the midst of his gallant achievements Don Pedro fell from the blow of
a stone, which disabled him from proceeding. His absence soon became
apparent; but Alonso de Aguilar pressing forwards to the front, by a
desperate effort soon compelled the rebels to abandon their defence, and
retreat precipitately to their stations. The Spaniards here halted for a
few moments and rallied their forces, on which dismal inroads had been
made by the late conflict. Again they advanced in silence and without
impediment. Their gallant leader, however, looked on this change with
the most gloomy apprehensions; for he conjectured that the Moors were
about to renew that system of defence which had been so destructive at
the first onset. His suspicions were well grounded. Incontinently
another ominous shout rent the air, and the tremendous fragments again
rolled down, spreading devastation wherever they passed.

And now, to render the unequal strife more terrific, there fell some
broad and scattered drops of rain, announcing the storm which had been
gathering in the dark bosom of the swollen and shapeless clouds. Hollow
gusts of wind swept through the passes of the mountains, mingling their
gloomy cadences with the loud cries of the Moors and the wild
lamentations of their victims. And now the pregnant clouds discharged
their contents, which poured like an impetuous cataract down the
channels of the mountain, whilst from those dark and impenetrable masses
fitfully glimmered the livid streaks of lightning, followed by the
hollow muttering of the distant thunder. This approaching conflict of
the elements Don Alonso beheld undismayed. Boldly he urged on his men,
whilst the power of the storm increasing apace, presented additional
obstacles to their progress. Nearer the tempest advanced, and the
flickering sudden gleams of lightning were succeeded by closely repeated
sheets of sulphurous and liquid fire, which in serpentine corruscations
illumined those scenes o