ent to Toledo.

Valencia was one of the largest and richest cities in Moorish Spain.
It was strongly fortified, but the Cid determined to attack it.

The plain about the city was irrigated by streams that came down
from the neighboring hills. To prevent the Cid's army from coming
near the city the Saracens flooded the plain. But the Cid camped
on high ground above the plain and from that point besieged the
city. Food became very scarce in Valencia. Wheat, barley and cheese
were all so dear that none but the rich could buy them. People ate
horses, dogs, cats and mice, until in the whole city only three
horses and a mule were left alive.

Then on the fifteenth of June, 1094, the governor went to the camp
of the Cid and delivered to him the keys of the city. The Cid placed
his men in all the forts and took the citadel as his own dwelling.
His banner floated from the towers. He called himself the Prince
of Valencia.

[Illustration: BRIDGE AT TOLEDO]

When the king of Morocco heard of this he raised an army of fifty
thousand men. They crossed from Africa to Spain and laid siege to
Valencia. But the Cid with his men made a sudden sally and routed
them and pursued them for miles. It is said that fifteen thousand
soldiers were drowned in the river Gua-dal-qui-vir' which they
tried to cross.

The Cid was now at the height of his power and lived in great
magnificence. One of the first things he did was to repay the two
friends who had lent him the six hundred marks. He was kind and
just to the Saracens who had become his subjects. They were allowed
to have their mosques and to worship God as they thought right.

In time the Cid's health began to fail. He could lead his men forth
to battle no more. He sent an army against the Moors, but it was so
completely routed that few of his men came back to tell the tale.
It is said by a Moorish writer that "when the runaways reached
him the Cid died of rage" (1099).

There is a legend that shortly before he died he saw a vision of
St. Peter, who told him that he should gain a victory over the
Saracens after his death.

So the Cid gave orders that his body should be embalmed. It was
so well preserved that it seemed alive. It was clothed in a coat
of mail, and the sword that had won so many battles was placed in
the hand. Then it was mounted upon the Cid's favorite horse and
fastened into the saddle, and at midnight was borne out of the
gate of Valencia with a guard of a thousand