ng. One old man, however, crept outside of the city
with food, declaring that he cared "not a fig" for Alfonso's commands.

The Cid needed money, and to get it he pledged two locked coffers to
some Jews. The Jews in those days were much despised by the Christians,
though usually very wealthy. The men, thinking that the boxes contained
vast treasures, when in reality they were filled with sand, advanced the
Cid 600 marks of gold. Then the hero bade farewell to his wife and
children and rode away, vowing that he would return, covered with glory
and carrying with him rich spoils.

Within two weeks' time the Cid and his little band of followers had
captured two Moorish strongholds and carried off much spoil. The Cid
then prepared a truly royal present and sent it to the king. Alfonso,
upon receiving the gift, pardoned the Cid, and published an edict
permitting all who wished to join in the fight against the Moors to join
Rodrigo and his band.

Toledo, thanks to the valor of the Cid, soon fell into the hands of
Alfonso, but a misunderstanding arose and the king insulted the Cid.
The latter, in great rage, left the army and made a sudden raid on
Castile. Then the Moors, knowing that the Cid had departed, took courage
and captured Valencia. But the Cid, hearing of the disaster, promptly
returned, recaptured the city, and sent a message to Alfonso asking for
his wife and daughters. At the same time he sent more than the promised
sum of money to the Jews, who up to this time had not learned that the
coffers were filled with sand. To the messenger he said:

"Tell them, that although they can find nothing in the coffers but sand,
they will find that the pure gold of my truth lies beneath the sand."

As the Cid was now master of Valencia, and of vast wealth, his daughters
were sought in marriage by many suitors, and the marriage of both girls
was celebrated with great splendor. But the Counts of Carrion, their
husbands, were not brave men like the Cid, and after lingering at
Valencia in idleness for two years, their weakness was clearly shown.

One evening while the Cid was sleeping, a lion broke loose from his
private menagerie and entered the room where he lay. The two princes,
who were playing in the room, fled, one in his haste falling into an
empty vat, and the other taking refuge behind the Cid's couch. The
roaring of the lion wakened the Cid, and jumping up he seized his sword,
caught the lion by the mane, led it back t