tal surge.

Suddenly the lines of the Moors gave way, and Boabdil himself, with Muza
at his right hand, and Almamen on his left, advanced towards the foot of
the tower. At the same time, the Ethiopian guards, each bearing a torch,
marched slowly in the rear; and from the midst of them paced the
royal herald and sounded the last warning. The hush of the immense
armament--the glare of the torches, lighting the ebon faces and giant
forms of their bearers--the majestic appearance of the king himself--the
heroic aspect of Muza--the bare head and glittering banner of
Almamen--all combined with the circumstances of the time to invest the
spectacle with something singularly awful, and, perhaps, sublime.

Quexada turned his eyes, mutely, round the ghastly faces of his
warriors, and still made not the signal. His lips muttered--his eyes
glared: when, suddenly, he heard below the wail of women; and the
thought of Inez, the bride of his youth, the partner of his age, came
upon him; and, with a trembling hand, he lowered the yet unquailing
standard of Spain. Then, the silence below broke into a mighty shout,
which shook the grim tower to its unsteady and temporary base.

"Arise, my friends," he said, with a bitter sigh; "we have fought like
men--and our country will not blush for us." He descended the winding
stairs--his soldiers followed him with faltering steps: the gates of the
keep unfolded, and these gallant Christians surrendered themselves to
the Moor.

"Do with it as you will," said Quexada, as he laid the keys at the hoofs
of Boabdil's barb; "but there are women in the garrison, who--"

"Are sacred," interrupted the king. "At once we accord their liberty,
and free transport whithersoever ye would desire. Speak, then! To what
place of safety shall they be conducted?"

"Generous king!" replied the veteran Quexada, brushing away his tears
with the back of his hand; "you take the sting from our shame. We accept
your offer in the same spirit in which it is made. Across the mountains,
on the verge of the plain of Olfadez, I possess a small castle,
ungarrisoned and unfortified. Thence, should the war take that
direction, the women can readily obtain safe conduct to the queen at
Cordova."

"Be it so," returned Boabdil. Then, with Oriental delicacy, selecting
the eldest of the officers round him, he gave him instructions to enter
the castle, and, with a strong guard, provide for the safety of the
women, according to the dire