ained, at least, the semblance of composure--"my answer is to be
given only to my lord the king; it is his commands that I obey."

"Thou art aware," said Muza, frowning, "that thy life is forfeited
without appeal? Whatsoever inmate of Granada is found without the walls
between sunrise and sunset, dies the death of a traitor and deserter."

"The servants of the Alhambra are excepted," answered the Israelite,
without changing countenance.

"Ah!" muttered Muza, as a painful and sudden thought seemed to cross
him, "can it be possible that the rumour of the city has truth, and that
the monarch of Granada is in treaty with the foe?" He mused a little;
and then, motioning the Moors to withdraw, he continued aloud, "Almamen,
answer me truly: hast thou sought the Christian camp with any message
from the king?"

"I have not."

"Art thou without the walls on the mission of the king?"

"If I be so, I am a traitor to the king should I reveal his secret."

"I doubt thee much, santon," said Muza, after a pause; "I know thee for
my enemy, and I do believe thy counsels have poisoned the king's ear
against me, his people and his duties. But no matter, thy life is spared
a while; thou remainest with us, and with us shalt thou return to the
king."

"But, noble Muza----"

"I have said! Guard the santon; mount him upon one of our chargers; he
shall abide with us in our ambush." While Almamen chafed in vain at his
arrest, all in the Christian camp was yet still. At length, as the sun
began to lift himself above the mountains, first a murmur, and then a
din, betokened warlike preparations. Several parties of horse, under
gallant and experienced leaders, formed themselves in different
quarters, and departed in different ways, on expeditions of forage, or
in the hope of skirmish with the straggling detachments of the enemy. Of
these, the best equipped, was conducted by the Marquess de Villena, and
his gallant brother Don Alonzo de Pacheco. In this troop, too, rode many
of the best blood of Spain; for in that chivalric army, the officers
vied with each other who should most eclipse the meaner soldiery in
feats of personal valour; and the name of Villena drew around him
the eager and ardent spirits that pined at the general inactivity of
Ferdinand's politic campaign.

The sun, now high in heaven, glittered on the splendid arms and gorgeous
pennons of Villena's company, as, leaving the camp behind, it entered a
rich and wooded district