nged; and our cause,
desperate as it seems, may still prosper. 'Tis true, we have lately
sustained many reverses; but el Feri de Benastepar yet lives, and even
now may check the proud course of our enemies, and blight the verdant
laurels of the Christian's brow. Even now, perhaps, Alonso de Aguilar
meets the doom to which his hate to the Moorish name so irresistibly
impels him. We have resources left,--our forces may be less; our courage
greater."

"Hold, Caneri," cried the renegade; "if thou wilt deceive thyself,
deceive not me,--thou canst not. I abhor the Christians, but why should
I deny the melancholy truth that is daily forced upon our conviction?
The Christians are our superiors, and we have to oppose to them, only
the desperate, the frenzied power which springs from a sense of deep
injuries sustained,--of wrongs carefully treasured up for the day of
retribution."

"Alagraf!" returned Caneri, somewhat hurt at the boldness and freedom of
the renegade, "whatever may be the motives that urge thee to second our
enterprise, forget not that mine and those of my companions originate in
a cause more noble and dignified--It is to assert our rights as a free
and independent nation."

"That," sneeringly muttered Bermudo, "may be the pretext; but I will
neither discuss the merits of our undertaking, nor the justice of our
cause. To me, at least, they are just and meritorious. I seek by my own
exertions that redress which my humble station could not procure, when
matched against those to whom chance, not superior worth, gave power
over me."

"Well," returned Caneri; "whatever be thy motives, thy services have
been most acceptable to us, and thy reward shall be proportionate to the
value of thy assistance."

"Reward!" exclaimed the renegade, "I ask for no reward; thinkest thou,
Moor, I would have been tempted to abandon the most sacred ties of
country and religion for a reward?--Thinkest thou that for a bribe I
could be instigated to become an open villain?--a thing despised? for ye
all despise me, and must despise me,--nor can I feel offended."

"Despise thee!" cried Caneri.

"Aye, despise me; for such as I must ever be despised, though their
services may be most welcome. A reward! and what reward? Some paltry
gold, perchance. No, Caneri; I am at least a bold, not a mean ruffian,
and I wish for no other reward save that which I can exact with my own
hands. Ah! let me strew the rankest thorns in the path of my wronger