unications with a
demeanor appropriately grave and dignified. He next paraded the town
with a display of importance that might well have amused his followers,
if indeed they had been capable of feeling anything but concern in their
destitute situation.

Again Caneri returned to his dwelling, and a discussion was entered into
with respect to the several articles that composed his dress: his faded
turban was retrimmed; his couch arranged with the greatest care, and
odoriferous shrubs burnt in the apartment which he honoured with his
presence. The duties of the day having been happily completed, the chief
resigned himself to his habitual indolence with all the complacency of
one who considers himself by situation entitled to the contribution of
every one towards his comfort and luxury.

At the close of evening, however, his repose was disturbed by a
messenger who arrived from El Feri de Benastepar, announcing that the
redoubtable Don Alonso de Aguilar was rapidly advancing, and that they
should shortly be obliged to join in combat. He implored Caneri to be
ready for any disaster that might occur, and to keep his men prepared
for all contingencies. This intelligence, as it may be well conceived,
threw the Moor into some degree of agitation, and being rather late, he
resolved to call into requisition the multifarious powers he possessed
of serving his country. He speedily summoned a cabinet council, whose
opinions he would condescend to hear, and whose understandings he
graciously intended to enlighten. He pompously reclined himself on the
cushions, and assembling his courtly retinue, commenced his harangue
respecting the plans necessary to be adopted under existing
circumstances. His councillors, however, appeared in a very sorry
plight to give advice: they looked at each other with woe-begone
countenances, and their sleepy eyes seemed to concur in one opinion,
though they did not actually venture to give it utterance, that the most
rational course to pursue, after the fatigues of the day, was to indulge
nature with a few hours of refreshing repose. Indeed the judicious and
salutary tendency of this measure appeared to meet with such unanimous
assent, that after sitting half an hour, both the president and the
sapient members of the council very leisurely fell asleep, and thereby
testified their opinion, like sensible men, as to the most rational way
of terminating a council of state.

The renegade, disturbed in the medi