ed safely in the street.

But now he felt anxious for the beautiful being he had snatched from a
fiery tomb; he tore away part of her garments which had attracted the
consuming flames, and in a short time he recalled her to a consciousness
of life and feeling. It was a lovely girl whom Don Alonso had saved, for
the excessive emotion under which she laboured was not sufficient to
obscure the charms with which nature had so liberally gifted her.

"Where am I?" she demanded, languidly opening her eyes.

"Fear nothing, gentle maiden," answered Aguilar, "you are with a
friend."

"Oh save me! Save me from the Moors," she cried vehemently; not yet
entirely aware into whose power she had fallen.

"Those rebels cannot harm you," exclaimed her preserver, "they fly like
timorous deer before our triumphant banners, and you are now by the side
of Alonso de Aguilar."

The welcome sound of this glorious name acted powerfully on the feelings
of Theodora and, perfectly tranquillised, she cried with ardour--

"Thanks! thanks! to that God, who will not forsake his creatures in the
hour of peril!" then turning to Don Alonso, she continued,--"The head of
the Aguilars will not forsake an unfortunate child of the house of
Monteblanco?"

Don Alonso was struck with a well known name; but as Theodora appeared
too much exhausted for an explanation, without inquiring into the cause
of the strange situation in which he found her, he contented himself
with repeating his assurances of protection.

"Duty," he added, "summons me hence, but you shall find nothing wanting
on my part to insure your safety. In my house at Granada, and from my
daughter Leonor, you will experience all the kindness that may tend to
mitigate your sorrows, until you are restored to the embrace of your
venerable parent."

He then turned to one of his attendants, and proceeded:--

"Ramirez, you will conduct this lady to Granada: to your protection I
commend her, and see that she be treated with all the consideration due
to the charge of Alonso de Aguilar."

Ramirez bowed, and singling out an escort of a dozen men, prepared to
obey his leader's orders; whilst Don Alonso, taking leave of Theodora,
proceeded with his conquering band to join Don Antonio de Leyva. Each
took a different way, and in a short time left the ill-fated town to the
melancholy possession of the dying and the dead; occupied alone by the
few wretches, to whom a spark of lingering life still adhered