"

Caneri was thunderstruck at this open act of insubordination; he rolled
his eyes in choler, and looked on his band as if appealing to them to
chastise the insolence of the renegade. But though those bold words had
thrown the Moors into some consternation, yet no one dared to move a
step, so much were they awed by the composed demeanor with which the
renegade gazed upon them.

"Alagraf," said Caneri, disguising his indignation, "are then my
injunctions openly to be disregarded before my people?"

"Caneri," answered the renegade resolutely, "you urge me too far, and
you ought to know me better."

A murmur of discontent prevailed among the band, which was about to
break forth against the renegade, when, suddenly, their movement was
checked by the stranger Moor, who advanced towards them in a threatening
attitude.

"Peace!" he exclaimed; "peace! ye abject, paltry slaves!"

"And who art thou," demanded Caneri, trembling with rage, "that darest
thus arrogate to thyself the power of dictating in my presence?"

"I am, Caneri," answered the stranger haughtily, "thy superior in all,
except in vice."

"Seize him!" roared out Caneri. "Seize the wretch!"

"Stay!" cried Malique, interposing; "lay not your hands upon that
man.--Most mighty Caneri," he then added, addressing the indignant
chief, "Mohabed Alhamdem, our opulent brother at Granada, has intrusted
that Moor to our care, commanding us to lead him hither; he has most
important matters to communicate, and, if the word of Mohabed is to be
credited, it is from this stranger alone that the Moors may expect their
salvation."

"Who, then, is this mighty personage?" demanded Caneri, with a scornful
sneer.

"He will himself inform you," replied the renegade. "Caneri, you know
how firmly I am devoted to the Moorish cause; why then was I insulted
when it was only to advance the interests of that cause I spoke? But let
that pass; I am no pettish boy to quarrel with my associates for a word
uttered intemperately in an unguarded moment."

He held his hand in token of reconciliation, and then
continued:--"Theodora, if appearances amounting almost to certainty
deceive me not, will be yours, ere long."

"Is it possible?" exclaimed Caneri. "When?"

"To-night or never," replied Bermudo. "Shortly I shall disclose to you
all the particulars of my transaction; and now let us examine on what
resources we can depend for a renewal of the insurrection."

"Resources! None," said