course. They accordingly continued
fearlessly to advance.

Night had now closed in the most dense and impenetrable darkness. The
moon seemed unsuccessfully struggling through a pile of massy clouds,
and the scanty light afforded by the dim stars was insufficient to
illumine any distant object. Thus the Christians had no means of warding
off the dreadful fate which threatened them. They heard, without the
power of resistance, the low rumbling sound of the huge rocks that were
loosened from their beds, and the crash that followed their ponderous
course, as they tore down every object which came before them, mingling
all in one vast and promiscuous ruin.

The voice of Aguilar and other chiefs, in hoarse tones, was heard at
intervals encouraging and animating their troops, who, wrought up to
madness by their loss, had now no other feeling than an ardent desire of
attaining the summit, where their enemies lay in security, and quenching
their rage in their detested blood. Indeed, the terrors of this dismal
and appalling conflict, instead of damping the courage of the soldiers,
served only to brace them with redoubled force. Dauntless, therefore,
they continued to ascend, unmindful of the cries and groans that rent
the air, and although they were sensible that a similar fate might the
next moment await themselves. On they proceeded, in the full confidence
that some amongst them would ultimately reach the summit, and take ample
vengeance for the death of those whom they left behind. Nor did the
Moors consider this stubborn constancy and self-devotion without
amazement and dread; but El Feri, who read their thoughts, immediately
took measures to prevent the consequences with which they might be
attended, if he allowed his men to indulge their fears; aware that the
best means of keeping up the mettle and ardour of his men was to employ
them actively, he ordered a considerable portion of them to descend and
meet the enemy boldly in the path. This order was joyfully obeyed, and
the Moors rushed impetuously to the attack. Aguilar, who hailed this
movement of the enemy as favorable to his troops, by affording them an
opportunity of profiting by their superiority, now rushed forward to
encounter the charge with increased energy, whilst Don Pedro, with a
chosen party, led the van.

The young warrior continued gaining ground; the Moors retreated; and the
Spaniards considering this movement as the forerunner of success, boldly
pushed