rongly deprecated the design formed by Mohabed of
advancing at present against the Spaniards. But Mohabed, flushed with
pride and little conversant with military affairs, could only be
prevailed upon to defer his sally from the mountain for two days; and El
Feri, considering the baneful effects which any disagreement amongst the
chief leaders might produce, prudently acquiesced in his decision. He
hoped that in the meantime he should have an opportunity either of
dissuading his brother chief, or at least of organising a more
systematic and powerful invasion.

Whilst the best warrior in the Moorish ranks was deeply interested in
forwarding their views, his disorderly and savage followers were
affording proofs of their wanton cruelty and insubordination. El Feri
saw with disgust and sorrow, that the men he led to the field adhered
not to the principles which they pretended to profess. He perceived that
his army more resembled a horde of undisciplined barbarians than true
and sincere patriots; that the gratification of private animosity and
revenge had a far greater preponderance in directing their exertions,
than the heroic impulses of noble enthusiasm and public spirit. He had
been himself stimulated to take up arms solely by pure and patriotic
sentiments, without the least alloy of personal interest, or the
indulgence of a revengeful disposition. He, therefore, bitterly
lamented, for the sake of his country, when a secret voice whispered to
him, that he was less the leader of independent men, panting for
liberty, than of a lawless discontented rabble, better deserving the
name of rebels than that of liberators. Alas! how often is the lustre of
a good cause darkened by the private interests and vices of its agents!

The attention of El Feri was however diverted towards a tumult in that
part of the mountain where the mighty Aguilar had fallen: he hurried to
the spot to inquire into the cause of the commotion, when he saw the
noble form of his redoubtable foe ignominiously placed on an eminence,
round which men, women, and children were crowding, to glut their eyes
with the bleeding spectacle. While their savage disposition was
gladdened with the sight, they heaped maledictions on the dead. This
dastardly ebullition of revenge was more particularly displayed by the
weaker portion of men, and by the refuse of women. Women, fashioned by
nature to indulge every kindly feeling, and tender sentiment of
compassion for the falle