`I believe so,' answered Alfonzo, with
warmth. `There is not fifty men in Spain
base enough to come into Cordova and
thus register their names, knowing that
they are to be afterwards compelled to
become Moslem's.'

`I trust there are not!'

`It was this decree which I heard of,
even before I knew of my sister's loss,
which kindled the flames of liberty in my
bosom. The outrage done me by stealing
her away was setting the last torch.
I have hopes that the noise of the decree
will do more for the cause—do more to
bring men to their duty than any influence
I can exert. Still a rallying point is
needed; and till Heaven gives my country
a better leader, I am willing to stand
up first and strike for Spain and the
Cross!'

`The decree of Abdelasis will go before
your fifty messengers, and prepare
the way for them. Gladly they will
listen to tidings that will point them to a
chieftain who dares defy Abdelasis, and
abide the issue, trusting to God and his
cause!'

`Your words give me more confidence
in myself, noble Velez. How many of
these sixteen thousand men will listen to
these tidings here in Cordova? Can access
be got to their ears? Can they be
communicated with, without excting before
the time the suspicions of their masters?
'

`Yes. I have influence with one hundred
men here, of our nation; slaves they
are, indeed, but they are well treated
and have much leisure; some of them
even acting as Secretaries to officers of
the State, at least to such as were officers
under the Emirs. These men love
Spain as I do. They mourn over her
degradation and the stain upon the true
cross, cast by the shadow of the Crescent.
They look, as I have looked, for
a Deliverer to arise in the land. Your
name they have heard, and repeated it
to me. These men know each one or
more others whom they talk with upon
the wrongs of their land; and these associate
with others.

`In a word, the whole sixteen thousand
are linked together in degrees, like those
I have mentioned. An idea communicated
to one, reaches every individual,
however lowly he may lie in his bonds.
One word of hope spoken this night by
me to four or five friends, ere morning,
would have stirred and warmed a thousand
hearts; and in twenty-four hours, not a
Christian slave in Cardova would be ignorant
of it.'

`This is all that could be desired for
our cause. I did not know before that
the slaves of our people here in Cordova,
thus kept alive a love of Spain.—
They have, most of them, seemed sullenly
indifferent, or else cowardly contented
in their servitude!'

`And why should you look for outward
signs of freedom among men, who
live in bonds—over whose heads hangs
the scymetar of the Caliph, or the thonged
lash of his master. Who are watched;
who are without arms; who have no
King nor leader to look up to, to keep
alive hope—who are treated as the dogs
of the kennel!'

`What a picture of degradation. Poor
Spain! alas, for my degraded countrymen!
'

`It is your sacred duty, Alfonzo, to
strike a blow in their behalf! They will
hear your name with joy! Alfonzo, our
deliverer, will flow like honey from their
lips, and they will feel their hearts once
more throb with hope. The grey-headed
man will lift up his bowed form, and
recall again the glories of the past, and
hope to behold them once more restored.
The youthful will look forward to see,
what they have not yet seen, Spain once
more a Christian kingdom. Mothers and

[figure description] Page 062.[end figure description]

maidens will bless thee, and thou wilt
have that calm, deep joy in thy bosom,
which will flow from the happiness, of
which you have been the instrument.'

`But much is to be done, Senor.—
There are in Cordova—'

`Thirty thousand Moorish citizens and
eighteen thousand Moorish soldiers, exclusive
of the Zenetan cavalry, one
thousand strong, and which now compose
the body-guard of the new Caliph,
as they have done of the Emir's before
him. They are mercenaries, and are
paid for their services, and serve him who
pays them best.'

`There may be then, full twenty five
thuusand men to encounter, soldiers and
citizens,' said Alfonzo. `To take Cordova
will require thirty thousand.'

`This number, mark my words, will
be raised easily; and if the revolt goes
on secretly, so that Abdelasis knows not
of the coming storm till it bursts upon
him, less than this number will do. But
if he should hear of it, he will so prepare
for it, that we may need fifty thousand
men to take the city, and maintain the
ports in the valley.'

`The undertaking is a great one, Senor,
but I trust we shall have the aid of
Heaven, and I feel assured, that if other
Christian nations see us make an effort
to expel the Moor, we shall have the aid
of their swords.'

`I foresee this, Alfonzo. Now I think
we understand each other, and know our
duties in the task before us. Mine is to
call on the influential Christians in the
city, and make known to them our contemplated
movement. I will confide the
secret to a few confidential men, who
will spread it from lip to ear, till all who
hate the Moors in Cordova, shall know
that a Deliverer is raised up in Cordova,
and they will be ready to act with us as
one man!'

`When will you see these friends?'
asked Alfonzo, rising.

`At once. I will go forth at once
with Elic to bear a lantern before me,
and visit a few of the principal persons
I have in my mind. I shall find them
easily, and can see them without suspicion,
as among the Moors I am taken
for a Moor; and I have business with
their masters almost daily in the way of
my traffic, for I am a dealer in silks, as
you shall see in the marning, when I shall
show you my goods, Will you remain
here, my chief?'

`Call me Alfonzo, Senor.'

`Nay, thou art our chief, and must
submit to be addressed as such. I feel
that God has given the deliverance of
Spain, and the restoration of the cross to
thee to perform. To thy power and
guidance I bow, and so will all men who
hear thy name. It is now eight o'clock.
I shall return by ten, and you can repose
here on this divan, for you must needs
be weary.'

Thus speaking, Senor Velez threw on
a long brown cloak which he wore abroad,
and girding it at the waist by a sash, he
covered his head with a scarlet turban of
many voluminous folds, and took a staff
in his hand.

`Elec,' he said to the Nubian, who
entered at his call, take your lantern and
go forth with me.'

The slave, after a moment's absence,
returned with a large, richly painted lantern,
and preceding his master undid the
gate, and waited for him to pass.

`I shall return in two hours, I trust, able
to say to thee, Alfonzo, that the ball has
been set in motion, which shall not cease
to roll till it has thrown down Mosque and
minaret. You will not venture forth till
I return, for it would peril your life unnecessarily.
'

`I will await you here, Senor, though
I feel little disposed to repose,' answered

[figure description] Page 063.[end figure description]

the young chief. `Say to these Christian
bondmen that they must make no movement,
but only wait and stand prepared
to strike when they hear the war cry of
Spain breaking on their ears on the eve
of San Diego.'

The rich Spanish merchant then folded
his cloak about him, and departed up
the street, giving Alfonzo particular directions
to secure the gate and to admit
no one. Alfonzo followed, with his eye,
the dark forms, with their flickering lantern,
till they disappeared up the street,
and then turned to secure the gate. Athir
was at his shoulder.

`My lord,' said the youth, `I will bar
the gate. But I expected you would go
forth to see what hath become of Xariffa.'

`That, Athir, is a mission I shall give
to thee,' he said, smiling.

`To me?' cried the youth with sparkling
eyes.

`Yes, to you, Athir. I want you to go
and ascertain where she is. You will
proceed at once to the palace of Abdelasis,
and I will leave to your address and
courage to get the intelligence I desire.
It will be easier for you, being a Moor,
than for me, and besides, I am known to
Abdelasis, and I should not wish to be
discovered.'

`I will go, my lord. I know I can
hear something from her if she is at the
palace. I would disguise myself as a
page and go boldly into the palace if I
had the dress.'

`If you had gold could you purchase
such a costume? Are not the bazaars
closed?'

`Not till nine o'clock, my lord.'

`Then here are five pieces which the
holy father put into my hand, saying I
should want money in Cordova, and I
find he spoke truly.'

`I can get all I want for two of the gold
pieces, my lord. I know well where the
bazaar is, in which I used to purchase
my suits when I was a page. I will go
there; and, habited as a page of the palace,
I will discover if Xariffa is in the
power of Abdelasis; and I will return ere
breakfast to-morrow, perhaps earlier, and
let you know what I hear.'

`You can inquire of those about, what
Christian maiden it was that a party of
Zenetan horse captured to-day, and if
she were sold. This question will open
a way to my poor sister's discovery.'

`Trust to me, my lord! I will proceed
to my task with courage and love for
thee!' answered the youth.

Alfonzo grasped him by the hand,
warmly, and then set him forth.

`Thou must have a lantern?'

`No. I will glide along by the shad
ows. Thou shalt soon hear of thy sister's
fate, my lord!'

Thus speaking, he glided away up the
street in the direction taken by Signor
Velez and his Nubian slave; and was
soon lost in the darkness that enveloped
the street.

`Now,' said Alfonzo as he lingered at
the open gate, `now have I done all that
is in my power to do in behalf of my sister.
Once let me know her fate and I
shall know how to act in her behalf.
That she is in the power of Abdelases, I
have now no doubt: for the party was
composed of the Zeretan horse, who,
says Signor Velez, are taken into the
Caliph's service. I begin to fear he may
have seen my sister, and been inspired
with passion for her, and so has done this
deed! But I shall learn when the faithful
Athir returns!'