darraez did not wish to encounter his opponent in front. Trusting to the agility of his horse, he began to make sundry circuits around García, skirmishing with him, and seeking occasion to give him a sure wound. In fact, García, having balanced himself in order to charge upon him, Abindarraez feigned that he expected him, but when he saw him near, he gave his horse the spur, and causing him to make a demivolte, rode off, after having given his opponent such a powerful blow on the left side, that the steel cut the lacings of his corselet, and inflicted a wound, though a slight one, in the side. García, like a serpent when trodden on, or like a bleeding bull, returned against the Moor, and raising himself in the stirrups, threw his lance with the force and swiftness of an arrow, and with such certain aim, that it pierced the thigh of Abindarraez, and entered his horse's belly. The latter, feeling himself badly wounded, began to make so many leaps and curvettings that his master was obliged to dismount; and Abindarraez, wounded as he was, braced on his good shield, and, unsheathing his scimitar, awaited the approach of his adversary. García, seeing him in this position, and not wishing to avail himself of any advantage, leaped likewise from his horse, and attacked him sword in hand, being well covered by his shield.

The valour that both then displayed, the re

peated and severe blows that were given, and the fury with which that battle was fought, were the admiration and astonishment of the spectators, and kept both Moors and Christians suspended between fear and hope. They saw sparks fly from the swords, and feathers, ornaments, and even pieces of armour flying through the air, so that in a short time the ground around the combatants was strewed with them. Abindarraez, enraged by the resistance which he had met with, and by the pain of the wound in his thigh, redoubled his blows, thinking to confound his adversary by the quickness with which he gave them; but García, seeing his object, determined to make a great effort, and perchance with one blow to finish the battle. So grasping his sword with both hands, and concentrating all his strength, he brought down upon the head of the Moor so fierce a blow that it divided his turban, and almost penetrated the helmet which he wore beneath it. The great force of the blow left Abindarraez almost deprived of sense, and obliged him to sustain himself on one knee, that he might not fall to the ground. When the Moors saw him thus they set up a cry of grief, at the same time that the Christians broke out in violent expressions of joy.

Sure now of the victory, García goes to his adversary, and laying hold of him with one hand, places the point of his sword at his breast with

the other.

"Surrender, Moor," he says to him, "yield thyself as conquered, or here thou diest at my hands."

Abindarraez, who in the mean time had recovered his senses, replies, "Strike, Christian! I no longer desire life."

García was undecided and hesitating whether to give the fatal blow, when there sounded in his ears a sharp and piteous shriek; he turned his head, and beheld Zayda, who, weeping and in despair, threw herself between him and the conquered Abindarraez. "Invincible Christian! generous knight !" cried she, "withhold your arm, and do not, by the death of my husband, tarnish the glory you have this day obtained. Grant me the favour of his life, and I will beseech Heaven to preserve yours, and to load you with happiness. I, in the name of Abindarraez, and of the Moors who are present, deliver up the castle to you."

"And I, beautiful Zayda," said García, "grant with pleasure your request. I will spare the life of Abindarraez, and restore him to liberty; for I would by no means deprive you of the happiness of possessing so noble a. husband."

They then both hastened to the assistance of Abindarraez, and enabled him to place himself on his feet; for, owing to the blood he had lost, he had not strength enough to do it himself. Supported by Zayda and García, the alcaide re

turned to his soldiers, and addressed a few words to them, reminding them of the conditions of the combat, and the promise he had made to fulfil them; wherefore he commanded them to depart, and return to Saragoza, where they should inform the king of his misfortune, and that he was remaining in Carpio with the Christians until he should recover of his wounds.

The soldiers obeyed their beloved alcaide without murmuring, and silent and sad they departed, leaving the castle of Carpio in the power of their Christian conquerors.

The solicitous care of García and Zayda restored Abindarraez in a few days to his former health and strength, and placed him in a condition to avail himself of the liberty which the conqueror had granted to him and his bride, but he preferred to remain in the castle. The noble conduct of García had consoled the Moor, in a great measure, for the loss of his castle, and alleviated the pain which his vanquishment could not but cause him. Yielding to the impulse of his gratitude, he offered to García to contract with him an eternal friendship, and his offer having been joyfully received, he proceeded to give a proof of the sincerity of his feelings by communicating to him an exceedingly interesting piece of news. Taking him aside, he revealed to him that a dark conspiracy threatened the sovereign of Leon.

"A principal knight of the court of Don Alfonso," said Abindarraez, "has taken a part in this perfidy, and solicits my co-operation in order to carry it into effect; but I, far from favouring such base designs, have not as yet even deigned

him an answer."

"What do I hear!" exclaimed García, "a conspiracy! Oh, my friend, discover to me this project in all its circumstances and particulars, and tell me the name of the traitor."

"That I cannot,” replied Abindarraez, “but all the rest I will tell you," and he went on

But before going on any farther, let us retrace our steps a little, and see what was doing meanwhile at the court of Leon.