1807. ] 
whereof made him very uneasy, as he 
knew it never could be terminated with- 
out more spirit and vigour in the prose- 
cution: for the moment the petty king 
was pursued, without waiting the attack, 
he fled through inaccessible mountainous 
places, returning again at his pleasure 
when the Christians retreated. The 
Moors were from their infancy accustom- 
ed to these rocks, and were moreover ac- 
quainted with many caverns that never 
could be discovered, wherein they had 
stored up quantities of wheat and barley, 
maize, honey, oil, and cloth enoagh to last 
for ten years, if the war had conunued so 
long. In this uncertainty the Marquis 
wished to know where Ferdinand Muley, 
the petty king, was; and as his spies were 
-dispersed every where, it was not long be- 
fore one of them, a Moor, came running 
hastily to the camp, to acquaint him that 
the petty king had left Valor, his head 
station, four days ago, and was then ad- 
vancing with a great army to attack him, 
cautioning him therefore to be upon his 
guard; which being all the intelligence he 
could impart, the Marquis rewarded him 
for his pains, and ordered him to be well 
treated by his people. 
* The Marquis then sent for two bro- 
thers, of the name of James and Francis 
Cervantes, who had each of them been 
captives many years, and spoke the Moor- 
ish language fluently. Engaying them to 
equip themselves in Moorish dres-es, he 
requested them to search the mountains 
in the neighbourhood of the camp, and, if 
possible, secure one of the enemy’s spies, 
These Cervantes therefore (who, some ai- 
firin, were natives of Aihamanear Murcia, 
others of Vera; but who at any rate were 
excellent soldiers: and when the war was 
over I knew them, as they were captains 
in the squadrons of Almeria and Vera, 
and performed many gallant actions, for 
which one of them was afterwards made a 
captain of his majesty’s own troops) tak- 
ing the Andarax road, began to ascend 
the mountain, and presently discovered 
two tracks, neither of them apparently 
much frequented; when James Cer- 
vantes, engaging his brother to take one 
of them, took the other himself, agree- 
ing to meet at day-break on the spot 
where the tracks parted, 
“ James had proceeded but halfa league 
before he perceived around hill surround- 
_ ed by several smaller hills; and knowing 
perfectly the nature of these mountainous 
regions, he immediately concluded from 
the disposition of the places that there 
Must be a watch thereabouts, as it was 
adapted to overlook the adjacent country, 
- Mowrury Mac., No. 162, 
two Gentlemen of the Name of Cervantes. 241 
Resolving to know if his conjectures were 
well-founded, he began to ascend the bill, 
keeping his eyes steadily fixed upon the 
top, which as he approached nearer, he 
retreated from the foot-way in order to 
climb up unperceived; and had not ad- 
vanced six paces before he heard a small 
whistle, aud presently after discovered 
three Moors upon the watch, Gaimin 
at lenyth the top of the hill, James Cer« 
vantes addressedthe Moors in Arabic, and 
began to converse with them about the 
war; when watching his opportunity, he 
dispatched two of the number, and before 
the third had time to escape, seized fast 
hold of him, and, binding his arms with a 
cord, made him walk before him back ta 
the canp. “It now grew late, when James 
coming to the place where the paths se- 
parated, sat down to wait for his brother, 
who shortly after made his appearance 
with another Moor, bound in a similar 
manner, and wounded. 
“ This Moor was a native of Boloduy, 
a young man of good shape and features, 
who, being greatly enamoured of a lovely 
Moorish damsel, then a captive in the 
camp of the Marquis, resolved to run 
every hazard in order to learn what was 
become of her, whether she was dead or 
living. For this purpose he was going to 
Verja by this unfrequented path-way, 
when Francis Cervantes met him, and at- 
tacking him faricusly the Moor fired off 
his musket to no etlect; Cervantes then 
closed with him, and gave lim a deep cut 
with his sabre: but the Moor valiantly 
drawing his scimitar engaged his adver- 
sary, whose aim was rather to seize him 
alive, than to slay him: and _ fortune 
therein favoured his intensions; for the 
Moor, stumbling upon a bushof rosemary, 
fell, and before he had time to rise, Cer- 
vantes darting upon him with the spirit 
of alion and swiftness of an eayle grasped 
firmly hoid of him, exclaiming, ¢ Yield 
thee, Moor, or this dagger shall termi- 
~ate thy life” 
“ The Moor lamenting his disaster, but 
disdaining death, threw away his scimitar, 
and replied with a deep sigh, ¢ I yield, 
Christian, but bad rather die than live, 
since fortune is my enemy, and brings me 
to this lamentable pass.. Not valour 
merely, but chance, stood your friend. 
Lead me whither yau please; I am indif- 
ferent about it: [ cannot be more mjured 
than L am injured already.’ Again he 
sighed deeply, moving Cervantes to com- 
passion, who thereupon gave him his hand 
to assist him to rise, but bound his arms 
with the sling of the Moor’s gun; and tak- 
ing both that and the scimitar away, he 
Li traverseal 
ee 
