Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/78

54 54 WAR OF GRANADA. PART ever, were soon scattered far asunder from their '. — banners and their leaders. Ferdinand, who from a central position endeavoured to overlook the field, with the design of supporting the attack on the points most requiring it, soon lost sight of his col- umns amid the precipitous ravines, and the dense masses of foliage which everywhere intercepted the view. The combat was carried on, hand to hand, in the utmost confusion. Still the Spaniards pressed forward, and, after a desperate struggle for twelve hours, in which many of the bravest on both sides fell, and the Moslem chief Reduan Zafarga had four horses successively killed under him, the enemy were beaten back, behind the intrenchments that covered the suburbs, and the Spaniards, hastily constructing a defence of palisades, pitched their tents on the field of battle.^ The following morning Ferdinand had the mor- tification to observe, that the ground was too much broken, and obstructed with wood, to afford a suit- able place for a general encampment. To evacuate his position, however, in the face of the enemy, was a delicate manoeuvre, and must nccessaril}' expose him to severe loss. This he obviated, in a great measure, by a fortunate stratagem. He command- ed the tents nearest the town to be left standing, and thus succeeded in drawing off the greater part 9Pulg:ar, Reyes Cat61icos, cap. from his entangled narrative of 106, 107. — Conde, Uominacion some of the preceding operations do los Arabes, torn. iii. cap. 40. — in tiiis war. Both he and Mar- Peter Martyr, Opus Epist., epist. tyr were present during the whole 71. — Pulgar relates these particu- siege of Baza, lars with a perspicuity very dilFerent