Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/81

57 SIEGE OF BAZA. 57 not been stained with a single important reverse, chapter She concluded with the assurance, that, if his sol- — '- — '■ — diers would be true to their duty, they might rely on her for the faithful discharge of hers in furnish- ing them with all the requisite supplies. The exhilarating tone of this letter had an in- stantaneous effect, silencing the scruples of the most timid, and confirming the confidence of the others. The soldiers, in particular, who had re- ceived with dissatisfaction some intimation of what was passing in the council, welcomed it with gener- al enthusiasm ; and every heart seemed now intent on furthering the wishes of their heroic queen by prosecuting the siege with the utmost vigor. The army was accordingly distributed into two encampments ; one under the marquis duke of Cadiz, supported by the artillery, the other under king Ferdinand on the opposite side of the city. Between the two, lay the garden or orchard before mentioned, extending a league in length ; so that, in order to connect the works of the two camps, it became necessary to get possession of this contest- ed ground, and to clear it of the heavy timber with which it was covered. This laborious operation was intrusted to the Gardens '■ cleared of commander of Leon, and the work was covered by ti"®'"^ t'^bw. a detachment of seven thousand troops, posted in such a manner as to check the sallies of the gar- rison. Notwithstanding four thousand taladores, or pioneers, were employed in the task, the forest was so dense, and the sorties from the city so an- VOL. II. 8