按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
But the most arduous task was to keep up a regular supply of provisions。 It was not the army alone that had to be supported； but also the captured towns and their garrisons； for the whole country around them had been ravaged； and the conquerors were in danger of starving in the midst of the land they had desolated。 To transport the daily supplies for such immense numbers was a gigantic undertaking in a country where there was neither water conveyance nor roads for carriages。 Everything had to be borne by beasts of burden over rugged and broken paths of mountains and through dangerous defiles exposed to the attacks and plunderings of the Moors。
The wary and calculating merchants accustomed to supply the army shrank from engaging at their own risk in so hazardous an undertaking。 The queen therefore hired fourteen thousand beasts of burden； and ordered all the wheat and barley to be brought up in Andalusia and in the domains of the knights of Santiago and Calatrava。 She entrusted the administration of these supplies to able and confidential persons。 Some were employed to collect the grain； others to take it to the mills； others to superintend the grinding and delivery； and others to convey it to the camp。 To every two hundred animals a muleteer was allotted to take charge of them on the route。 Thus great lines of convoys were in constant movement； traversing to and fro； guarded by large bodies of troops to defend them from hovering parties of the Moors。 Not a single day's intermission was allowed； for the army depended upon the constant arrival of the supplies for daily food。 The grain when brought into the camp was deposited in an immense granary； and sold to the army at a fixed price； which was never either raised or lowered。
Incredible were the expenses incurred in these supplies； but the queen had ghostly advisers thoroughly versed in the art of getting at the resources of the country。 Many worthy prelates opened the deep purses of the Church； and furnished loans from the revenues of their dioceses and convents； and their pious contributions were eventually rewarded by Providence a hundred…fold。 Merchants and other wealthy individuals； confident of the punctual faith of the queen； advanced large sums on the security of her word； many noble families lent their plate without waiting to be asked。 The queen also sold certain annual rents in inheritance at great sacrifices； assigning the revenues of towns and cities for the payment。 Finding all this insufficient to satisfy the enormous expenditure； she sent her gold and plate and all her jewels to the cities of Valencia and Barcelona； where they were pledged for a great amount of money； which was immediately appropriated to keep up the supplies of the army。
Thus through the wonderful activity； judgment； and enterprise of this heroic and magnanimous woman a great host； encamped in the heart of the warlike country accessible only over mountain…roads； was maintained in continual abundance。 Nor was it supplied merely with the necessaries and comforts of life。 The powerful escorts drew merchants and artificers from all parts to repair； as if in caravans； to this great military market。 In a little while the camp abounded with tradesmen and artists of all kinds to administer to the luxury and ostentation of the youthful chivalry。 Here might be seen cunning artificers in steel and accomplished armorers achieving those rare and sumptuous helmets and cuirasses； richly gilt； inlaid； and embossed； in which the Spanish cavaliers delighted。 Saddlers and harness…makers and horse…milliners also were there； whose tents glittered with gorgeous housings and caparisons。 The merchants spread forth their sumptuous silks； cloths； brocades； fine linen； and tapestry。 The tents of the nobility were prodigally decorated with all kinds of the richest stuffs and dazzled the eye with their magnificence； nor could the grave looks and grave speeches of King Ferdinand prevent his youthful cavaliers from vying with each other in the splendor of their dresses and caparisons on all occasions of parade and ceremony。
CHAPTER LXXVIII。
OF THE DISASTERS WHICH BEFELL THE CAMP。
While the Christian camp； thus gay and gorgeous； spread itself out like a holiday pageant before the walls of Baza； while a long line of beasts of burden laden with provisions and luxuries were seen descending the valley from morning till night； and pouring into the camp a continued stream of abundance； the unfortunate garrison found their resources rapidly wasting away； and famine already began to pinch the peaceful part of the community。
Cid Hiaya had acted with great spirit and valor as long as there was any prospect of success； but he began to lose his usual fire and animation； and was observed to pace the walls of Baza with a pensive air； casting many a wistful look toward the Christian camp； and sinking into profound reveries and cogitations。 The veteran alcayde； Mohammed Ibn Hassan； noticed these desponding moods； and endeavored to rally the spirits of the prince。 〃The rainy season is at hand；〃 would he cry； 〃the floods will soon pour down from the mountains； the rivers will overflow their banks and inundate the valleys。 The Christian king already begins to waver； he dare not linger and encounter such a season in a plain cut up by canals and rivulets。 A single wintry storm from our mountains would wash away his canvas city and sweep off those gay pavilions like wreaths of snow before the blast。〃
The prince Cid Hiaya took heart at these words； and counted the days as they passed until the stormy season should commence。 As he watched the Christian camp he beheld it one morning in universal commotion： there was an unusual sound of hammers in every part； as if some new engines of war were constructing。 At length； to his astonishment； the walls and roofs of houses began to appear above the bulwarks。 In a little while there were above a thousand edifices of wood and plaster erected； covered with tiles taken from the demolished towers of the orchards and bearing the pennons of various commanders and cavaliers； while the common soldiery constructed huts of clay and branches of trees thatched with straw。 Thus； to the dismay of the Moors； within four days the light tents and gay pavilions which had whitened their hills and plains passed away like summer clouds； and the unsubstantial camp assumed the solid appearance of a city laid out into streets and squares。 In the centre rose a large edifice which overlooked the whole； and the royal standard of Aragon and Castile； proudly floating above it； showed it to be the palace of the king。*
*Cura de los Palacios； Pulgar； etc。
Ferdinand had taken the sudden resolution thus to turn his camp into a city； partly to provide against the approaching season； and partly to convince the Moors of his fixed determination to continue the siege。 In their haste to erect their dwellings； however； the Spanish cavaliers had not properly considered the nature of the climate。 For the greater part of the year there scarcely falls a drop of rain on the thirsty soil of Andalusia。 The ramblas； or dry channels of the torrents； remain deep and arid gashes and clefts