Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/508

362 WAR OF GRANADA. PART busiers and archers, should turn the enemy's flank ' — by gaining the heights under which he was de- filing. This last corps was placed under the di- rection of Reduan Benegas, a chief of Christian lineage, according to Bernaldez, and who may per- haps be identified with the Reduan, that, in the later Moorish ballads, seems to be shadowed forth as the personification of love and heroism. ^^ Skirmish The Castilian army in the mean time went for- among the mountains, -yvard with 3. buoyaut and reckless confidence, and with very little subordination. The divisions oc- cupying the advance and centre, disappointed in their expectations of booty, had quitted the line of march, and dispersed in small parties in search of plunder over the adjacent country ; and some of the high-mettled young cavaliers had the au- dacity to ride up in defiance to the very walls of Malaga. The grand master of St. James was the only leader who kept his columns unbroken, and marched forward in order of battle. Things were in this state, when the Moorish cavalry under El Zagal, suddenly emerging from one of the moun- tain passes, appeared before the astonished rear- guard of the Christians. The Moors spurred on to the assault, but the w^ell disciplined chivalry of St. James remained unshaken. In the fierce strug- gle which ensued, the Andalusians became embar- rassed by the narrowness of the ground on which they were engaged, which afforded no scope for the 22 Conde, Dominacion de los pagne, torn. iii. pp. 264-207.— Arabes, torn. iii. p. 217. — Car- bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, MS., donne, Hist. d'Afrique et d' Es- cap. GO.