Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-12-15
CHAPTER II.
THE TOURNAMENT-ZEHRA.

DURING the day the knight of Leon did
little else than look about the city in com
pany with his honest esquire. 1t was no
unusual thing for Christians to be seen
in the city, and the count and his compan-
ion attracted only passing notice from the
Moors. Great preparations were going
on for the tournament that was to come
off the next day 1t was to be holden in
large square beyond the hill upon which
stood the Alhambra, and thitler the
knight bent his steps towards the close of
the day.
The Granadan king. Mohamed VI,
| gave but little attention to the manly
sports that SO we'll suited the tastes of his
subjects, and, in fact, he gave but little
attention to anything save his own pleas
ure and sensual comfort, with just enough
of mental and physical activity to keep his
throne from falling beneath him The
present anticipated tournament had been
agreed to by the king at the urgent solic-
itation of many of his best knights, and
he had agreed not only to be present at
It's passage. bat he was to superintend it.
! When Charles of Leon returned to his
hotel in the evening, he had resolved to
attend the tournament on the following
day.
But will it be well p queried Pedro.
And how can it be evil 2 asked the
count.
IN tell you You know you arc count
ed the best lance in Leon. Now if you
enter the lists to morrow, you may come
off the victor, and, by ST. Dominic, that
wouldn't suit these hot blooded Moors.'
You take it wrongly, Pedro. There
are good knights in Granada. and they
will not prove themselves so mean as to
turn enemies against one who proved their
better in the use of arms. No, no, good
Pedro. don't fear on that account, for |
| assure you all will be we'll
We'll, just as you please returned Pc
dro; and he spoke in dubious manner,
and shortly afterwards he set about pre-
pairing his masters armor.
The next morning was bright and fair
At an early hour the people began to flock
to the spot where the tournament was to
take place, and at ten o'clock the king en-
| tered the enclosure and took his scat
| The trumpets sounded furious blast, and
the jousting began. For two hours the
sport continued, and Ben Hamed, the Al
cade of Granada, stood the victor He
was subtle, powerful knight, and he
swang his spear aloft, and vauntingly
challenged all opponents. Two more
Moorish knights appeared against him !;
but one after the other, they were van
quished, and then more proudly than ever
did Ben Hamed swing his spear aloft.
J Charles of Leon pushed his horse
through the crowd that were collected
outside of the paling but ere he reached
it he caught the sound of his own name
pronounced near to his tide
Beware Make not an enemy of the
alcade 7
The knight turned his head, and he saw
Abdalla limping away through the crowd
| He knew it was the same Abdalla he had
picked up by the roadside, though he look
ed somewhat differently his hair and
beard were JET black, and he looked man
years younger. The voice, however, the
count knew. and he knew the countenance,
too The strange Moor was soon out of
sight, aud tue count n pushed towards
the paling His soul was set upon joust
with the naughty, defying Moor, and he
was not to be bent from his purpose
'Wha. no, there. Here comes a Chris
tian knight TO give thee battle, Ben Ha-
med exclaimed the king, as Charles of
| Leon entered the lists.