The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-09-18

fight, was already below, and gave the
appointed signal. The ddenna fastened
the end of q ladder of ropes to the bal
cOny, lowered it into the garden, and de.
seconded. The two eldest princesses fol
lowed her with beating hearts ; but when
it came to the turn of the youngest
princess, Zorahayda, she hesitated and
trembIed. Every moment increased the
danger of discovery. A distant tramp
was heard.
''The patrols are walking the rounds, >
cried the renegade ''if we Iinger we per
ish. Princess, descend instantly, or we
leave YOU"
Zorshayda was for moment in fear
full agitation; then, loosening the lad
der of ropes, with desperate resolution.
she flung it from the balcony.
"It is decided !" she cried sc fight is
now ont of nay power. Allah guide and
bless you, my sisters! Farewell =
The two eldest princesses would fain
have fingered, but the furious renegade
hurried them away. A dark subter-
raneau passage soon brought them to
the outside of the fortress, where the
cavaliers awaited them with swift steeds.
The lovers were disguised as Moorish
soldiers of the guard, commanded by
the renegade. The lover of Zorahayda
was frantic when he heard that she had
refused to leave the tower; but there
was no time to lose in lamentations.
The two princesses were placed behind
their lovers. the Kadiga mounted be-
hind the renegade, and all set off at a
discreet round pace in the direction of
the pass of Lope, which leads through
the mountains to Cordova.
Fpha-r hod not TOrnnon1a1 fay ~uI,nr,
they heard the noise of drums and
trumpets from the battlements of the
"Our flight is discovered !" said the
renegade.
50 We have feet steeds, the night is
dark, and we may distance all pursuit, z"
replied the cavaliers.
They put spurs to their horses and
secured across the Vega. They had at
tanned the mountain of EIvira, and
wefe entering q pass when q baie-fire
sprang up into a blaze on the top of the
watch tower.
"Confusion |" shouted the renegade;
" that fire will put all the guards of the
passes on the alert. Away away
Spur for your lives, or they are lost"
Away they dashed, the Gathering of
their horses hoofs echsing from rock to
rock, as they swept along the road that
skirts the rocky mountain of Elvira.
I" Forward forward - cried the rene
gado, as the watch tower of the noun
tains answered the light from the Al
hambra. '' To the bridge - to the
bridge, before the alarm has reached
there !"
They doubled the promontory of the
mountains, and arrived in sight of the
famous Puento del Pinos that crossed a
rushing stream, often dyed with Moor
ish and Christian blood. To their con-
fusion the tower on the bridge bIazed
with lights, and glittered with armed
men. Followed by the cavaliers, the
renegade struck off from the road,
skirted the river for scme distance, and
dashed into its waters. They were
borne for some distance down Che rapid
current the s&rges roared around them,
but the beautiful pTincesses clung to
their Christian knights, and never ut
tered a complaint. The party soon
gained the opposite bank in safety, and
were led by the renegade, by rude and
unfrequented paths, through tue heart
of the mountains, so as to avoid all the
regular passes. They succeened il
reaching the ancient city Of Cordova,
where the restoration of the cavaliers
to their country and friends was cele
brated with great rejoicings. The prin-
cesses were forthwith received into the
bosom of the church, and, after being
in all due form made regular Christians,
we're rendered hsppy wives.
After the fight of her sisters, the un-
happy Zorahayda was confined still
more closely. though she had no known
inclination to clone, It was thought
indeed, that she secretly repented hav-
ing remained behind, for now and then
she would be seen leaning on the battle
ments of the tower, and looking mourn
fully towards the mountains of Cordo-
va; and sometimes the notes of the
lutte were heard accompanying mournful
ditties, in which she lamented the loss
of here sisters and her lover, and be-
walled her own solitary life. She
died young, and, according TO popular
rumor, was buried in vault, and her
untimely fate has given rise to more
than one traditionary fable.