ROUT IN THE AXARQUIA. 345 Orders were accordingly issued to the cavaliers ciiaptee occupying the Heights of Albohacen to break up — — — • . ^-^ ° ° , ^ Retreat of their camp, and fall back on the main body J^'f^f^™" of the army. This was executed on the follow- ing morning before dawn, being the 4th of July. No sooner did the Moors of Loja perceive their enemy abandoning his strong position, than they sallied forth in considerable force to take possession of it. Ferdinand's men, who had not been advis- ed of the proposed manoeuvre, no sooner beheld the Moorish array brightening the crest of the moun- tain, and their own countrymen rapidly descending, than they imagined that these latter had been sur- prised in their intrenchments during the night, and were now flying before the enemy. An alarm in- stantly spread through the whole camp. Instead of standing to their defence, each one thought only of saving himself by as speedy a flight as possible. In vain did Ferdinand, riding along their broken files, endeavour to reanimate their spirits and re- store order. He might as easily have calmed the winds, as the disorder of a panic-struck mob, un- schooled by discipline or experience. Ali Atar's practised eye speedily discerned the confusion which prevailed through the Christian camp. Without delay, he rushed forth impetuously at the head of his whole array from the gates of Loja, and con- verted into a real danger, what had before been only an imaginary one. ^ 5 Pulgar, Reyes Catolicos, pp. iii. pp. 214-217. — Cardonne, 189- 191. — Bernaldez, Reyes Ca- Hist. d'Afrique et d'Espagne,tom. tolicos, MS., cap. 58. — Conde, iii. pp. 260, 261. Dominacion de los Arabes, torn. VOL. 1. 44
