influence with the conquering general and persuaded him to allow the
Christians everywhere to retain a part of their churches, yet he had,
after all, the reward of a traitor in contempt and self-reproach. This he
could bear no longer, and organizing an expedition from a Spanish port, he
and six minor bishops, with many families of the Christians, made their
way towards Gibraltar. They did not make their escape, however, without
attracting notice and obstruction. As they rode among the hills with their
long train, soldiers, ecclesiastics, women, and children, they saw a
galloping band of Arabs in pursuit. The archbishop bade them turn
instantly into a deserted castle they were just passing, to drop the
portcullis and man the walls. That they might look as numerous as
possible, he bade all the women dress themselves like men and tie their
long hair beneath their chins to resemble beards. He then put helmets on
their heads and lances in their hands, and thus the Arab leader saw a
formidable host on the walls to be besieged. In obedience, perhaps, to
orders, he rode away and after sufficient time had passed, the
archbishop's party rode onward towards their place of embarkation. Luis
found himself beside a dark-eyed maiden, who ambled along on a white mule,
and when he ventured to joke her a little on her late appearance as an
armed cavalier, she said coyly, "Did you think my only weapons were
roses?" Looking eagerly at her, he recognized the laughing face which he
had once seen at a window; but ere he could speak again she had struck her
mule lightly and taken refuge beside the archbishop, where Luis dared not
venture. He did not recognize the maiden again till they met on board one
of the vessels which the Arabs had left at Gibraltar, and on which they
embarked for certain islands of which Oppas had heard, which lay in the
Sea of Darkness. Among these islands they were to find their future home.

The voyage, at first rough, soon became serene and quiet; the skies were
clear, the moon shone; the veils of the Spanish maidens were convenient by