be cut off. My Cid thought to take Alcocer: so he pitched his tents
securely, having the Sierra on one side, and the river on the other,
and he made all his people dig a trench, that they might not be
alarmed, neither by day nor by night.

IV. When my Cid had thus encamped, he went to look at the Alcazar, and
see if he could by any means enter it. And the Moors offered tribute to
him if he would leave them in peace; but this he would not do, and he
lay before the town. And news went through all the land that the Cid
was come among them, and they of Calatayud were in fear. And my Cid lay
before Alcocer fifteen weeks; and when he saw that the town did not
surrender, he ordered his people to break up their camp, as if they
were flying, and they left one of their tents behind them, and took
their way along the Salon, with their banners spread. And when the
Moors saw this they rejoiced greatly, and there was a great stir among
them, and they praised themselves for what they had done in
withstanding him, and said, that the Cid's bread and barley had failed
him, and he had fled away, and left one of his tents behind him. And
they said among themselves, Let us pursue them and spoil them, for if
they of Teruel should be before us the honour and the profit will be
theirs, and we shall have nothing. And they went out after him, great
and little, leaving the gates open and shouting as they went; and there
was not left in the town a man who could bear arms. And when my Cid saw
them coming he gave orders to quicken their speed, as if he was in
fear, and would not let his people turn till the Moors were far enough
from the town. But when he saw that there was a good distance between
them and the gates, then he bade his banner turn, and spurred towards
them, crying, Lay on, knights, by God's mercy the spoil is our own.
God! what a good joy was theirs that morning! My Cid's vassals laid on
without mercy;--in one hour, and in a little space, three hundred Moors