Out of the Sunset Sea

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ... Hen I reached my quarters, I found a courier awaiting my return. The Prince of Cavaliers was a man of wonderful concentration of thought as well as amazing aptitude for business. Though now for months the festivities over the final conquest of the Moor had been going on, first in one place and then in another, and he all the time in attendance on their Majesties, yet never once had he failed to send the weekly packet of orders for the scattered companies, which were almost the only representatives of the sovereign power remaining in the conquered territory. Of course, those who had been given castles and towns, in reward for services, had garrisoned them with their own retainers, but the only armed body subject directly to the royal orders, was Gonsalvo de Cordova's Royal Infantry. It was dispersed in small detachments all over Granada, and my duty was to forward to each the orders sent by the Commander, supplemented by such minor directions as might seem to me needful to make, but not requiring specific reference to him. I opened the packet and hurriedly ran over its contents. 201 It was by this means that I had heard occasionally from Xarifa, and I always hoped each package might contain a message from her. We had never been lovers in the sense of the word which implies an amatory correspondence. I had written to her as a kinswoman, and her letters had been full of anticipation of the time when I should receive the reward of my service and we should go to our people in dear, verdant England. I knew that she, as well as I, was getting weary of the delay which still deferred the recognition for which I had stipulated, and which had been expressly promised by Cordova, in the name of his sovereigns. Except this, I had nothing of which to...