felt a cold breath pass through him, and, on investigating, discovered
that his companion was gone. He beheld in his stead St. Lazarus, who
proclaimed that, since Rodrigo had been so charitable, he would meet
with prosperity, and might know whenever he felt a cold shiver run
down his spine that it was an omen of success. Thus encouraged,
Rodrigo rode on to take part in the duel, but he had been so delayed
that the battle call had already sounded, and Alvar Fanez, his cousin,
was preparing to fight in his stead. Bidding his cousin step aside,
Rodrigo entered the lists, and soon won Calahorra for Ferrando.

Pleased with what Rodrigo had done, the king now showered honors upon
him, which so aroused the jealousy of the courtiers that they began to
conspire with the Moors to ruin him. It happened, however, that they
addressed their first proposals to the very kings whom Rodrigo had
conquered, and who proved loyal enough to send him word of the plot.
On discovering the treachery of the courtiers, the king banished them,
but the wife of Don Garcia pleaded so eloquently with the Cid, that
he furnished the banished man with letters of introduction to one of
the Moorish kings, who, to please his conqueror, bestowed the city of
Cabra upon him.

Although treated with such generosity, Don Garcia proved ungrateful,
and even tried to cheat the Moors. Hearing this, the Cid, siding with
his former enemies, came into their country to take away from Don
Garcia the city which had been allotted for his use.

During one of Ferrando's absences from home, the Moors invaded one of
his provinces, whereupon Rodrigo, in retaliation, besieged the city of
Coimbra. While he was thus engaged his army suffered so much from lack
of provisions that it finally seemed as if he would have to give up