And as they did not show any disposition to obey him, but were rather preparing to chastise his audacity, he rushed on them, and unhorsed two with the first thrusts of his lance. The other four then fled in terror; and Don Sancho, having recovered his freedom, rode up to the top of an eminence and cried out to his men—
"To me, my cavaliers! Loyal and brave Castilians, rally around me!"
Four hundred cavaliers collected around him in a few minutes, and the others, who were fighting in groups, scattered here and there, recovered courage, and succeeded in also joining the king.
The Cid, who in those wars accompanied the king, without taking part in the conflicts, as he desired to keep the promise which he had made to Don Fernando the Great, never to draw his sword against a son or daughter of his, unless one was oppressed by another and required his aid,—the Cid, we repeat, had remained neutral, at some distance from the field of battle; but when he became aware of the difficult position in which Don Sancho was, he believed that he should go to his assistance, and he appeared, with his three hundred cavaliers, in sight of the king just as he was preparing to descend to the plain, where the battle was continuing, with the troops which he had been able to reunite.
Don Sancho saw him, and joy and hope shone in his eyes.
"Let us descend to the plain," he said to his cavaliers; "for, the Cid aiding us, we shall still be able to recover our losses, the day shall yet be ours."
And he added, approaching the Cid—
"You are welcome, Campeador. A vassal never arrived in better time to serve his king, than you do now."
"Sire," replied Rodrigo, "you can count on winning the battle. Your brother will be defeated; but you must promise me to spare his life, should he become your prisoner."
"I make you that promise, good Cid," answered Don Sancho.