Ortega approached Alhama one moonless night, and paced along its walls with noiseless step, laying his ear occasionally to the ground or to the wall.

Every time he distinguished the measured tread of a sentinel, and now and then the challenge of the night-watch going its rounds.

Finding the town thus guarded, he clambered to the castle: there all was silent.

As he ranged its lofty battlements between him and the sky he saw no sentinel on duty.
He noticed certain places where the wall might be ascended by scaling-ladders, and, having marked the hour of relieving guard and made all necessary observations, he retired without being discovered.
Ortega returned to Marchena, and assured the marques of Cadiz of the practicability of scaling the castle of Alhama and taking it by surprise.

The marques had a secret conference with Don Pedro Enriques, adelantado of Andalusia, Don Diego de Merlo, commander of Seville, Sancho de Avila, alcayde of Carmona, and others, who all agreed to aid him with their forces.