No notion had they of the armed force, some six score strong, that waited to pour down upon them.

I briskly issued my command, and four men detached themselves and let down the bridge.

It fell with a crash, and ere those without had well grasped the situation we had hurled ourselves across and into them with the force of a wedge, flinging them to right and to left as we crashed through with hideous slaughter.

The bridge swung up again when the last of Giacomo's mercenaries was across, and we were shut out, in the midst of that fierce human maelstrom.
For some five minutes there raged such a brief, hot fight as will be remembered as long as Pesaro stands.

No longer than that did it take for the crowd of citizens to realise that war was not their trade, and that they had better leave the fighting to Cesare Borgia's men; and so they fell away and left us a clear road to come at the men-at-arms.