Toralva, mounting upon the back of one of his soldiers, was first to vault into the entrenchments.

At the next instant he lay desperately wounded on the ground, but was close followed by Capizucca, sustained by a determined band.

The entrenchment was carried, but the furious conflict still continued.

At nearly the same moment, however, several of the patriot vessels were observed to cast off their moorings, and to be drifting away from the dyke.

A large number of the rest had been disabled by the hot fire, which by Alexander's judicious orders had been directed upon the fleet.