They now formed a semicircle, each flank resting on the bulwark, and the pirates in vain endeavoured to break their line.

Again and again they flung themselves upon the knights, only to be beaten off with heavy loss.

At length a loud cheer arose from the galley, and Sir Louis Ricord, with the knights of Auvergne and Spain having cleared the galley of their foes, and carried the pirate that had grappled with her, sprang on to the deck of the ship, and fell upon the throng that were attacking the knights there, oblivious of what was going on elsewhere.

At once the English knights and their comrades took the offensive, and fell upon their assailants who, at the sight of the reinforcement, for a moment stood irresolute.

For a short time there was a fierce struggle; then the pirates sprang back to their two ships, and endeavoured to cast off the grapnels.