On fetching them off, they told us that as soon as they reached the top of the hill they saw five vessels approaching with sails and oars, and that they would be here in half an hour at the outside.

We at once abandoned my galley, brought the rowers and the wounded here, and prepared for the fight.

As you saw, they ran their two biggest ships alongside us, and for two hours the fight went on.

They were crowded with men, who in vain strove to get a footing on our decks.

Had we only had these two to deal with, we should have had nothing to fear, heavily manned though they were; but the other three kept sailing backwards and forwards, discharging their guns into us as they passed, firing not only shot, but bags of bullets.
"Their gunners were skilful, and, as you see, they have completely riddled our poop.