As she came alongside the sailors cast grapnels into her rigging, and fastened her to the Rose; and then a loud shout of "Hurrah for England!" was heard; the ports opened, and a volley of arrows was poured upon the astonished corsair; and from the deck above the assailants were thrown back into the galley, and a swarm of heavily armed men leaped down from the ship upon them.
Taken by surprise, and indeed outnumbered, the resistance of the corsairs was but slight.

In a close fierce _melee_ like this the light-armed Moors had but little chance with the mail-clad English, whose heavy swords and axes clove their defenses at a blow.

The fight lasted but three minutes, and then the last of the corsairs was overboard.
The men who rowed the galley had uttered the most piercing cries while this conflict had been raging.

They were unable to take any part in it, had they been disposed to do so, for they were all slaves chained to the oars.
Scarcely had the conflict ended when the other galley arrived upon the scene; but seeing what had happened, and that her consort had fallen into the hands of the English, she at once turned her head, and rowed back rapidly to the town from which she had come.
Among the slaves who rowed the galley were many white men, and their cries of joy at their liberation greatly affected those who had thus unexpectedly rescued them.

Hammers were soon brought into requisition, the shackles struck off them, and a scene of affecting joy took place.
The slaves were of all nationalities, but Italians and Spaniards, French and Greeks formed the principal part.