He charged them especially to endeavor not to be seen, for this was essential to the success of the undertaking.  The captains did as they were ordered, finding the pirate as free from anxiety of any danger there, as the city of Manila had been at his attack.  This security resulted from his having heard that, although they were discussing in China the question of attacking him, this could not be done soon, for they could not know or be perfectly sure of his whereabouts; and from his certain knowledge that the Spaniards of the Felipinas had no vessels, for, as we have said above, they had been burned, and they had received so much damage that they would endeavor rather to recover from their past ill-treatment, than to avenge injuries.  The master-of-camp having ascertained thoroughly this great lack of care, and the most retired path to the pirate’s fort, ordered Captain Gabriel de Ribera and his men to march immediately by land, and as suddenly as possible to assault the enemy, making as much noise and confusion as he could.  The captains, Pedro de Chaves and Lorenco Chacon, with forty soldiers apiece, he ordered to ascend the river in the swiftest vessels.  The time was to be appointed so that both the land and sea forces would arrive at the fort at the same instant, and make the assault at the same time, so that they might the better succeed in their purpose.  He himself remained behind with all the rest of the forces to await the opportunity and to furnish aid in any emergency.  This plan succeeded very well, and each party gave the best account of itself—­the water force firing the enemy’s fleet, while the land force, aided by those who had set the fire, entered the palisade constructed by Limahon for his defense, and as a protection for his men.  They entered the fort also and killed more than one hundred Chinese, besides capturing more than seventy women, whom they found within the palisade.

When Limahon heard the noise, he hastened to the fort, which—­notwithstanding that it had been made as a defense, in case the fleet of the Chinese king, which he knew had been prepared to go in search of him, should chance upon him there—­served to save his life on this occasion.  He ordered some soldiers to skirmish with the Spaniards, now quite worn out by that day’s work and the oppression caused by the intolerable heat of the burning vessels and the houses within the palisade, all of which were ablaze at the same time.  The captains, on perceiving this, and the lack of order among their men, which they might not remedy, because they themselves were almost worn out (although the aid sent them very opportunely by the master-of-camp had given them a moment’s respite and added new courage), gave the signal for retreat, with the loss of five Spaniards and more than thirty of their Indian allies, whom the pirate’s soldiers killed, besides some others that had been wounded.  Upon the following day, the master-of-camp arrayed all his forces in line of battle, and set