One of the Venetian galleys had dropped out of the fight disabled, and its opponent went to the assistance of their admiral's ship, which was engaged with Pisani.

They attempted to board him on both sides, and, seeing that he was in great peril, and that if his ship was taken the battle would be as bad as lost, we thought that you yourself would approve of our going to his assistance.

This we did, and engaged one of their galleys; and, as her crew were occupied with the admiral, we took them by surprise, and created such a diversion that he succeeded, with what assistance we could give him, in capturing both his opponents." "That was done well indeed," Polani said warmly.

"It was a risky matter, indeed, for you, with sailors unprotected by armour, to enter into a combat with the iron-clad soldiers of Genoa.
"And so the captain and twenty-seven of the men were killed! You must have had some brisk fighting!" "The captain, and many of the men, were shot by the Genoese archers as we ranged up alongside their vessel.

The others were killed in hand-to-hand fighting." "And my cousin Matteo, what has become of him ?" Polani asked suddenly.
"I trust he is not among the killed!" "He is unharmed," Francis replied.