They still fought, steadily and desperately, but it was only to sell their lives as dearly as possible; and in five minutes after the fall of Ruggiero the last man was cut down, for no quarter was given to pirates.
Just as the combat concluded, the sound of oars was heard, and the other two galleys came up to the assistance of their consort.

They arrived too late to take part in the conflict, but cheered lustily when they heard that the pirate captain, and all his crew, had been killed.
Upon learning that the commander of the galley was killed, the captain next in seniority assumed the command.
In a few minutes, the bodies of the pirates were thrown overboard, the wounded were carried below to have their wounds attended to, while the bodies of those who had fallen--thirteen in number--were laid together on the deck, for burial on shore.
"Thanks to you, Francisco, that I am not lying there beside them," the merchant said.

"I did not know that you were so close at hand, and as I slipped I felt that my end had come." "You were getting the better of him up to that point," Francis said.

"I was close at hand, in readiness to strike in should I see that my aid was wanted, but up to the moment you slipped, I believed that you would have avenged your wrongs yourself." "It is well that he fell as he did.

It would have been dreadful, indeed, had he been carried to Venice, to bring shame and disgrace upon a noble family.