How could we leave Ireland thus, on a desperate venture, while those two fair maids-- But before we could even exchange our doubts, there sprang out upon us from behind a rock half-a-dozen fellows with a horseman at their head, who waved his sword and called loudly on us, in the name of the Queen, to yield.
I groaned inwardly as I pulled out my sword.

Once more I was about wickedly and grievously to wage war on her Majesty, and break my vows of allegiance.

Yet, how could I otherwise now?
The Don deigned no reply, but waited calmly for the attack.

We were but five to six, and the two Spaniards were so lean and ill-fed as scarce to count as a man betwixt them.

At the first onset one of them dropped dead, and the other, after scornfully running his adversary through, fell back himself in a swoon of exhaustion.
Meanwhile, the Don was struggling with the horseman.