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 long boat. The next morning the fight was renewed by Best with such vigour that in a very short time three of the enemy's smaller craft were ashore. As the Osiander drew little water she was able to get to close quarters with the stranded galleons. She used her guns to good purpose—or to adopt the words of an eyewitness of the episode she "danced the hay about them, and so payed them that they durst not show a man on their decks." Afterwards the engagement continued with varying fortunes until the approach of night enforced a cessation of the firing. Soon after daybreak on November 30 the enemy's ships, which had grounded, floated off and were attacked by the Dragon, gallantly assisted by the Osiander. At this stage of the contest a well directed shot from the enemy killed the Osiander's boatswain and did other damage. For hours the fighting continued in desultory fashion, and night again fell upon the combatants without any decisive result being reached. While the English ships were at anchor a frigate was sent against them in the darkness, but its approach being opportunely discovered it was sunk by some well directed shots and her crew of eighty were drowned.

There was now a lull in the contest. The Portuguese did not appear to relish the idea of coming to close quarters with Best, and on his part the English commander felt that the odds against Hini were too great to justify a vigorous initiative. For some days the combatants manoeuvred against each other at points along the coast, and this continued until some weeks later, when the Portuguese, having obtained new supplies, again challenged the English ships. The action lasted, with intermissions, until the end of the third day. At this stage the Portuguese,