_ 212 _ which the enemy retreated to their houses. The captain at once split 80 of his men into four groups so that they might watch the stockade during the night and defend it if the Arabs attacked. He also ordered others to watch the side of Cannanore where the factory was situated, together with many houses where the Portuguese lived. Since the enemy had a fleet at sea, he was afraid that they might come ashore during the night to set fire to the houses. He therefore had them watched and kept the rest of the men, so that they might go to their rescue if necessary. A large hut was also built near the door of the stockade, surrounded by benches where our men might sleep after they had stopped watching. From this time on our men fought the enemy many times, both when they attacked the stockade and when our soldiers went to fetch water. The enemy fought very hard to prevent us from reaching the well, for they knew how much we depended on it. The captain realized this and he would always send some men from the stockade to go ahead and cover the others while they fetched water. Our Lord gave our men a great deal of courage, for they numbered only 200 and the enemy 20,000. In spite of this the Portuguese held them back, undeterred by the enemy's countless arrows, lances, knives and other missiles
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