_ 217 _ advised him to build a very strong stockade because the enemy were planning to make some enormous cotton balls which would shield them from our artillery. The idea was that they would cushion the blow of our cannon balls, which would lodge inside the mass of cotton. Using these as a shield they would approach the trench and fill it up with all kinds of materials they would bring for the purpose. This message was brought by a servant of the prince's who had come to the fortress at night from the side of the sea. He also carried chicken, figs and coconuts as a present from the prince. The message was delivered to the captain in secret. He then sent the envoy back with some valuable presents for his master, whom he also thanked many times. On the following day he secretly informed some of the nobles about what the prince had told him and prepared for the combat, fortifying the stockade considerably, so that it was much stronger than before. Chapter: 47 Once the enemy had finished making the cotton balls which they proposed to use in their attack on our fortress, the King of Cannanore told his captains that he greatly wished our destruction, and that our name be blotted out of the land. He gave them all his reasons for this and told them how much was to be gained from it, how much lost if the plan failed. They would acquire enormous prestige
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