_ 413 _ command of the ship the Portuguese turned their attention to saving it, as it was sinking with the water it had taken in. Seeing the danger Lopo de Mezquita seized all the money he could find and ordered his brother Diogo de Mezquita to place himself in the small boat with eighteen others, so that if the naos should be lost, they might at least have this booty. Meanwhile he did not cease working to empty out the water. However, when those in the boat with Diogo de Mezquita realized that he was not going to succeed in this, neither with the pumps nor buckets they despaired of being able to save themselves. As those in the naos might want to go on board the boat, they moved it away being too small to take on more people, and Diogo de Mezquita was unable to prevent them doing so. Taking the route to Chaul they encountered the armada from Diu, were taken captive and conveyed back there. The King of Cambay was most pleased to have captured such brave men, well experienced in battle, especially Diogo de Mezquita whom he pressed to become a Muslim offering him honours and privileges if he would do so. He refused to become a Muslim and hence endured great tortures, even being placed in the muzzle of a gun primed for firing.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy