_ 259 _ and if they learn about this disaster they may return with the Arabs who support them”, whose sheikh was a valiant Moor called [Bemjabre]. Mir [Maxet’s] advice struck Dom Antão de Noronha as being sound and he gave orders to ignite all the mines and all the ramparts and walls were blown sky high. He then withdrew to his camp where he spent the day and night on the alert. The following day he was notified that the Turks had retreated and that Sheikh [Bemjabre] was half a league away with 800 horsemen, waiting to see if time would afford an opportunity to make an assault. When Dom Antão de Noronha was informed that there were no more troops and about the way in which the Arabs were camped, he gave orders to attack them, but in secret so that the Moors would not warn them. He then instructed certain captains to be ready with their troops as soon as the dawn watch began and he dispatched Pedro Afonso de Avelar with close on 250 men, most of them musketeers, to go and attack [Bemjabre]. Our men left the rest of the army and went in good order with some spies in search of the Arabs. However, the Arabs, who were keeping a careful watch on our men, caught sight
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