_ 312 _ to batter the fortress with such force that the lower part was reduced to ruins and the whole of the upper part demolished. When the Turks numbering 400, who were inside, saw the fury of the bombardment with the walls shattered in many places after only eight days of siege, and how poorly they were able to defend themselves, they started leaving so silently one night during the mid-watch by a false door, that only the last out were heard. These were spotted by three of Pedro Afonso de Avelar's soldiers, stationed in that area, whose names were Martim Casco, a native of Evora Baltasar de Gois from Ceita and Pero Machado. While these were standing guard outside the ramparts, they heard a noise there and noticed that the Turks were leaving. Whereupon they made a spirited charge and managed to catch up with one of them whom they killed. Others were wounded. When they saw themselves being attacked, the Turks fled headlong in the direction of their companions, who were already far away. Believing the fortress to be deserted, our three men made their way inside, climbed the bulwark to the captain's post and began to shout, "Portugal, Portugal"!
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