Finally, Agrando retreated in the direction of the fortress, which he imagined was still held by his own people. There, close to the towering precipice, his remaining warships would be safer from the yachts’ mad rushes; and he and his chief officers, he reckoned, could in the last resort, take refuge within and await the arrival of his second fleet. Great was his dismay when, on his approach to the place, he met with a hostile reception, and realised that it had been already captured by his foes! On all sides there was for him, now, nothing but disaster and defeat. Fumenta’s vessels were cruising up and down almost unopposed, capturing here, destroying there, triumphant everywhere, save as regards the few remaining ships with which Agrando had surrounded himself. He had formed these into a circle, each one facing outwards, and in this way managed for a while to keep their assailants at bay. Then a great shout went up from them—a loud chorus of exultation and defiance. In the distance they had sighted the expected second fleet. But their rejoicings were short-lived! Far away, behind the oncoming ships, there was visible a great mass, which it required but a second glance to tell them was the _Ivenia_. It was evident that she was in chase of the longed-for reinforcements, which, in fact, were in headlong flight. They were making for the fortress, where they hoped they might find a refuge. Agrando next saw the two yachts signalling to the _Ivenia_, and watched them sail off to meet her. Then, somewhat to his surprise, the whole of Fumenta’s forces followed. But this only meant that Ivanta had called them off in the midst of their half-finished work, contemptuously giving his enemy an opportunity to rally his demoralised followers, if he thought it worth while to do so. But Agrando knew it was not worth while. He knew that nothing could withstand the _Ivenia_. He realised too well that he was hopelessly beaten; that the great coup which he and the Diamond King had played for had failed, and come to an ignominious end. It was now evident that, somehow or other, a few of Ivanta’s devoted followers must have regained possession of the _Ivenia_, after Agrando’s myrmidons had treacherously seized her, and had hastened to the aid of their liege lord. For the defeated tyrant and his aiders and abetters there was therefore nothing now left but to throw themselves upon the mercy of the conqueror. This fact was, however, recognised by Agrando’s followers as quickly as by himself. With the great _Ivenia_ looming overhead, they too realised that further fighting, or escape, would be alike impossible. They were wise in their generation, and perceived that their best hope lay in forcing their leader to make surrender; and this they promptly did.