Many of the ships were destroyed by the Tyrians themselves, upon the Pilots and Mariners leaving them to defend the Capital,--to prevent their falling into the hands of the Macedonian;--who, however, succeeded in capturing vessels returning from foreign voyages,--and instantly manning those as being of better construction, they consequently sunk the old vessels on either side of the approaching Mole, thus forming the outward parallels of this giant causeway of the Mediterranean. Thus were the Tyrian vessels entirely captured,--or destroyed by the contending foes,--and consequently the lion-hearted citizens were now hemmed in a walled cavern,--with the "rough" and furious hunter, attended by his yelling blood-hounds, guarding every outlet towards the land, to prevent escape, or even the attempt in the wild moments of despair! About this period of the Siege, Darius of Persia, hearing of the present Military undertaking of Alexander, and of its probable success, sent to the Conqueror several Envoys, as a deputation to propose terms of peace and amity for his own nation:--contemplating his approaching triumph, all propositions were rejected by the Victor of Issus! His pride was also wounded by the Despatches being addressed simply to "Alexander of Macedon,"--without the title of "King" being in any part employed in the proposal. The young Monarch, however, had his revenge upon this point of neglected diplomacy, for in his answer, he addressed his foreign adversary, whom he had beaten in two battles, to the following effect:--"ALEXANDER of _Macedon_ refuses to accede to the terms of surrender and amity, proposed to him by Darius, the powerful _King_ of Persia and Media."