t of
Doria's to catch them in the open. "Get into line," said Barbarossa to
his captains, "and do as you see me do." Dragut took the right wing,
S[=a]lih Reis the left. Early on the 28th the Christian fleet was
discovered at anchor, in a foul wind, off Santa Maura, thirty miles to
the south. Doria was not at all prepared for such prompt pursuit, and
eyed with anxiety the long battle line of one hundred and forty
galleys, galleots, and brigantines, bearing down upon him before the
wind. His ships were scattered, for the sails could not keep up with
the oars, and Condulmiero's huge Venetian carack was becalmed off
Zuara, a long way behind, and others were in no better plight. Three
hours Doria hesitated, and then gave the order to sail north and meet
the enemy. Condulmiero was already fiercely engaged, and soon his
carack was a mere unrigged helmless waterlog, only saved from instant
destruction by her immense size and terrific guns, which, well aimed,
low on the water, to gain the _ricochet_, did fearful mischief among
the attacking galleys. Two galleons were burnt to the water's edge,
and their crews took to the boats; a third, Boccanegra's, lost her
mainmast, and staggered away crippled. What was Doria about? The wind
was now in his favour; the enemy was in front: but Doria continued to
tack and manoeuvre at a distance. What he aimed at is uncertain: his
colleagues Grimani and Capello went on board his flagship, and
vehemently remonstrated with him, and even implored him to depart and
let them fight the battle with their own ships, but in vain. He was
bent on tactics, when what was needed was pluck; and tactics lost the
day. The Corsairs took, it is true, only seven galleys and sailing
vessels, but they held the sea. Doria sailed away in the evening for
Corfu, and the whole allied fleet followed in a gale of wind.[36]

[Illustration: OBSERVATION WITH THE ASTROLABE.

(_Jurien de la Graviere._)]

So, after all, the great duel was never fairly fought between the
sea-rivals. Barbarossa was willing, but Doria held back: he preferred
to show his seamanship instead of his courage. The result was in
effect a victory, a signal victory, for the Turks. Two hundred
splendid vessels of three great Christian states had fled before an
inferior force of Ottomans; and it is no wonder that Sultan
Suleym[=a]n, when he learnt the news at Yamboli, illuminated the town,
and added one hundred thousand aspres a year to the revenues of the