When, however, the naval battle had ended, Sextus got back to Messana with speed, and learning of Caesar's presence he quickly filled the ships with fresh warriors and assailed him with the vessels and also with his heavy-armed men on land.

It is evident that a surrender on stipulated conditions was impossible, and that the axe of the executioner, which had fallen upon the Campanians of Rhegium at Rome, as certainly awaited those of Messana at Syracuse.

Decius was further enabled to persuade them by the fact that they saw Messana in the power of the Mamertines.

The persons whom they were in pursuit of they did not overtake, but they descried some ships passing over the strait from Messana to Rhegium.