Some of Brooke's war chiefs begged him to stop attacking, saying "We cannot pull up the planks with our own hands, we cannot climb over them and our small gun and musket shots make no effect on them." Thus they decided to abandon the attack. The retreat began at once. Rentap mocked them by saying "Bring all your fire guns from England and we are not afraid of you." Some shouted "Agi idup, agi ngelaban!" (Still alive, still fighting!). However, he and his men did not pursue the retreating party down the hill outside their stockade.