consul, and thanked him for the timely warning which he brought.

But the precautions of both were in vain, for Sidi Hamet was a man of
vigour beyond his fellows.

Suddenly, when all seemed profoundly peaceful, some of his followers
rushed upon the palace guards, disarmed them, and hauled down the
standard. At the same hour--previously fixed--the port, the casba, and
the gates of the city were surprised and taken. The lieutenants
employed to accomplish these feats at once announced that Sidi Hamet was
about to become Dey of Algiers, in proof whereof they pointed to the
naked flag-staff of the palace.

The janissaries, most of whom were indifferent as to who should rule, at
once sided with the insurrectionists. Those who favoured Sidi Omar were
cowed, and obliged to follow suit, though some of them--especially those
at the Marina--held out for a time.

And now the reign of anarchy began. Knowing that, for a few hours, the
city was destitute of a head, the rude Turkish soldiery took the law
into their own hands, and indulged in every excess of riot, entering the
houses of Jews and Moors by force, and ransacking them for hidden
treasure. Of course, Sidi Hamet attempted to fulfil his engagement with
Bacri, by placing guards over the houses of the more wealthy Jews, as
well as giving orders to the troops not to molest them. But, like many
other reckless men, he found himself incapable of controlling the forces
which he had set in motion.

Many of the Jews, expecting this, had sought refuge in the houses of
their friends, and in the British consulate, where the consul, finding
himself, as it were, caught and involved in the insurrection, deemed it
wise to remain for a time.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

TELLS OF RIOT AND REVOLUTION IN THE PIRATE CITY.

At the first sound of tumult, Achmet--who was seated at the time on his
accustomed throne of judgment, ready to transact the ordinary business
of the morning--sprang up and roused his pet lion to a sudden and
towering pitch of fury by thrusting the point of his dagger into it.
The result was that when the door burst open the huge creature sprang
into the midst of the insurgents with a tremendous roar.

A volley of balls laid it low for ever, but the incident diverted
attention for a moment from the Dey, and afforded him time to escape
from the audience-chamber. Darting up a staircase, he gained the
palace-roof, from which he sprang to a neighbouring roof and descended