a dark scowl; then, clearing his brow, and drawing himself up
with dignity, he turned to Omar, and added, "I decline to take part in
mine own death. If I must die, let me be led forth to the place of
public execution. I would die as I have lived: with my face to my foes,
and in the sight of my comrades."

"Be it so, we are ready," returned Omar; "let the torch-men lead the
way."

As Omar truly said, they were indeed ready, for in a few seconds the
front of the palace was lighted up with blazing torches, a procession
was formed, and Hamet was led forth to the Bab-Azoun gate, and there
strangled in the midst of an overawed and silent populace, who probably
cared very little as to which of the unruly Turkish pirates who held
them in subjection should misrule the unfortunate city.

Whether it was a touch of pity on the part of Omar, or the lateness of
the hour, we know not, but from some cause or other Hamet was spared the
too common cruelty of being twice revived with a glass of water during
the process, before the final deed of strangulation was accomplished.

Thus was the undesirable throne of Algiers again emptied, and
immediately afterwards Sidi Omar ascended it,--the third Dey within
forty-eight hours!

CHAPTER TWENTY.

DESCRIBES A RETREAT AMONG THE HILLS.

Let us turn now, good reader, to a scene more congenial--namely, the
garden in front of the British consul's country residence.

One evening, two weeks after the event just narrated, Ted Flaggan and
Rais Ali chanced to meet at the gate.

"Ye've got stirrin' times of it here intirely. Mister Ally Babby," said
the tar, whose familiarity almost verged on impudence; "what betwane you
an' the 40,000 thieves--more or less--in the town, I find it rare
entertainment."

"Yoos complimentary dis marnin'," returned the interpreter, with a
smile.

"It's always the way with me. I howld that purliteness is chape.--Ye've
heard the noos, I s'pose?"

"W'at noos?" demanded Ali.

"W'y, the noos that the war betwane this Raigincy of Algiers an' Tunis
is goin' on raither favourable, and that forty mules were brought in
this morning loaded with human heads."

"Oh yes, I heers dat," replied Ali carelessly, as he filled his pipe
from Flaggan's tobacco-pouch. "I sees all de hids as I comes up de road
dis marnin'. Twinty more mule hims 'xpec' for come in de morrer
mornin'."

"You don't mane it!" said Ted. "They seem to be free of their heads
away at Tunis.--B