Sidi Hassan was not a
man to be easily turned from his purpose. The sight of a brig in the
offing, however, induced him to run out again to sea. He was soon
within hail, and, finding that the vessel was a Sicilian trader, boarded
her at once.

No opposition was offered, the brig being totally without arms and her
crew small. She, like the vessel of our friend Francisco, was laden
with wine and fruit. There were only two passengers on board, but these
two were great prizes in Hassan's estimation, being beautiful girls of
about seventeen and eighteen respectively. They were sisters--the elder
being on her way with her infant son to join her husband in Malta.

Hassan was glad of the opportunity thus thrown in his way of pleasing
his master the Dey of Algiers by presenting to him these unfortunates,
whose manners and appearance bespoke them ladies, and at once sent them
on board his vessel, along with their money and jewels. Their wardrobe
was distributed among the pirate crew--the money and jewels being the
Dey's perquisite.

"I have a plan in my head," said Hassan to his second in command, "which
the capture of this brig has suggested to me. Go, take charge of our
vessel, and send me twenty of the best men of our crew fully armed--also
a British Union-jack. There is a captain of a port in this
neighbourhood against whom I have a special grudge, and to whom I would
fain give a free passage to Algiers! so make haste."

The order was soon executed, and the pirate-vessel ordered to remain
where she was while the brig stood inshore and sailed along the coast.
In a few hours she was off the port above referred to, when she hove-to,
hoisted the British flag, and fired a gun. The captain of the port
innocently put off to the brig, and in a few minutes found himself and
his boat's crew taken captive by the Algerines!

Having thus successfully accomplished his design, Hassan returned to his
vessel, put a crew on board the second prize, and, directing his course
to Africa made all sail for the port of Algiers.

During the voyage the unfortunate captives saw little of each other,
nevertheless Mariano saw enough of the sisters, to create in his breast
feelings of the tenderest pity--especially for the younger sister, whom
he thought rather pretty than otherwise! As for the Jew, he kept aloof
from all the captives, but seemed to have a good understanding with the
pirate captain, and to be acquainted with several of his