s!

The House and the country were ripe for action. An animated debate
followed. It was unanimously agreed that the barbarians should be
compelled to cease their evil practices, and Lord Exmouth's conduct was
not only approved, but himself was appointed to accomplish the duty of
taming the Turks.

A better or bolder sea-lion could not have been found to take charge of
Old England's wooden walls on this occasion--ironclads being then
unknown. He was a disciple of the great Nelson, and a well-tried
sea-warrior of forty years' standing. He went to work with the energy
and promptitude of a true-blue British tar, and, knowing well what to
do, resolved to do it in his own way.

Many naval officers considered the fortifications of Algiers
impregnable. Having seen and studied them, Lord Exmouth thought
otherwise. Lord Nelson, founding probably on erroneous information, and
not having seen the place, had said that twenty-five line-of-battle
ships would be necessary to subdue it. Our Admiral, with Captain
Warde's correct plan in his pocket, knew that there was not room for
even half that number of ships to be laid alongside the town. The
Admiralty strongly urged him to take a powerful fleet. Lord Exmouth
agreed to that, but decided that it should be a small one. To the
surprise of their Lordships he fixed on _five_ liners, with a few
smaller craft, as a sufficient number for the work he had to do. He
said--

"If they open fire when the ships are coming up and cripple our masts,
we shall have some difficulty, perhaps, and the loss will no doubt be
greater, but if they allow us to take our stations, I am sure of them,
for I know that nothing can resist a line-of-battle ship's fire."

It was usually thought by naval men that a ship could not be thoroughly
effective until she had been a considerable time in commission.
Doubtless the thought was correct, and founded on experience;
nevertheless, Lord Exmouth proved himself an exception to ordinary naval
rulers. He commissioned, fitted, and manned a fleet, and fought and won
a great battle within the incredibly brief space of two months! But
more of that hereafter.

Meanwhile the pirates prepared briskly for the coming struggle, and
wrought hard at the batteries, while Christian slaves swarmed and toiled
night and day on the ramparts of Algiers.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

IN WHICH RAIS ALI AND TED FLAGGAN PLAY A VIGOROUS PART.

When Colonel Langley's star descend