ned and at his ease. The boat in chase overhauled it fast, and
when within shout a gunshot the Turk in the stern stood up and hailed
the Arab in stern, angry tones, but no reply was vouchsafed.
Exasperated beyond measure, the Turk levelled a pistol at the Arab and
fired, but missed his aim, and was driven almost frantic with rage on
observing that the insolent Arab dropped his oar for an instant, and
kissed his hand to the ball as it skipped past.

Immediately after the Turk was heard to shout an order to his men, who
thereupon redoubled their efforts to overtake the chase. At the same
instant the Arab was observed to bend well forward, and almost double
the length of his stroke, so that the little craft, which had hitherto
skimmed over the calm sea, now began to leap, as it were, in successive
bounds.

"I say, Bill, _don't_ he pull well?" exclaimed one of the tars on board
the _Queen Charlotte_.

"Splendiferous!" replied Bill, in great admiration; "an' I do believe
that he's creepin' away from the Turk."

This was true; the Arab was steadily increasing the distance between
himself and his pursuers, until at last the latter gave up the chase, a
consummation which was greeted by some of the excitable spirits in the
_Queen Charlotte_ with an irresistible though subdued cheer.

In a short time the Arab rowed alongside the flag-ship.

"Och! Ally ma boo hookum foldimaronky bang," said the Arab, looking up.

"Well, now," exclaimed a surprised Irish tar on board to those near him,
"it's often. I've heard that the Arabs had the brogue of Owld Ireland,
though the lingo don't square exactly."

"Ah then, brother, that's 'cause ye don't onderstand it. Sure ye might
heave us a rope," replied the Arab with a grin.

A roar of laughter greeted this speech, and in another minute Ted
Flaggan stood bowing modestly on the quarter-deck of the flag-ship.

While the Admiral was closeted with this unexpected visitor--whose name
and deeds, owing to some strange oversight, have been omitted from
history,--a light breeze sprang up, which enabled the fleet to stand
into the bay and lay-to about a mile from the town.

Meanwhile, Ted Flaggan, having given the Admiral all the information he
possessed as to the condition of the city and its defences, was sent
forward to take part in the expected fight, or go below out of harm's
way, as suited him best. He immediately attached himself, as a
supernumerary, to one of the upper-deck guns