fell in with a Dutch squadron, consisting of
five small frigates and a corvette, under Vice-Admiral the Baron Van de
Capellen, who asked and obtained leave to co-operate.

There were the _Queen Charlotte_--110 guns--the flag-ship of Admiral
Lord Exmouth, G.C.B., under Captain James Brisbane, C.B.; _Impregnable_,
98--under Rear-Admiral Milne, who was second in command, and Captain
Edward Brace, C.B.; _Superb_, 74--Captain Charles Elkins; _Minden_, 74--
Captain William Paterson; _Albion_, 74--Captain John Coode. Of
frigates, there were the _Leander_, 50 guns; _Severn_, 40; _Glasgow_,
40; _Granicus_, 36; and _Hebrus_, 36. These, with five gun-brigs and
four bomb-vessels, named respectively, and not inappropriately,
_Beelzebub_, _Fury_, _Hecla_, and _Infernal_, constituted the British
fleet.

The Dutch Admiral hoisted his flag in the _Melampus_ frigate of 44 guns.
The _Frederica_, of same size, was commanded by Captain Van der
Straten. The other four vessels were smaller. There were, besides, a
flotilla of fifty-five small craft, including mortar and gun-boats,
rocket flats, yawls, etcetera.

Opposed to this, which the reader will bear in remembrance was deemed a
small fleet, there were on the walls and batteries of Algiers about 500
guns of all sizes and sorts, behind which were inexhaustible supplies of
ammunition, and many thousands of as thorough-going rascals as ever
defied the strength and tried the patience of the civilised world!

Being thoroughly acquainted with the position and strength of the
batteries of the city, Lord Exmouth had arranged the plan of attack, and
assigned to each ship and boat its particular station some days before
arriving. The addition of the Dutch fleet modified but did not
materially alter that plan. Each individual, therefore, from Lord
Exmouth to the smallest powder-monkey, was as well primed for action as
were the guns of the fleet when the flag of truce returned.

It had been met outside the mole about eleven AM by the captain of the
port, and an answer was promised in two hours.

But these pirates had never been celebrated for keeping their word. One
o'clock passed, but no answer was forthcoming. Patient and
long-suffering as usual--and as he always is--the British Lion delayed a
full hour.

"Ah, boys, if we wait till we git a peaceful answer from them villains,
we'll wait till doomsday, so we will," said Ted Flaggan to the men of
the gun to which he had attached himsel