a constant shower of shells
and rockets tumbling into them. With great daring the pirates had
resolved to make a dash with these, under cover of the smoke, and
attempt to board the British flag-ship.

"Where go you?" demanded the infuriated Rais.

The captain of the port hurriedly explained.

"I go with you," cried Rais, jumping into one of the boats; "it is
fate--no man can resist the decree of fate."

All the boats pushed swiftly off together, and did it so silently that
they were close under the bow of the flag-ship before being observed.
The _Leander_ also saw them, and a few guns from her, as well as from
the flag-ship, were instantly turned on them.

"Musha! look there!" cried Ted Flaggan, who chanced to be on the part of
the ship nearest them.

A tremendous crash followed, and thirty-three out of the thirty-seven
boats were in one moment sent to the bottom!

Of the four that escaped and put about to retreat, one came within the
range of the gun at which Flaggan served. It was trained to bear.

"Fire!" said the captain.

"Howld on!" cried Ted, suddenly clapping his hand on the touch-hole, and
receiving the red-hot poker on the back of it.

"What's that for, mate?" demanded the man who held the poker, as he
quickly raised it.

"All right, me hearty; fire away," said Ted, as he quietly removed his
hand.

Next moment the gun leaped back as if affrighted at its own vomit of
shot, smoke, and fire, and a column of white foam rose from the sea,
astern of the boat.

The momentary check had delivered it from destruction, and Ted Flaggan
had the satisfaction of knowing that he had saved his friend Rais Ali,
as he tenderly patted his injured hand.

More than an hour of this heavy firing failing to produce submission,
Lord Exmouth resolved to destroy the Algerine fleet. The _Leander_ was
ordered to cease firing, and the flag-ship barge, under Lieutenant
Richards, was ordered to board the nearest frigate of the enemy, with
laboratory torches and carcass shells. This duty was gallantly
performed, and so effectually, that the men of the barge had barely time
to tumble over the side when the frigate was a mass of flames. The
barge was received with three hearty cheers on its return. Next, the
launch of the _Queen Charlotte_ opened on the largest frigate in the
port with carcass shells, and despite the frantic efforts of the
Algerines to save her, she was soon completely on fire. From this
frigate the fi