t in the boats. It was with no small
satisfaction that I heard the voice of Dicky Sharpe shouting out to us
to come on; and then a brisk fire from the men with him cleared the
intervening space of Reefians, who had got ahead of us. The old chief
and his slaves had hitherto not fired, either for fear of hurting Miss
Norman, or because they had no powder or firearms. Now, however, the
blood of all parties was up, and pistols began to flash, and sabres to
clash, and a hot fight was going on, as we made a dash for the boats,
and Miss Norman was lifted safely in. The Reefians now rushed furiously
down on us. Adam Stallman and Jack Stretcher were the last men in, they
keeping a whole host of Moors at bay, while the boats were being shoved
off; then, by a desperate leap, Jack, by Stallman's order, got into one
of the boats, while he himself sprang into another. Alas! at that
moment a volley came rattling down among us, and before Stallman could
take his seat he fell into the bottom of the boat. It was the one I had
reached. I stooped down.

"Where are you hurt, Stallman? Oh! tell me, tell me," I exclaimed,
taking his hand.

"In my side; lend me a handkerchief, pray," he answered, faintly. "But
give way, my lads--give way; never mind me."

The men had stopped in their exertions for a moment, and were leaning
forward to discover if he was much hurt. They needed not, however, a
second order, for volley after volley came rattling over us; while the
foremost and more daring Reefians in their rage rushed into the water,
in the hope of seizing us. Some who grasped the gunnel had reason to
repent their temerity; for we dealt them such blows with our cutlasses,
that they were compelled to let go, every wound they received increasing
their fury. Others waded after us up to their arm-pits, firing their
pistols, and cutting at us with their scimitars, shouting fiercely at us
all the time, and grinding their teeth with rage and disappointment. It
was no child's play; for, had they caught us, they would have destroyed
every one of the party. By dint of great exertion the boats were at
length got clear and into deep water. By the flashes of the firearms I
could see the old Sheikh standing on the beach, and trying to urge his
followers to pursue us still further. When they found that all hope of
preventing our embarkation had gone, they hurried of to the harbour to
launch their own boats for the pursuit. We had a long way