of each ship to assemble on board the
_Princess Charlotte_," cried Jack. "Hurrah! the fun's to begin."

The captains having visited the flag-ship, the squadron stood in, the
larger portion taking up a position opposite the town, which they
forthwith commenced bombarding, while the rest were employed in landing
troops at different points to co-operate with the Turks, and to distract
the attention of the Egyptians. Suliman Pacha, Governor of Beyrout, in
spite of the shot and shell showered into his fortress, held out bravely
and fired away in return as hard as he could. It was the first time the
three midshipmen of the _Racer_ had been under fire, but as she had not
to take any very active part in the affair, they voted it very slow
work.

"Is this what you call fighting?" said Jack. "It seems to me as if all
the fun was on one side."

"Stay a bit, my boy," observed Hemming; "this is only just the beginning
of the game. Before many days are over perhaps we shall be at something
which will make you cry out the other way."

"At all events, we have silenced them; see, up goes a flag of truce on
the old castle," exclaimed Jack.

Jack was right in his fact but wrong in his conclusions. A boat was
instantly sent on shore to inquire the meaning of the white flag. She
quickly returned to the flag-ship bringing the Indian mail, with a
polite message from Suliman Pacha, assuring the admiral that he was not
at war with individuals, and that he should feel a satisfaction in
forwarding all letters to and from India. Sir Robert Stopford, himself
so generous and polite, was the very man to appreciate such an act of
courtesy: he therefore sent back the boat immediately with a case of
wine, warmly thanking the pacha, and begging that he would accept it as
a slight acknowledgment of his kindness. This little episode over, the
belligerents began firing away at each other as hard as ever. The pacha
showed that he was as brave as he was courteous, for in spite of all the
cannonading he would not give in. A short drama was, however, enacted,
which showed the midshipmen a little more of the realities of war. An
Egyptian deserter came on board one of the ships, and gave notice that a
train of gunpowder had been laid along a bridge leading to the eastern
castle, in which was collected a large quantity of gunpowder, with the
intention of blowing up into the sky any of the besiegers who might
succeed in entering the place. The des