ily on."

"You are right," said the captain. "Have a torch ready to heave in
among them, that I may make certain who they are before I give the word
to fire. It won't do to run the risk of hurting friends; but when once
you hear the word, my men, blaze away with all your might. If they are
enemies, they will not be such as will give us quarter, however loudly
we may cry for it."

A murmur ran round among the people, to signify that we would obey the
captain's orders. The atrocities committed of late years by the
Algerines, and the subjects of the Emperor of Morocco, had made those
people the dread of all sea-going people, and gained them a
proportionate amount of hatred.

Once more the sound of oars was heard, and in a short time even their
splash in the water could be distinguished. There are few things more
trying to a man's nerves than to know that an enemy is approaching, and
not to be able to discover his strength or form, or the quarter from
whence he is coming. Our cutlasses were buckled on, our muskets were
ready to be seized, and the slow matches were in our hands, but
concealed, so that the enemy might not perceive them. Mr Gale stood
with a torch ready to light at a moment's notice. Slowly the boats
approached. Apparently they seemed to think some caution necessary, or
perhaps they could not see how we lay, and wished to attack us according
to some preconcerted plan. There was a pause. I know that my heart
beat pretty quick to learn what would follow. Then there was a dash
towards us, and we could hear the sound even from the rowers' chests as
they strained at their oars. Dark forms were seen gliding out of the
darkness. Suddenly the bright light of a torch burst forth on our deck.
Mr Gale waved it above his head, and threw it towards the boats, its
glare showing us swarthy features, and turbaned heads, and coloured
vests, and jewelled arms. There could be no doubt as to the character
of our midnight visitors.

"Fire!" shouted the captain; "fire! and aim low."

Our guns, loaded with langrage, sent forth a deadly shower among the
pirate crew. Shrieks and groans arose in return. We followed it up
with a discharge of musketry. The enemy were completely taken by
surprise. Many, abandoning their oars, ceased pulling towards us. This
gave us time to reload our guns and small-arms. Their leaders, it
seemed, were attempting to rally them. Once more we could distinguish
their dark forms ami