ors had a strong fancy for the "worms" and "logs" too. They gave up
marvelling at those who went to sea, and went on it themselves in search
of plunder. The risk, the uncertainty, the danger, the sense of superior
skill and ingenuity, that attract the adventurous spirit, and the
passion for sport, are stated by some writers to have brought such a
state of things into existence. One fact seems to be pretty certain,
that when these depredations were first made, they took the form of
reprisals upon the Spaniards. No sooner was Granada fallen, than
thousands of desperate Moors left the land, disdaining to live under a
Spanish yoke. Settling along a portion of the northern coast of Africa,
they immediately proceeded to first attack all Spanish vessels that
could be found. Their quickness and knowledge of the coasts gave them
the opportunity of reprisals for which they longed. Probably this got
monotonous in course of time, for in their wild sea courses they took
to harrying the vessels belonging to other nations, and so laid the
foundation for a race of pirates, which has continued down to quite
recently. As nowadays, the Moors cruised in boats from the commencement
of their marauding expeditions. Each man pulled an oar, and knew how to
fight as well as row. Drawing little water, a small squadron of these
craft could be pushed up almost any creek, or lie hidden behind a rock,
till the enemy came in sight. Then oars out, and a quick stroke for a
few minutes. Next they were alongside their unsuspecting prey, and
pouring in a first volley. Ultimately the prize was usually taken, the
crew put in irons, and the pirates returned home with their capture, no
doubt being received with acclamation upon their arrival.

As far back as the sixteenth century the Spanish forts at Alhucemas--not
to mention other places--were established for the purpose of repressing
piracy in its vicinity. Considerable interest is attached to several of
the piracies committed during the past few years, as they culminated in
strong representations being made to the Sultan of Morocco by the
various Governments under whose flag the respective vessels sailed. Some
of them went so far as to send warships to cruise along the Riffian
coast. This step apparently had some moral effect upon the pirates, for
from that time onwards attacks upon foreign vessels practically ceased.
Something more than this, however, was needed, for no one could say how
soon the marauding