a moment, and then pulled in, but cautiously,
for he suspected the stranger. When within about four or five yards of
the rocks the man again stopped.

"Arrah come on, won't 'ee?" exclaimed the impatient Irishman,
gesticulating wildly.

The fisherman had evidently seen and heard enough, for he at once dipped
his oars with the intention of rowing off, when Ted made a sudden
spring, and went with a heavy plunge into the water within a yard of the
boat, which was a very small one.

Unfortunately for the fisherman, instead of pulling away he raised an
oar with the intention of striking Flaggan when he should rise. It was
a fatal mistake. He did indeed strike him, and on the head too; but
that was the most invulnerable part of the Irishman's body. Ted grasped
the oar, caught the gunwale of the boat, and in a moment overturned it
and its occupant on his shoulders.

Diving clear, he rose and watched for his adversary. The man also rose
a moment later, and Ted, who was a splendid swimmer, went at him like a
small steamboat, caught him by the neck, and half throttled him; then
dragging him ashore, untwisted his turban, and therewith tied his arms
and legs fast, after which he carried him into a small cave near at
hand, and left him to his meditations.

This accomplished, he returned to the little boat, swam off and righted
her, baled her out, shipped the oars, and rowed straight out to sea.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

DESCRIBES THE BOMBARDMENT OF ALGIERS.

When the British fleet bore down on Algiers on the morning of the 27th
of August 1816, there was barely sufficient wind to carry it within
sight of the town. While lying becalmed in the _Queen Charlotte_, Lord
Exmouth sent in a boat and a flag of truce with the terms dictated by
England, and a demand for the immediate release of the consul and the
officers and men belonging to the _Prometheus_.

About the same time a small boat was observed by those on board the
fleet to put off from the shore to the northward, which, pulling right
across the town, made straight for the flag-ship. It was manned by a
solitary rower, who, as he drew near, was recognised by his costume to
be an Arab.

A four-oared boat shot out from the mole-head as if to intercept this
solitary rower, and a short but inspiriting chase ensued. It was seen
that at first the Arab paid no attention whatever to the boat in
pursuit, but kept up the slow regular stroke of one who felt quite
unconcer