rner we saw the old Sheikh and his people in hot pursuit of us.

"Run, sir! run as fast as your legs can carry you, and bring up the
people from the boats," cried Jack, as he saw our enemies coming after
us, and drawing a cutlass with which he had provided himself from the
boats, and buckled to his side. "I'll keep these chaps off from the
young lady till help comes to us, I'll warrant."

I darted forward as fast as my legs could carry me. I was afraid every
instant of being stopped by some Moor who might dart out from his house;
but happily at that time the inhabitants of the village were fast
asleep, and as yet there had been no noise to awaken them. Fortunately
the old Sheikh was too fat to move fast; and his slaves, probably, had
no fancy to encounter the formidable Englishman, whose agility of heel
had made them fancy him little short of a Gin, or evil spirit of some
sort. At last I reached the little creek where the boats were lying,
the men resting on their oars, ready to shove off at a moment's warning.

"Help! help!" I exclaimed, panting for breath. "Help! or Mr Vernon
will be retaken."

In a moment Adam Stallman, and a dozen men from the different boats,
were by my side. All had been arranged for the emergency which had
occurred. On we ran, in close order, at a double-quick step. Scarcely
were we in time. The Moors were up to our friends, but Jack was laying
about him in such gallant style, that no one could manage to lay hold
upon them. His sword flew round his head like a flash of lightning; and
though his opponents cut and thrust at him from all sides, he remained
unhurt, while he had drawn blood from several of their sides. He
shouted, and shrieked, and leaped about, springing now on one side, now
on the other, yet back again in the middle of the road, if they
attempted to press too much forward. Stallman, seeing at a glance how
affairs stood, divided his people, so that they could encircle Mr
Vernon and his friends; and then, coming up to Jack's assistance, for a
moment entirely drove back his assailants. By this time the whole
village was aroused, and the Moors, collecting in numbers from the
houses, attacked us furiously on all sides. Our brave fellows, however,
kept them at bay, and retreated in good order towards the boats. We had
no time to lose, in truth, for they were making for the boats
themselves, and, if they got in our rear, might cut us off, and
overpower also the party lef