"Steady, my men,
steady," he added, as some of the sailors were turning round to take a
parting shot at the foe.

The marines were drawn off in beautiful order, and the whole party were
soon out of the reach of shot. As they were pulling off, Murray and
Adair remarked that a flag which had been planted in the garden, in
front of the fort, was left flying.

"That will never do, the enemy will be getting it," cried Adair. "I
say, Alick, let you and I go and see if we cannot pull it down, and
carry it off."

"With all my heart," answered Murray. "Let us put back at once; we must
ask Captain A--'s leave as we pass his boat. He will not refuse it, I
am sure."

The crew of their boat were delighted at hearing what the midshipmen had
resolved to do, and pulled back to the shore with a will.

As they passed Captain A--'s boat Adair sang out, "There's an English
flag left flying on the shore there, sir; those red-capped fellows will
boast that they took it from us if we let it stay. May we go and get
it?"

The commander of the expedition saw that if it was to be done, no time
was to be lost, as the risk to be run would increase by delay, or the
Egyptians might see the flag, and sally out and take it.

"A brave idea; go and prosper, my lads," he answered promptly.

"Thank you, sir, thank you," answered Murray and Adair in one breath,
while their crew bent with all their might to their oars.

"Oh, Alick," said Adair, "I do so wish that Rogers was with us. This is
just the thing of all others he would have liked."

"I wish he was, indeed," answered Murray. "But I dare say something
else will turn up before long in which he may be able to take a part."

The boat very soon reached the shore. All the crew wanted to go on the
expedition, but the midshipmen would only consent to take one. They had
their cutlasses by their sides, and pistols in their belts, but their
arms were not likely to be of much use. The instant the boat's stem
touched the beach, they sprang on shore; and, running along across the
beach, scrambled over the first wall they encountered, and found
themselves in the garden.

Scarcely were they there, when the sharp eyes of the enemy fell on them,
and they were saluted with a hot fire of musketry.

"Skip about--dodge them--fly here--fly there; take care they don't hit
you," sang out Paddy, suiting the action to the word. "The more we
jump, the less chance we shall have of being hit."

The mi