dshipmen's movements, as they hurried on, were not unlike those of
Wills-of-the-Wisp.

The enemy could not conceive what they had come for, and probably
supposed that they were madmen who had escaped on shore, and were coming
to join them. For a short time the firing ceased. As the smoke cleared
off, those on board the ships could see what was taking place, as well
as could the enemy. Every glass was turned towards them. Jack among
others recognised his friends, and saw what they were about. They were
not wrong in supposing that he would long to be with them. He would
have given a finger, or even a right arm, for the sake of being of their
party.

On they went. They had another wall to get over. They climbed to the
top of it. The enemy at last suspected what they were about, and came
to the conclusion that if they were mad they had method in their
madness, so they began once more furiously firing away at them. Eastern
matchlocks are fortunately not like Enfield rifles; or their lives, if
they had had nine, like cats, whom they so resembled in their activity,
would not have been worth a moment's purchase. Murray and Adair raced
on as merrily as if they had been playing a game of prisoner's base.
They clambered up a wall, at the top of which the flag-staff had been
placed. They waved it about their heads; and, giving a loud cheer, down
they leaped to the ground, where their companion was ready to receive
them. Happily they did so, for the next moment a thick shower of
musket-balls came rattling across the spot they had left.

"Not hit, Alick?" asked Adair, as they scampered back as hard as their
legs would carry them.

"No; I hope you are not," said Murray.

"Can't say for a certainty," answered Terence; "I feel a funny stinging
sensation in my side as if something or other was the matter."

Whatever it was it did not impede his speed. At length it seemed to
strike the Egyptians that though they could not manage to knock over the
young giaours with their matchlocks they might with their scimitars; so
a band of fierce-looking fellows with long moustachios, wonderfully wide
breeches, and gleaming blades, sallied out of the fortress to endeavour
to overtake them. The Egyptians ran very fast and felt very savage, but
they might just as well have tried to catch three active tomcats. Dick
Needham, their companion, was the first to perceive that the enemy was
in pursuit of them.

"There's a lot on 'em a s