hought you were fast asleep, as, I am ashamed to say, I was."

"Oh, you own you were, professor."

"Fast."

"Then I'll own I was too. It seems, then, that Yussuf was on the watch
and met them."

"Exactly so, and saved our lives."

"Well, I don't know about that, but he certainly kept the boy from
drowning during the night, for I couldn't stir to help him. I don't
dislike that fellow half so much as I did; but I wish to goodness he
could do as those Turks and Persians did in the _Arabian Nights_."

"What's that?" said the professor.

"Conjure a breakfast up for that poor boy."

"It strikes me," said the professor, who was watching where Yussuf had
posted himself on the edge of the sea, "that that is the very thing he
is about to do."

"Eh? what do you mean?"

"Oh, I say, Mr Preston, don't talk about food if there is none," cried
Lawrence, "for I am so hungry."

"I mean this," said the professor, "that the two Greeks down there are
evidently trying to get something out of the boat, and if they find
anything to eat, Yussuf is there with his loaded pistol, and he will
certainly have a share."

In effect the two sailors had stripped, and were busy in the shallow
water doing something, and in a short time they had contrived to thrust
the boat out, and, by using the masts as levers, completely turned her
round, so that her deck was parallel with the shore.

The men were evidently working hard, and in a short time they had got
the vessel so closely in that they were able to lower the sails, or
rather run them down to the foot of each mast, with the result that, by
the help of hard work with a spar they partly raised the side of the
boat that was submerged, its natural inclination to resume its normal
position aiding them; and at last, after several attempts, they
succeeded in getting at one of the baskets of provisions that had
fortunately not been washed away.

As they dragged this out and waded ashore, they were for making off in
the direction of the spot where their wounded skipper lay, but a few
sharp orders from Yussuf stopped them.

They were not disposed to yield up their prize peaceably, for each man's
hand went to his knife, and the professor ran down to Yussufs help.

But there was no need. The Turk went close up to them, pistol in hand,
and the men stooped and lifted the basket, carrying it between them
sulkily to where Mr Burne and Lawrence were breathlessly watching the
proceedings.

The w