e been entirely destroyed. The destruction of
property is something frightful, and most of the merchants will be
absolutely ruined. Fortunately, our firm were insured, pretty well up
to the full value."

"But I thought that they could not break in there?"

"We all moved out, the evening before, to the Anglo-Egyptian Bank. The
town was full of troops, and we doubted whether we could hold the
place. As the bank was much stronger, we agreed that it was better to
join the two garrisons and fight it out there; and I am very glad we
did so, for I doubt whether we could have defended our place,
successfully."

Mr. Ferguson and the clerks had all come off with Gregory to the
Simoon, on board which there was plenty of accommodation for them, as
it was not one of the ships that had been taken up for the
accommodation of the fugitives. Among the party who came on board was a
doctor, who had taken part in the defence of the bank, and had attended
to the wounded as the fight went on. He did so again that evening, and
told Gregory that in a month he would, if he took care of himself, be
able to use his arm again.

The next morning there was a consultation in the cabin. Mr. Ferguson
had gone on shore, late the previous afternoon; as five hundred sailors
had been landed, and had returned in the evening.

"It is certain," he said, "that nothing can be done until the place is
rebuilt. The sailors are busy at work, fighting the fire, but there are
continued fresh outbreaks. The bulk of the natives have left; but
Arabi, before marching out, opened the prisons and released the
convicts; and these and the scum of the town are still there, and
continue the destruction whenever they get a chance. A score or two
have been caught red handed and shot down, and a number of others have
been flogged.

"Another batch of sailors will land this morning, and order will soon
be restored; unless Arabi, who is encamped, with some ten thousand men,
two miles outside the town, makes an effort to recover the place. I
don't think he is likely to do so, for now that the European houses
have all been destroyed, there would be no longer any reluctance to
bombard the town itself; and even if Arabi did recover it, he would
very soon be shelled out.

"By the way, a larger number of people have been saved than was
imagined. Several of the streets in the poor European quarters have
escaped. The people barricaded the ends, and fought so desperately that
their