orsair had also his unwilling subjects, who would
take the first chance to mutiny in favour of the Christian adversary.
Thus it often happened that a victory was secured by the strong arms
of the enemy's chained partizans, who would have given half their
lives to promote a defeat. But the sharp lash of the boatswain, who
walked the bridge between the banks of rowers, was a present and acute
argument which few backs could withstand.

Ur[=u]j had made his first _coup_, and he did not hesitate to follow
it up. Next year he captured a Spanish ship with five hundred soldiers
on board, who were all so sea-sick, or spent with pumping out the
leaky vessel, that they fell an easy prey to his galleots. Before five
years were out, what with cruising, and building with the timber of
his many prizes, he had eight good vessels at his back, with two of
his brothers to help. The port of Tunis now hardly sufficed his wants,
so he established himself temporarily on the fertile island of Jerba,
and from its ample anchorage his ships issued forth to harry the
coasts of Italy.

To be king of Jerba was all too small a title for his ambition. He
aimed at sovereignty on a large scale, and, Corsair as he was by
nature, he wished for settled power almost as much as he delighted in
adventure. In 1512 the opportunity he sought arrived. Three years
before, the Mohammedan King of Buj[=e]ya had been driven out of his
city by the Spaniards, and the exiled potentate appealed to the
Corsair to come and restore him, coupling the petition with promises
of the free use of Buj[=e]ya port, whence the command of the Spanish
sea was easily to be held. Ur[=u]j was pleased with the prospect, and
as he had now twelve galleots with cannon, and one thousand Turkish
men-at-arms, to say nothing of renegades and Moors, he felt strong
enough for the attempt. The renown of his exploits had spread far and
wide, and there was no lack of a following from all parts of the
Levant when it was known that Ur[=u]j Reis was on the war-path. His
extraordinary energy and impetuosity called forth a corresponding zeal
in his men, and, like other dashing commanders, he was very popular.

[Illustration: J[=I]JIL, 1664.

(_From a Map in the British Museum._)]

Well supported, and provided with such a siege-train as the times
permitted, he landed before Buj[=e]ya in August, 1512, and found the
dethroned king expecting him at the head of three thousand mountain
Berbers. The Spanish