t expeditions. During the summer months
the Algerine galleots infested every part of the Western
Mediterranean, levied contributions of slaves and treasure upon the
Balearic Isles and the coasts of Spain, and even passed beyond the
straits to waylay the argosies which were returning to Cadiz laden
with the gold and jewels of the Indies. Nothing was safe from their
attacks; not a vessel ran the gauntlet of the Barbary coast in her
passage from Spain to Italy without many a heart quaking within her.
The "Scourge of Christendom" had begun, which was to keep all the
nations of Europe in perpetual alarm for three centuries. The Algerine
Corsairs were masters of the sea, and they made their mastery felt by
all who dared to cross their path; and not merchantmen only, but
galleys-royal of his Catholic Majesty learnt to dread the creak of the
Turkish rowlock.

One day in 1529 Kheyr-ed-d[=i]n despatched his trusty lieutenant
"Drub-Devil" with fourteen galleots to make a descent upon Majorca and
the neighbouring islands. No job could be more suited to the Corsair's
taste, and S[=a]lih Reis, who was with him, fully shared his enjoyment
of the task. The pair began in the usual way by taking several prizes
on the high seas, dropping down upon the islands and the Spanish
coasts, and carrying off abundance of Christians to serve at the oar,
or to purchase their liberty with those pieces-of-eight which never
came amiss to the rover's pockets. Tidings reaching them of a party of
Moriscos who were eager to make their escape from their Spanish
masters, and were ready to pay handsomely for a passage to Barbary.
"Drub-Devil" and his comrades landed by night near Oliva, embarked two
hundred families and much treasure, and lay-to under the island of
Formentara. Unfortunately General Portundo, with eight Spanish
galleys, was just then on his way back from Genoa, whither he had
conveyed Charles V. to be crowned Emperor by the Pope at Bologna; and,
being straightway informed of the piratical exploit which had taken
place, bore away for the Balearic Isles in hot pursuit. "Drub-Devil"
hastily landed his Morisco friends, to be the better prepared to fight
or run, for the sight of eight big galleys was more than he had
bargained for; but to his surprise the enemy came on, well within
gun-shot, without firing a single round. Portundo was anxious not to
sink the Turks, for fear of drowning the fugitive Moriscos, whom he
supposed to be on board, and fo