hands (we know what will come of that when it begins), but
if they fight while we are here it may turn out bad for us, whichever
way it goes."

CHAPTER XI.

THE BOMBARDMENT.

WHILE the riot had been going on, a considerable proportion of the
European community of Alexandria had taken refuge on board the ships in
the harbour, the men who remained behind to protect their property
sending off their wives and children. Many returned on shore as soon as
it was known that the troops had arrived, but the alarm was by no means
abated when it was seen next day by the manner of the soldiers that they
sympathized entirely with the rioters. In two or three days a large
proportion of the garrison of Cairo arrived, and Arabi himself came to
Alexandria. No steps were taken to punish those concerned in the riot,
although many were known to the Europeans who had escaped.

The khedive was evidently powerless. The remonstrances of the European
consuls were received by Arabi's council with contempt, and it was too
evident to all that the riot had been but the beginning of a very much
more serious affair. The women and children remained on board the ships;
but the Europeans reopened their shops and continued business as usual,
encouraged by the fact that not a day passed without vessels of war of
one European power or another arriving in port. These had been
despatched in all haste upon the news being received of the riot in
Alexandria, and of the threatening aspect of affairs there.

In ten days after the outbreak there were in port English, French,
Italian, Spanish, and German ships of war, and the European community
now regained confidence, believing that with so powerful a fleet close
at hand the Egyptians would not venture upon any fresh act of
aggression.

Captain Murchison had been engaged in business connected with the cargo
at the office of one of the principal merchants, when one of the clerks
ran in with the news that there was a serious riot in the native part of
the town, and it was said that the Europeans had been massacred. The
office was at once closed, and the strong shutters put up. The clerks
and employes were armed and placed in readiness to defend the place
against an attack, and then Mr. Spratt and Captain Murchison went out to
the great square to see what was going on. The greatest confusion
reigned there. Numbers of women and children, the families of the
Italian and Greek shopkeepers, were hurrying pa