tched a long spit of land parallel with the shore, and
sheltering the two ports.

This spit was studded with forts, which formed the principal defences
of Alexandria, although there were several forts, among them Forts Mex
and Marabout, on the mainland near the mouths of the harbour. Most of
these forts had been erected under the superintendence of French
engineers, and were considered capable of defending the town against any
naval force that could be brought against it. They were armed with heavy
artillery of the best modern construction.

The ports were entirely clear of shipping, but ranged along facing the
forts lay the eight British ironclads. Four of them faced the forts at
Ras-el-tin and the mouth of the harbour, three lay off the Mex
Batteries, and one off a fort commanding what was known as the Boghaz
Channel, while the little group of gun-boats lay out beyond the line of
battleships.

Further away to the east could be seen a great number of sailing-boats
and steamers. Just at seven o'clock a great puff of white smoke broke
out from the black side of the _Invincible_, which was carrying the
admiral's flag, and even before the sound reached the ears of the little
party on the hill similar bursts of smoke spurted out from the other
vessels. Then came the deep roar of heavy artillery, mingled with the
rushing sound of their huge missiles through the air. Almost immediately
an answering fire broke out from all the batteries fringing the sea.

In a minute or two the hulls and lower masts of the men-of-war were
entirely hidden in clouds of white smoke. The very ground seemed to
shake with the thunder of heavy guns, mingled with which came the
sharper sound of some of the smaller artillery in the forts and the
long rattle of the machine-guns in the tops of the men-of-war. So
terrible was the din that the Egyptians ceased their chatter and sat in
awed silence. The shell from the Egyptian guns could be seen bursting
over the vessels, while jets of water spurting out far to seaward in all
directions marked the course of the round shot.

"It is downright awful, isn't it?" Arthur Hill said in a hushed voice.
"I've often thought I should like to see a sea-fight, but I never
thought it would be as terrible as this."

"No more did I, Arthur," Jack agreed. "I feel just as I have done when I
have been out in the bawley and a big thunder-storm has burst overhead.
If it feels like this here, what must it be on board a ship