?"

"I don't believe it is half so bad there," Jim Tucker said. "They are
all hard at work there at those big guns, and haven't got much time to
think about it. I wish we could see what harm the shot are doing them.
They have got some tremendous guns in some of the forts--pretty well as
big as they are on board."

For an hour there was no change whatever in the state of things, then
the little gun-boats were seen to be in motion. Steaming away to the
west, they engaged the Marabout Fort, which had hitherto taken its part
in the fray without any return on the part of the assailants.

"I believe the fire of the forts is slackening," Jack said. "Look at
that fort at the entrance to the harbour, its outline is all ragged and
uneven. I wish the wind would freshen up a bit, to let us see a little
more of what is going on."

Another hour and it was evident to them all that the fire of the forts
was nothing like as heavy as it had been at first, while the guns of the
fleet continued to thunder as steadily as when they first commenced. At
twelve o'clock several of the forts had ceased to fire altogether. At
one, the gun-boats having silenced the Marabout Fort, joined the three
men-of-war in the bombardment of the Mex Batteries, and the _Temeraire_,
having silenced the fort at the entrance of the Boghaz Channel, joined
in the attack on the Ras-el-tin and Pharos Forts.

At three o'clock there was a tremendous explosion in the Pharos Fort,
and now only an occasional gun answered the fire of the assailants. This
soon ceased, and at four some signal flags were seen to run up to the
masthead of the _Invincible_, and instantly the fire from the British
ships ceased, and a dead silence succeeded the din of battle that had
continued almost unbroken for nine hours.

CHAPTER XII.

FREE.

FOR two or three hours before the cessation of bombardment flames had
been bursting out from several buildings in the neighbourhood of the
palace of Ras-el-tin. These being in the line of fire, had doubtless
been struck by shell from the ships passing over the forts in front.

When the fire ceased the Egyptians rose and motioned the boys to return
to their prison.

"Well, you see, my friend," Jack said to the man who spoke English, "you
have not sunk the English vessels in a few minutes, as you talked about.
Not even one of the little gun-boats; and as far as I can see from here
you have not even damaged them."

The man made no reply.