len across the road. The heaps of rubbish inside still glowed, and
now and then little tongues of fire leapt up. On they went, making their
way very cautiously until they reached a wide open space surrounded by
ruins.

"This is the great square," Jack said. "Look, there is the fountain
still playing in the middle. There are some fires there too, and a lot
of people round them."

"Let us wait a bit. If they are Egyptians we shall be in a nice mess."

They stood for some time, afraid to approach closer, then they heard a
burst of laughter.

"That must be English," Jack said. "I don't believe Egyptians ever laugh
like that."

"I don't think so either. Let us move a bit closer; but mind, we must be
ready for a bolt if we find we are wrong."

They went quietly forward, and again stood irresolute. Presently they
heard a voice call "Tom Jones!" and heard the reply "Aye, aye, sir!"

"It is all right!" Jim exclaimed joyfully, and they at once hurried
forward. They soon arrived at the fire, round which three or four naval
officers were sitting. The boys tore the veils from their faces and
threw back the cotton cloth from over their heads, and a general
exclamation of surprise broke from the officers as they saw the heads of
three European boys.

"Hallo!" one of them exclaimed. "Who are you, and where do you spring
from?"

"We were wounded and carried off last month, on the day of the rising,"
Jim said, "and have been kept prisoners ever since, sir. We got away the
night after the bombardment, and have just arrived. We belong to the
barque _Wild Wave_; we are midshipmen on board her."

"Well, I am glad you have got out of their hands," the officer said;
"but I cannot do anything for you now. These rascals keep on setting the
town on fire in fresh places, and we are just starting to put one out
that began half an hour ago."

"What is this?" an officer asked, hurrying up to the spot.

"Three lads, Lord Charles, who have been kept prisoners by the Egyptians
for the last month, and have just escaped. They belong to a merchant
vessel, and were captured at the rising."

"Please to march off your men at once, sir; I will overtake you in a
minute or two. Well, lads, what can I do for you?"

"Well, sir, you might give us something to eat, perhaps," Jim suggested.
"We have had next to nothing for the last three days."

"Come along with me," Lord Charles Beresford said, and he hurried with
them to another party of sailors