to the strain, coming down in great masses. As soon as
the walls had fallen the natives were set to work carrying away the
beams and woodwork, and in a little more than half an hour from the time
the operations commenced two heaps of brickwork and rubbish alone marked
the spot where the eight houses had stood.

As soon as the work was finished the party moved on into the next
street, there to repeat the operations. As parties of sailors were at
work at a score of other places the operations proceeded rapidly, and by
nightfall the workers had the satisfaction of knowing that the fire was
completely cut off, and that there was no chance of its spreading
farther. Four other outbreaks had occurred in the course of the day. In
two cases the sailors arrived upon the spot before the incendiaries had
made their escape. One man was shot, and four taken before the Egyptian
magistrate who had been appointed to try cases, and they were, after
their guilt had been fully proved, sentenced to death and summarily
hanged.

The following evening, on their going round to the consulate as usual to
hear if he had received any news of the _Wild Wave_, Mr. Cookson said,
"I had a telegram an hour since, lads, saying that your ship arrived in
the Thames yesterday, and asking if I had any news of you. I have sent
off my answer, 'All here safe and well, making themselves useful and
waiting instructions.' I am sure to get an answer some time to-morrow."

The next day the answer came, "Delighted at news. Tell boys remain
Alexandria. Ship coming out with cargo coal."

CHAPTER XIV.

A SET OF RASCALS.

THE work of pacification had gone on steadily. It was on Thursday
evening, the 13th of July, the boys had returned to the town. On the
15th Captain Fisher, who was in command of the naval party on shore,
marched through the streets disarming the Egyptian soldiers, of whom
there were large numbers still in the place, and had a skirmish with a
strong party of them at the Rosetta gate. Lord Charles Beresford was in
charge of the police arrangements, and with a force of marines and three
hundred disarmed Egyptian soldiers was occupied in stamping out the
fires and in arresting marauders. A large number of Arabs were also
enlisted in the service.

The population now began to return to the city. Many of the lower class
of Greeks and Italians landed from the vessels, and were a source of
continual trouble, as they at once took to plundering wha