A Chapter of Adventures

k invested in half a pound of Egyptian tobacco and a gaily-decorated pipe for his Uncle Ben, two little filigree broo

," he said; "but they will do to put on th

re than Jack did; but the latter said that he would keep his money

otion in front of them. A number of men were shouting

aid. "It is no good running the

the shops, while from side st

ok! those fellows are all armed with big sticks. L

Europeans standing close to the boys. These drew kn

running into a shop close by. "We

armed with a pistol, rush

imed in broken English, "Shut the

xes and other goods against it; but there was no fast

said, and the lads follow

their assailants, but were being fast beaten down. The shrieks of women rose loud above the shouting of the combatants, while from the upper windows the

his looks like a regular rising of the natives. They would nev

" the man said, "and there is another pistol

opened and another Italian

s it, J

sen and are massacri

made his way

act of battering in the head of a fallen man. "You said only yesterday, you thought there was mischi

ill sell our lives a

over, and the two men withdrew from

through the lattice-work. "I suppose they are going to attack some

ops and plunder the contents. The two men placed themselves at the top of the stairs. It was not long b

y to come up here. They may take away the soap and candles and

self to the floor above. After plundering the shop the natives depar

t do you think we had better do? Shall we get out at

he report of firearms all over the place. No; if we go out into the streets we are safe to be murdered, if we st

s, brandishing their sticks and shouting triumphantly. Some few of them ha

roops here long before this,

chair evidently exhausted by his

than to interfere with them. The troops

came down the street. They were evidently bent upon pillage, as they brok

ouses this time, Joseph

ach other, and each, following the example of the Italians, knelt down by a chair and prayed for a minute or two.

ou are welcome to what you can find below, but you shall

me, and the natives, eager as they were for blood and plunder, shrank from making the attempt. Some of those who were farthest back began to slink out of the shop, and the others followed their example. There was a loud ta

to now, I wonder?"

Tucker replied. "There! They s

ey have set fire to the room below," he translated to the lads; but even before he spoke the boys understood what h

. "We could have held these stairs against them for

thicker, and they could h

he back window, we m

ere was a yell of derision from below. A score of the natives had made their way through the adjoining houses, and taken up their station from behind to cut off their retreat. It needed no words to tell those in the room what h

y," the ot

irmly grasped followed the two Italians and dashed into the street. Sharp cracks of the revolvers sounded out, and then in an instant the mob closed round the little party. Keeping close together, cutting and thrusting with their knives, the boys tried to make their way through. The crowd was so thic

s in a small room. An Egyptian of the better class, in buttoned-up frock-coat and light trousers, and with a scarlet fez on his head, was standing looking down at him, and was apparently giving instructions to the native

ne for you," a voice said, and he saw Tucker

placed him by the side of the others. Then the Egyptian said, "You keep

room, and from time to time one went out or came in with news as to what was passing in the streets. Each time there was much talk among their guards, and it was evident that they were dissatisfied with the result. The outbreak, indeed, had not

urs had for some time been current among them that the Christians intended to conquer Egypt and to put down the Mahomedan religion, and in their excited state a spark caused an explosion. It was perhaps fortunate that it came when it did, and w

s to restore order. They were attacked upon the way and both wounded, but they succeeded in reaching the governor's palace. By means of the strongest representations, and by telling him that he would be held personally responsible b

anded from the ships of war, and were prepared to give so hot a reception to the mob should they come that way, that the rioters confined their work to the quarter in which it began. The Egyptians are timid people, and the population of Alexandria were not sure that the army would go to any great length against the Europeans, or t

of the troops, and only some eight or ten of their dead were found lying in the streets. The rescue of the boys was due to the presence in the mob of a wealthy bey, who lived

of the town by pointing out how great was the wealth they could obtain by looting the well-filled shops and warehouses. Some of his agents had assisted to bring about the riot

hem. He knew that the plunder they had obtained from the small shops would only excite their desire to appropriate the contents of the rich stores in the Europeans' quarters, and was therefore well contented with what had been

lanned failed, he could use them as a means of obtaining favourable terms for himself. He therefore called together two or three of his men who were in the crowd, and made his way to t

no questions were asked, nor did the soldiers now scattered about interfere with their bearers. The motion started the boys' wounds into bleeding again. They had diffi