And he turns toward the other boats, and cries out to them: "Grasp
your swords and prepare to defend yourselves. We are betrayed. The
capitan pacha has deceived us, and "--a ball whistling close by his
ear at this moment--" to your swords and pistols, my friends; the
enemy and treachery are upon us!"
The Turks are rowing rapidly down upon them in their boats, while
volleys of musketry are being discharged at them from the ship that
is approaching nearer and nearer, following the Turkish troops that
man the boats.
"Onward," cries Bardissi to his followers. "Onward! We may escape.
We may, if we make every effort, succeed in reaching Alexandria."
With the speed of the wind the boats sweep onward, and now turn into
the bay of Aboukir.
The Mamelukes all cry, "Treachery! treachery!" and every one sees
the three Turkish ships bearing down upon them from the front, while
the boats and the strange vessel are coming upon them from the rear.
From that direction comes the order, "Fire! fire!"
Death-shrieks resound everywhere among the boats. But the proud
Mamelukes are at least resolved to sell their lives dearly. They
reply from their boats to the shots. Now the enemy's boats are among
them, and a murderous but unequal conflict rages. The three men-of-
war send whole volleys into the boats of the Mamelukes.
Of what use to fire their pistols, how can they reload them? Of what
avail to draw their swords against the overwhelming foe?
They can only die, and die they must.
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