ATTACK OF THE INFIDELS UPON ALGIERS.
In the spring the infidels fitted out a fleet of one hundred and seventy ships, which they manned with twenty thousand soldiers, and sailed to Vehran, where they were joined by three or four thousand troops who were stationed in that place. These, under the command of the beg of Tilmisan, proceeded by land to Algiers. Khair-ad-din, on his part, assembled his followers, and having encouraged them, desired the natives to go out to meet the beg of Tilmisan. When they met him they behaved respectfully to him, and abstained from offering any affront to his army: The troops of Khair-ad-din amounted to only six thousand, besides about twenty thousand Arabs whom he had subjugated. When the infidel fleet arrived, they anchored opposite the island, and sent a message demanding the surrender of Algiers. Khair-ad-din Beg thereupon took his station in the field; and when the infidels bore down upon him, they were repulsed with such bravery, that many of them fell; and by the help of God he was completely victorious, and the enemy fled in confusion to their ships. When the evening came on both parties withdrew. The next day they again fought from morning till evening, and on the third day the infidels drew off their field-pieces, and being thrown into the utmost fear and confusion, most of them were routed. Not more than about five or six thousand reached their ships, and escaped. Of the spoil .which Khair-ad-din took, he gave a part with a few horses to Hassan, the serasker of Tilmisan, and giving him the command of two thousand Arabs and seven hundred regular troops, sent him back to Tilmisan; but before he could reach it twenty thousand Arabs had risen in arms, and the governor had fled; and when he arrived, of nearly four thousand infidels, about seven hundred had made their escape, and fled to Tunis, the rest having perished in the revolt.