Jack levelled his pistol at the vizier's head, but by a dexterous movement he avoided the shot.
"Yield, Christian dogs!" he thundered. "Yield to might and right, for your capture or death is inevitable."
"You do not know us Boys of England," cried Jack. "We may be taken dead, but while a breath of life remains, we will never surrender to black-hearted Turks."
The vizier answered by ordering his men to surround the Christians, which they did their best to accomplish.
But by an agile movement, Jack and his friends suddenly turned and galloped off.
It was not in the direction of the sea, for retreat was at present cut off that way, but across the desert that they fled.
"Forward!" cried Abdullah. "They must not escape us."
For a considerable time this chase continued, till the English, by "doubling" again, changed the direction of their flight, and made towards the sea.
Hope arose within their hearts, for they saw a considerable number of well-armed English sailors, led by Thyra, coming towards them.
A few minutes' galloping joined them with these welcome allies, and this reinforcement enabled Jack again to defy the Turks.