And savage and ruthless as Abdularram was, he was no worse than Napoleon Buonaparte, who slew his prisoners by thousands.
Few Arabs are such devils at heart as Buonaparte was, and even this man before giving orders for the deed of horror to be committed, led gradually up to it in a conversation with Captain Suleiman.
"My Captain," he said, "those men of the Mahomed's Pride (the flagship) fought well and bravely."
"Alas! yes, as our dead and wounded can testify," was the cautious reply.
"They nevertheless encumber us greatly; but though, no doubt, you have them securely battened down they were sealed up so quickly that it was impossible disarm them. They have still their swords and cutlasses?"
"Yes, sahib."
"I mean to man the guns of Mahomed with our own brave fellows, and turn them against the city.
"Yes, good sahib."
"But what if, at the very commencement of the fight, the prisoners break loose from the hold, like a horde of foul fiends, and attempt to retake the ship, and if successful, turn her powerful guns on our midget fleet?"
"I do not fear for that; we could overpower them, I think," said Suleiman.