"You're kindly welcome, sir," said Jack; "you would do as much for me any day, that I know."
"Ay, that I would."
It was the boats of the Breezy that were coming in and that the piratical soldiers mistook for their friends. They were at once undeceived, as soon as the quick-firers opened upon them.
They were driven into desperate confusion.
But now the Sultan's troops, whom the American Consul had succeeded in getting together, approached and quickly attacked the pirates at the point of the bayonet. And the battle was soon over.
There was still the fleet to deal with, and for hours it looked an ugly business for the Breezy. She had to make a running fight of it all day long, but after getting two of the midget fleet well away from the others, she attacked now with her heaviest guns, and was not long in sinking both.
Meanwhile others of the fleet had made a détour, and cutting her off from the south and seaward began to close in upon her from all round.
"By George!" cried the Captain, "this is being between the devil and the deep sea with a vengeance."
But suddenly the enemy ceased firing, and went off at full speed towards the south. And while everyone on the Breezy was wondering what this extraordinary move meant, there came a hail from one of the fighting tops.
"Two powerful battle-ships just in sight on the horizon. No, sir, I can only raise their tops."