The Arethusa was followed a few days later by the Wizard,--a small gunboat which could lie in Canea harbor,--where, for the next few months, its commander, Murray, was our sole and sufficient protector.

In him and his successors I learned to honor the British navy as a force in civilization whose efficiency few not situated as we were can understand.

I have ever since been ready to take off my hat to an English sailor.
Meanwhile the dissension between Schahin and Ismael intensified.

The Egyptian wanted a show of force with effective conciliation, hoping still to effect his object of bringing the Cretans to him, and he looked to the consular body for support, while Ismael was urging on the collision, hoping to defeat the Egyptian plan.

We were constantly doing all in our power to lead the Cretans to conciliation and submission, though the hotheads among them were indignant with us.
I found on my table one morning a message written in fair English, saying that if I continued to oppose the Cretans, I should lose my influence; to which I replied by a messenger, who knew the provenance of the message, that I was indifferent to my influence if it did not help to keep peace.