The shore was to be seen at a distance of some four miles, It was low and sandy, with lofty mountains in the distance.

Far inland a white town with minaret and dome could be seen.
"Know you where we are ?" the earl asked.
"As far as I can tell," the captain said, "we have been driven up the bay called the Little Syrtis--a place full of shoals and shallows, and abounding with pirates of the worst kind." "Think you that the ship has suffered injury ?" "Whether she has done so or not," the captain said, "I fear greatly that she is fast in the sand, and even the lightening of all her cargo will scarce get her off; but we must try at least." "It is little time that we shall have to try, Master Captain," Cuthbert, who was standing close, said.

"Methinks those two long ships which are putting out from that town will have something to say to that." "It is too true," the captain said.

"Those are the galleys of the Moorish corsairs.

They are thirty or forty oars, draw but little water, and will be here like the wind." "What do you advise ?" asked the earl.