We were at this time just out of sight of land, to the northward of Algiers. As the ships got nearer, we made them out to be a large fleet, several being line-of-battle ships, others frigates, and vessels of various rigs. In a short time many more came in sight, till we could count upwards of one hundred. These appeared not to be all. The larger number had lateen sails and long tapering yards. "What can they be about?" asked Tom. "That's more than I can say," said Nettleship; "but I suspect they are bound upon some expedition or other,--perhaps to attack the Algerines." As we got near enough to make out their flags, we distinguished four to be Spanish ships, two had Maltese flags flying; there were two Portuguese, and one Sicilian. "Then I have no doubt about it," said Nettleship, "for the Dons and Portingales have the chief trade up the Levant, and are likely to suffer most from those rascally corsairs. Since Blake gave them a good drubbing they have generally been pretty careful how they interfere with English vessels; but we have strong proof in this unfortunate craft that they want another thrashing to keep them in order." As we had not as yet got up our jury-masts, we were unable to move out of their way, and there appeared to be some risk of our being run down. Every now and then Jack Patchett hailed with his stentorian voice, and warned the vessels approaching us that they might pass ahead or astern, as the case might be. At last a Spanish man-of-war, carrying an admiral's flag, was sailing quite close to us, when a voice asked from her deck in English-- "Can we render you any assistance?" "The best assistance you can give us, is to take us in tow, and carry us to Gibraltar," answered Nettleship. He said this without the slightest expectation of its being done. "We'll heave to and send a tow-rope on board," was the answer; and presently the line-of-battle ship, shortening sail, hove-to under our lee. A couple of boats being lowered, came rowing towards us. Their object, we found, was to tow us close enough to receive a hawser on board. As one of them came alongside, an officer stepped on to our deck, and, advancing towards Nettleship, said-- "I am an Englishman, and have joined an expedition to attack Algiers, for my hatred and detestation of the cruelty the Algerians inflict on the unfortunate Europeans they capture. An English vessel in which I sailed lately up the Levant was attacked, and not until we had lost several men did we succeed in beating off the Algerines." Nettleship explained that the _Daisy_ had also been plundered and her people murdered. "That is a good reason why you should join us in our proposed attack on Algiers," said the officer. "I must introduce myself to you as Henry Vernon, a name not unknown to fame. I am a nephew of the admiral, and my desire is to emulate his deeds."