The commander of the expedition saw that if it was to be done, no time was to be lost, as the risk to be run would increase by delay, or the Egyptians might see the flag, and sally out and take it. "A brave idea; go and prosper, my lads," he answered promptly. "Thank you, sir, thank you," answered Murray and Adair in one breath, while their crew bent with all their might to their oars. "Oh, Alick," said Adair, "I do so wish that Rogers was with us. This is just the thing of all others he would have liked." "I wish he was, indeed," answered Murray. "But I dare say something else will turn up before long in which he may be able to take a part." The boat very soon reached the shore. All the crew wanted to go on the expedition, but the midshipmen would only consent to take one. They had their cutlasses by their sides, and pistols in their belts, but their arms were not likely to be of much use. The instant the boat's stem touched the beach, they sprang on shore; and, running along across the beach, scrambled over the first wall they encountered, and found themselves in the garden. Scarcely were they there, when the sharp eyes of the enemy fell on them, and they were saluted with a hot fire of musketry. "Skip about--dodge them--fly here--fly there; take care they don't hit you," sang out Paddy, suiting the action to the word. "The more we jump, the less chance we shall have of being hit." The midshipmen's movements, as they hurried on, were not unlike those of Wills-of-the-Wisp. The enemy could not conceive what they had come for, and probably supposed that they were madmen who had escaped on shore, and were coming to join them. For a short time the firing ceased. As the smoke cleared off, those on board the ships could see what was taking place, as well as could the enemy. Every glass was turned towards them. Jack among others recognised his friends, and saw what they were about. They were not wrong in supposing that he would long to be with them. He would have given a finger, or even a right arm, for the sake of being of their party. On they went. They had another wall to get over. They climbed to the top of it. The enemy at last suspected what they were about, and came to the conclusion that if they were mad they had method in their madness, so they began once more furiously firing away at them. Eastern matchlocks are fortunately not like Enfield rifles; or their lives, if they had had nine, like cats, whom they so resembled in their activity, would not have been worth a moment's purchase. Murray and Adair raced on as merrily as if they had been playing a game of prisoner's base. They clambered up a wall, at the top of which the flag-staff had been placed. They waved it about their heads; and, giving a loud cheer, down they leaped to the ground, where their companion was ready to receive them. Happily they did so, for the next moment a thick shower of musket-balls came rattling across the spot they had left.