Page 103 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

ENGLISH CAPTIVES IN ARABIA 103

mandcr and his men. In the darkness of the night several
boats full of armed men put off from the shore, marking
out the Darling for their prey. Stealthily approaching the
vessel the raiders were able to swarm on board, not only
without opposition but without detection. The unfortun­
ate look-out man, who was asleep in the rigging, paid with
his life for his dereliction of duty. The ship was apparently
won without a blow being struck in its defence. But the
assailants had reckoned without the bravery of an English
crew in a tight place. As soon as the Darling's men realized
the state of affairs they rallied to the fight with a desperate
determination which carried all before it. In a short space
of time the deck was cleared of the intruders, who were
either killed or forced back into their boats to make an
ignominious flight to land. Twenty-seven Turks, including
“ the admiral of the town/’ who was their leader, fell in the
fight. Of the Darling's crew, only two were killed, though
several others were severely woimded. It was a gallant
defence, which served to instil the Turks with a wholesome
respect for their visitors, and to ensure for the vessels an
immunity from further attack.