of command, they broke their ranks, and swarmed into the houses, and in a minute a perfect avalanche of goods was thrown from the windows.  Some stood along outside the houses, others climbed upon their shoulders, on these again others took their places, and so on until living ladders were formed, up which a score of men climbed the roofs.  These set to work with axe and hatchet, tearing off the tiles and hacking down rafters, while their comrades in the houses hewed away at floors and staircases.  In less than a quarter of an hour four houses on either side of those in flames were completely gutted, and the fire, thus cut off, speedily burnt itself out, fifteen houses having been consumed.

By this time large numbers of troops, together with sailors from the fleet, had arrived, but the work was fortunately done, and had it not been for the early appearance of the French battalion, and the energetic measures which they adopted, a great portion of the Greek quarter would have been destroyed.

Among those who had landed was a strong party of seamen from the “Falcon,” under Mr. Hethcote.  The boys joined these, and returned with them on board ship.  They reported to the lieutenant the share which they had had in the affair.

“It is an unpleasant business,” he said, “but I do not blame you for going to the assistance of those attacked when you heard an Englishman call for help.  Still, Mr. Archer, it is clear that you have pretty nearly burnt down the town of Gallipoli, and I don’t know the light in which the admiral and Sir George Brown may view the affair.  As you say that no one took any notice of you at the time that the names of the military officers were taken, it is possible that no inquiry will be made about you.  I shall, of course, report the matter to Captain Stuart, and he must act as he thinks fit.  But, in the meantime, I should advise you to say nothing of the share which you have had in the matter to any one.  You must have those gashes you have got plastered up.  But I will speak to the surgeon.  Do you know the name of the English officer concerned?”

“Yes, sir, he was Lieutenant Tewson of the Grenadier Guards.  We only exchanged a few words before he went away, but he begged us to go and see him.”

“I should advise you to keep away from him altogether, until the matter has blown over,” Mr. Hethcote said.  “Did you give him your names?”

“No, sir, we had no time.”

“All the better,” Mr. Hethcote said.  “It will, of course, come out in the course of the inquiry that two midshipmen were concerned, and it is just as well that he cannot give your names.  I expect the ship to be ordered up to Constantinople in a day or two, and I hope we may be off before any inquiries are made.  One can never say how these big-wigs may take things.  Sir George Brown is a tremendous martinet, and he may consider that it would have been far better that five officers, who chose to go to a gambling-house, should be killed,