It may here be mentioned how terrible was the damage wrought by the piratical fraternity in the Mediterranean, and the manner in which it has been brought to light in somewhat remarkable fashion quite recently.  Since the French occupation of Tunis it was charged against them that they had taken away from the natives of the country those fertile lands which lay upon the shores of the sea, and had given them to French subjects.  The facts of the case were that for centuries these lands had been entirely out of cultivation, the reason being that, until the complete suppression of piracy in the Mediterranean took place, none dared to dwell within raiding distance of the sea for fear of being carried off into slavery.

But to return to Hassan.  That warrior, having cleared the Spanish coast, got separated from three of his consorts during the night.  The next day, at dawn, he sighted a Spanish sailing-vessel, which he thought to make an easy prize.  The wind was light, and the galleys—­that is to say, the one on which Hassan was aboard and his remaining consort—­were soon churning up the waters in pursuit as fast as their oars could carry them.  Hassan reckoned on an easy capture, as he made certain she was but a peaceful trader with some score or so of throats to cut.  He was, however, badly out of his reckoning, as on board of her was a veteran company of Spanish infantry, stark fighters to a man, who feared no odds, and who were skilfully commanded by Captain Robeira, grown grey in the Moorish wars.  With bloodcurdling yells the galleys swept alongside with the fighting men massed on the high poops and forecastles of their vessels.  Behind the high bulwarks of the “round ship” (as the sailing craft of the day were denominated to distinguish them from the long ships, or galleys) crouched the Spaniards, their muskets in their hands.  Captain Robeira had them perfectly in hand, and not a piece was discharged until the beaks of the galleys crashed into her sides.

Robeira then gave the order to fire, and at the short range into packed masses of men the volley did terrible execution.  Completely surprised, the corsairs attempted to board, but were repulsed and driven back with more slaughter.  His men becoming demoralised, Hassan withdrew amidst the ferocious taunts of the Spaniards, who had escaped almost unscathed.  Sore and angry, the corsairs continued their voyage for another three days, at the expiration of which they arrived at Algiers.  Hassan, who had acquired quite a considerable booty, expected a warm reception; this he received, but hardly in the way that he expected.  He told his tale to Kheyr-ed-Din, which that commander received in frowning silence; when he had finished the storm burst.

“O miserable coward! dost thou dare to stand in my presence and to confess that thou hast been whipped like a dog by those sons of burnt fathers, the Spaniards?”

The miserable Hassan attempted to justify himself by reference to the booty which he had obtained and the number of captives with which he had returned; but this, far from assuaging the wrath of Barbarossa, only made it worse.