Three hours more passed, and now the nearest ship had arrived within gunshot.  The long gun was loaded after some trouble, and pointed directly at the corsair vessel.  Ranadar and his men cried out in tones of defiance.  At last the shot came.  A loud explosion thundered around, a ball came whizzing by, and passed through the sails, but did not touch the mast.

“What use is there to run, Maffeo?”

“None, whatever, captain.”

“Are the guns all-ready-loaded?”

“Yes, every one.”

“Bring them out so as to place them easily on this side.”

The men loosed the guns which were not very large, and made them ready to be placed on the side opposite.

“Now!  ’Bout ship-round with her!”

The men who understood Ranadar’s design, obeyed, and the vessel turning, now bore down upon the nearest Turkish vessel.  Those on board seemed perfectly thunderstruck at the sight of the chase thus turning the tables upon them.

“Fire!” he cried, as he arrived opposite the Turks.

The guns were fired directly into the crowded ship.  Loud cries and screams, and the crash of a falling mast told how well those shots had been aimed.

“Now for the next!” screamed Ranadar, excited.  “We will serve them in the same way!”

But the others were prepared, and drew up to await their approach.  On came the vessel of Ranadar, and the flags flew proudly from both masts, while the men shouted enthusiastically.  Loud sounded the thunder of her guns as she passed swiftly by the two vessels.  But the report and the cries from the wounded were all exceeded by that of the broadside given back by the Turks.  The mainmast fell down over the side with a deafening noise!

“Cut it away!  Clear the ship!” cried Ranadar.

In a few minutes the mast was free, but the vessel moved only slowly through the water.  Her sides were shattered by those terrific broad-sides, wounded men lay stretched upon the decks.  The two Turkish ships were quite near.

“Give it to them again, my rovers!” cried Ranadar, as he himself picked out the Turkish captain with his gun.  Another volley was fired and again another, with the same effect as before.  And this was the last, for both Turkish ships coming quickly up fired broadsides, and grappled with the disabled corsair.

The men poured from both ships into her.  The Greeks seized their scimetars and rushed into the deadly encounter.  Maffeo fought like a lion, killing three Turks in succession.  Ranadar fired his pistols and killed two of the foremost leaders.  Then hurling them at the heads of the followers, he rushed at them sword in hand.  “Fight, Greeks, fight!  Down with the Turk!” and crying this, he toiled on in the mortal strife.