Tarasconian perceived a row of large black hands clinging to it
from over the side. Almost instantly a Negro's woolly head shot up
before him, and, ere he had time to open his mouth, the deck was
overwhelmed on every side by a hundred black or yellow
desperadoes, half naked, hideous, and fearsome. Tartarin knew who
these pirates were -- "they," of course, the celebrated "they" who
had too often been hunted after by him in the by-ways of Tarascon.
At last they had decided to meet him face to face. At the outset
surprise nailed him to the spot. But when he saw the outlaws fall
upon the luggage, tear off the tarpaulin covering, and actually
commence the pillage of the ship, then the hero awoke. Whipping
out his hunting-sword, "To arms! to arms!" he roared to the
passengers; and away he flew, the foremost of all, upon the
buccaneers. "Ques aco? What's the stir? What's the matter with
you?" exclaimed Captain Barbassou, coming out of the
'tweendecks.

"About time you did turn up, captain! Quick, quick, arm your men!"

"Eh, what for? dash it all!"

"Why, can't you see?"

"See what?"

"There, before you, the corsairs"

Captain Barbassou stared, bewildered. At this juncture a tall
blackamoor tore by with our hero's medicine-chest upon his back.