ian-Mother has been regarded as a
floating mine of wealth. I suspect that Mazagan spread such stories in
Egypt, and they have travelled to this port."

"What have these stories to do with a voyage to Bombay by the Maud?"
asked Scott, with something like a laugh; for he could see no
connection.

"Mr. Gaskill asked me about the little steamer that was sailing with the
ship; so that he had heard of her, for she came through the canal with
us. I have thought of this matter before; and the little steamer would
be a great temptation to the half-civilized Arabs that inhabit these
shores, and they are sailors after their own fashion. I know you are not
afraid of them, Captain Scott; but it would be easy enough for these
pirates to fall upon you, capture the little steamer, and make an end of
all on board of her."

"Where should we be while they were doing all this?" asked Scott with a
smile of incredulity.

"You would be treated to some treachery at first probably; but even in a
square, stand-up fight your chances against fifty or a hundred of these
savages would be very small. In fact, I came to the conclusion, after
your battle at Khrysoko, that the armament of the ship was not heavy
enough for possible contingencies, though the saluting-guns on the
top-gallant forecastle are well enough for ordinary occasions."

"As your mind seems to be made up, Captain Ringgold, I will say no more
about the matter," added Scott; and it was plain enough that he was
sorely disappointed.

"I am very confident that Mrs. Belgrave and Mrs. Woolridge, since the
trouble in the Cyprus bay, and after all that has been said since that
event, would not permit their sons to go to sea again in the Maud; and I
must say that their prudence is perfectly justifiable."

"Then we are not likely to use the Maud again?" asked Scott.

"Certainly not in these localities, though we may put her in the water
at Bombay, Calcutta, and perhaps some other ports," replied the
commander. "If anything should happen to you, or to any of your ship's
company, I should never forgive myself."

"I don't see that she will be of any use to us hereafter," suggested the
discontented young navigator.

"I advised her purchase mainly for use in the Mediterranean; and she has
certainly been very useful, adding very much to the pleasure of the
party."

"If you cannot use her, I should think you would sell her," added Scott.
"Of whatever service she may have been, she seems