assage. The white
steamer had no doubt come through the canal before her.

The commander could not solve the problem. He decided to "take the bull
by the horns," and settle the question before he sailed the next day. He
had dressed himself in his best uniform in the morning, and he decided
to pay a visit to the white steam-yacht before he slept again. It was to
be a visit of ceremony; and he ordered the crew of the barge to put on
their clean white uniforms, for he intended to go in state.

All the passengers were still on shore, and there was no one to go with
him if he had desired any company. He wished to inform the Pacha, if the
owner proved to be he, and he was on board, that he was prepared for any
and every thing. If His Highness attempted any trickery or treachery in
the direction of the members of his party, or any one of them, he would
blow the white steamer out of the water, even if she belonged to the
Sultan of Morocco. In fact, he had worked himself up as much as he ever
could into an angry frame of mind.

If he was waiting for Mazagan to come to Aden,--for the pirate must have
written to him in regard to his intentions, if he had any,--the
persecution of the Americans was to be continued over the Indian Ocean.
He was to command this magnificent steamer, as he had the Fatime, and
would be ready to retrieve his misfortunes in the past. But Captain
Ringgold was "reckoning without his host."

He descended the gangway steps, and took his seat in the stern-sheets of
the barge with compressed lips; for he intended to meet the Pacha face
to face, and this time at his own instigation. Possibly his crew were
physiognomists enough to wonder what had come over the captain; for
they had never seen him when he looked more in earnest. The captain
nodded at the cockswain, and the bowman shoved off. The crew gave way,
and no boat ever presented a finer appearance.

"To the white steam-yacht beyond the P. and O. steamer," said the
commander; and said no more.

The men bent to their oars, and they were soon in sight of the beautiful
vessel, as everybody called her; and Captain Ringgold could not but
indorse the general verdict; at least, he thought she was quite as
handsome as the Guardian-Mother, which was enough to say of any vessel
in his estimation. The barge made a landing at the platform of the
gangway.

"May I be permitted to go on board?" asked the captain of the sailor who
stood at the head of the steps.