settle his accounts with
Mazagan, informing me that the villain had offered him twenty-five
thousand francs for the Fatty, and claimed the fifty thousand due him. I
told him he had made a bad bargain with the wretch, but as he had
promised he must perform. The vessel was worth at least double what he
offered; but I advised him to take it, for money was no object to him
compared with getting rid of this villain. Mazagan took possession of
the Fatty, and that was the last of her."

"No, it wasn't," interposed Captain Ringgold; and he gave a brief
account of the "Battle of Khrysoko," with the events leading to it.

"Good for Captain Scott!" exclaimed the commander of the Blanche. "I am
glad she has gone to the bottom, for that is the best place for her. We
sailed from Gibraltar to Madeira, where the general made himself solid
with the people there in the same manner as at the Rock. He apologized
to everybody he had insulted, and he was quite a lion before we left the
port. Then we went to Mogadore; and there he scattered his harem, on the
plea that he was going around the world; but he told me it would never
be gathered together again, that or any other.

"The general would have gone to New York in the Blanche if you had been
there, for the sole purpose of apologizing to you, and begging you to
forgive him for all the injuries he had done or had attempted to do you.
It is only five o'clock, and now you must see General Noury. I was going
to the Guardian-Mother this evening to make an appointment for him; for
I thought you would be busy all day."

"I am quite ready now to meet him, and to give him my hand," replied
Captain Ringgold. "I must say that this is the greatest conversion on
record, considering that the Pacha is still a Mohammedan."

"I think so myself; but my wife will never be satisfied till she has
made him a convert to the Christian religion," replied Captain Sharp, as
he led the way to the cabin of the general.

They were promptly admitted; and the owner of the Blanche started back,
and stood with clasped hands gazing at Captain Ringgold.

"General Noury, this is Captain Ringgold, commander of the
Guardian-Mother," said Captain Sharp.

"Most sincerely, I am very glad to see you, General Noury," added the
visitor, advancing with extended hand to the Pacha, for such he was
still in spite of the change in his name.

"I feel more like throwing myself on my knees before you, after the
Oriental manner, th