In the earlier morning the party had taken its first view of Constantinople, and some of them had made the usual remark that it looked like the most beautiful city in the world. The mosques, towers, and minarets glittered in the rays of the rising sun, and gave it a glory which a walk through its streets, narrow and dirty, fails to realize. The pilot rang to stop the screw when the ship was near the shore; and she came to anchor quite near the landing, for the water was very deep. Both of the steamers were immediately surrounded by a multitude of boats, containing runners for the hotels, and men who wanted the job of taking the passengers to the shore. A big fat Turk, who proved to be a custom-house officer, came on board of the Guardian-Mother. He could not speak English, but addressed the captain in Italian, which is the language used on board of the Austrian Lloyd's steamers, which ply on the Black and Mediterranean Seas in great numbers. "Hotel d'Angleterre," called a man dressed like a Greek, as a boat came alongside the Maud. "We don't want any boat," replied Captain Scott. "Come alongside, Maud!" shouted Captain Ringgold. Scott rang the bell, and the Maud went ahead to the discomfiture of the boats, and the little steamer was made fast to the big one. Louis and Morris went on board, and were warmly received by their mothers. The passengers had descended from the promenade, and were seated under the awning, where the professor was to speak to them about Turkey. CHAPTER XXXVI THE CITY OF THE SULTAN Pitts and the engineers remained on board of the Maud, but the rest of her ship's company repaired to the deck of the Guardian-Mother, where the captain and the professor were to tell them something about Turkey. They had been studying geography all the time, and they had obtained a better knowledge of the countries visited than it would be possible to get from books and maps. History was to be mingled with it so far as practicable. The regular class in the library, consisting of Miss Blanche and the big four, were present, for their instruction was one of the principal purposes of the voyage round the world. "I suppose you all know where you are," said Captain Ringgold, rising from his chair. "In a horn," replied Felix. "That is the standard joke of this locality, and I heard it thirty-four years ago when lying at anchor where we are now," replied the commander. "I thought it would be as fresh and new as though it just came out of Kilkenny," added the Milesian. "No; it is a chestnut. But why is it called the Golden Horn?" "Because that's the best sort of a horn to be in," answered Felix.