"She will be more disturbed than ever when she sees that boat approaching," added the captain. "The Pacha himself is in the boat," reported Mr. Boulong at the open door. "All right; only observe the orders I gave you. Tell his Serene Highness that I decline to receive him," replied the commander. "You may go on the promenade deck, where you can see all that passes and hear what is said, Louis; but don't interfere. And see that the hatch over the forecastle is put on." Louis was glad enough to avail himself of this permission, and hastened forward, taking a lantern from the engine-room as he did so. He found the fore scuttle still open, and he carried the lantern down. He lighted the lamp, and then told Donald to hook down the hatch, for the Pacha's boat was coming. From the deck he proceeded up the ladder near the pilot-house to the upper deck, and seated himself where he could see the gangway. CHAPTER XXIV A STORMY INTERVIEW WITH ALI-NOURY PACHA The boat of the Pacha was an elegant barge pulled by eight oarsmen, all dressed in Oriental costume. His Highness sat in the stern-sheets on velvet cushions. As the Maud lay alongside the Guardian-Mother's gangway, the coxswain, whose place was abaft the back-board, steered directly for the little steamer. Her gangway was nothing but half a dozen steps, hooked upon the rail, and could be shifted to any part of the vessel. The barge ran alongside, and the bowman fastened to it with a boat-hook. "No one allowed on board," said Mr. Boulong, who had stationed himself at the gangway with four stout seamen near him. "I wish to go on board of the steamer at your side, the Guardian-Mother," said the Pacha. "No one is allowed on board of her, sir," answered the first officer. "But I wish to see her commander," persisted Ali-Noury. "He declines to receive you, sir," added Mr. Boulong. "Declines to receive me!" exclaimed the Pacha. "This is an insult!" "I don't know what it is; but I obey my orders, sir," returned the officer. "But I must see him!" protested the owner of the Fatimé, as he laid his hand upon the steps, as though he intended to ascend them to the deck. "Knott and Williams," called Mr. Boulong; and the two men presented themselves on the instant. "Haul in the gangway!" said the officer sharply. The Pacha held on at the steps; but the men, who were good seamen, obeyed their orders to the letter, and in a moment more His Highness was hanging to them over the deep water. [Illustration: "THE PACHA HELD ON AT THE STEPS."] "Shake him off!" said Mr. Boulong in a low tone. The seamen continued to haul in the gangway, shaking it vigorously as they did so. Knott had an idea of his own; and when they had drawn the steps nearly up, he let them slide back with a jerk, Pacha and all, till the Moor was wrenched from his hold, and thrown back into the barge, all in a heap, in the stern-sheets.