When we drew near to Algiers on our return passage, we wondered what further indignities would be offered. Captain Bainbridge, having learned of the Sultan's message to the Dey, knew that a ship would be required to take a second Algerine mission to Constantinople. Fearing that the Dey might try to use the _George Washington_ again for this purpose, and suspecting too that to obtain the money the Sultan demanded the Algerine prince might attempt to enslave the crew of the _George Washington_ and hold them for ransom, Captain Bainbridge decided that he would anchor his ship out of range of the Dey's guns. Threats and persuasion were used by the Orientals to induce us to come into the harbor, but Captain Bainbridge squared his jaw and kept the ship where we had first anchored. Consul O'Brien now rowed out and told our commander that the Dey wanted to have a talk with him. The captain, armed with his certificate of protection from the Sultan, went ashore. The Dey, maddened over the result of his intercourse with the Sultan, and further enraged at Captain Bainbridge's cleverness in avoiding his snares, threatened him with torture and slavery, and seemed about to call upon his armed janizaries to seize the officer. At this moment Captain Bainbridge produced the certificate. The tyrant, seeing his master's signature upon a document that expressed good will to the American, fawned and apologized. CHAPTER IX LIFE ABOARD _OLD IRONSIDES_ "_And now to thee, O Captain,_ _Most earnestly I pray,_ _That they may never bury me_ _In church or cloister gray;_ _But on the windy sea-beach,_ _At the ending of the land,_ _All on the surfy sea-beach,_ _Deep down into the sand._ _For there will come the sailors,_ _Their voices I shall hear,_ _And at casting of the anchor_ _The yo-ho loud and clear;_ _And at hauling of the anchor_ _The yo-ho and the cheer,--_ _Farewell, my love, for to the bay_ _I never more may steer._" --W. ALLINGHAM. "I hear it reported," Samuel Childs remarked one night on watch, "that Captain Edward Preble is coming out in command of the _Constitution_. Looks like he'll have charge of the Mediterranean fleet. A hard man. A hot temper. He's as rough as the New Hampshire rocks where he was born. I doubt whether I'd want to serve under him!" "The harder they come, the better I like them," said Reuben James. "A hard man means a hard fighter. I understand Stephen Decatur's coming out too. There's an officer for you! Hope I have a chance to serve under both!" Samuel Child's idea of Captain Preble's disposition was held aboard all of our ships. Yet Preble changed this adverse comment to enthusiastic admiration. It happened in this way: