American Boys Afloat by Oliver Optic

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.

"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.

"Very well done, Knott! " exclaimed the first officer.

The coxswain of the boat hastened to pick up his master, and place him on the cushioned seat. Of course he was as wrathy as a respectable Mohammedan could be, to say nothing of such a one as Noury was.

"What do you mean, you rascal? " demanded His Highness, glowering at the first officer as though he would subject him to the bowstring if he could get hold of him. "Do you intend to drown me?"

"I do not, sir; but if you attempt to come on board of this steamer, you, and not I, will be responsible for the consequences," replied Mr. Boulong.

"But I told you I wished to see the commander of the Guardian-Mother," stormed the Pacha.

"And I told you that he declined to receive you."