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Blue Jackets; or, The Log of the Teaser, by George Manville Fenn.
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Another very exciting nautical novel by this author, who is a master of
suspense. HMS Teaser, a clipper-gunboat, is patrolling the China Seas
on the lookout for pirates. At the time of the story she has proceeded
up the Nyho river, and is at anchor off the city of Nyho. The teller
of the story is one of three young midshipmen, Nathaniel Herrick. A
most important character is Ching, the Chinese interpreter, who would
love to be much more important than he is. The boys and Ching find
themselves in various situations which look pretty terrifying at the
time, but the author manages to slip them out of these situations just
in the nick of time. One particularly well-drawn scene is where the
boys beg Ching to take them to a Chinese theatre, and he decides upon
something that he thinks will really interest them. Unfortunately it is
a public beheading of some pirates whom the Teaser has brought to
justice, but the boys do not enjoy the scene. They realise that if they
tried to walk out they would most probably be beheaded themselves, so
they have to sit tight.
It's a full-length novel with a great deal of suspense, so there's
plenty to enjoy here.
NH
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BLUE JACKETS; OR, THE LOG OF THE TEASER, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.
CHAPTER ONE.
WE JOLLY SAILOR BOYS.
"Come along, boys; look sharp! Here's old Dishy coming."
"Hang old Dishipline; he's always coming when he isn't wanted. Tumble
over."
We three lads, midshipmen on board HM clipper gunboat the _Teaser_, did
"tumble over"--in other words, made our way down into the boat
alongside--but not so quickly that the first lieutenant, Mr Reardon,
who, from his slightly Hibernian pronunciation of the word discipline
and constant references thereto had earned for himself among us the
sobriquet of "Dishy," did catch sight of us, come to the gangway and
look down just as Double B had given the order to shove off, and was
settling the strap of the large telescope he carried over his shoulder.
I ought to tell you our names, though, in order of seniority; and it
will make matters more easy in this log if I add our second handles or
nicknames, for it was a habit among us that if a fellow could by any
possibility be furnished with an alias, that furnishing took place.
For instance, Bruce Barkins always went by the name of "Double B," when,
in allusion to the Bark in his family name, he was not called the
"Little Tanner," or "Tanner" alone; Harry Smith, being a swarthy,
dark-haired fellow, was "Blacksmith;" and I, Nathaniel Herrick, was
dubbed the first day "Poet"--I, who had never made a line in my life--
and later on, as I was rather diminutive, the "Gnat."
One can't start fair upon any voyage without preparations, so I must put
in another word or two to tell you that there were two logs kept on
board the good ship _Teaser_--one by the chief officer, and in which the
captain often put down his opinion. This is not that, but my own
private log; and I'm afraid that if the skipper or Lieutenant Reardon
had ever seen it he would have had a few words of a sort to say to me--
words which I would rather not have heard.
It was a gloriously fine morning. We had been dodging about the coast
on and off for a month on the look-out for piratical junks and lorchas,
had found none, and were now lying at anchor in the mouth of the Nyho
river, opposite the busy city of that name. Lastly, we three had leave
to go ashore for the day, and were just off when the first lieutenant
came and stood in the gangway, just as I have said, and the Tanner had
told the coxswain to shove off.
"Stop!" cried our tyrant loudly; and the oars which were being dropped
into the pea-soupy water were tossed up again and held in a row.
"Oh my!" groaned Barkins.
"Eh?" cried the first lieutenant sharply. "What say?" and he looked
hard at me.
"I didn't speak, sir."
"Oh, I thought you did. Well, young gentlemen, you are going ashore for
the day. Not by my wish, I can assure you."
"No, sir," said Smith, and he received a furious look.
"Was that meant for impertinence, sir?"
"I beg pardon, sir; no, sir."
"Oh, I'm very glad it was not. I was saying it was not by my wish that
you are going ashore, for I think you would be all better employed in
your cabin studying navigation."
"Haven't had a holiday for months, sir," said Barkins, in a tone of
remonstrance.
"Well, sir, what of that? Neither have I. Do you suppose that the
discipline of Her Majesty's ships is to be kept up by officers thinking
of nothing else but holidays? Now, listen to me--As you are going--
recollect that you are officers and gentlemen, and that it is your duty
to bear yourselves so as to secure respect from the Chinese inhabitants
of the town."
"Yes, sir," we said in chorus.
"You will be very careful not to get into any scrapes."
"Of course, sir."
"And you will bear in mind that you are only barbarians--"
"And foreign devils, sir."
"Thank you, Mr Smith," said the lieutenant sarcastically. "You need
not take the words out of my mouth. I was going to say foreign
devils--"
"I beg pardon, sir."
"--In the eyes of these self-satisfied, almond-eyed Celestials. They
would only be too glad of an excuse to mob you or to declare that you
had insulted them, so be careful."
"Certainly, sir."
"Perhaps you had better not visit their temples."
Smith kicked me.
"Or their public buildings."
Barkins trod on my toe.
"In short, I should be extremely guarded; and I think, on further
consideration, I will go to the captain and suggest that you have
half-a-dozen marines with you."
"Captain's ashore, sir."
"Thank you, Mr Herrick. You need not be so fond of correcting me."
I made a deprecatory gesture.
"I should have remembered directly that Captain Thwaites was ashore."
"Beg pardon, sir," said Barkins, touching his cap. "Well, Mr Barkins."
"I hope you will not send any marines with us."
"And pray why, sir?"
"We should have to be looking after them, sir, as much as they would be
looking after us."
"Mr Barkins, allow me to assure you, sir, that the dishipline of the
marines on board this ship is above reproach."
"Yes, sir. Of course, sir. I only thought that, after being on board
the ship so long, sir, they might be tempted, sir."
"I hope that the men of Her Majesty's gunboat _Teaser_ are above all
temptations, Mr Barkins," said the lieutenant harshly. "There, upon
second thoughts, I will not send a guard. You can go."
The oars dropped with a splash on either side, and away we went among
the hundreds of native boats of all kinds going up and down the river,
and onward toward the crowded city, with its pagodas, towers, and
ornamental gateways glittering in the morning sunshine, and looking
wonderfully attractive to us prisoners, out for the day.
"Don't speak aloud," I whispered to Smith, who was gathering himself up
for an oration respecting the first lieutenant's tyranny.
"Why not?"
"Because the men are listening, and one of 'em may report what you say."
"He'd better," said Smith defiantly. "I'm not afraid to speak. It was
all out of his niggling meddlesomeness, so as to show off before the
men." But all the same he spoke in a low voice that could only be heard
by our companion who held the lines.
"There, never mind all that bother," cried Barkins. "I say, how would
you like to live in one of those house-boats?"
"I call it pretty good cheek of the pigtailed humbugs to set up
house-boats," cried Smith. "They imitate us in everything."
"And we don't imitate them in anything, eh?" said Barkins. "Hi! look
out, old Chin-chin, or we shall run you down," he shouted to a man in a
sampan.
"My! what a hat!" cried Smith. "Why, it would do for an umbrella.
Port, Barkins."
"All right; I won't sink him. Pull away, my lads."
"I say," I cried, as we rowed by an enormous junk, with high poop and
stern painted with scarlet and gold dragons, whose eyes served for
hawseholes; "think she's a pirate?"
"No," said Barkins, giving a look up at the clumsy rig, with the huge
matting-sails; "it's a tea-boat."
As she glided away from us, with her crew collected astern, to climb up
and watch us, grinning and making derisive gestures, Barkins suddenly
swung round the telescope, slipped the strap over his head, adjusted it
to the proper focus, as marked by a line scratched with the point of a
penknife, and raised it to his eye, when, to my astonishment, I saw all
the Chinamen drop down out of sight.
"Yes, she's a tea-boat," said Double B decisively, "and heavily laden.
I wish she had pirates on board."
"Why?" cried Smith. "They'd kill all the crew."
"And then we should kill them, make a prize of the junk, and have a lot
of tin to share. Bother this glass, though! I wish I hadn't brought
it."
"Why?" said Smith; "we shall have some good views from up yonder, when
we get to the hills at the back of the town."
"Ain't got there yet. It's so heavy and clumsy, and the sun's going to
be a scorcher."
"I'll carry it, Tanner," I said.
"You shall, my boy," he cried, as he closed it up, and rapidly slipped
the strap off his shoulder again. "Catch hold. Mind, if you lose it, I
value it at a hundred pounds."
"Say five while you're about it, Tanner," cried Smith. "Why, it isn't
worth twopence--I mean I wouldn't give you a dollar for it. But I say,
my lads, look here, what are we going to do first?" continued Smith, who
was in a high state of excitement, though I was as bad. "Start off at
once for a walk through the city?"
"Shouldn't we be mobbed?" I said, as I slung the heavy glass over my
shoulder.
"They'd better mob us!" cried Smith. "If they give me any of their
nonsense, I'll take tails instead of scalps. My! what fools they do
look, with their thick-soled shoes, long blue gowns, and shaven heads!"
"That fellow in the boat is grinning at us, and thinks we look fools, I
said."
"Let him!" said Barkins. "We know better."
"But what are we going to do?" I said. "I hate being in a crowd."
"Oh, they won't crowd us," said Barkins contemptuously. "Here, hi! you
sir; mind where you're going. There, I thought you'd do it!"
This was to a young Chinaman, in a boat something like a Venetian
gondola, which he was propelling by one oar as he stood up in the bows
watching us, and was rowing one moment, the next performing a somersault
in the air before plunging into the water between the port oars of our
boat with a tremendous splash.
I did not say anything, thinking that it was a case of running up
against a man, and then crying, "Where are you shoving to?" but leaned
over the side, and caught at the first thing I saw, which happened to be
the long black plaited pigtail, and, hauling upon it, the yellow,
frightened face appeared, two wet hands clutched my arm, and, amidst a
tremendous outburst of shouting in a highly-pitched tone, boats crowded
round us, and the man was restored to his sampan, which was very little
damaged by the blow inflicted by our stem.
"Give way, my lads," cried Barkins, and we rowed on towards the
landing-place, followed by a furious yelling; men shaking their fists,
and making signs suggestive of how they would like to serve us if they
had us there.
"I'm sorry you knocked him over," I said.
"Who knocked him over, stupid?" cried Barkins. "Why, he ran right
across our bows. Oh, never mind him! I daresay he wanted washing. I
don't care. Of course, I shouldn't have liked it if he had been
drowned."
Ten minutes later we were close in to the wharf, and Smith exclaimed--
"I say, why don't we get that interpreter chap to take us all round the
place?"
"Don't know where he lives," said Barkins, "or it wouldn't be a bad
plan."
"I know," I cried.
"How do you know?"
"He showed me when he was on board, through the little glass he wanted
to sell you."
"Why, you couldn't see through that cheap thing, could you?"
"Yes, quite plain. It's just there, close to the warehouses, with a
signboard out."
"So it is," cried Smith, shading his eyes; and he read aloud from a red
board with gilt letters thereon--
Ching
Englis' spoken
Interpret
Fancee shop
Just then the boat glided up against the wood piles; we sprang out on to
the wharf, ordered the men back, and stood for two minutes watching them
well on their return for fear of any evasions, and then found ourselves
in the midst of a dense crowd of the lower-class Chinese, in their blue
cotton blouses and trousers, thick white-soled shoes, and every man with
his long black pigtail hanging down between his shoulders.
These men seemed to look upon us as a kind of exhibition, as they
pressed upon us in a semicircle; and I was beginning to think that we
should end by being thrust off into the water, when there was a burst of
angry shouting, a pair of arms began to swing about, and the owner of
the "fancee shop," whose acquaintance we had made on board, forced his
way to our side, turned his back upon us, and uttered, a few words which
had the effect of making the crowd shrink back a little.
Then turning to us, he began, in his highly-pitched inquiring tone--"You
wantee Ching? You wantee eat, dlink, smoke? Ching talkee muchee
Englis'. Come 'long! hip, hip, hoolay!"
CHAPTER TWO.
A PIECE OF CHINA.
Ching flourished his arms to right and left, forming a lane for us to
pass along, and we followed him for the few dozen yards between the
landing-place and his place of business; but it was like passing through
so much human sand, which flowed in again behind us, and as soon as we
were in the shelter of the lightly-built bamboo place, crowded round the
door to stare in.
But Ching had regularly taken us under his protection, and, stepping
into the doorway, he delivered himself of a furious harangue, which grew
louder and louder, and ended by his banging to the door and fastening
it; after which he turned to us with his little black eyes twinkling,
and crying--
"Allee light. Ching light man light place."
We all laughed, of course, and the Chinaman joined in. Then, growing
serious directly, he looked from one to the other.
"You likee dlink?"
"No, no, not yet," cried Barkins.
"No likee dlink?" said the Chinaman wonderingly; and then in a voice
full of reproof, "Sailor boy likee dlink."
"Oh yes, by and by," cried Smith.
"Ah, you wantee buy fan, shawl, ivoly? Fancee shop."
"No, no, we don't want to buy anything now," cried Barkins. "We'll pay
you--"
"Allee light," cried the man, brightening up, for he had looked
disappointed, and he held out both hands for the promised pay.
"Oh, come, wait a bit," I said. "We want you to take us and show us the
shops."
"No, no. Shop no good. Bess shop--fancee shop, Ching."
"Oh yes; but we want to see the others too, and the streets."
"Stleet allee full dust--allee full mud. No good."
"Never mind," said Barkins; "we want to see them, and the temples and
mandarins' houses."
"Pliest shut up temple. Want muchee money. Mandalin call soldier man
muchee, put all in plison. No good."
"They'd better," cried Smith; "why, the captain would blow all the place
down with his big guns."
"No blow Ching fancee shop down. Englis' spoken. Good fliend."
"Look here, Ching. Shut up shop, and come and take us all round the
town to see everything, and we'll each give you a dollar."
"Thlee dollar?" cried the man, holding his head on one side, and raising
three fingers.
"Yes," we cried, and once more his hand went out.
"What can't you trust us?" cried Smith.
"No tlust. All pay leady money. Go 'board. Fo'get."
"Oh no, we shan't," I cried. "And look here, Ching, after we've been
round the town we want to go to the theatre."
"'Top flee day to go to fleatre?" he said.
"Three days! no. We must be back on board at sundown."
"No go fleatre--no time."
"Never mind the theatre, then," cried Barkins. "Now then, off we go.
And I say, boys, let's have something to eat first."
"Wantee something eatee?" cried Ching, making for a canister upon a
shelf.
"No, no," cried Smith, "not that. We want a good dinner. Do you know
what a restaurant is?"
"Lestaulant?"
The Chinaman shook his head.
"Wantee good din': eat muchee soup, fis', cakee?"
"Yes, that's right; come along."
The yellow-faced man went softly to the door and listened, while we
glanced round at the collection of common Chinese curios, carvings,
lanterns, sunshades, stuffed birds, bits of silk, and cane baskets which
filled the place, till he came back to us with a cunning look, and his
eyes twinkling, as Smith said, "like two currants in a penny bun."
"Too muchee men all wait," he whispered. "No talkee talkee;" and,
making a gesture to us to be very silent, he led us through the back of
his shop into a smaller room, closed and fastened the door, and then led
us through another into a kind of yard full of boxes and old tea-chests,
surrounded by a bamboo paling.
There was a gate at the end of this, and he led us through, fastened it,
and, signing to us to follow, led us in and out behind houses, where we
sometimes saw a woman or two, sometimes children at play, all of whom
took refuge within till we had passed.
"Big clowd outside, wait long time," said Ching, with a laugh; and
directly after he led us along a narrow alley and out into a busy
street, which was crowded enough, but with people going to and fro,
evidently on business, and though all stopped to look, and some
followed, it was not a waterside crowd of loafers, but of respectable
people, moved by curiosity to watch the barbarian sailors passing along
their street, but paying most heed to me with the heavy glass.
I'm getting an old man now, my lads--the old boy who is writing this
log; but it all comes back as clear to my mind's eye as if it were only
yesterday: the narrow, busy street, with men shuffling along carrying
packages, baskets of fruit and vegetables or fish, cages too containing
birds, and all in the same way slung at the ends of a stout bamboo
placed across the bearer's shoulder, and swinging there as if the man
were carrying curious-looking pairs of scales.
The shops were as bright and gay as paint and gilding laid on their
quaint carvings could make them, while on their fronts hung curious
lanterns, banners, and signs covered with Chinese characters, all of
which I longed to decipher, and at which I was ready to stop and stare,
till Ching bade me imperatively, "Come 'long."
"Chinaman no fond love English sailor allee same Ching. Don't know
better. Come 'long."
This drew my attention to the fact that among the faces full of
curiosity there were plenty which greeted us with a heavy, dull scowl,
and, recalling the fact that we were only "foreign devils," according to
their teachings, it seemed better to obey our guide, though we were all
bitten by the same desire to stop and inspect the various shops and
stores we passed.
Ching led us farther and farther away from the riverside, and past
enclosures at whose gates stood truculent-looking, showily-dressed men,
who carried swords hung from a kind of baldrick, and scowled at us from
beneath their flat, conical lacquered hats. And I noticed that our
guide always hurried us past these gateways, peeps through which were
wonderfully attractive, showing as they did glimpses of gardens which
looked like glorified, highly-coloured representations of our old
friends the willow-pattern plates.
One in particular was so open that Smith stopped short, heedless of the
presence of three fierce-looking Chinamen, with showy robes and long
pendent moustachios.
"Look here, boys," he cried. "What a game! Here's the old bridge over
the water, and the cannon-ball tree, and the gold-fish pond, and--"
"Come 'long," whispered Ching hurriedly; and he caught our comrade by
the arm, forcing him onward as the guards scowled at us fiercely.
"Here, what are you up to?" cried Smith, resenting the interference.
"Take velly much care of Englis' offlicers. Big mandalin live there.
Men sword velly sharp--cut off head."
"Bosh!" said Smith shortly; "they'd better."
"Oh no, they hadn't," cried Barkins. "We don't want to take you on
board without any head."
"But they daren't hurt us," cried Smith bumptiously. "We're Englishmen,
and our gunboat is in the river. I'm not afraid. Why, there'd be a war
if one of these men interfered with us. Our people would land and burn
up the place."
"No," said Ching quietly. "Send letter to mandalin. Why you men cut
off little offlicer head?"
"Here, who are you calling little officer, Pigtail?" cried Smith
indignantly.
"Mean young offlicer," cried Ching hastily. "Say, Why you men cut chop
young offlicer head off? Mandalin say, Velly solly. He find out who
blave was who chop young offlicer head, and give him lichi."
"You mean toco?" said Barkins.
"No; lichi."
"What's lichi?" I said.
"Tie blave up along post, and man come velly sharp sword, cut him all in
'lit pieces while he live."
"And do they do that?" I asked, in horror.
"Neve' find out blave who chop off head," said Ching, with a queer
twinkle of the eyes. "No find blave, no can give him lichi."
"Sounds pleasant, Poet, don't it?" said Barkins.
"Horrid!" I cried, with a shudder.
"Moral: Don't try to peep into mandarins' gateways, Blacksmith,"
continued Barkins.
"Bosh! it's all gammon. I should like to see one of them try to cut my
head off."
"I shouldn't," I cried, laughing; "and he wouldn't."
"No," said Ching perfectly seriously. "Velly bad have head chop off.
Head velly useful."
"Very," said Barkins mockingly. "Well done, Chinese Wisdom. I say,
Herrick, why is a mandarin like the Grand Panjandrum?"
"Because he plays at the game of catch, catch, can and can't catch the
man who cuts off the English fellow's head," said Smith.
"Wrong!" cried Barkins. "Now you, Poet."
"Because he's got a little round button on the top."
"Good boy, go up one," cried Barkins.
"Hallo! what place is this?"
"Velly good place, eatee drinkee. All velly nicee nicee."
"Here, I say, Ching," cried Smith, "gently; any one would think we were
babies. Stow some of that nicee nicee."
"Yes! Stow all along inside, like ship. Allee good. Come 'long."
For we had reached a showy-looking open-sided building, standing a
little way back in a well-kept garden, with rockeries and tiny
fish-ponds, clipped trees and paved walks, while the large open house
displayed tables and neat-looking waiters going to and fro, attending
upon well-dressed Chinamen, whose occupation was so much in accordance
with our desires, that we entered at once, and Ching led the way to a
table; one of the waiters coming up smiling as soon as we were seated.
"Now then," cried Barkins, who was full of memories of hard biscuit and
tough salt beef, "what are we going to have to eat?"
"I don't know," I said, looking round uneasily. "What have they got?"
"Here, let's make Ching order the dinner," cried Smith. "Look here, old
chap. We can have a good dinner for a dollar apiece, can't we?"
"Velly good dinner, dollar piecee," he replied.
"That's right," said Barkins; "we don't have a chance every day to spend
a dollar upon our dinner. Go it, Ching. Tell the waiter fellow, and
order for yourself too. But I say, boys, we must have birds'-nest
soup."
"Of course," we chorussed, though Smith and I agreed afterwards that we
rather shrank from trying the delicacy.
Ching lost no time in giving the orders, and in a very few minutes the
man bustled up with saucers and basins, and we began tasting this and
tasting that as well as we could with the implements furnished to us for
the purpose, to wit chopsticks, each watching the apparently wonderful
skill with which Ching transferred his food from the tiny saucers placed
before him, and imitating his actions with more or less success--
generally less.
We had some sweet stuff, and some bits of cucumber cut up small, and
some thick sticky soap-like stuff, which rather put me in mind of melted
blancmange with salt and pepper instead of sugar, and when this was
ended came saucers of mincemeat.
"'Tain't bad," whispered Barkins, as we ate delicately. "Peg away,
lads. We're pretty safe so long as we eat what Pigtail does."
I did not feel so sure; but I was hungry, and as the food did not seem
to be, as Barkins said, bad, I kept on, though I could not help
wondering what we were eating.
"I say, Ching," said Smith suddenly, "when's the birds'-nest soup
coming? Oughtn't we to have had that first?"
"Eat um all up lit' bit go," replied Ching.
"What, that sticky stuff?" I cried.
"Yes. No have velly bess flesh birds'-ness for dolla'; but all velly
good. Nicee nicee, velly nicee."
"Don't!" cried Smith excitedly.
"Let him be, Blacksmith," said Barkins; "it's only his way. Ah, here's
something else!"
I looked at the little saucers placed before us, in which, neatly
divided, were little appetising-looking brown heaps, covered with rich
gravy, and smelling uncommonly nice.
"What's this?" said Barkins, turning his over with the chopsticks.
"Velly good," said Ching, smiling, and making a beginning.
"Yes; don't smell bad," said Smith. "I know: it's quails. There's lots
of quail in China. 'Licious!"
I had a little bit of the white meat and brown gravy, which I had
separated from a tiny bone with the chopsticks, and was congratulating
myself on my cleverness, when it dropped back into my saucer, for Ching,
with his mouth full, said quietly--
"No, not lit' bird--lat."
"What's lat?" said Barkins suspiciously.
"No lat," said Ching smiling; "lat."
"Well, I said lat. What is lat?"
Smith put down his chopsticks. I had already laid down mine.
"What's the matter?" said Barkins, who kept on suspiciously turning over
the contents of his saucer.
"He means rat," whispered Smith in an awful tone.
"What!" cried Barkins, pushing himself back with a comical look of
disgust upon his face.
"Yes, lat," said Ching. "Velly good fat lat."
Our faces were a study. At least I know that my companions' were; and
we were perfectly silent while our guide kept on making a sound with his
mouth as he supped up the rich gravy.
"Here, hold hard a minute," said Smith. "I mean you, Ching."
"Yes?" said the Chinaman, with a pleasant smile; and he crossed his
chopsticks, and looked at our brother middy inquiringly.
"What was that we were eating a little while ago?"
"Clucumber; velly good."
"No, no; before that."
"Birds'-ness soup; velly cost much. Not all birds'-ness. Some
shark-fis' fin."
"I don't mean that, I tell you," cried Smith in an exasperated tone of
voice. "I mean that other brown meat cut up small into the brown sauce.
It was rabbit, wasn't it?"
"Oh no," said Ching decisively; "no labbit. Lit' mince-up pup-dog.
Nicee nicee."
Smith turned green, and his eyes rolled so that he actually squinted;
while Barkins uttered a low sound-like gasp. As for me, I felt as I
remember feeling after partaking meekly of what one of my aunts used to
call prune tea--a decoction made by boiling so many French plums along
with half an ounce of senna leaves.
"Oh gracious!" murmured Barkins; while Smith uttered a low groan.
"You both likee more?" said Ching blandly.
"No!" they cried so unanimously that it was like one voice; and in spite
of my own disgust and unpleasant sensations I felt as if I must laugh at
them.
"Oh, mawkish morsels!" muttered Barkins.
"You feel you have 'nuff?" said Ching, smiling. "Oh no. Loas' suck-pig
come soon. You eat velly much more."
"Not if I know it," whispered Smith to me. "I don't believe it'll be
pig."
"What then?" I whispered back.
"Kid."
"Well, kid's nice."
"Get out! I meant baby."
"Ugh! Don't."
"It's too late to say don't," groaned Smith. "We've done it."
"Hold up, old chap," I whispered. "Everybody's looking at you."
"Let 'em," he groaned. "Oh, I do feel so ill!"
"Nonsense! Look at Tanner."
He turned his wild eyes upon Barkins, whose aspect was ludicrous enough
to make him forget his own sensations, and he smiled a peculiarly
saddened, pensive smile; for our messmate was leaning towards Ching.
"Don't eat any more of that," he said faintly.
"Eat um all up; velly good."
"Can one get a drop of brandy here?"
"Dlop blandy? No. Velly nicee 'lack."
"What's 'lack?"
"No, no 'lack! lice spilit."
"'Rack!" I said--"arrack?"
"Yes, allack," said Ching, nodding.
"Let's have some--a glass each," said Barkins; "and look sharp."
Ching summoned one of the smiling waiters, and the order was given.
Then for the first time he noticed that we had not finished the contents
of our little saucers.
"No eat lat?" he cried.
I shook my head.
"Velly good!"
"We're not quite well," said Smith.
"Been out in the sun too much," added Barkins.
"Ah, sun too much bad! Lit' dlop spilit make quite well. No eat lat?"
"No, no!" we cried in chorus.
"Velly good," said our guide; and in alarm lest such a delicacy should
be wasted, he drew first one and then the other saucer over to his side,
and finished their contents.
Long before this, though, the attendant had brought us three tiny
glasses of white spirit, which we tossed off eagerly, with the result
that the qualmish sensations passed away; but no recommendations on the
part of our guide could induce us to touch anything that followed,
saving sundry preparations of rice and fruit, which were excellent.
The dinner over, Ching took us about the garden to inspect the lilies in
pots, the gold and silver fish, fat and wonderfully shaped, which glided
about in the tanks and ponds, and then led us into a kind of arbour,
where, beneath a kind of wooden eave, an instrument was hanging from a
peg. It was not a banjo, for it was too long; and it was not a guitar,
for it was too thin, and had not enough strings; but it was something of
the kind, and evidently kept there for the use of musically-disposed
visitors.
"You likee music?" said Ching.
"Oh yes," I replied dubiously, as I sat using the telescope, gazing
right away over the lower part of the town at the winding river, with
its crowds of craft.
"Why, he isn't going to play, is he?" whispered Smith. "We don't want
to hear that. Let's go out in the town."
"Don't be in such a hurry," replied Barkins. "The sun's too hot. I
say, our dinner wasn't such a very great success, was it?"
Smith shook his head, and just then Ching began to tune the instrument,
screwing the pegs up and down, and producing the most lugubrious sounds,
which somehow made me begin to think of home, and how strange it was to
be sitting there in a place which seemed like part of a picture,
listening to the Chinese guide.
I had forgotten the unpleasantry of the dinner in the beauty of the
scene, for there were abundance of flowers, the sky was of a vivid blue,
and the sun shone down brilliantly, and made the distant water of the
river sparkle.
Close by there were the Chinese people coming and going in their strange
costume; a busy hum came through the open windows; and I believe that in
a few minutes I should have been asleep, if Ching had not awakened me by
his vigorous onslaught upon the instrument, one of whose pegs refused to
stay in exactly the right place as he kept on tuning.
@@@@
Then a little more screwing up.
_Peng_, _peng_, _pang_--_pong_.
Ching stopped, nursed the instrument upon his knee as if it were a baby,
pulled out the offending peg as if it were a tooth, moistened the hole,
replaced the peg, and began again--screw, screw, screw.
@@@@
Just a quarter of a tone out still, and he tried again diligently, while
my eyes half closed, and the Tanner and Blacksmith both nodded in the
heat.
@@@@
Right at last; and Ching threw himself back so that his mouth would open
to the widest extent, struck a chord on the three strings, and burst
forth with celestial accompaniment into what was in all probability a
passionate serenade, full of allusions to nightingales, moonbeams,
dew-wet roses, lattice-windows, and beautiful moon-faced maidens, but
which sounded to me like--
"Ti ope I ow wow,
Ti ope I ow yow,
Ti ope I ow tow,
Ti ope I ligh."
The words, I say, sounded like that: the music it would be impossible to
give, for the whole blended together into so lamentable a howl, that
both Barkins and Smith started up into wakefulness from a deep sleep,
and the former looked wildly round, as confused and wondering he
exclaimed--
"What's matter?"
As for Smith, he seemed to be still half-asleep, and he sat up, staring
blankly at the performer, who kept on howling--I can call it nothing
else--in the most doleful of minor keys.
"I say," whispered Barkins, "did you set him to do that?"
I shook my head.
"Because--oh, just look! here are all the people coming out to see
what's the matter."
He was right as to the people coming, for in twos and threes, as they
finished the refreshment of which they had been partaking, first one
path was filled and then another, the people coming slowly up and
stopping to listen, while Barkins stared at them in blank astonishment.
"Here Nat--Poet," he whispered, "look at 'em."
"I am looking," I said. "Isn't it just like a picture?"
"It's like an old firescreen," he said; "but I don't mean that. Look!
Hang me if the beggars don't seem to like it. Can't you stop him?"
"No, of course not."
"But how long will it be before he has run down?"
"I don't know," I whispered. "But look, aren't those like some of the
men we saw by the gates?"
I drew his attention to about half-a-dozen fierce-looking men in showy
coats and lacquered hats, who came up to the garden, stared hard at us,
and then walked in. Each of them, I noticed, wore a sword, and a kind
of dagger stuck in his belt, and this made me at once recall their
offensive looks and contemptuous manner towards us, and think of how far
we were away from the ship, and unarmed, save for the ornamental dirks
which hung from our belts, weapons that would have been, even if we had
known how to use them, almost like short laths against the Chinamen's
heavy, broad-bladed, and probably sharp swords.
"I say, Gnat," whispered Barkins, "those must be the chaps we saw at the
mandarin's gate. Never mind; we'll ask them to have something as soon
as old Ching has finished his howling."
But that did not seem likely to be for some time, and I began to think,
as I sat there noticing how the men were gradually closing in upon us,
that our position was not very safe, right away from the landing-place,
and that we had done wrong in stopping so long where we were. I knew
that the Chinese were obsequious and humble enough so long as they were
face to face with a stronger power, but if they had the upper hand,
cruel and merciless to any one not of their own nation, and that it was
wiser to give them a wide berth.
Then I began to think that the captain had been too ready to believe in
our prestige in giving us leave to go, and that we should have been
wiser if we had stayed on board. Finally, I had just come to the
conclusion that we ought to stop Ching in his howling or singing, which
grew more and more vehement as he saw that his audience was increasing,
when Smith jogged my elbow.
"I say," he whispered, "let's get away from here."
"Why?" I said, to get to know what he thought.
"Because I'm afraid those chaps with the swords mean mischief."
"I say, lads," said Barkins, leaning towards us, "aren't those chaps
crowding us up rather? What do they mean? Here, I'm senior, and the
skipper said I was to take care of you youngsters. We'll go back to the
wharf at once."
"What's the good?" said Smith. "The boat won't be there to fetch us off
till sundown."
"Never mind, let's get away from here," said Barkins decisively; "we
don't want to get in a row with the Chinese, and that's what they want."
"But they're quiet enough," I said, growing nervous all the while.
"Yes, they're quiet enough now," whispered Barkins; "but you look at
that big fellow with the yellow belt, he keeps on making faces at us."
"Let him; that will not hurt us."
"I know that, little stupid," he cried, "but what follows may. Look at
him now."
I looked up quickly, and saw the man turn away from looking at us, and
say something to his fierce-looking companions, who glanced towards us
and laughed.
"There," said Barkins, "I'm not going to be laughed at by those jolly
old pigtailed heathens. Here, Ching, old chap, we want to go."
As he spoke he gave our guide a sharp nudge, which made him turn round
and stare.
"Ti--ope--I--ow!"
"Do you hear? We want to go!"
"Ti--ope--I--ow!" howled Ching, beginning again.
"Yes, we want to go," I said anxiously.
"Ti--ope--I--ow!" he howled again, but as he gave forth his peculiar
sounds he suddenly struck--purposely--a false, jarring note, lowered the
instrument, seized one of the pegs as if in a passion, and began talking
to me in a low, earnest voice, to the accompaniment of the string he
tuned.
"Ching see now,"--_peng_, _peng_, _peng_--"bad men with
swords,"--_pang_, _peng_--"look velly closs,"--_pang_, _pong_--"wantee
fightee,"--_pang_, _pang_--"you no wantee fightee,"--_pung_, _pung_.
"No," I whispered anxiously; "let's go at once."
"No takee notice,"--_pang_, _peng_, _peng_. "All flee, walkee walkee
round one sidee house,"--_pang_, _pong_--"Ching go long other
sidee,"--_peng_, _peng_. "No make, hully--walkee velly slow over lit'
blidge,"--_ping_, _ping_, _ping_, _ping_, _pang_, _pang_.
The little bridge was just behind us, and I grasped all he said--that we
were to go slowly over the bridge and walk round the back of the house,
while he would go round the front and meet us on the other side.
_Bang_, _jangle_, _pang_, _pang_, _ping_, _ping_, _peng_, _peng_, went
the instrument, as Ching strummed away with all his might.
"Wait, Ching come show way," he whispered. And as I saw that the
mandarin's men were coming nearer and evidently meant mischief, Ching
raised his instrument again, and, after a preliminary flourish, began
once more, to the delight of the crowd. My messmates and I slowly left
our places and walked round the summer-house towards the little bridge
over one of the gold-fish tanks, moving as deliberately as we could,
while Ching's voice rang out, "Ti--ope--I--ow!" as if nothing were the
matter.
The little crowd was between us and the mandarin's retainers, but it was
hard work to appear cool and unconcerned. Above all, it took almost a
superhuman effort to keep from looking back.
Smith could not resist the desire, and gave a sharp glance round.
"They're coming after us," he whispered. "We shall have to cut and
run."
"No, no," said Barkins hoarsely. "They'd overtake us directly. They'd
come down like a pack of wolves. We must be cool, lads, and be ready to
turn and draw at the last. The beggars are awful cowards after all."
We went on over the bridge, and, in spite of my dread, I made believe to
look down at the gold-fish, pointing below at them, but seizing the
opportunity to look out for danger.
It was a quick glance, and it showed me that the crowd from the
eating-house were taking no notice of us, but listening to Ching, who
had left his seat, and, singing with all his might, was walking along
one of the paths towards the front of the low building, while we were
slowly making for the back, with the result of crowding the mandarin's
men back a little, for the whole of the company moved with our guide,
carefully making room for him to play, and thus unconsciously they
hampered the movements of our enemies.
The distance was not great, of course--fifty yards altogether, perhaps,
along winding and doubling walks, for the Chinese are ingenious over
making the most of a small garden, but it was long enough to keep us in
an intense state of excitement, as from time to time we caught sight of
the men following us.
Then we saw that they had stopped to watch which way we went, and
directly after we knew that they were only waiting for us to be behind
the house to go back and hurry round and meet us.
At last we had passed to the end of the maze-like walk, and were
sheltered by the house from the little crowd and our enemies, with the
result that all felt relieved.
"I say," said Smith, "isn't this only a scare?"
"Don't know," said Barkins. "P'raps so; but I shan't be sorry to get on
board again. They think nothing of cutting a fellow to pieces."
"Let's make haste, then," I said; and, nothing loth, the others hurried
on past the back of the house, where the kitchen seemed to be, and
plenty of servants were hurrying to and fro, too busy to take any heed
of us. Then we turned the corner, and found that we were opposite to a
gateway opening upon a very narrow lane, which evidently went along by
the backs of the neighbouring houses, parallel with the main street,
which was, however, not such a great deal wider than this.
"Here's a way for us to go down, at all events," said Barkins, after we
had listened for a few moments for Ching's song, and the wiry notes of
his instrument.
"Yes, let's cut down at once," said Smith.
"Where to?" I said excitedly. "We can't find our way without Ching."
"No; and those beggars would hunt us down there at once," said Barkins.
"Won't do. I say, though, why don't they give us better tools than
these to wear?"
"Hark!" I said; "listen!"
We listened, but there was nothing but the murmur of voices in the
house, and not a soul to be seen on our side, till all at once I caught
sight of something moving among the shrubs, and made out that it was the
gay coat of one of the men from whom we sought to escape.
"Come on!" said Smith excitedly, and he threw open the gate leading into
the narrow lane, so that in another moment we should have been in full
retreat, had not a door behind us in the side of the house been opened,
and Ching appeared.
He did not speak, but made a sign for us to enter, and we were hardly
inside and the door thrust to--all but a chink big enough for our guide
to use for reconnoitring--when we heard the soft pat-pat of the men's
boots, then the rustle of their garments, and the tap given by one of
their swords as they passed through the gateway and ran down the narrow
lane.
"All gone along, catchee you," whispered Ching. "Come 'long other way."
He stepped out, made us follow, and then carefully closed the door.
"Now, come 'long this way," he said, with his eyes twinkling. "No
walkee fast. Allee boy lun after."
We saw the wisdom of his proceedings, and followed him, as he took us by
the way our enemies had come, straight out into the main street, down it
a little way, and then up a turning, which he followed till we came to
another important street parallel to the one by which we had come, and
began to follow it downward toward the waterside.
"Muchee flighten?" he said.
"Oh, I don't know," growled Barkins, who had the deepest voice of the
three. "It was startling. Did they mean mischief?"
"Mean chop chop. Allee bad wick' men. No catchee now. Ching velly
much flighten."
He did not look so, but chatted away with open, smiling face, as he
pointed first on one side then on the other to some striking-looking
shop or building, though he never paused for a moment, but kept on at a
good rate without showing a sign of hurry or excitement.
"How are we to get on board when we get to the river?" I said, as we
went on. "There'll be no boat till sundown."
"Ching get one piecee boat low all aboard ship."
"Can't you keep us in your place till our boat comes?"
The man shook his head. "Mandalin boy come burn um down, makee all lun
out. So velly hot. No stay. Get boat, low away."
"How far is it, do you think?" asked Smith.
"I don't know," said Barkins. "We seemed to be walking for hours in the
hot sun coming up. How far is it, Ching?"
"Velly long way. No look at garden now."
He pointed to one of the handsome gateways about which a party of armed
retainers were hanging, and, whispering to us not to take any notice, he
walked us steadily along.
But we were not to get by the place without notice, for the loungers saw
us coming, and strode out in a swaggering way--three big sturdy fellows
in blue and scarlet, and pretty well blocked the way as they stood
scowling at us.
"Look out," whispered Barkins, "ready with your toasting-forks, and then
if it comes to it we must run."
"You'll stick by us, Gnat," whispered Smith in a hasty whisper.
"I'll try," I said.
"Keep velly close," whispered Ching. "No takee notice. No talkee
closs. Ching speakee."
He said something in Chinese to the men, and led us in single file
between the two most fierce-looking, our prompt action taking them
somewhat by surprise, and, as we gave them no excuse for taking offence,
they only turned to gaze after us.
There were plenty of people in the street ready to stand and look at us,
and we met with no interruption from them, but I could not help seeing
the anxiety in Ching's face, and how from time to time he wiped his
streaming brow. But as soon as he saw either of us looking at him he
smiled as if there was nothing the matter whatever.
"No velly long now," he said. "Lot bad men to-day. You come walkee
walkee 'gain?"
"It's not very tempting, Ching," I said. "Why can't they leave us
alone?"
He tightened his lips and shook his head. Then, looking sharply before
him, he hurried us along a little more.
"Wish got ten--twenty--piecee soldier man 'longside," he whispered to
me, and the next minute he grasped my arm with a spasmodic snatch.
"What's the matter?" I said.
He did not speak, but looked sharply to right and left for a means of
escape. For, in spite of the cleverness of our guide, the mandarin's
men had been as cunning. They had either divined or been told that we
had made for the other street, and had contrived to reach the connecting
lane along which we should have to pass. Here they had planted
themselves, and just as we were breathing more freely, in the belief
that before long we should reach the shore of the great river, we caught
sight of them in company with about a dozen more.
We were all on the point of halting, as we saw them about fifty yards in
front, but Ching spoke out sharply--
"No stoppee," he said firmly. "Lun away, all come catchee and choppee
off head. Go 'long stlaight and flighten 'em. Englis' sailor foleign
debil, 'flaid o' nobody."
"There's something in that," said Barkins. "Right. Show a bold front,
lads. Let's go straight by them, and if they attack, then out with your
swords and let's make a fight for it."
I heard Smith say, "All right," and my heart was beating very fast as I
said the same.
Frightened? Of course I was. I don't believe the boy ever lived who
would not feel frightened at having to face death. For it was death we
had to face then, and in the ugliest shape. But Smith's words sent a
thrill through us.
"I say, lads," he said, "we've got to fight this time. If we begged for
our lives they'd only serve us worse; so let 'em have it, and recollect
that, if they kill us, the old _Teasers'll_ come and burn their town
about their ears."
"'Fraid, Ching?" I whispered; for he and I were in front.
"No 'flaid now," he whispered back. "Plenty flighten by and by."
He smiled as he spoke, and led us straight on to where the four
mandarin's men and the rough-looking fellows with them blocked the road,
and if for a moment we had shown any hesitation, I believe they would
have rushed at us like wolves. But Ching kept his head up as if proud
of acting as guide to three British officers, and when we got close up
he nodded smilingly at the men in the mandarin's colours, and then, as
if astounded at the little crowd standing fast, he burst out into a
furious passion, shouting at them in a wild gabble of words, with the
effect of making them give way at once, so that we passed through.
Then I heard him draw a panting breath, and saw that he was ghastly.
"Walkee walkee," he whispered. "Not velly fast. 'Top I say lun, and
lun fast alleegether."
At that moment there was a loud shouting behind, then a yell, and,
turning my head, I saw that the mandarin's men had their great blades
out, and were leading the men after us, shouting to excite themselves
and the little mob.
"Now lun!" cried Ching. "I showee way."
"No!" shouted Barkins. "Draw swords and retreat slowly."
We whipped out our weapons and turned to face the enemy, knowing full
well that they would sweep over us at the first rush, while a feeling of
rage ran through me, as in my despairing fit I determined to make the
big fellow opposite to me feel one dig of English steel before he cut me
down.
Then they were upon us with a rush, and I saw Ching dart in front and
cleverly snatch one of the clumsy swords from the nearest man. The next
moment he had whirled it up with both hands, when--
_Boom_--_Crash_!
There was the report of a heavy gun, whose concussion made the wooden
houses on each side jar and quiver as it literally ran up the narrow
street, and, to our astonishment, we saw the little mob turn on the
instant and begin to run, showing us, instead of their fierce savage
faces, so many black pigtails; the mandarin's men, though, last.
"Hooray!" we yelled after them, and they ran the faster.
"Now, velly quick," panted Ching. "Come back again soon."
We uttered another shout, and hurried along the lane to the principal
street, turned at right angles, and began to hurry along pretty rapidly
now, Ching marching beside us with the big sword over his shoulder.
But the scare was only temporary, the tremendous report was not
repeated, and before a minute had elapsed, our guide, who kept glancing
back, cried--
"Now, lun velly fast. Come along catchee catchee, and no big gun go
shoot this time."
He was quite right, and we took to our heels, with the yelling mob close
at hand, and so many people in front, that we felt certain of being run
down long before we could reach the waterside.
"And no chance for us when we do," muttered Barkins from close behind
me. "Oh, if a couple of dozen of our lads were only here! Why didn't
they send 'em?" he panted, "instead of firing as a signal for us to go
back on board."
CHAPTER THREE.
CUTTING IT CLOSE.
My messmate uttered these words close to my ears in a despairing tone as
we dashed on, and now I saw Ching strike to his right, while I made a
cut or two at my left, as men started from the sides and tried to trip
us up.
I was growing faint with the heat down in that narrow, breathless
street, my clothes stuck to me, and Barkins' heavy telescope banged
heavily against my side, making me feel ready to unfasten the strap and
let it fall. But I kept on for another fifty yards or so with our
enemies yelling in the rear, and the waterside seeming to grow no
nearer.
"Keep together, lads," cried Barkins excitedly. "It can't be far now.
We'll seize the first boat we come to, and the tide will soon take us
out of their reach."
But these words came in a broken, spasmodic way, for, poor fellow, he
was as out of breath as any of us.
"Hoolay! Velly lit' way now," cried Ching; and then he finished with a
howl of rage, for half-a-dozen armed men suddenly appeared from a
gateway below us, and we saw at a glance that they were about to take
sides with the rest.
"Lun--lun," yelled Ching, and, flourishing his sword, he led us right at
the newcomers, who, startled and astounded by our apparent boldness,
gave way, and we panted on, utterly exhausted, for another fifty yards,
till Ching suddenly stopped in an angle of the street formed by a
projecting house.
"No lun. No, no!" he panted. "Fight--kill."
Following his example, we faced round, and our bold front checked the
miserable gang of wretches, who stopped short a dozen yards from us,
their numbers swelled by the new party, and waited yelling and howling
behind the swordsmen, who stood drawing up their sleeves, and
brandishing their heavy weapons, working themselves up for the final
rush, in which I knew we should be hacked to pieces.
"Good-bye, old chap," whispered Barkins in a piteous tone, his voice
coming in sobs of exhaustion. "Give point when they come on: don't
strike. Try and kill one of the cowardly beggars before they finish
us."
"Yes," I gasped.
"Chuck that spyglass down," cried Smith; "it's in your way."
Gladly enough I swung the great telescope round, slipped the strap over
my head, and as I did so I saw a sudden movement in the crowd.
In an instant the experience we had had upon the river flashed across my
brain. I recalled how the crew of the great tea-boat had dropped away
from her high stern when Barkins had used the glass, and for the first
time I grasped why this had been.
My next actions were in a mad fit of desperate mischief more than
anything else. For, recalling that I had a few flaming fusees in my
jacket pocket, I snatched out the box, secured one; then, taking off the
cap, which hung by a strap, I pulled the brass and leather telescope out
to its full extent, presented the large end at the mob, uttered as
savage a yell as I could and struck a fusee, which went off with a
crack, and flashed and sparkled with plenty of blaze.
The effect was instantaneous. Mistaking the big glass, which had been a
burden to me all day, for some terrible new form of gun, the swordsmen
uttered a wild yell of horror, and turned and fled, driving the unarmed
mob before them, all adding their savage cries of dread.
"Hoor-rah," shouted Barkins. "Now, boys, a Yankee tiger. Waggle the
glass well, Gnat. All together. Hurrah--rah--rah--rah--rah!"
We produced as good an imitation of the American cheer as we could, and
Ching supplemented it with a hideous crack-voiced yell, while I raised
and lowered the glass and struck another match.
As we looked up the street we could see part of the mob still running
hard, but the swordsmen had taken refuge to right and left, in doorways,
angles, and in side shops, and were peering round at us, watching every
movement.
"No' laugh!" said Ching anxiously. "Big fool. Think um bleech-loader.
Now, come 'long, walkee walkee blackward. I go first."
It was good advice, and we began our retreat, having the street to
ourselves for the first minute. My messmates supported me on either
side, and we walked backward with military precision.
"Well done, gun carriage," panted Barkins to me. "I say, Blacksmith,
who says the old glass isn't worth a hundred pounds now?"
"Worth a thousand," cried Smith excitedly. "But look out, they're
coming out of their holes again."
I made the object-glass end describe a circle in the air as we slowly
backed, and the swordsmen darted away to the shelters they had quitted
to follow us as they saw us in retreat. But as there was no report, and
they saw us escaping, they began to shout one to the other, and ran to
and fro, zig-zagging down the street after us, each man darting across
to a fresh place of shelter. And as the retreat went on, and no report
with a rush of bullets tore up the street, the men gained courage; the
mob high up began to gather again. Then there was distant yelling and
shouting, and the danger seemed to thicken.
"Is it much farther, Ching?" cried Barkins.
"Yes, velly long way," he replied. "No' got no levolvers?"
"No, I wish I had."
"Fine levolver bull-dog in fancee shop, and plenty cahtlidge. Walkee
fast."
We were walking backwards as fast as we could, and the danger increased.
In place of running right across now from shelter to shelter, the big
swordsmen stopped from time to time on their way to flourish their
weapons, yell, indulge in a kind of war-dance, and shout out words we
did not understand.
"What do they say, Ching?" asked Smith.
"Say chop all in lit' small piece dilectly."
"Look here," cried Barkins, as the demonstrations increased, and the
wretches now began to gather on each side of the street as if
threatening a rush, "let's stop and have a shot at 'em."
"No, no," cried Ching, "won't go off blang."
"Never mind, we'll pretend it will. Halt!"
We stopped, so did our enemies, and, in imitation of the big gun
practice on board ship, Barkins shouted out order after order, ending
with, Fire!
Smith held the flaming fusees now, and at the word struck one with a
loud crackle, just as we were beginning to doubt the efficacy of our
ruse, for the enemy were watching us keenly; and, though some of them
moved uneasily and threatened to run for shelter, the greater part stood
firm.
But at the loud crackle and flash of the fusee, and Smith's gesture to
lay it close to the eye-piece, they turned and fled yelling once more
into the houses on either side, from which now came an addition to the
noise, in the shrill howls and shrieks of women, who were evidently
resenting the invasion of all these men.
"Now, walkee far," cried Ching. "No good no mo'. Allee fun lun out.
No be big fool any longer."
We felt that he was right, and retreated as fast as we could, but still
backward, mine being the duty to keep the mouth of our sham cannon to
bear upon them as well as the blundering backward through the mudholes
of the dirty street would allow.
That street seemed to be endless to us in our excitement, and the
feeling that our guide must be taking us wrong began to grow upon me,
for I made no allowances for the long distance we had gone over in the
morning, while now it grew more and more plain, by the actions of our
pursuers, that they were to be cheated no more. The dummy had done its
duty, and I felt that I might just as well throw it away and leave
myself free, as expect the glass to scare the enemy away again.
"We shall have to make a rush for it," said Barkins at last; "but it is
hard now we have got so near to safety. Shall I try the telescope
again, Ching?"
"No, no good," said our guide gloomily. "Hi, quick all along here."
He made a dash for the front of a house, which seemed to offer some
little refuge for us in the shape of a low fencing, behind which we
could protect ourselves; for all at once there was a new development of
the attack, the mob having grown during the last few minutes more
daring, and now began to throw mud and stones.
Ching's sudden dash had its effect upon them, for when he ran they set
up a howl of triumph, and as we dashed after our guide they suddenly
altered their tactics, ceased stone-throwing, and, led by the swordsmen,
charged down upon us furiously.
"It's all over," groaned Smith, as we leaped over the low fence and
faced round.
And so it seemed to be, for the next minute we were stopping and dodging
the blows aimed at us. It was all one wild confusion to me, in which I
saw through a mist the gleaming eyes and savage faces of the mob. Then,
above their howlings, and just as I was staggering back from a heavy
blow which I received from a great sword, which was swept round with two
hands and caught me with a loud jar on the side, I heard a familiar
cheer, and saw the man who had struck me go down backwards, driven over
as it were by a broad-bladed spear. As I struggled to my knees, I saw
the savage mob in full flight, chased by a dozen blue-jackets, who
halted and ran back to where we were, in obedience to a shrill whistle.
Then--it was all more misty to me--two strong arms were passed under
mine; I saw Smith treated in the same way; and, pursued by the crowd
howling like demons, we were trotted at the double down the street to
the wharf, which was after all close at hand, and swung down into the
boat.
"Push off!" shouted a familiar voice, and the wharf and the crowd began
to grow distant, but stones flew after us till the officer in command
fired shot after shot from his revolver over the heads of the crowd,
which then took to flight.
"What are we to do with the prisoner, sir--chuck him overboard?"
"Prisoner?" cried the officer in charge of the boat.
"Yes, sir, we got him, sword and all. He's the chap as come aboard
yesterday."
"Yes," I panted as I sat up, breathing painfully, "it's Ching. He's our
friend."
"Yes, flend, evelibody fiend," cried Ching. "Wantee go shore. Fancee
shop."
"Go ashore?" said the officer.
"Yes, walkee shore."
"But if I set you ashore amongst that howling mob, they'll cut you to
pieces."
"Ching 'flaid so. Allee bad man. Wantee kill young offlicer."
"And he fought for us, Mr Brown, like a brick," said Barkins.
"Then we must take him aboard for the present."
"Yes, go 'board, please," said Ching plaintively. "Not my sword--b'long
mandalin man."
"Let's see where you're wounded," said the officer, as the men rowed
steadily back towards the _Teaser_.
"I--I don't think I'm wounded," I panted, "but it hurts me rather to
breathe."
"Why, I saw one of the brutes cut you down with his big sword," cried
Smith.
"Yes," I said, "I felt it, but, but--yes, of course: it hit me here."
"Oh, murder!" cried Smith. "Look here, Tanner. Your glass has got it
and no mistake."
It had "got it" and no mistake, for the blow from the keen sword had
struck it at a sharp angle, and cut three parts of the way through the
thick metal tube, which had been driven with tremendous force against my
ribs.
"Oh, Gnat!" cried Barkins, as he saw the mischief, "it's quite spoilt.
What a jolly shame!"
"But it saved his life," said Smith, giving him a meaning nod. "I
wouldn't have given much for his chance, if he hadn't had that telescope
under his arm. I say, Mr Brown, why was the gun fired?"
"To bring you all on board. Captain's got some information. Look,
we've weighed anchor, and we're off directly--somewhere."
"But what about Ching?" I said to Barkins.
"Ching! Well, he'll be safe on board and unsafe ashore. I don't
suppose we shall be away above a day. I say, Ching, you'll have to
stop."
"Me don't mind. Velly hungly once more. Wantee pipe and go sleepee.
Velly tire. Too much fightee."
We glided alongside of the gunboat the next minute, where Mr Reardon
was waiting for us impatiently.
"Come, young gentlemen," he cried, "you've kept us waiting two hours.
Up with you. Good gracious, what a state you're in! Nice addition to a
well-dishiplined ship! and--here, what's the meaning of this?" he cried,
as the boat rose to the davits. "Who is this Chinese boy?"
"Velly glad get 'board," said the man, smiling at the important officer.
"All along big fight. Me Ching."
CHAPTER FOUR.
DOUBLE ALLOWANCE.
No time was lost in getting out of the mouth of the river, and as soon
as the bustle and excitement of the start was over, we three were sent
for to the cabin to relate our adventures to the captain, the first
lieutenant being present to put in a word now and then.
"The brutes!" the captain kept on muttering from time to time, and Mr
Reardon nodded and tightened his lips.
"Well, young gentlemen," he said, when Barkins, who as eldest had been
spokesman, finished his recital, "I can do nothing. If you had all
three been brutally murdered, of course the Government could have made
representations to the authorities, and your families would have secured
compensation."
We glanced at one another.
"But as, unfortunately--I mean fortunately--you have neither of you got
a scratch, I can do nothing."
"But they were so awfully savage with us, sir," said Smith.
"Yes, Mr Smith, so I suppose. It is their nature; but we cannot punish
an unknown mob. We must try and administer the castigation
vicariously."
"Please, sir, I don't understand you," said Smith. "Do you mean--"
"Set a vicar to talk to them, Mr Smith? No, I do not. I mean, as we
have very good information about three or four piratical junks being in
the straits between here and Amoy, we must come down heavily upon them,
and administer the punishment there."
Mr Reardon nodded, and rubbed his hands.
"This scrape of yours, though, will be a most severe lesson to me,"
continued the captain. "It was very weak and easy of me to give you all
leave for a run ashore. I ought to have referred you to Mr Reardon.
But you may take it for granted that I shall not err again in this way.
You can return on deck."
"Oh, what a jolly shame!" grumbled Barkins. "And there was old Reardon
chuckling over it, and looking as pleased as Punch. Who'd be a middy?
It's like being in a floating prison."
But it was a very pleasant floating prison all the same, I could not
help thinking, as we gradually got farther out from the land, over which
the sun was sinking fast, and lighting up the mountain-tops with gold,
while the valleys rapidly grew dark. Every one on the clean white deck
was full of eager excitement, and the look-out most thoroughly on the
_qui vive_. For the news that we were going up northward in search of
some piratical junks sent a thrill through every breast. It meant work,
the showing that we were doing some good on the China station, and
possibly prize-money, perhaps promotion for some on board, though of
course not for us.
We had been upon the station several months, but it had not been our
good fortune to capture any of the piratical scoundrels about whose
doings the merchants--Chinese as well as European--were loud in
complaint. And with justice, for several cruel massacres of crews had
taken place before the ships had been scuttled and burned; besides,
quite a dozen had sailed from port never to be heard of more; while the
only consolation Captain Thwaites had for his trips here and there, and
pursuit of enemies who disappeared like Flying Dutchmen, was that the
presence of our gunboat upon the coast no doubt acted as a preventative,
for we were told that there used to be three times as many acts of
piracy before we came.
And now, as we glided along full sail before a pleasant breeze, with the
topgallant sails ruddy in the evening light, there seemed at last some
prospect of real business, for it had leaked out that unless Captain
Thwaites' information was very delusive, the Chinamen had quite a
rendezvous on one of the most out-of-the-way islands off Formosa, from
whence they issued, looking like ordinary trading-boats, and that it was
due to this nest alone that so much mischief had been done.
A good meal down below, without dog or rat, as Barkins put it, had, in
addition to a comfortable wash and change, made us forget a good deal of
our weariness; and, as we were still off duty, we three loitered about
the deck, picking up all the information we could regarding the way in
which the news had been brought, in exchange for accounts of our own
adventures, to insure credence in which Barkins carried about the
nearly-divided telescope which had stood us in such good stead.
It was rapidly growing dark, when, close under the bulwarks, and in very
near neighbourhood to one of our big bow guns, we came upon what looked
in the gloom like a heap of clothes.
"What's that?" I said.
"Chine-he, sir," said one of the sailors. "We give him a good tuck-out
below, and he come up then for a snooze. Hi, John! The gents want to
speak to you."
There was a quick movement, and a partly bald head appeared from beneath
two loose sleeves, which had been folded over it like the wings of a
flying fox, and Ching's familiar squeaky voice said--
"You wantee me. Go shore?"
"No, no; not to-night," cried Smith. "We shall set you ashore when we
come back."
"You go velly far--allee way Gleat Blitain?"
"No, not this time, Ching," cried Barkins, as we all laughed.
"No go allee way London? Ching wantee go London, see Queen Victolia and
Plince o' Wales."
"Some other time, Ching," I said. "But I say, how about the fancy
shop?"
"Allee light. Ching go back."
"And how are you after our fight to-day?"
"Velly angly. Allee muchee quite 'shame of mandalin men. Big lascal,
evely one."
"So they are," said Barkins. "But I say, Ching, are you a good sailor?"
The Chinaman shook his head.
"Ching velly good man, keep fancee shop. Ching not sailor."
"He means, can you go to sea without being sick?" I said, laughing.
He gave us a comical look.
"Don'tee know. Velly nicee now. Big offlicer say jolly sailor take
gleat care Ching, and give hammock go to sleep. You got banjo, music--
git-tar?"
"One of the chaps has got one," said Smith. "Why?"
"You fetchee for Ching. I play, sing--`ti-ope-I-ow' for captain and
jolly sailor. Makee Ching velly happy, and no makee sea-sick like
coolie in big boat."
"Not to-night, Ching," said Barkins decisively. "Come along, lads. I'm
afraid," he continued, as we strolled right forward, "that some of us
would soon be pretty sick of it if he did begin that precious howling.
But I say, we ought to look after him well, poor old chap; it's precious
rough on him to be taken out to sea like this."
"Yes," I said; "and he behaved like a trump to us to-day."
"That he did," assented Smith, as all three rested our arms on the rail,
and looked at the twinkling distant lights of the shore.
"You give Ching flee dollar," said a voice close behind us, and we
started round, to find that the object of our conversation had come up
silently in his thick, softly-soled boots, in which his tight black
trouser bottoms were tucked.
"Three dollars!" cried Smith; "what for?"
"Say all give Ching dollar show way."
"So we did," cried Barkins. "I'd forgotten all about it."
"So had I."
"But you got us nearly killed," protested Smith.
"That was all in the bargain," cried Barkins. "Well, I say he came out
well, and I shall give him two dollars, though I am getting precious
short."
"Flee dollar," said Ching firmly. Then, shaking his head, he counted
upon his fingers, "One, two, flee."
"It's all right, Ching," I said. "Two dollars apiece. Come on,
Blacksmith." I took out my two dollars. "Come, Tanner."
"No, no," cried Ching; "tanner tickpence; two dollar tickpence won't do.
Flee dollar."
"It's all right," I said, and I held out my hand for my messmates'
contributions, afterward placing the six dollars in the Chinaman's hand.
His long-nailed fingers closed over the double amount, and he looked
from one to the other as if he did not comprehend. Then he unwillingly
divided the sum.
"No light," he said. "Flee dollar."
"The other for the fight," I said, feeling pleased to have met a
Chinaman who was not dishonest and grasping.
"You wantee 'nother fight morrow?" he said, looking at me sharply.
"Don't know. Not aflaid."
"No, no; you don't understand," I cried, laughing. "We give you six
dollars instead of three."
Ching nodded, and the silver money disappeared up his sleeve. Then his
body writhed a little, and the arm and hand appeared again in the loose
sleeve.
"Sailor boy 'teal Ching dollar?"
"Oh no," I said confidently.
"No pullee tail?"
"Ah, that I can't answer for," I said. "Twist it up tightly."
"To be sure," said Barkins. "It don't do to put temptation in the poor
fellows' way. I'm afraid," he continued, "that if I saw that hanging
out of a hammock I should be obliged to have a tug."
Ching nodded, and stole away again into the darkness, for night had
fallen now, and we were beginning to feel the waves dancing under us.
An hour later I was in my cot fast asleep, and dreaming of
fierce-looking Chinamen in showy-patterned coats making cuts at me with
big swords, which were too blunt to cut, but which gave me plenty of
pain, and this continued more or less all night. In the morning I knew
the reason why, my left side was severely bruised, and for the next few
days I could not move about without a reminder of the terrible cut the
mandarin's retainer had made at me with his sword.
CHAPTER FIVE.
CHING HAS IDEAS.
Week had passed, during which we had cruised here and there, in the hope
of falling in with the pirates. Once in the right waters, it did not
much signify which course we took, for we were as likely to come across
them sailing north as south. So our coal was saved, and we kept
steadily along under canvas.
But fortune seemed to be still against us, and though we boarded junk
after junk, there was not one of which the slightest suspicion could be
entertained; and their masters, as soon as they realised what our
mission was, were only too eager to afford us every information they
could.
Unfortunately, they could give us none of any value. They could only
tell us about divers acts of horrible cruelty committed here and there
within the past few months, but could not point out where the pirates
were likely to be found.
Ching, in spite of some rough weather, had never been obliged to leave
the deck, and had proved to be so valuable an acquisition, that he was
informed that he would have a certain rate of pay as interpreter while
he stayed on board; and as soon as he was made aware of this, he
strutted up to me and told me the news.
"Captain makee interpleter and have lot dollar. Muchee better keepee
fancee shop."
This was after, at my suggestion to Mr Reardon, he had been sent out in
one of the boats to board a big junk, and from that time it became a
matter of course that when a boat was piped away, Ching's pigtail was
seen flying out nearly horizontally in his eagerness to be first in the
stern-sheets.
But it was always the same. The boat came back with Ching looking
disappointed, and his yellow forehead ploughed with parallel lines.
"Ching know," he said to me one evening mysteriously.
"Know what?" I said.
"Plenty pilate boat hide away in island. No come while big ship
_Teasler_ here."
"Oh, wait a bit," I said; "we shall catch them yet."
"No, catchee," he said despondently. "Pilate velly cunning. See Queen
Victolia ship say big gun go bang. 'Top away."
"But where do you think they hide?"
"Evelywhere," he said. "Plentee liver, plenty cleek, plenty hide away."
"Then we shall never catch them?" I said.
"Ching wantee catchee, wantee plenty money; but pilate won't come.
Pilate 'flaid."
"And I suppose, as soon as we go away, they'll come out and attack the
first merchantman that comes along the coast."
"Yes," said Ching coolly; "cut allee boy float, settee fire junk, burnee
ship."
"Then what's to be done?" I said. "It's very disappointing."
"Ching go back fancee shop; no catchee pilate, no plize-money."
"Oh, but we shall drop upon them some day."
"No dlop upon pilate. Ching not captain. Ching catchee."
"How?" I said.
"Take big ship back to liver. Put big gun, put jolly sailor 'board two
big junk, and go sail 'bout. Pilate come thinkee catchee plenty silk,
plenty tea. Come aboard junk. Jolly sailor chop head off, and no more
pilate."
"That sounds well, Ching," I said; "but I don't think we could do that."
"No catchee pilate?" he said. "Ching velly tire. No good, velly
hungry; wantee go back fancee shop."
I thought a good deal about what the Chinaman had said, for it was
weary, dispiriting work this overhauling every vessel we saw that seemed
likely to be our enemy. It was dangerous work, too, for the narrow sea
was foul with reefs; but our information had been that it was in the
neighbourhood of the many islands off Formosa that the piratical junks
had their nest, and the risk had to be run for the sake of the possible
capture to be made.
"Ching says he wants to get back to the fancee shop," sad Smith one
morning. "So do I, for I'm sick of this dreary work. Why, I'd rather
have another of our days ashore."
"Not you," I said. "But I say, look here, I haven't spoke about it
before, but Ching says--hi, Tanner, come here!"
"That he doesn't," cried Smith.
"Hallo! what is it?" said Barkins, whom I had hailed, and he came over
from the port side of the deck.
"I was going to tell Blacksmith what Ching says. You may as well hear
too."
"Don't want to. I know."
"What! has he been saying to you--"
"No, not again."
"What did he say?"
"Ti-ope-I-ow!" cried Barkins, imitating the Chinaman's high falsetto,
and then striking imaginary strings of a guitar-like instrument.
"_Peng_--_peng-peng_."
"I say, don't fool," I cried angrily.
"Gnat!" said Barkins sharply, "you're a miserably-impudent little scrub
of a skeeter, and presume upon your size to say insolent things to your
elders."
"No, I don't," I said shortly.
"Yes, you do, sir. You called me a fool just now."
"I didn't."
"If you contradict me, I'll punch your miserable little head, sir. No,
I won't, I'll make Blacksmith do it; his fists are a size smaller than
mine."
"Be quiet, Tanner!" cried Smith; "he knows something. Now, then, Gnat:
what does Ching say?"
"That we shall never catch the pirates, because they won't come out when
the gunboat is here."
"Well, there's something in that. Tell Mr Reardon."
"Is it worth while? He says we ought to arm a couple of junks, and wait
for the pirates to come out and attack us."
"Ching's Christian name ought to be Solomon," said Smith.
"Thanky wisdom teeth," said Barkins sarcastically. "I say, Gnat, he's
quite right. They'd be fools if they did come out to be sunk. I
daresay they're watching us all the time somewhere or other from one of
the little fishing-boats we see put out."
"Well, young gentlemen," said a sharp voice behind us; "this is contrary
to dishipline. You can find something better to do than gossiping."
"Beg pardon, sir, we are not gossiping," said Barkins. "We were
discussing the point."
"Oh, indeed," said the first lieutenant sarcastically; "then have the
goodness to--"
Barkins saw breakers ahead, and hastened to say--
"The Chinaman says, sir--"
"Don't tell me what the Chinaman says, sir!" cried the lieutenant
fiercely.
"But it was about the pirates, sir."
"Eh? What?" cried our superior officer, suddenly changing his tone.
"Has he some idea?"
"Yes, sir. No, sir."
"Mr Barkins! What do you mean, sir?"
"He thinks we shall never catch them, sir," stammered my messmate, who
could see punishment writ large in the lieutenant's face.
"Confound the Chinaman, sir!" roared the lieutenant. "So do I; so does
Captain Thwaites."
He spoke so loudly that this gentleman heard him from where he was
slowly marching up and down, talking to the marine officer, and he
turned and came towards us.
"In trouble, young gentlemen?" he said quietly. "Pray what does Captain
Thwaites?" he added, turning to the chief officer.
"I beg your pardon, sir. I was a little exasperated. These young
gentlemen, upon my reproving them for idling, have hatched up a
cock-and-bull story--at least Mr Barkins has."
"I beg pardon, sir; it was not a--not a--not a--"
"Cock-and-bull story, Mr Herrick," said the captain, smiling at my
confusion, for I had rushed into the gap. "Then pray what was it?"
I told him all that Ching had said, and the captain nodded his head
again and again as I went on.
"Yes," he said at last, "I'm afraid he is right, Reardon. It is worth
thinking about. What do you say to my sending you and Mr Brooke in a
couple of junks?"
They walked off together, and we heard no more.
"Oh, how I should like to punch old Dishy's head!" said Barkins between
his teeth.
"Don't take any notice," said Smith; "it's only because he can't get a
chance to sink a pirate. I don't believe there's one anywhere about the
blessed coast."
"Sail ho!" cried the man at the mast-head, and all was excitement on the
instant, for after all the strange sail might prove to be a pirate.
"Away on the weather bow, sir, under the land!" cried the man in answer
to hails from the deck; and then, before glasses could be adjusted and
brought to bear, he shouted--
"She's ashore, sir--a barque--fore--topmast gone, and--she's afire."
The _Teaser's_ course was altered directly, and, helped by a favouring
breeze, we ran down rapidly towards the wreck, which proved to be
sending up a thin column of smoke, and soon after this was visible from
the deck.
CHAPTER SIX.
MY FIRST HORROR.
I was in a great state of excitement, and stood watching the vessel
through my spyglass, longing for the distance to be got over and what
promised to be a mystery examined. For a wreck was possible and a fire
at sea equally so, but a ship ashore and burning seemed to be such an
anomaly that the officers all looked as if they felt that we were on the
high road to something exciting at last.
In fact, we had been so long on the station for the purpose of checking
piracy, but doing nothing save overhaul inoffensive junks, that we were
all heartily sick of our task. For it was not, as Smith said, as if we
were always in some port where we could study the manners and customs of
the Chinese, but for ever knocking about wild-goose chasing and never
getting a goose.
"Plenty on board," cried Barkins. "I say, Gnat, isn't he a humbug? Ha,
ha! Study the manners and customs! Stuffing himself with Chinese
sweets and hankering after puppy-pie, like the bargees on the Thames."
"Oh, does he?" cried Smith. "Who ate the fricassee of rats?"
"Oh, bother all that!" I said. "Here, Blacksmith, lend me your glass a
minute; it's stronger than mine."
"Ho, ho!" laughed Barkins. "His! The wapping whacker! Why, it's a
miserable slopshop second-hand thing. You should have had mine. That
was something like, before you spoiled it."
"Here you are," said Smith, lending me his glass. "It's worth a dozen
of his old blunderbuss."
I took the glass and had a good long inspection of the large barque,
which lay heeled over on the outlying reef of one of the many islands,
and could distinctly see the fine curl of smoke rising up from the deck
somewhere about the forecastle.
"Make out any one on board, Mr Herrick?" said a sharp voice behind me,
and I started round, to find that my companions had gone forward, and
the first lieutenant was behind me with his spyglass under his arm and
his face very eager and stern.
"No, sir; not a soul."
"Nor signals?"
"None."
"No more can I," my lad. "Your eyes are younger and sharper than mine.
Look again. Do the bulwarks seem shattered?"
I took a long look.
"No, sir," I said. "Everything seems quite right except the
fore-topmast, which has snapped off, and is hanging in a tangle down to
the deck."
"But the fire?"
"That only looks, sir, as if they'd got a stove in the forecastle, and
had just lit the fire with plenty of smoky coal."
"Hah! That's all I can make out. We've come to something at last, Mr
Herrick."
"Think so, sir?" I said respectfully.
"Sure of it, my lad;" and he walked off to join the captain, while just
then Ching came up softly and pointed forward.
"Big ship," he said. "Pilate; all afire."
"Think so?"
Ching nodded.
"Hallo, Gnat, what does the first luff say?" asked Barkins, who joined
us then.
"Thinks it's a vessel cast ashore by the pirates."
"Maybe. I should say it's one got on the reef from bad seamanship."
"And want of a Tanner on board to set them right," said Smith.
"Skipper's coming," whispered Barkins; and we separated.
For the next hour all was eager watchfulness on board, as we approached
very slowly, shortening sail, and with two men in the chains heaving the
lead on account of the hidden reefs and shoals off some of the islands.
But, as we approached, nothing more could be made out till the man aloft
hailed the deck, and announced that he could read the name on the stern,
_Dunstaffnage, Glasgow_. Another hour passed, during which the island,
a couple of miles beyond, was swept by glass after glass, and tree and
hill examined, but there was no sign of signal on tree or hill. All was
bare, chilly, and repellent there, and we felt that the crew of the
vessel could not have taken refuge ashore.
At last the crew of a boat was piped away, and, as I was gazing
longingly at the men getting in under the command of Mr Brooke, a
quiet, gentlemanly fellow, our junior lieutenant, Mr Reardon said, as
he caught my eye--
"Yes; go."
I did not wait for a second order, you may be sure, but sprang in, and
as the _Teaser_ was thrown up in the wind with her sails flapping, it
being deemed unsafe to go any nearer to the barque, the little wheels
chirrupped, and down we went, to sit the next moment lightly upon a
good-sized wave which rose up as if to receive us; the falls were cast
off, the oars dropped, and the next minute we glided away towards the
stranded vessel.
"Quite a treat to get a bit of an adventure, eh Herrick?" said Mr
Brooke.
"Yes, sir. Been slow enough lately."
"Oh, you need not grumble, my lad. You did have one good adventure. By
the way, how are your sore ribs?"
"My ribs, sir? Oh, I had forgotten all about them. But do you think
this is the work of pirates, or that the ship has run ashore?"
"I'm not sure, my lad, but we shall soon know."
We sat watching the fine well-built barque, as the men pulled lustily at
their oars, making the water flash and the distance grow shorter. Then
all at once my companion said shortly--
"Pirates."
"Where, where?" I said eagerly, and my hand went to my dirk.
Mr Brooke laughed, and I saw all the men showing their teeth.
"No, no, my lad," he said. "I meant this was the work of pirates."
"How do you know, sir?"
"Look at those ropes and sheets hanging loose. They have been cut. The
barque has not been in a storm either. She has just gone on to the
rocks and the fore-topmast evidently snapped with the shock."
"And the smoke? Is that from the forecastle?"
He shook his head, and stood up in the boat, after handing me the lines,
while he remained scanning the vessel attentively.
"Hail her, Jones," he said to the bowman; and the man jumped up, put his
hands to his mouth, and roared out, "_Ship ahoy_!"
This again and again, but all was silent; and a curious feeling of awe
crept over me as I gazed at the barque lying there on the reef as if it
were dead, while the column of smoke, which now looked much bigger,
twisted and writhed as it rolled over and over up from just abaft the
broken foremast.
"Steady," cried the lieutenant; "the water's getting shoal. Keep a good
look-out forward, Jones."
For all at once the water in front of us, from being smooth and oily,
suddenly became agitated, and I saw that we had startled and were
driving before us a shoal of good-sized fish, some of which, in their
eagerness to escape, sprang out of the water and fell back with a
splash.
"Plenty yet, sir," said the man in the bows, standing up now with the
boat-hook. "Good fathom under us."
"Right. Steady, my lads."
We were only about a hundred yards from the barque now, and the water
deepened again, showing that we had been crossing a reef; but the bottom
was still visible, as I glanced once over the side, but only for a
moment, for there was a peculiar saddening attraction about the silent
ship, and I don't know how it was, but I felt as if I was going to see
something dreadful.
Under the lieutenant's directions, I steered the boat so that we glided
round to the other side, passing under the stern, and then ran
alongside, with the bulwarks hanging over towards us, and made out that
the vessel had evidently been in fairly deep water close by, and had
been run on to the rocks where two reefs met and closed-in a deep
channel.
How are we going to get on board? I asked myself, as I looked upward;
but I was soon made aware of that, for right forward there was a
quantity of the top-hamper of the broken mast with a couple of the
square sails awash, so that there was no difficulty about scrambling up.
"I don't think there is any one on board, Herrick," said Mr Brooke,
"but sailors should always be on the _qui vive_. Stay in the boat, if
you like."
"I don't like, sir," I said, as soon as he had given orders to four men
to follow us, and the next minute we were climbing up to stand upon the
deck.
"No doubt about it," said Mr Brooke through his teeth. "She has been
plundered, and then left to drift ashore or to burn."
For there from the forehold curled up the pillar of smoke we had seen,
and a dull crackling noise came up, telling that, though slowly, the
fire was steadily burning.
We could not see much below for the smoke, and Mr Brooke led the way
forward to the forecastle hatch, which lay open.
"Below! Any one there?" cried my officer, but all was silent as the
grave.
One of the men looked at him eagerly.
"Yes, jump down."
The man lowered himself down into the dark forecastle, and made a quick
inspection.
"Any one there?"
"No, sir. Place clear and the men's kits all gone."
"Come up."
We went aft, to find the hatches all off and thrown about anyhow, while
the cargo had been completely cleared out, save one chest of tea which
had been broken and the contents had scattered.
"No mistake about it, Herrick," said Mr Brooke; and he went on to the
after-hatch, which was also open and the lading gone.
The next minute we were at the companion-way, and Mr Brooke hailed
again, but all was still. Just then the man peering over my shoulder
sniffed sharply like some animal.
The sound sent a shudder through me, and Mr Brooke turned to the man
sharply--
"Why did you do that?"
"Beg pardon, sir," stammered the man; "I thought that--as if--there
was--"
He did not finish.
"Come on," said Mr Brooke sternly, while I shuddered again, and
involuntarily my nostrils dilated as I inhaled the air, thinking the
while of a butchered captain and officers lying about, but there was not
the faintest odour, and I followed my officer, and then for a moment a
horrible sickening sensation attacked me, and I shuddered.
But it all passed off, and, myself again directly, I was gazing with the
others at the many signs which told us as plainly as if it had been
written, that the crew of the unfortunate barque had barricaded
themselves in here and made a desperate resistance, for her broken doors
lay splintered and full of the marks made by axes and heavy swords. The
seats were broken; and bulkheads, cabin windows, and floor were horribly
stained here and there with blood, now quite dry and black, but which,
after it had been shed, had been smeared about and trampled over; and
this in one place was horribly evident, for close up to the side, quite
plain, there was the imprint of a bare foot--marked in blood--a great
wide-toed foot, that could never have worn a shoe.
"Rather horrid for you, Herrick," said Mr Brooke in a low voice, as if
the traces of death made him solemn; "but you must be a man now. Look,
my lad, what the devils--the savage devils--have done with our poor
Scotch brothers!"
"Yes, I see," I whispered; "they must have killed them all."
"But I mean this--there, I mean."
I looked at him wonderingly as he pointed to the floor, for I did not
understand.
The next moment, though, I grasped his meaning, and saw plainly enough
what must have happened, for from where we stood to the open stern
windows there were long parallel streaks, and I knew that, though they
were partially trampled out by naked feet, as if they had been passed
over dozens of times since, the savage wretches must have dragged their
victims to the stern windows and thrust them out; any doubt thereon
being cleared away by the state of the lockers and the sills of the
lights.
Just then a peculiar hissing sound came to my ears, and I faced round
quickly, as did Mr Brooke, for I felt startled.
For there behind me was one of our men--a fine handsome Yorkshire lad of
three or four and twenty--standing glaring and showing his set teeth,
and his eyes with the white slightly visible round the iris. His left
fist was firmly clenched, and in his right was his bare cutlass, with
the blade quivering in his strong hand.
"Put up your cutlass, my lad," said Mr Brooke sternly; and the man
started and thrust it back. "Wait a bit--but I don't know how I am to
ask you to give quarter to the fiends who did all this. No wonder the
place is so silent, Herrick," he added bitterly. "Come away."
He led us out, but not before we had seen that the cabins had been
completely stripped.
We did not stay much longer, but our time was long enough to show us
that everything of value had been taken, and nothing left in the way of
log or papers to tell how the barque had fallen in with the wretches.
The crew had probably been surprised, and after a desperate resistance,
when driven back into the cabin, fought to the last with the results we
had seen.
"But surely they must have killed or wounded some of the pirates?" I
said.
"Possibly," replied Mr Brooke; "but there has been rain since; perhaps
a heavy sea, too, has washed over the deck and swept away all traces
here. Let's hope they made some of them pay dearly for their work."
A short inspection below showed that the barque's planking was crushed
in, and that she was hopelessly damaged, even if she could have been got
off, so soon after Mr Brooke gave the word to return to the boat.
"I shall not touch the fire," he said. "If the captain has any wishes
the boat can return. For my part I should say, let her burn."
The captain listened with his brow contracted to Mr Brooke's recital,
when we were back on board; I being close at hand, ready to answer a few
questions as well.
"Yes, let her burn," said the captain; and then he turned his back to
us, but seemed to recollect himself directly, for he turned again.
"Thank you, Mr Brooke," he said. "Very clear and concise. You could
not have done better."
Then turning to the first lieutenant, he said in a low voice--
"Reardon, I'm at my wit's end. The wretches are too cunning for us.
What are we to do?"
CHAPTER SEVEN.
BEING PRIMED.
There was a consultation in the cabin that evening, as we lay there
about four miles from the stranded barque. It had fallen calm, and, as
there was no urgency, the captain preferred to spare the coals, and we
waited for a breeze.
I heard afterwards from Mr Brooke all that took place during the
discussion, during which the captain heard the principal officers'
opinions, and then decided what he would do.
There had been doubts before as to whether we were on the right track
for the pirates, who might be carrying on their murderous business
elsewhere, but the day's discovery had cleared away the last doubt; it
was plain that the information which had sent us up in the neighbourhood
of Amoy was perfectly correct, that the wretches were there, and that
our presence had kept them quiet till now.
The great difficulty, it was decided, lay in the manner of dealing with
people who without doubt had plenty of spies out in native craft, who
were passed unnoticed by us, and thus every movement was carefully
conveyed to the enemy. As, then, the appearance of the gunboat was
sufficient to keep them in hiding, and also as the moment we were out of
sight the pirates issued from their lair, only two ways of dealing with
the fiends remained to us, and these means, after due consultation, were
to be adopted--one or both.
Then it had been arranged that the next morning at daybreak a couple of
boats were to be despatched to the Scotch barque, for a more thorough
investigation as to whether, in Mr Brooke's rather hurried visit, he
had passed over any cargo worthy of salvage, and to collect material for
a full report for the authorities and the owners.
This had just been decided upon, when there was a shout from one of the
look-out men. It was quite unnecessary, for nearly every one on deck
saw the cause of the cry.
We three companions had been watching the wreck with its spiral of
smoke, which in the calm air rose up like the trunk of a tall tree, and
then all at once spread out nearly flat to right and left, giving it
quite the appearance of a gigantic cedar. Then, as one of the witnesses
of the horrors on board, I had had to repeat my story again; and, while
matters were being discussed below, we in a low tone had our debate on
the question, and saw too how the men gathered in knots, and talked in
whispers and watched the barque. And to us all one thing was evident,
that could our lads only get a chance at the pigtailed, ruffianly scum
of the east coast, it would go pretty hard with them.
"I'll bet many of 'em wouldn't go pirating again in a hurry," Barkins
said; and we agreed.
Then we fell to wondering how many poor creatures had been murdered by
them in their bloodthirsty career, and why it was that there should be
such indifference to death, and so horrible a love of cruelty and
torture, in the Chinese character. All at once came the shout, and we
were gazing at the cause.
For a bright, clear burst of flame suddenly rose from the direction of
the ship--not an explosion, but a fierce blaze--and it was evident that
the parts around the little fire had grown more and more heated and dry,
and that the smouldering had gone on till some part of the cargo
beneath, of an inflammable nature, had caught at last, and was burning
furiously.
We expected that orders would be given for boats to be lowered, but we
had drifted in the current so far away that there was a risky row
amongst shoals, so no orders were given, the men gathering on deck to
watch the light glow which lit up the cloud of smoke hovering overhead.
We three watched it in silence for some time, with the other officers
near, and at last Smith said--
"I don't think I'm a cruel sort of fellow, but I feel as if I should
like to kill some one now."
He did not say a Chinese pirate, but he meant it; and I must confess to
feeling something of the kind, for I thought how satisfactory it would
be to aim one of our big guns at a pirate junk taken in some cruel act,
and to send a shot between wind and water that would sink her and rid
the seas of some of the fiends.
I quite started the next moment, for Barkins said, in a low, thoughtful
voice--
"How do you feel about it, Gnat? Shouldn't you like to kill some of
'em?"
The question was so direct, and appealed to my feelings so strongly,
that for some moments I was silent.
"Not he," said Smith; "old Gnat wouldn't stick a pin in a cockroach."
"Of course I wouldn't," I said stoutly, "but I'd crush it under my foot
if I found one in the cabin."
"One for you, Blacksmith," said Barkins. "Look here, Gnat, you would
like to kill some of the piratical beggars, wouldn't you?"
I remained silent again.
"There," said Smith, "I told you so. If we caught a lot, Gnat would
give them a lecture, and tell them they had been very naughty, and that
they mustn't do so any more or he would be very angry with them indeed."
"Punch his head, Gnat."
I made no reply to their flippant remarks, for just then I felt very
solemn and thoughtful. I hope I was not priggish. No, I am sure I was
not; every word I uttered was too sincere, though they chaffed me
afterwards, and I have thought since that they felt more seriously than
they spoke.
"You chaps didn't go on board that barque," I said quietly; "I did."
"Yes; old Dishy's making a regular favourite of you, Gnat," said
Barkins.
But I went on without heeding, my eyes fixed on the burning vessel whose
flames shone brightly in the clear air.
"And when I saw the splintered wood and chopped doorway, and the smears
and marks of blood, it all seemed to come to me just as it must have
been when the poor fellows shut themselves up in the cabin."
"Did they?" said Smith eagerly.
"Yes, that was plain enough," I said; "and they must have fought it out
there till the pirates got the upper hand."
"I bet tuppence the beggars pitched stinkpots down through the cabin
skylight, and half-smothered them," said Barkins excitedly.
"I daresay they did," I replied thoughtfully, "for I did see one of the
lockers all scorched and burned just by the deck. Yes, it all seemed to
come to me, and I felt as if I could see all the fighting, with the
Chinamen hacking and chopping at them with their long swords, the same
as those brutes did at us; and all those poor fellows, who were quietly
going about their business, homeward bound with their cargo, must have
had friends, wives or mothers or children; and it gets horrible when you
think of how they must have been in despair, knowing that those wretches
would have no mercy on them."
"Yes, but how it must have made 'em fight," cried Smith. "I think I
could have done something at a time like that."
"Yes, it would make any fellow fight; even you, Gnat."
"I suppose so," I said, "for it made me feel as if there wasn't any room
in the world for such people."
"There ain't," said Barkins. "Oh, if our chaps could only get a good go
at 'em!"
"And then I felt," I went on, "as if it couldn't all be real, and that
it was impossible that there could be such wretches on the face of the
earth, ready to kill people for the sake of a bit of plunder."
"But it's just precious possible enough," said Smith slowly. "Why, out
here in China they do anything."
"Right," said Barkins; "and I hope the skipper will pay them in their
own coin. My! how she burns."
"Yes," assented Smith, as the barque, after smouldering so long, now
blazed, as if eager to clear away all traces of the horrible tragedy.
"You'll recollect all about that cabin, Gnat, if we do get at the
beggars--won't you?"
"Recollect?" I said, with a shiver; "I shall never be able to forget
it."
Then we relapsed into silence, and stood resting our arms over the
bulwarks, gazing at the distant fire, in which I could picture plainly
all the horrors and suggestions of the wrecked cabin. I even seemed to
see the yellow-faced wretches, all smeared with blood, dragging their
victims to the stern windows. And my imagination then ran riot for a
time, as I fancied I saw them seizing men not half-dead, but making a
feeble struggle for their lives, and begging in agonising tones for
mercy, but only to be struck again, and pitched out into the sea.
I fancy that I must have been growing half hysterical as the scene grew
and grew before me, till I had pictured one poor wretch clinging in his
despair to the edge of the stern window, and shrieking for help. There
was a curious sensation as if a ball was rising in my throat to choke
me, and I was forgetting where I stood, when I was brought back to
myself by the voice of my messmate Smith, who said in a husky whisper--
"Think we shall come across any of the poor fellows floating about?"
"Not likely," replied Barkins. "Too many sharks in these seas."
My throat felt dry at this horrible suggestion, but I knew how true it
was. And then once more there was silence, and, like the rest--officers
and men--we stood there watching the burning wreck hour after hour, not
a soul on board feeling the slightest disposition to go below.
It must have been quite a couple of hours later, when I started in the
darkness, for something touched my arm, and, looking sharply to my
right, I could just make out the figure of Ching close to me, while on
looking in the other direction I found that I was alone, for Barkins and
Smith had gone forward to a group close to the bows.
"You, Ching?" I said, "looking at the mischief your friends have done?"
"Fliends burnee ship? No fliends. Velly bad men. Ching feel allee
shame. Velly bad men evelywhere. Killee, get dollar. No velly bad
men, London?"
"I'm afraid there are," I said sadly.
"Yes; velly bad men, London. Killee get dollar. You choppee off bad
men head?"
"No," I said; "but they kill them if they commit murder."
"Commit murder? You mean killee get dollar?"
"Yes."
"Allee light. Plenty bad men evelywhere. Captain going kill pilate?"
"If we can catch them," I said.
"Yes, velly hard catchee catchee. Captain never catchee in ship.
Pilate allee lun away. 'Flaid of big gun. Get two big junk, put plenty
sailor boy where pilate can't see. Then pilate come along kill and
burnee. Junk steal all along. Jolly sailor jump up and cut allee
pilate head off."
"Send that boy forward!" cried a stern voice, which made me jump again.
"Who's that?"
"Herrick, sir," I said, touching my cap, for the captain came forward
out of the darkness.
"Then you ought to know better, sir. The scoundrel has no business in
this part of the ship. What does he want?"
"I beg pardon, sir; he came up to propose a way of trapping the
pirates."
"Eh, what?" said the captain eagerly. "Bah! absurd. Send him below; I
hate to see the very face of a Chinaman. No; stop! He ought to know
something of their tricks. What does he say?"
I told him, and he stood there as if thinking.
"Well, I don't know, Mr Herrick. We might perhaps lure them out of
their hiding-places in that way, with a couple of Chinese crews to work
the junks. But no; the wretches would be equally strong, and would
fight like rats. Too many of my poor lads would be cut down. They
would have us at a terrible disadvantage. We must keep to the ship. I
can only fight these wretches with guns."
He was turning away, when a thought struck me, and, forgetting my awe of
the captain, and the fact that a proposal from a midshipman to such a
magnate might be resented as an unheard-of piece of impertinence, I
exclaimed excitedly--
"I beg pardon, sir."
"Yes?"
"I think I know how it could be done."
"Eh? You, Mr Herrick! Pooh! Stop," he said sharply, as, feeling
completely abashed, I was shrinking away, when he laid his hand kindly
on my shoulder. "Let's hear what you mean, my boy. The mouse did help
the lion in the fable, didn't he?"
"Yes, sir."
"Not that I consider myself a lion, Mr Herrick," he said
good-humouredly, "and I will not insult you by calling you a mouse; but
these Chinese fiends are too much for me, and I really am caught in the
net. Here, send that man forward, and come into my cabin."
"Ching, go right up to the forecastle," I said.
"No wantee go s'eep," he said angrily. "Makee Ching bad see ship
burned."
"Never mind now; go and wait," I whispered; and he nodded and went off,
while I walked hurriedly back to the captain, who led the way to his
cabin.
Before I had gone many steps I had to pass Smith, who came quickly up to
me.
"Hallo! old chap," he whispered, "what have you been up to now? Wigging
from the skipper? I'll go and tell the Tanner, and we'll get clean
handkerchiefs for a good cry."
CHAPTER EIGHT.
MY PLAN.
"Shut the door, Mr Herrick," said the captain, as he threw himself into
a chair, and I obeyed and remained standing there.
"Come close up to the table, my lad, and I'll hear what you have to say,
for I should be sorry to discourage a young officer who was in earnest
about his profession, as I have noted that you seem to be."
"Thank you, sir," I faltered, as I walked forward to where the swinging
lamp cast its full light on my face, making my eyes ache, after being so
many hours in the darkness, while I noticed that the captain sat in the
shade.
"Now, Mr Herrick," he said, "I talked of one fable, let me say a word
about another. I hope this is not going to be a case of the mountain in
labour, and out crept a mouse."
This put me quite out of heart, my hands grew damp, and I felt a
tickling sensation of dew forming upon my temples and at the sides of my
nose. My throat felt dry, and my lips parted, but no words came.
"There, there," he said kindly, "don't be afraid. Speak out."
"Yes, sir," I said hastily. "It was only this. I think I read
somewhere once, in a paper, about a Malay prahu being taken by the
captain of a ship pretending to be helpless, and this made the prahu,
which could sail twice as fast as his ship, come close up to attack
him."
"Yes; and what then?"
"The captain sunk the prahu, sir."
"Humph!" said Captain Thwaites, frowning and leaning back in his chair.
"That's what I should like to do to the piratical junks, Mr Herrick.
But--"
He stopped, and I saw that he was watching me keenly. But he had not
ordered me out of the cabin, nor called me an impertinent puppy, so I
felt better. The plunge had been made, and I waited not quite so
nervously for his next words.
"Yes--what I should like to do, Mr Herrick; but I am dealing with
cunning Chinese, and not with bold Malays."
"No, sir," I said; "but could not we--you--I mean we--I mean--" I
stammered.
"Come, come, Mr Herrick, there is no need for all this tremor. Sit
down, my lad."
"Thank you, sir; I would rather stand, please. I think I could talk
better."
"Very well, then," he said, smiling; "stand. You have some notion in
your head, then?"
"Yes, sir," I said eagerly, for the nervousness all passed away in the
excitement I felt. "I thought that if I could do as I liked, I'd take
the _Teaser_ up some creek where she couldn't be watched, and then I'd
close all the ports, send the men over the side to paint out the streak,
and I'd paint the funnel another colour, and get yards all anyhow, and
hide all the guns. I'd make her look like one of the tea-screws, and
get a lot of Chinamen on board for sailors."
I saw that he kept on bowing his head, and I was so excited that I went
on.
"No, I know. If you tried to get some Chinese sailors on board, it
would be talked about, and perhaps the pirates would get to know, for
they must have friends in some of the ports."
"Then down go some of your baits, my lad."
"No, sir. I know. You could make Ching--"
"That Chinese interpreter?"
"Yes, sir. Make him do up some of our lads with pigtails made of
blackened oakum, and in duck-frocks they'd do at a distance."
"Heads not shaven?"
"No, sir; but they could have their hair cut very short, and then
painted white--I mean yellow, so that the pirates wouldn't know at a
distance."
"Humph! anything else?" said the captain drily, but I did not notice it;
I was too much taken up by my ideas.
"Yes, sir. Ching could be going about very busily in all directions,
showing himself a great deal, and there's no mistake about him."
"No," said the captain, "there is no mistake about him."
"And it wouldn't be a bad plan to be at anchor near the place where you
thought they were, sir, with some of the spars down as if you were
repairing damages. That would make them feel sure that they were safe
of a prize, and they'd come off in their boats to attack."
"And then you would let them board us and find out their mistake?"
"That I wouldn't, sir!" I cried eagerly; and, oddly enough, my side
began to ache where I had had that blow. "I wouldn't risk any of our
poor fellows being hurt. I'd sink them before they got alongside."
"Humph! Well, you're pretty bloodthirsty for your time of life, young
gentleman," said the captain quietly.
"No, sir," I replied in confusion; "but I was with Mr Barkins and Mr
Smith, and nearly killed by these people, and yesterday I saw what they
had done aboard that barque."
"There? So you did, my lad. Well," he said, "what more have you got to
suggest?"
"I think that's all, sir," I said, beginning to grow confused again, for
my enthusiasm was dying out before his cool, matter-of-fact way of
taking matters.
"Then we will bring this meeting to an end, Mr Herrick."
"Yes, sir," I said dolefully, for I was wishing intensely that I had not
said a word. "Shall I go now?"
"If you please, Mr Herrick."
"Good-night, sir."
"Good-night, Mr Herrick; and the sooner you are in your berth the
better."
"Yes, sir," I said; and then to myself, as I reached the door, "and I
wish I had gone there at once, instead of stopping on deck."
"Stop!"
I turned with the door-handle in my fingers.
"You had better not say anything about the communication you have made
to me--I mean to your messmates."
"No, sir, I will not," I replied.
"Nor to any one else, least of all to that Chinaman."
"Oh no, sir, I'll be careful."
He nodded, and I slipped out, feeling, to use an old expression,
"horrid."
"Tell anybody about what a stupid donkey I've been," I said
angrily--"likely." Then to myself, as soon as I was past the marine
sentry, "Why, it would be nuts for Tanner and Blacksmith, and they'd go
on cracking them for ever. There was I all red-hot with what I thought
was a good thing, and he was just like a cold codfish laughing at me."
I could not help smiling at the absurdity of my idea, for I recalled
that I had never seen a cold codfish laughing.
I had no more time for musing then, for I received a sharp slap on the
back from Barkins.
"Never mind, Gnat; we all get it some time."
I saw that Smith was hurrying up, for I caught sight of him by the light
of one of the swinging lanterns, and had to be on my guard.
I did not want to deceive my messmates nor to be untruthful, but I could
not open my heart to them and tell them all that had passed.
"What cheer, messmet?" whispered Smith. "Had a wigging?"
I nodded my head sulkily.
"What had you been up to? Skipper had you into the cabin, didn't he?"
"Let him alone, will you," cried Barkins. "What do you want to worry
the poor chap for? The skipper's had him over the coals."
"Well, I know that, Bark. But what for?"
"What's that to you? Let him alone."
"But he might tell."
"Well, he isn't going to tell. If you must know, the Grand Panjandrum
came and catched him talking to Squeezums, hanging over the bulwarks
together."
"Talking to who?"
"Well then, to Teapot, old Chinese Ching, and snubbed him for having the
Yellow-skin so far aft. Didn't he, Gnat?"
"Yes," I said, quite truthfully.
"Then I say it's too bad," cried Smith. "As the snob speakers say, are
we--er--serlaves? Besides, `a man's a man for a' that,' ain't he,
Tanner?"
"Chinamen have no business abaft the funnel," said Barkins. "Did he
give it to you very warmly, Gnat?"
"Pretty well," I said, glad to escape Smith's examination. "I wasn't
sorry to get out of the cabin."
"No, I should think not. Why, what's come to the old boy--taking to
bully us himself? I thought he always meant to leave that to Dishy."
"He's getting wild at not catching the pirates, I suppose," said
Barkins. "Then all that badger gets bottled up in him, and he lets it
off at us. Well, I don't see any fun in watching the fire; I'm going
down for a snooze."
"Wish I could," said Smith. "The fellow who invented night-watches
ought to have been smothered. I daresay he was a man who had something
the matter with him and couldn't sleep. I hate it."
"Pooh!" cried Barkins, laughing. "You haven't got used to it yet, old
chap. It's an acquired taste. After a bit you won't care a dump for a
regular night's rest, but'll want to get up and take your turn. Won't
he, Gnat?"
I laughed.
"I haven't got the right taste yet," I said.
"And never will," grumbled Smith, as we turned to have another look at
the burning barque.
"How long will a ship like that be burning, Jecks?" I said to one of
the watch.
The man scratched his head, and had a good stare at the glowing object
in the distance, as if he were making a careful calculation.
"Well," said Barkins, "out with it, Tom Jecks; we don't want to know to
two minutes and a half."
"Well, sir," said the man very deliberately, "I should say as a wessel
o' that size--"
"There goes her mainmast!" some one shouted, as a portion of the fire
fell off to our left, and lay in the sea.
We stood gazing at this part for a few minutes, during which the light
faded slowly out, quenched in the waves.
Then Jecks began again, speaking very oracularly--
"I should say as a wessel o' that size--"
"Yes," said Barkins, imitating him; "a wessel o' that size--"
"Yes, sir--might go on burning till 'bout eight bells."
"Or perhaps a little longer, Tom?"
"Well, yes, sir; little longer, perhaps. 'Morrow night, say."
"Or 'morrow morning, Tom?"
"Well, no, sir; because you see it's 'morrow morning now."
"I meant t'other 'morrow morning, Tom. Nex' day."
"Well, yes, sir; she might last till then."
"Or even next day?"
"Well, sir, I hayve knowed 'em go on mouldering and smouldering for days
and days."
"A week, perhaps?"
"Oh yes, sir, quite a week."
"Thankye, Tom," said Barkins, giving me a nudge with his elbow. "I
thought you'd know. Nothing like going to a man who has had plenty of
experience."
"No, sir, there ain't nothin' like it; and I should say as if you young
gen'lemen was to stand here and watch, you'd finally see that there
wessel give a bit of a roll to starboard and one to port, and then
settle down and go out of sight all to oncet, like putting a stingwisher
on a candle; and there! what did I tell yer?"
For all at once the blaze rose quite high, as if it were driven upwards
by some explosion below. We saw what looked like tiny sparks falling
all around, and some of them floating upon the sea, and then there was
the sound as of a puff of wind--heavy and short; and, where the barque
had lain blazing and sending up its great waving tongue of fire, there
was now darkness, save here and there a few dull specks of light, which
went out one by one.
"The last act of a tragedy," said a voice close by us; and Mr Brooke,
who had the watch, stood gazing at the dark waters for a few moments.
Then in his quiet, decided tones--
"Now, Mr Barkins--Mr Herrick, it is not your watch. You had better go
below."
"Yes, sir; good-night, sir."
"Good-morning, you mean," he replied; and we two went down and turned
in.
"I say, Gnat," cried Barkins in a sleepy voice; "old Tom Jecks'll be
more chuckle-bumptious than ever."
"Yes," I said; "that happened just right for him."
"Yes, that's the luck that kind of bumble-head always gets. He'll set
up--now--for--_snore_--set up for--oh, how sleepy I am! What say?"
"I didn't speak," I replied drowsily.
"Who said you did? Oh, I remember now. Tom Jecks'll set up for boss--
know--all now. Look here--you help me, and we'll gammon him into--be--
believing--he ought to make an alma--alma--nick--nack,"--_snore_.
Barkins was fast asleep, and I was just thinking how suddenly a drowsy
person dropped off, when all at once I seemed to be back in the cabin of
the burned ship, where I was searching the lockers for pirates, and then
some one hauled me out of my berth by one leg, and I raised myself on my
elbow to stare wildly at Smith.
CHAPTER NINE.
PREPARATIONS.
"At last!" he cried. "I began to think your eyelids were sewed up.
Dress yourself, sir; do you hear? Do you suppose that the junior
officers of the _Teaser_ are kept here on purpose to set a bad example
to the men?"
"Breakfast ready?" I said, yawning.
"Of course it is, sir. Kidneys and fried soles done to a
shade. Fresh water-cresses, hot rolls, and all kinds of
don't-you-wish-you-may-get-'ems, waiting. I say, look at old Tanner.
Let's rouse him up."
I rose slowly, and, with the customary malignity of one rudely wakened
from sleep, began to feel a grim satisfaction in seeing my messmate
robbed of his repose in turn.
"Cold pig?" suggested Smith.
"No, no; don't," I said. "It makes the place so wet."
"All right. Come here, then."
I was about to join him, when the peculiar vibration going on made me
turn sharply to Smith.
"Hallo!" I said.
"What's the matter?"
"Under steam again?"
"Yes. Orders came soon after daylight, and we're going south with our
tail between our legs. Skipper seems to think it's of no use trying any
longer; and you mark my words, as soon as we're gone those beggars will
come out of their creeks and begin murdering and burning every trading
vessel they can catch."
"I am sorry," I said, as I recalled my interview with the captain.
"Sorry! I should think you are. So are we all. It's a shame, that's
what it is, Gnat."
"It seems to be a pity, because we might run against them some time."
"Run against them! Why, of course. The scent's hot now. Oh, I only
wish I was captain of this ship!"
"Wish you were, Smithy," said Barkins, yawning.
"Oh, you're awake at last, are you?"
"Of course I am. Who's to sleep with you yelping about like that. I
say, if you were skipper, we'd share the cabin with you, and have a
jolly time of it--eh?"
"Oh, would you?" cried Smith. "We'd see about that. I tell you what,
though, if I was skipper, this gunboat shouldn't leave the station while
there was a pirate on the east coast."
"Well, there won't be when we've done. I say--oh dear me!--how is it
the legs of your trousers will get tangled when you want to put 'em on
in a hurry."
"'Cause you put 'em on with your eyes tangled up. Hear that?"
"What, you gabbling?"
"No; the screw at work."
"Eh? Yes. What does it mean?"
"We're going back."
"No!"
"We are--full speed."
"Without yard-arming the beggars who took that ship."
"Yes; ain't it a shame?"
Barkins made no answer, but kept on dressing--snatching on his clothes,
so to speak; and when we went on deck that bright, fine morning, there
was a lowering look upon every face; and the officers were all snappish,
the men discontented, and scowling at the two figures marching up and
down the quarter-deck side by side.
I felt disappointed, for we had been looking forward to the exciting
moments when we should first overhaul some piratical junk. Of course I
knew that there might be some danger, but I foresaw very little: our
well-armed ship, with its strong, highly-disciplined crew, would
over-ride every opposition offered by the half-savage Chinamen, I felt
sure; and, like most people in the service, I felt that, if any one was
hurt, it would be some one else. And now there was to be no further
search for the pirates. We were going south again, probably to
Hong-Kong; and I was sick of hot Hong-Kong, and doing nothing but drill.
I partook, then, of the general feeling of dissatisfaction that morning;
and, feeling quite glum and vexed with myself, I leaned over the
taffrail and gazed down at the bright, clear water in search of fish.
"I wish I hadn't spoken as I did last night," I said to myself later on;
and I was going over the whole scene in the cabin, and thinking of what
a noodle I must have looked, when I heard my name uttered in the
captain's short, sharp voice.
I turned and saluted, to find that Mr Reardon had gone forward.
"I only want to repeat my caution to you, Mr Herrick," said the
captain. "You will not say a word to any one about your visit to me
last night."
"No, sir," I said.
"You have not spoken to your messmates?"
"No, sir; not a word."
"But they asked you why I summoned you to my cabin?"
"Yes, sir; but they think it was to snub--reprove me, sir, for making so
much of the Chinaman."
"Oh, I see. But snub would have done, Mr Herrick. Reprove sounds
pedantic. That will do, but bear in mind my wishes."
"Oh, there you are, Mr Herrick," said the first lieutenant, a few
minutes later. "I want you. Find that Chinaman and the ship's tailor,
and bring them both to my cabin."
"Yes, sir," I said, wondering; and I hunted them out, told them to
follow me, and led the way to Mr Reardon's cabin.
"Shut the door," he said sharply.
I obeyed, and the lieutenant consulted a scrap of paper upon which he
had pencilled a few memoranda.
"Now, tailor," he said, "you will have an order for a sufficiency of
white duck."
"Yes, sir."
"And by this time to-morrow I want twenty loose frocks cut and made
after the fashion of this man's blue cotton blouse thing."
"Couldn't be done, sir, in the time," said the tailor respectfully.
"They must be done, my man. I don't care how roughly they are made, nor
how badly sewn, but they must be cut to this pattern. Get as many men
as you require to sew, and begin work at once. I'll send this boy to
you soon, for you to get the pattern of his garment."
The tailor saluted, and went off wondering; while I wondered no less, as
I stood waiting with Ching for what was to come; but for some moments
Mr Reardon sat there studying his notes.
All at once he looked up sharply.
"Now, Ching," he said, "can you understand all I say?"
The Chinaman nodded.
"Then look here: I have ordered twenty duck-frocks, as you heard."
"Yes, sir. Velly like Chinaman."
"Exactly. Well, these are for twenty of our men to wear. I want them
to look like Chinese."
Ching shook his head.
"Blue flock," he said; "all blue, no white."
"We have no blue, and the white must do."
"Velly well."
"That point is settled, then. Now, then, about their heads."
"Cut hair all off, and glow pigtail."
"That would take years, my man, and I wanted them ready to-morrow."
"How glow pigtail one day?" cried Ching scornfully; and pulling round
his own, he held it out, fully four feet in length--a long black plait,
with a bit of ribbon tying it at the end.
"Thi'ty yea' long," said Ching. "No one day."
"You must get some oakum, and dye it black. Plait it up, and fasten
that on the men's heads."
"With bit o' stling," said Ching, nodding his head. "Go act play--make
fleatre 'board ship?"
"Yes, we are going to act a play," said the lieutenant sternly; and I
felt the blood come into my face with excitement.
"Shave men's head--shave face; makee look allee same Chinaman."
"Oh, we can manage that," said Mr Reardon, giving me a meaning look.
"You can pick out men and boys enough, Mr Herrick, to make twenty
smooth-faced ones."
"Yes, sir, I think so," I said.
"Then something must be mixed up, whiting and tallow ought to do it."
"Yes, Ching see; makee head velly white."
"That will do, then."
"No," said Ching sharply. "No tlouser, no boot?"
"That will not matter, my man, so long as they are right in their upper
rigging."
"Light in upper ligging!" said Ching. "Ah, you go cheat, gammon
pilate?"
Mr Reardon gave him an angry look.
"You go and do--no, stop. You are quite right, my man, but don't talk
about it. Get the work done."
"Ching see. Make nineteen twenty men look like Chinese boy. Pilate
come along, say, `Big tea-ship. Come aboard,' and get catchee likee lat
in tlap."
"Yes, that's it, my man. Do you think it a good plan, Mr Herrick?" he
added drily.
"Oh yes, sir," I cried excitedly. "May we begin at once?"
"Ye-es," said the lieutenant thoughtfully. "I think that's all you can
do. Yes," he said decidedly; "take the job in hand, Mr Herrick, and
help it along. I want to have twenty men looking like a Chinese crew by
to-morrow."
"Come along, Ching."
"Yes," he said. "Do it velly well. Chinese pilate velly cunning
fellow. You go gettee two junk, put men on board."
"You go and get the men ready," said Mr Reardon shortly. "That will
do."
Directly after I had Ching supplied from the purser's stores with plenty
of fine oakum and a couple of bottles of ink. This latter he made
boiling hot and poured over the oakum, hanging it to dry by the cook's
fire; and while he was doing this I arranged with the cook to have a
bucket of tallow and whiting mixed ready for use when required, so that
then all necessary would be to warm it up.
I was just going aft again when "Herrick" was shouted, and I turned, to
see Barkins and Smith coming after me. But Mr Reardon heard the hail,
and came striding after us.
"You leave Mr Herrick to the business he is on, young gentlemen, and
attend to your own," he cried. "Go on, Mr Herrick. This is no time
for gossiping."
I hurried off, and began my next task, that of selecting twenty men
without beards; and there was no difficulty, for I soon picked sixteen
and four big lads, upon whose heads the ship's barber was set to work to
cut the hair pretty short, the men submitting with an excellent grace,
Jack being ready enough to engage in anything fresh, and such as would
relieve the monotony of shipboard life.
They were ready enough to ask questions, but I had nothing to tell; and
the preparations went merrily on, but not without my having learned that
we were steaming right away out of sight of land.
But long before we had reached this pitch, I found that orders had been
given, and the men were busy up aloft, lowering down the main-topgallant
mast, and then laying the maintop mast all askew, as if it were snapped
off at the top. After which the yards were altered from their perfect
symmetry to hang anyhow, as if the ship were commanded by a careless
captain. The engine was set to work to squirt water thickened with
cutch, and the beautiful white sails were stained in patches, and then
roughly furled.
Towards evening, when the sea appeared to be without a sail in sight, we
lay-to; platforms were got over the side, and men hung over with their
paint-pots and brushes, working with all their might to paint out the
streak, while others smeared over the gilding and name at the stern, but
with a thin water-colour which would easily wash off.
Then came the turn of the great funnel, which was painted of a dirty
black. The bright brass rails were dulled, ropes hung loosely, and in
every way possible the trim gunboat was disfigured and altered, so that
at a short distance even it would have been impossible to recognise her
as the smart vessel that had started from the neighbourhood of the
burned ship so short a time before.
But even then Mr Reardon did not seem to be satisfied, for he set the
men to work hauling water casks from the hold, and make a pile of them
amidships. Lastly, a couple of the boats were turned bottom upward on
improvised chocks placed over the deck-house and galley.
I have not mentioned the guns, though. These were completely hidden,
the lesser pieces being drawn back, and spare sails thrown over the two
big guns forward.
"There," said Mr Reardon quietly to me; "what do you say to that, Mr
Herrick? Think this will deceive them?"
"There's one more thing I should do, sir," I said, as I looked aloft.
"One more? Nonsense; there is nothing more to be done."
"Yes, sir," I said, smiling; "I'd have some shirts and trousers hung up
in the rigging to dry, just as if the men had been having a wash."
"To be sure," he cried. "What else?"
"It wouldn't be bad if we could catch a few big fish, and let them be
hanging over the stern rail as if to keep them fresh."
"I'll set Mr Barkins and Mr Smith to try and catch some," he said
eagerly. "The idea's splendid, my lad; and if it turns out to be
successful, I'll--there, I don't know what I won't do for you."
Soon after, I had the pleasure of seeing a lot of the men's garments
hung on a couple of lines in the rigging, and Barkins and Smith hard at
work fishing, in which they were so wonderfully successful that I longed
to go and join them; but I was too busy over my task of disguising the
twenty sailors, and consequently my two messmates had all the sport to
themselves, dragging in, every few minutes, an abundance of good-sized
fishes, which were at last strung upon a piece of stout line and hung
over the stern rail.
That night the crew were all in an intense state of excitement, and
roars of laughter saluted my party of sham Chinamen, some of whom were
paraded in the newly-made frocks, two being in the full dress of
whitened head and pigtail, and looked so exactly like the real thing at
a short distance that no doubt was felt as to the success of this part
of the proceedings.
Officers and men had been a little puzzled at first, but in a very short
time they were all talking about the cleverness of the "captain's
dodge," as they called it; and the low spirits of the morning gave place
to eager talk about the adventures which all felt sure must come now.
The ship's head had been turned and laid for the islands we had so
lately left; but our progress was purposely made exceedingly slow, the
screw just revolving, and the water parting with a gentle ripple to
right and left.
Meanwhile the tailor and his mates were hard at work by the light of the
swinging lanterns, and, upon my being sent by Mr Reardon to make
inquiries, the tailor answered that he should be up to time with the
twenty Chinee gownds, and went on stitching again as if for his very
life.
I was on the watch that night, and stood listening for long enough to
the yarns of one of the men, who had not been in Chinese waters before,
but "knowed a chap as had;" and he had some blood-curdling tales to tell
of the cruelties perpetrated by the desperate gangs who haunted the
coast in fast-sailing junks.
"But they're an awfully cowardly lot, arn't they, Billy?" said another.
"Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't,
if you can make that out. They'll scuttle away like rats if they can;
but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and
if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as
hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry
for it."
"Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing;
'tain't like it used to was in the old days. Most everything's done
with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a
man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was
a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and
spike."
"Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when
they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want
to get hurt."
It was not cheering, after a very wearying day and a very short night
before, to listen to such talk, and I began to wonder whether the
captain would take sufficient precautions to keep the Chinese off, for I
felt that to properly carry out the plan, the fighting men must be kept
well out of sight till the very last; but I soon came to the conclusion
that I need not worry about that, from the spirited way in which
everything possible to disguise the ship had been done.
Then, as I leaned over the side looking over the black water, in which a
faint star could be seen from time to time, I began to smile to myself
at the quiet, dry way in which my ideas had been taken up; but I frowned
directly after, as I thought of what a little credit I was getting for
it all, and that the captain or Mr Reardon might have said an
encouraging word or two to show that they appreciated my efforts.
It was laughable, too, the way in which I had heard the captain's dodge
discussed by Barkins and Smith, who never once associated my summons to
the cabin with all that had been done.
The time was going along slowly, and I was beginning to feel very
drowsy, so I had a walk up and down a few times, and then came suddenly
upon something like a big bundle under the weather bulwark.
"Why, Ching," I said, "you here?"
"Yes; velly hot down below, no sleepee sleepee. Come on deck, nicee
cool. You have fightee morrow?"
"I hope so," I said; but asked myself the next moment whether I really
did hope so.
"Velly bad fightee, bad pilates come, and captain killee whole lot.
Allee velly bad man, killee evelybody."
"Do you think they will come out of hiding?"
"Ching don'tee know. Ching thinkee muchee so. Now go sleepee. Velly
much tire."
He curled himself up, drawing his tail round out of the way, and seemed
to go off directly; while I rejoined the officer of the watch, who
happened to be Mr Brooke, and we walked right forward to the bows, and
saw that the men were keeping a bright look-out.
"Well, Herrick," he said, "got your dirk sharp?"
"No," I said. "Don't laugh at me, please, Mr Brooke."
"Oh no, I will not laugh at you, my lad," he said; "but as it is quite
likely that we may have a bit of a scrimmage to-morrow, if the
scoundrels are lured out of their holes, and grow desperate on finding
that they have made a mistake, you had better keep out of the way."
"But--"
"Oh yes, I know what you are going to say; but you are very young yet,
and what chance would you have against a great strong savage Chinaman--
for there are plenty of powerful fellows among these scoundrels. You
must wait a bit before you take to fighting."
I felt uncomfortable. He seemed to be looking down upon me so, in spite
of my being an officer; but I could not boast of my strength, and
remained silent for a time.
"Do you think they are likely to get on board, sir?"
"Oh no," he said. "We shall not give them a chance. Once the captain
is sure that they are the pirates, if we are lucky enough to lure them
well out from the shore, the men will be ordered up to the guns, and we
shall give them a few broadsides, and sink them."
"It sounds horrid, sir," I said. "Then they'll never have a chance to
fight us?"
"Not if we can help it, my lad. But, as you say, it does sound horrid,
and rather cowardly; but what would you do with a poisonous snake? You
would not give it a chance to strike at you first, if you met it and had
a loaded gun in your hands?"
"Of course not, sir," I said quickly.
"Well, these wretches are as dangerous as venomous serpents, and, after
what you saw on board that barque, you do not think we need be squeamish
about ridding the earth of such monsters?"
"No, sir, not a bit," I said quickly.
"Neither do I, Herrick. I should like to aim the gun that sends a shot
through them between wind and water."
"Light on the port bow!" announced the look-out forward; and, upon using
his night-glass, Mr Brooke made out the vessel, which showed the light
to be a large junk, with her enormous matting-sails spread, and gliding
along faster than we were, and in the same direction.
As we watched the light, it gradually grew fainter, and finally
disappeared, while all through our watch the screw kept on its slow
motion, just sending the gunboat onward.
Toward what? I asked myself several times; and, in spite of my
determination to acquit myself manfully if we did go into action, I
could not help hoping that the next night would find us all as safe as
we were then. But all the same the thoughts of our preparations were
well in my mind, and never once did I hope that we should not encounter
the enemy.
All the same, though, when my watch was at an end and I went below,
perhaps it was owing to its being so hot, as Ching said, for it was a
long time before I could get off to sleep.
CHAPTER TEN.
THE ENEMY.
"Oh, I say, do wake up and come on deck. It's such a lark."
"What is?" I said, rolling out of the berth, with my head feeling all
confused and strange, to stare at Barkins.
"Why, everything. You never saw such a miserable old rag-bag of a ship
in your life."
I hurriedly dressed and went on deck, to find the preparations complete,
and I could not help thinking that, if the pirates mistook the _Teaser_
for a man-of-war now, they must be clever indeed.
For on the previous day I had only seen the alterations in bits, so to
speak, but now everything was done, even to having a quantity of coal on
deck, and the clean white planks besmirched with the same black fuel.
The paint-pots had altered everything; the figure-head was hidden with
tarpaulin; the rigging, instead of being all ataunto, was what Smith
called "nine bobble square," and one sail had been taken down and
replaced by an old one very much tattered, so that up aloft we looked as
if we had been having a taste of one of the typhoons which visit the
Chinese seas. These preparations, with the men's clothes hanging to
dry, the boats badly hauled up to the davits, and the fish hanging over
the stern (after the fashion practised in west-country fishing-boats),
completely altered the aspect of everything. Then I found that the
officers were all in tweeds, with yachting or shooting caps; the bulk of
the crew below, and my twenty men and lads all carefully got up with
painted heads and pigtails complete, under the charge of Ching, who was
bustling about importantly, and he came to me at once and began
whispering--
"Captain say, Ching takee care allee men, and show himself evelywhere."
"Yes, of course," I said. "Yes. You wanted to say something?"
"Yes, Ching want say something."
"Well, what is it? Quick, I must go."
"Ching want you tell sailor boy be velly careful. Take care of Ching
when pilate come."
"All right," I said; "but they haven't come yet."
"Think big junk pilate."
"Which one? where?" I said.
He pointed forward to where, about five miles off the lee-bow, a great
junk was slowly sailing in the same direction as we were.
"Is that the one which passed us in the night?" I said.
"Yes."
"Why do you think she is a pirate?"
"Ching tink why she no sail light away and not stop while man-o'-war
clawl along velly slow. You tellee captain."
I nodded, and found that there was no need, for the captain was
carefully observing the junk from where he was hidden by a pile of
casks, and Mr Reardon was with him.
"Here, Mr Herrick," he cried, "your eyes are young. Have a look at
that junk. Take your uniform cap off, my lad, and, as soon as you have
done, take off your jacket and put on a coloured suit."
I had a good look through the glass at the junk, and made my report.
"I think it's only a big trader, sir," I said. "Looks like the boats we
saw at Amoy, and as if she were going up to Wanghai."
"Yes, that's it, I think," said Captain Thwaites to Mr Reardon. Then
he sharply turned to me and gave me a dry look. "Well, Mr Herrick, you
see I have taken your advice, and put my ship in this disgraceful
state."
"Yes, sir," I said eagerly; "and I hope it will prove successful."
"So do I," he said drily. "That will do, Herrick. Now, Mr Reardon, I
think we will keep on just as we are, just about four knots an hour. It
gives the idea of our being in trouble; and if we keep on close outside
the islands, it may draw the scoundrels--that is, if they are there."
"Yes, sir, if they are there," said the lieutenant.
"How long do you reckon it will take us to get abreast of the reef where
that barque lay?"
"We ought to be there by noon, sir, I should say."
"That will do. We shall seem to be making for Wanghai."
I heard no more, but went below, and directly after breakfast reappeared
in white flannels and a cricketing cap, a transformation which satisfied
the first lieutenant, but displeased Barkins and Smith, who had orders
to keep below in uniform.
"I hate so much favouritism," grumbled Barkins. "Who are you, Gnat?
You're our junior; and here are we kept below, and my lord you parading
about the deck, and seeing everything."
"Why, you're in the reserve," I said banteringly, "and will have all the
fighting to do."
"Who wants all the fighting to do?" cried Smith. "I don't. I suppose
if we do take a lot of pirate junks, you'll be promoted, and we shan't
get a word."
"Stuff!" I said. "How can I get promoted?"
"But I want to know why you're to be picked out," cried Barkins.
"Go and ask the skipper," I said. "Now, look here both of you; if
you're not civil, I won't come and report everything. If you are, I'll
come down as often as I can to tell you all that is going on."
"Oh then, I suppose we must be civil, Smithy," said Barkins sourly, "but
we'll serve the beggar out afterwards."
I went up on deck again to find that our speed had been slightly
increased, but we drew no nearer to the junk, which sailed on exactly in
the same course as we were taking, and that seemed strange; but beyond
watching her through the telescopes, and seeing that she had only about
a dozen men on board--all blue-frocked Chinamen--no further notice was
taken of her.
Ching was seated right forward, with his blue frock showing well up
against the grey white of one of the hanging-down sails, and he had been
furnished with a pipe, which he smoked slowly and thoughtfully;
half-a-dozen men were in the fore-rigging, making believe to repair
damages up aloft; and soon after four more were sent up to begin
tinkering at the topmast, which they made great efforts to lower down on
deck, but of course got no further.
They had orders from the first lieutenant to take it coolly, and coolly
they took it, looking like a lazy, loafing set of Chinese sailors, whose
intentions were to do as little as they could for their pay.
Mr Reardon, in a shooting-suit and straw hat, went about giving orders,
and the captain and Mr Brooke had cane seats on the quarter-deck, with
a bottle and glasses, and sat sipping beer and smoking cigars, as if
they were passengers.
Then came long hours of patient--I should say impatient--crawling along
over the same course as we had followed the previous day, with no sail
in sight but the big junk, which took not the slightest notice of us,
nor we of it.
There was no doubt whatever, though, of her actions. She kept sailing
on at about the same rate as we steamed, evidently for the sake of being
in company, and to have a European vessel close at hand to close up to
in case of danger from the shores of the mainland, or one of the islands
we should pass, for it was an established fact that the pirates seldom
attacked ships that were in company.
All through the early part of the morning the novelty of the affair
interested the men, and there was a constant burst of eager conversation
going on, but as noon came, and matters were in the same position, and
we still far away from the spot where the barque had been burned, every
one grew weary, and I fidgeted myself into a state of perspiration.
"It will all turn out wrong," I thought, "and then they will blame me."
With these fancies to worry me, I kept away from my messmates as much as
I could; and when by accident I encountered either of my superiors, I
saw that they looked--or I fancied they did--very stern.
"All these preparations for nothing," I said to myself, as I saw the
guns all ready, but covered over with tarpaulins, cartridges and shells
waiting, and the crews armed and impatient.
Dinner had been long over, and I need hardly say that I did not enjoy
mine. Some of the men were having a nap, and the heat below must have
been very great, for it was scorching on deck.
At last we were abreast of the rocky islands dotted here and there, and
upon the reef I could just make out a few pieces of the burned vessel.
But as I swept the rocky islets and channels and then the horizon, I
could not make out a sail, only our companion the junk, with her bows
and stern high out of the water, sailing easily along that fine
afternoon.
Another hour passed, and there were rocky islands on our starboard bow
and two astern, but not a sign of inhabitant, only high bluffs, rugged
cliffs, and narrow channels between reefs whitened by the constant
breaking upon them of a heavy swell.
"Rather slow work, Reardon," said the captain, as they two came by where
I was at the bulwark, using a small glass. "See anything, Mr Herrick?"
"No, sir," I said.
"No, sir, indeed; of course you don't," cried the captain impatiently.
"Nice trick you've played me, sir. Made me dress up my men and the ship
in this tomfool way. There you are using your glass. What have you got
to say for yourself, eh?"
I could not tell whether he was speaking banteringly or really angrily,
and, keeping my glass to my eye in the hope of seeing something to
report, I mumbled out some excuse about meaning it for the best.
"Best, indeed!" he said pettishly. "Nice objects we look. What do you
think the First Lords of the Admiralty would say to me if they could see
Her Majesty's gunboat--the finest clipper in the service--in this state?
Eh? Why don't you answer, sir?"
"I suppose, sir," I cried desperately, "that they would say you were
doing your best for the sake of trying to catch the pirates."
"Humph! do you, indeed? Well? Anything to report? What's the use of
holding that glass to your eye if you can't see anything? Anything to
report, I say?"
"Yes, sir," I cried breathlessly, and with my heart throbbing heavily,
"the junk has run up a little pennon to her mast-head."
"She has?" cried Mr Reardon excitedly, and he raised his own glass.
"Yes, you're right. Well done, Herrick! There, sir, I told you the lad
was right."
"Right? when they are signalling to us for water or a bag of rice."
"When they have only to heave-to and let us overhaul them, sir," cried
Mr Reardon, swinging his glass round and narrowly missing my head.
"No, sir, they're signalling to the shore; and before long we shall see
another junk come swooping out from behind one of those headlands, to
take us in the rear. If they don't, I'm a Dutchman."
"Then Dutchman you are, Reardon," said the captain, smiling. "I only
wish they would."
"Here they come, sir," I cried excitedly--"one--two--yes, there are
three."
"What? Where?"
"You can only see the tops of their sails, sir, over that flat, low
island this side of the big cliffs."
"Eh! yes."
Only those two words, as the captain sighted the slowly-moving objects
just indistinctly seen, but they were enough to send a thrill all
through the ship.
For there was no mistaking the matter. The junk that had been hanging
by us all night was a pirate after all, and she had signalled to
companions on shore. I could see, too, that she was slightly altering
her course.
The enemy was at last in sight.
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
THE FIGHT.
"Oh, if I only dared hooray!" I said to myself; and then a flush of
pride rose to my cheeks, for the captain gave me a smart clap on the
shoulder.
"Bravo, Herrick!" he said in quite a whisper. "I thought you were
right, my lad, or I shouldn't have done all this. Mr Reardon and I
will make a fine officer of you before we have done."
"Shall I pass the word down for the men to be on the _qui vive_?" said
the lieutenant.
The captain laughed, and nodded his head in the direction of the
hatches, which were black with peeping heads.
"No need, Mr Reardon; there is not a soul on board who does not know.
It is no time for making fresh arrangements. We'll keep exactly to our
plans. Don't let a man show on deck, for depend upon it they will have
a look-out aloft ready to give warning of danger, and we must not give
them an excuse for signalling to their confederates to sheer off."
"Keep steadily on, then, sir?"
"Yes, steadily and stupidly. Let the men go on as before up aloft, and
let the rest of the men show their white heads and pigtails at the
bulwarks as if they were wondering who the strangers were. Good
pressure of steam below?"
"Yes, sir, almost too much," said the lieutenant, after communication
with the engine-room.
"Not a bit," said the captain, rubbing his hands. "We shall want it
soon."
My heart began to beat as they passed on, and I wondered what would be
the first steps taken. But I did not forget my promise. My duties were
about nil, and as soon as I had seen the men staring over the bulwarks,
and noted that the sham repairs to the rigging were steadily going on, I
ran down the companion-way, and breathlessly told Barkins and Smith.
"Then there are four of them, Smithy," cried Barkins. "Look here, Gnat;
he stuck out that there were only three. But well done, old chap, you
are a good one to come and tell us. Here, don't go yet; I want to--"
I never heard what he wanted to, for there was too much exciting
attraction on the deck, to which, being as it were licensed, I at once
returned.
The captain and Mr Reardon were on the quarter-deck, conscious that
savages as the Chinese or Formosan pirates were, they probably did not
despise the barbarian instruments known as telescopes, and that most
likely every movement on board the _Teaser_ was being watched. Any
suspicious act would be quite sufficient to make them sheer off, and
consequently the strictest orders were given to the men to play their
parts carefully, and make no movement that was not required.
Dressed as I was in flannels, my appearance was thoroughly in keeping
with the assumed peaceful character of the ship, and hence I heard and
saw nearly everything.
Just as I went on the quarter-deck the captain was saying to the first
lieutenant--
"Don't be so excitable, man. When I ask you a question, or give an
order, take it deliberately, and dawdle off to see it done."
"Right through, sir?" said Mr Reardon petulantly.
"No," said the captain quietly. "When I give the order, `Full speed
ahead,' then you can act. Till then you are mate or passenger,
whichever you like, of this dirty-looking trader. Ah, those three low
junks, or whatever they are, can creep through the water pretty
quickly."
"Yes; and the big junk too," said Mr Reardon, using his glass. "It is
astonishing how rapidly those great heavily-sailed craft can go. She's
full of men, sir," he continued; "I can see more and more beginning to
show themselves. Not much appearance of dishipline, though."
"So much the better for us," muttered Captain Thwaites, turning in his
cane arm-chair, and looking in the direction of the islands again, from
which the three smaller vessels were coming on rapidly. "Yes,"--he
said, as if to himself, "a head keeps showing here and there; they are
full of men too."
I was not experienced, of course, that only being my third voyage, but I
knew enough of navigating tactics to grasp the fact that the four
vessels were carefully timing themselves so as to reach us together, and
this evidently was their customary mode of procedure, and no doubt
accounted for ship after ship being taken and plundered. I felt
startled, too, as I realised the strength of the crews, and what a
simultaneous attempt to board might mean. With an ordinary merchantman,
even with a strong crew, undoubtedly death and destruction, while even
with our well-armed men and guns I began to have doubts. A slip in the
manoeuvres, ever so slight a mistake on Captain Thwaites' part, or a
blunder in the carrying out of his orders, might give one vessel the
chance to make fast, and while we were arresting their onslaught there
would be time for the others to get close in and throw their scores of
bloodthirsty savages upon our decks.
Mr Reardon had strolled forward, and returned just as the captain said
to me--
"You may as well fetch me my sword and cap from the cabin, Mr Herrick."
"Yes, sir," I said quickly, and I was off, but he stopped me.
"Not now, boy," he cried impatiently; "when the first gun is fired will
be time enough. Well, Reardon, men all ready?"
"Ready, sir? they want wiring down. I'm only afraid of one thing."
"What is that?"
"That they will jam one another in the hatches in their excitement."
"Give fresh stringent orders, sir," said the captain sternly; "every man
is to go quickly and silently to his post, as if on an ordinary drill.
By George! they are coming on quickly; we shall have it all over by
daylight."
"And they'll plunder the ship by lamplight, eh?" said Mr Reardon drily.
"Of course. I think there is no need to feel any doubt now as to these
being the men we want?"
"I don't know, sir," said the lieutenant quietly; "but there is no doubt
about their meaning to try and take this peaceful merchantman. Look,
they feel sure of us, sir, and are showing themselves. Why, they swarm
with men."
"Poor wretches!" said the captain gravely. "I don't like shedding
blood, but we must do it now, to the last drop."
The enemy were now less than a mile away, and coming on rapidly, the
smaller vessels helping their progress with long, heavy sweeps; and as I
stood behind the captain's chair, and looked round the deck from the
wheel, where one of our sham Chinamen stood, with another seated under
the bulwarks apparently asleep, but ready to spring up and join his
messmate at a word; round by the bulwarks where four or five stood
stupidly looking over the side; and then up aloft to the men making
believe to work very hard at the damaged spar--all looked peaceful
enough to tempt the wretches, without counting the most prominent figure
of all, Ching, as he sat high up, smoking placidly, and looking as calm
and contemplative as a figure of Buddha.
"The men ought to be called up now, and the guns set to work," I said to
myself, as every pulse throbbed with excitement, and in imagination I
saw, from the captain's neglect or dilatoriness, our deck running with
blood.
But I had to master these thoughts.
"They know better than I do when to begin," I said to myself, and, after
a sharp glance at the coming vessels, I began to pity my two messmates
who were cooped up below, and I thought of how excited they must be.
Then I thought of Mr Brooke, and hoped he would not be hurt; and
shuddered a little as I remembered the doctor, who would be all ready
below, waiting to attend upon the first wounded man.
"See that, sir?" said Mr Reardon quickly.
"What?" said Captain Thwaites in the most unmoved way.
"That smoke on board two of them."
"On board all," said the captain. "I noticed it a minute ago. They are
getting the stinkpots ready for us, I suppose."
"Yes, that's it, sir. Do you think it necessary to have the hose ready
in case of fire?"
"No; if any come on board, the firemen can be called up from the
stokehole with their shovels. I think we'll go now upon the bridge.
You can come too, Mr Herrick. I may want you to take an order or two."
And as he walked quietly towards the bridge, where the speaking-tubes
and signals joined with the engine-room were, he was as calm and
deliberate as if there was not the slightest danger menacing the
_Teaser_; while for my part I could not help feeling that the position
there upon the bridge was a highly-exposed one, and that I should have
been much safer in the shelter of the bulwarks, or down below.
All this time we were gently forging ahead, and the junk was quietly
manoeuvring so that we should pass her so close that she could just
avoid our prow, and then close and grapple with us, for they were busy
on her starboard quarter, and through my glass I could make out great
hooks.
"Won't they think we are taking it too coolly, and grow suspicious,
sir?" whispered Mr Reardon excitedly.
"I hope not," said the captain. "Perhaps one might show fight now, but
I am trusting to their believing that we are stupid, for I want to get
them all, Reardon, if I can. Now, silence, if you please."
Mr Reardon drew back a step or two and waited during those terrible
minutes which followed, and I gave quite a start, for the enemy suddenly
threw off all reserve as a yell came from the junk, which was answered
from the other vessels, and, with their decks crowded with
savage-looking desperadoes, they swept down upon us literally from both
sides, bow and stern.
But still the captain did not make a sign; and, in the midst of the
horrible silence on board, I saw the dressed-up men turning their heads
to gaze at us anxiously, as if the suspense was greater than they could
bear, and their eyes implored their commander to give the word before
the wretches began swarming on board.
I glanced at Mr Reardon, whose face was white, and the great drops of
perspiration stood upon his cheeks, while his eyes, which were fixed
upon the captain between us, looked full of agony; for the great junk
with its wild crew was apparently only a hundred yards ahead, and the
others not much farther, coming rapidly on.
"It's all over," I thought, in my horror, "he will be too late;" and
that I was not alone in my thoughts obtained confirmation, for, though
the crew to a man stood fast, I saw Ching suddenly drop from his perch
and look round for a place of retreat.
At the same moment the captain moved his hand; there was a sharp tinging
of the gong in the engine-room, which meant full speed ahead; and, as
the vibration rapidly increased, he then gave a sharp order or two, and
in an instant almost the men came pouring up from the various hatches
upon deck, but so quickly and quietly that the transformation was almost
magical.
I don't think my eyes are peculiarly made, but I saw the various crews
muster round the guns, and the marines range up, and the men with their
rifles at their various posts, with each officer in his place, although
all the time I was standing with my gaze fixed upon the great junk.
I saw, too, my twenty pigtailed men come sliding down the ropes from
above, and snatch up the cutlasses and rifles laid ready beneath a
tarpaulin; but all the time I was seeing, in obedience to orders, two
parties of the crew going forward at the double, and I knew that the
captain was communicating with the two men at the wheel.
Quick as lightning there was another order as we began to leave the
three low vessels behind, and I involuntarily grasped the rail before me
as all the men on board lay down--crews of the guns, marines, and those
who had doubled forward under the command of Mr Brooke.
Hardly was the evolution performed, when there, right before us, were
the lowering mat-sails of the great junk, and then, crash! there was a
wild despairing yell, and we were into her amidships, the ponderous
gunboat literally cutting her down and going right over her; while at a
second command every man sprang up again, and for the next minute or two
bayonet and cutlass were flashing in the evening sunlight as the
wretches who climbed on board were driven back.
While this was going on, the bell in the engine-room rang out again and
again, and we began to move astern to meet the three low junks, which,
undismayed by the fate of their comrade, came at us with their crews
yelling savagely.
Then there was a deep roar as the first gun belched forth its flame and
smoke, with the huge shell hurtling through the air, dipping once in the
calm sea, and crashing through one of the junks, to explode with a
report like the echo of the first, far beyond.
Captain Thwaites turned quietly and looked at me.
"Yes, sir?" I stammered.
"I said when the first gun was fired you could fetch my cap and sword,
Mr Herrick," he said quietly, and I ran down just as the second big gun
bellowed, but I did not see with what result. I heard the sharp, short
order, though, and another gun roared, and another, and another, as the
junks came well into sight; for each gun I heard the crash of the shell
hitting too, and the fierce yells of the men, as I dashed into the
cabin, seized cap and sword, and then ran back to the bridge, eager to
see the fight, and in my excitement forgetting to feel afraid.
But a heavy smoke was gathering over us and the junks,--two were
indistinct, though they were close aboard of us. Then, as the _Teaser_
glided astern, I saw that the third was smoking, while crash, crash, the
others struck our sides, and their crews grappled, hurled their
stinkpots on board, and began to swarm over the bulwarks.
But the guns were being steadily served with terrible effect; the few
poor wretches who reached the deck were bayoneted, and in how long or
how short a time I cannot tell, for everything seemed to be swept away
in the excitement; we steamed away out of the smoke into the ruddy
sunset, and there I saw in one place a mass of tangled bamboo and
matting, with men clustering upon it, and crowding one over the other
like bees in a swarm. There was another mass about a quarter of a mile
away, and I looked in vain for the third junk; but a number of her crew
clinging to bamboos, sweeps, spars, and what looked to be wicker crates,
showed where she had been. The last of the four, with her great
matting-sails hauled up to the fullest extent, was sailing away toward
the nearest island, and on either side they had sweeps over with two or
three men to each, tugging away with all their might to help their
vessel along.
"The brutes!" I thought to myself, as I watched the glint of the ruddy
sun upon their shiny heads and faces, with their pig tails swinging
behind, as they hung back straining at the great oars. For their sole
idea seemed to be escape, and not the slightest effort was made to pick
up any of their comrades struggling in the water.
It was wonderful how quickly they went, and I began to think that the
junk would escape. Three miles would be enough to place her all amongst
the reefs and shoals, where the gunboat dare not follow; and I was
thinking, as we glided rapidly in her wake, that the _Teaser_ would
chase her swiftly for about half the distance, and then lower the boats
to continue the pursuit, but I was wrong; I saw that the captain gave
Mr Reardon some order, then the gong rang in the engine-room, the way
of the _Teaser_ was checked, a turn of the wheel made her describe a
curve, and she slowly came to a standstill broadside on to the flying
junk.
The next minute the crews were piped away to the boats with their
complement of marines to each; and as they were lowered down a steady
fire was maintained with shell upon the junk.
I stood watching the shots, and saw the first of the broadside from one
heavy and three smaller guns strike the water close to the junk's hull,
fly up, dip again, and then burst over the cliffs.
The second went wide to the left, while the third also missed; and I saw
the captain stamp impatiently as the fourth went right over her.
"She'll get away," I thought; and it seemed a pity for this junk to
escape and form a nucleus for another strong pirate gang.
The firing continued, another broadside being directed at the flying
pirates, who seemed to be certain now of escape, for the junk was end-on
to us, and moving rapidly, forming a very difficult object for our
marksmen; the gunboat, of course, rising and falling all the time upon
the heaving sea.
In the intervals between the shots I had caught a glimpse of Barkins and
Smith climbing into two of the boats, but it was only a glimpse; and
then I was watching the effects of the fire again, as the boats pushed
off to go to the help of the floating men.
Shot after shot had been fired most ineffectively, and I heard
expostulations and angry words used to the captains of the guns; while
at every ineffective shell that burst far away a derisive yell rose from
the crowded junk--the shouts increasing each time.
"Another broadside, Reardon," cried the captain; "and then we must run
in as far as we dare. Pick out half-a-dozen of the best men with the
rifle to place on the bows to pick off the steersman."
"Ay, ay, sir," cried Mr Reardon; then directly, "All gone in the boats,
sir."
Just then, as I was thinking that the junk must escape, one of our big
guns was fired with a crash which made the deck vibrate. There was a
tremendous puff of smoke, which was drawn toward us so that I could not
see the effect, but the shell seemed to burst almost directly with a
peculiar dull crash, and another yell arose from the distant vessel.
Only it was not a derisive cry like the last, but a faint startling
chorus of long-continued shrieks, despairing and wild.
"That's got her, sir," cried Mr Reardon; and we waited impatiently for
the smoke to float by. But it still shut out the junk from where we
stood, while it passed away from the men forward at the gun, and they
gave us the first endorsement of Mr Reardon's words by bursting out
into a hearty cheer, which was taken up by the crews of the other guns.
Then we were clear of the smoke, looking landward to see a crowd of men
struggling in the water, swimming about to reach planks and pieces of
the junk, which had been blown almost to pieces by our great shell, and
had sunk at once, while yet quite a mile from the nearest rocks.
"Ha!" ejaculated the captain, "a good evening's work! Now, Reardon,
down with the other two boats, and save every poor wretch you can."
"Only one left, sir," cried Mr Reardon; and in a few minutes, fully
manned, she was about to be lowered down, when I looked quickly at the
captain, and he read my meaning.
"Want to go?" he said, and then nodded sharply.
I dashed down, climbed upon the bulwark, seized the falls just as they
were about to be cast off, and slid down into the stern to take my
place. Then the oars fell with a splash, and away we went over the
ruddy sea to try and save all we could of the wretches upon whom so
terrible a retribution had come.
One of the warrant officers was in command; he gave me a grim nod.
"Want to see the fun?" he said.
"I want to see the men saved," I replied; "I don't know where the fun
comes in."
"You soon will," he said. "Look out for yourself, my lad; and don't be
too eager to help them."
"Why?"
"You'll soon see," he said gruffly. Then turning to the four marines in
the stern-sheets--"fix bayonets, and keep a sharp look-out."
I looked at him wonderingly, for fixed bayonets did not seem very
suitable things for saving drowning men. But I said nothing, only
sheltered my eyes from the level rays of the sun as we rowed swiftly on,
and gazed across the water at the despairing wretches fighting for their
lives upon the blood-red surface of the water.
It was very horrible after a time, for, as I looked with my heart
feeling contracted, I saw a man, who had been swimming hard, suddenly
throw up his hands and sink.
It was too much for me.
"Row, my lads, row," I cried; "we may catch him as he comes up."
"No," said the warrant officer grimly, "we shall never see him again."
"But try, try!" I cried.
"Yes, we'll try our best," said the officer sternly; "but it's their
turn now. Many a poor wretch have they seen drown, I know, and laughed
at when he cried for help."
I knew it was true; but all the same there was only one thought besides
in my breast, and that was to save all the poor wretches who were
clinging to the pieces of wreck.
As we drew nearer, we came upon the first of quite thirty, clinging to a
sweep which was under his left arm; while, to my horror, I had seen
three more swimming without support go down without a cry, and not one
rise again.
"Easy there," said the officer; "ready there, coxswain; can you reach
him with the hook?"
The man who was standing in the bows reached out to hook the pirate, but
just then the end of the floating sweep touched our boat, and turned
right off, so that the coxswain missed his stroke, and the result was
that the pirate glided aft.
The officer by my side leaned over, reached out, and, to my intense
satisfaction, caught the Chinaman by his left sleeve to draw him to the
boat; but in an instant the wretch threw his right arm out of the water,
and I saw the flash of a long knife in his fingers, as, with his teeth
grinning, he struck at my companion with all his might.
I was so taken by surprise that I sat as if paralysed; but I was
conscious of a quick movement from behind, something red passed over me,
and, all instantaneously, there was the flash of another blade, a
horrible thud--the pirate was driven under water; and I wrenched, as it
were, my eyes round from him to look up over my shoulder at the marine,
who with a dexterous twist of his rifle withdrew his bayonet from the
savage's chest.
"Hurt, sir?" he said.
"No thankye, marine. Very quick and well done of you. There, Mr
Herrick; now you see why I told you to look out."
"The brutes!" I cried excitedly; "they're not worth trying to save."
"No," he said; "but we must do it. I suppose they don't believe much in
the mercy they'll get from us; so there's no wonder. Look at that!"
I turned my head in the direction in which he pointed, and saw what he
meant. Five men were clinging to a piece of floating wreck about fifty
yards away, and three more left the plank to which they had been
clinging as we approached, and swam to join them.
I looked at the first group, fully expecting to see them hold out their
hands to help their comrades; but in place thereof, I saw one wretch,
who occupied the best position on the floating mass of wreck, raise a
heavy piece of bamboo with both hands, and bring it down with a crash
upon the head of the first man who swam up.
"Yah, you cowardly beggar!" roared one of the boat's crew. "I've marked
you."
"Nice wild-beasts to save, Mr Herrick," said the warrant officer. "I
feel as if I should like to open fire on them with my revolver."
"It's too horrible," I panted. "Look, look, Mr Grey!"
"I'm looking, my lad," said my companion. "Give way, my boys; let's
stop it somehow."
For there was a desperate fight going on at the piece of wreck; three
men, knife in hand, were trying to get upon the floating wood, and those
upon it stabbing at them to keep them off.
But, in their despair, the swimmers made a dash together, regardless of
the blows, climbed on, and a terrible struggle began.
"Starn all!" roared Mr Grey; and the boat's progress was checked. We
were backed away just in time, for the pirates were all now on one side
of the piece of wreck, thinking of nothing but destroying each other's
lives, and heaped together in what looked like a knot, when the side
they were on slowly sank, the far portion rose up and completely turned
over upon them, forcing them beneath the water, which eddied and boiled
as the struggle still went on below the surface.
"Give way, my lads," said the officer sternly; "let's try and save some
of the others."
"Ay, ay," cried the man who had shouted before. "These here arn't worth
saving."
The boat swept round in a curve, and we pulled off for another group,
kneeling and crouching upon what seemed to be a yard and a mass of
matting-sail.
Mr Grey stood up.
"Now, my lads," he shouted, "surrender."
For answer they bared their knives and defied us to come on, yelling and
striking at us with them.
Mr Grey looked round at me half-laughingly.
"Cheerful sort of prisoners to make. If we go close in, some of us will
get knifed."
"You can't go close," I said.
"If I don't they'll drown," he cried; "and the captain will ask me what
I've been about."
"Hadn't you better let the jollies put 'em out of their misery, Mr
Grey, sir?" cried one of the men. "They arn't fit to live."
"No," cried another fiercely. "They arn't men; they're tigers."
"Silence!" said the officer sternly. "There is a man yonder about to
sink; give way," he cried.
This man had left a barrel, to which he had vainly tried to cling, but
it kept on turning round; and at last, in his despair, he had left it to
try and swim to the nearest rocks.
His strength was failing, though, and he began to paddle like a dog, too
much frightened to try and swim.
A few strokes of the oar took us within reach, and this time the
coxswain succeeded in hooking his loose cotton jacket, and drawing him
to the side.
Hands seized him directly, and he was hauled in to lie down trembling,
and looking wildly from one to the other.
"Come; he's a quiet one," said the coxswain. "Mind, sir!"
"Mind! look out!" roared the boatswain.
But he was too late. One moment the Chinaman crouched, limp and
helpless, in the bottom of the boat forward, with his hands hidden in
his wet sleeves, the next he had made a frog-like leap at the coxswain,
driven a sharp knife in the muscles of his back, and leaped overboard.
Not into safety, though; for one of the men stood ready, and, as the
wretch rose, brought down the blade of his oar with a tremendous chop
across the head, and the pirate went down to rise no more.
I heard the boatswain utter a low fierce growl as he crept forward, and
I followed to try and help, for the injured man had sunk upon his knees,
with the boat-hook across the bows, and began to wipe the perspiration
from his forehead.
"Much hurt, my lad?" cried Mr Grey.
"Tidy, sir, tidy; makes one feel a bit sicky-like. Any one like to have
the next turn with the boat-hook? I'm going to miche a bit.--Do it
bleed?"
All thought of saving the pirates was given up till the wound, which
bled sharply, was carefully bandaged, and the man laid down in the
bottom of the boat. Then the crew looked at their officer.
"Hadn't we better polish 'em off, sir?" growled one of the men.
"The captain's orders were to pick up all the drowning men we could,"
said the boatswain sternly.
"But they won't be picked up, sir."
"Give way."
The men rowed to another floating group of four, and I stood up and
called to them to surrender.
For answer they sprang into the water, and began to swim to some of
their comrades on the next piece of wreck.
"This is a puzzling job, Mr Herrick," said the boatswain. "I'm not a
brute; I'd jump overboard to save any of the wretches, but it would be
like giving my life, or the lives of any of the crew, to set them the
job. Those wretches will begin upon their mates, you'll see."
He was quite right, for the possessors of the next floating piece of
wreck yelled to their comrades to keep off, and, as they still swam on,
a fresh fight began of the most bloodthirsty nature, and one of our men
said drily--
"Take it coolly, sir. If we lay on our oars a bit, there won't be none
to fish up."
The feeling of horror and pity for the drowning men began to wear off,
and I was glad when Mr Grey suddenly ordered the men to row hard, and I
saw him steer shoreward to cut off a little party of four, who, with a
thick bamboo yard between them, were swimming for the rocks.
"They must be saved as prisoners or not at all," he said sternly; "not a
man of them must land."
As soon as this last party saw us coming, we noticed that they drew
their knives to keep us off, but energetic measures were taken this
time. We got between them and the shore; and then a rope was made
ready, one of the men stood up and dexterously threw it right over a
pirate's head, snatched it tightly to him, dragged him from his hold,
and he was at last drawn to the side half-drowned, hauled aboard, and
his hands and feet tied.
This successful plan was followed out with the others, with the result
that we had four prisoners lying safely in the bottom, and then turned
to capture some more in the same way.
But we had been so excited and taken up by this work that we had not
seen what was going on seaward, where a gun was fired for our recall.
"Where's the next of them?" said Mr Grey.
I did not answer, as I stood up looking round to see a few fragments of
wreck floating here and there, but there was not another pirate left to
save.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
REPAIRING DAMAGES.
For some moments I could not believe it true, and I stood on the thwart
and gazed carefully round, scanning every fragment of the wreck in the
expectation of seeing some trick to deceive us--men lying flat with only
their faces above the surface of the water, and holding on by sweep or
bamboo with one hand. But in a very short time we were all certain that
not a living being was near; of the dead there were several, as we found
on rowing here and there. One, as he was turned over, seemed to be
perfectly uninjured, but the others displayed ghastly wounds in face,
neck, and breast, showing how horribly fierce had been the encounter in
which they had been engaged.
Satisfied at last that our task was at an end, the word was given, and
the men began to row back to the _Teaser_, which still lay so
transformed in appearance, as seen from a distance, that I was thinking
that it was no wonder that the pirates had been deceived, when one of
the men, forgetful of all the horrors through which we had passed, of
his wounded comrade, and the dangerous prisoners under his feet, burst
out into a merry fit of laughter.
"Say, lads," he cried, "we shall have a nice job to-morrow, to wash the
old girl's face."
The rest of the crew laughed in chorus, till the boatswain sternly bade
them give way.
"I doubt it," he said in a low voice to me. "I should say that the
captain will do a little more to make her less ship-shape, ready for the
next lot."
"But you don't think there are any more pirates, do you?"
"More!" he said, looking at me in surprise. "Why, my lad, the coast
swarms with them. We never hear a hundredth part of the attacks they
make. It is not only European vessels they seize, but anything that
comes in their way. It strikes me, Mr Herrick, that we have only just
begun what may turn out a very successful cruise."
Ten minutes later we were nearing the _Teaser_, and I saw the reason why
we could not see either of the other boats. They were swinging to the
davits, and we were therefore the last.
Just then Mr Reardon hailed us.
"How many men hurt?" he shouted between his hands.
"Only one, sir; Barr--coxswain."
"Badly?"
"Oh no, sir," shouted the sufferer. "Bit of a scrat on the back."
"How many prisoners?"
"Four, sir."
Then we were alongside, the boat was run up, and, after our wounded man
had been lifted out, I stepped on board, eager to know the result of the
action on the part of the other boats, and to learn this I went below,
and found Barkins alone.
"Well," I cried, "how many prisoners?"
"Round dozen," he cried.
"Any one hurt?"
"Round dozen."
"I know, twelve prisoners," I said impatiently. "I asked you how many
were hurt."
"And I told you, stupid," he replied, "a round dozen."
"What! a man wounded for every prisoner?"
"That's it; and we shouldn't have taken any, the beggars were game for
fighting to the last, if Mr Brooke hadn't given the word for them to be
knocked on the head first with the thick end of the oars."
"To stun them?"
"Yes; and our lads got so savage after seeing their mates stabbed when
trying to save the brutes' lives, that they hit as hard as they could.
They killed two of 'em, or we should have had fourteen."
"How horrid!"
"Horrid? Why, I enjoyed it," said my messmate. "When I saw poor old
Blacksmith--"
"What!" I cried excitedly, "he isn't hurt?"
"Not hurt? why, one yellow-faced savage, when poor old Smithy held out
his hand to pull him aboard, took hold of his wrist, and then reached up
and stuck his knife right through the poor old chap's arm, and left it
there."
"Poor old Smithy!" I cried huskily, and a choking sensation rose in my
throat. "I must go and see him."
"No, you mustn't. I've just been, and they sent me away."
"But where is he?"
"Doctor's got him, and been mending him up. He has gone to sleep now."
"Was he very bad?"
"Stick a stocking-needle through your arm, and then square it, cube it,
add decimal nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, and
then see how you feel."
"Poor old boy!" I said; "I am sorry."
"Well, so am I," said Barkins sourly; "but I don't keep on howling."
"Did they take the blackguard prisoner?"
"Well, they did, and hauled him aboard, but he was no good, and they
pitched him overboard again."
"Why?" I said wonderingly.
"Why! because he was dead. Bob Saunders, that red-haired chap, was in
the stern-sheets helping to catch the beggars with hitches, and as soon
as he saw the big yellow-faced wretch stick his knife into poor old
Blacksmith, he let drive at the brute with the boat-hook, twisted it in
his frock, and held him under water. He didn't mean to, but he was
savage at what he had seen, for the lads like Smithy, and he held the
beggar under water too long."
I shuddered, and thought of the man being bayoneted from our boat, and
Mr Grey's narrow escape.
"Your fellows behaved better, I s'pose?" said Barkins.
"Not a bit," I said. "We've got a man stabbed just in the same way--"
and I told him of our adventures.
"They're nice ones," said Barkins sourly. "I don't think our chaps will
want to take many prisoners next time. But I say, what a crusher for
them--all four junks, and not a man to go back and tell the tale."
"It's glorious," I cried, forgetting the horrors in our triumph.
"For you," said Barkins sourly.
"Why for me? You and poor old Smith did your part. Don't be so jolly
envious."
"Envious? Come, I like that," he cried. "If you felt as if something
red-hot was being stuck in your leg you'd feel envious too. You're the
luckiest beggar that ever was, and never get hurt or anything."
"No more do you," I said, laughing.
"Oh, don't I? What do you call that, then?" he cried, swinging his legs
round, for he was sitting with one of them under the table.
To my horror and astonishment, I saw that his leg was bandaged, and a
red stain was showing through.
"Why, Tanner, old chap," I cried, catching his hand as my eyes were
blurred; "I didn't know you were hurt."
He looked quite pleased at my weakness, and the emotion I showed.
"Oh, it ain't much," he said, smiling and holding on to my hand very
tightly; "but it pringles and sticks a bit, I mean stingles--no, I
don't! My tongue's getting all in a knot, it tingles and pricks a bit.
I say, Gnat, old chap, you don't think those chaps carry poisoned
knives, do you?"
"What, like the Malays? Oh no."
"I'm glad of that, because it made me feel a bit funky. I thought this
stinging might mean the poison spreading."
"Oh no, don't think that," I cried; "and some one told me a Malay prince
said it was all nonsense about the knives being poisoned."
"He did?"
"Yes; he laughed, and said there was no need to poison them, they were
quite sharp enough to kill a man without."
"That depends on where you put it in," said Barkins grimly.
"Yes," I said; "but what did the doctor say?"
"What about?"
"Your leg."
"He hasn't seen it yet."
"Why, Tanner," I cried, "you haven't had it properly bandaged."
"No; I felt so sick when I got on board, that I sneaked off here to lie
down a bit. Besides, he had poor old Blacksmith to see to, and the
other chaps."
"But didn't he see the bandage when you went there?"
"No; there was no bandage then. It's only a bit of a scratch; I tied it
up myself."
"How was it?"
"I don't hardly know. It was done in a scuffle somehow, when we had got
the first prisoner in hand. He began laying about him with a knife, and
gave it to two of our lads badly, and just caught me in the leg. It was
so little that I didn't like to make a fuss about it. Here, stop, don't
leave a chap. I want to talk to you."
"Back directly," I cried, and I hurried on deck so quickly that I nearly
blundered up against Mr Reardon.
"Manners, midshipman!" he said sharply. "Stop, sir. Where are you
going?"
"Doctor, sir."
"What, are you hurt, my lad?" he cried anxiously.
"No, sir, but poor Barkins is."
"Bless my soul, how unfortunate! Mr Smith down too! Where is he?"
I told him, and he hurried with me to the doctor, who was putting on his
coat, after finishing the last dressing of the injured men.
"Here, doctor," cried Mr Reardon sharply, "I've another man down--boy,
I mean."
"What, young Smith? I've dressed his wound."
"No, no; Barkins has been touched too."
"Tut, tut!" cried the doctor, taking up a roll of bandage. "Are they
bringing him?"
"No, sir; he's sitting by his berth. He tied up the wound himself."
Without another word the doctor started off, and we followed to where
Barkins sat by the table with his back leaning against the side of his
berth, and as soon as he caught sight of us he darted a reproachful look
at me.
"Oh, I say, Gnat," he whispered, "this is too bad." For the doctor had
raised the leg, and, after taking off the handkerchief, roughly tied
round just above the knee, made no scruple about slitting up the lad's
trousers with an ugly-looking knife, having a hooky kind of blade.
"Bad?" said Mr Reardon anxiously.
"Oh dear, no," replied the doctor. "Nice clean cut. Sponge and water,
youngster. Ha, yes," he continued, as he applied the cool, soft sponge
to the bleeding wound, "avoided all the vessels nicely."
"Gnat, old chap," whispered Barkins, as I half supported him, "pinch me,
there's a good fellow."
"What for?" I whispered back.
"Feel sicky and queer. Don't let me faint before him."
"Here, hallo! Barkins, don't turn like a great girl over a scratch--
lower his head down, boy. That's the way. He'll soon come round. Ever
see a wound dressed before?"
"No, sir," I said, repressing a shudder.
"Don't tease the boys, doctor," said Mr Reardon sharply; "get the wound
dressed."
"Well, I am dressing it, arn't I?" said the doctor cheerily, and as if
he enjoyed his task. "I must draw the edges together first."
He had taken what seemed to be a pocket-book from his breast and laid it
open, and as I looked on, feeling sick myself, I saw him really put in
three or four stitches, and then strap up and bandage the wound, just as
Barkins came to and looked about wonderingly.
"I didn't faint, did I?" he said anxiously.
The doctor laughed.
"There, lie down in your berth," he said. "Let me help you."
He assisted my messmate gently enough, and then said laughingly--
"One can dress your wound without having three men to hold you. I say,
Reardon, isn't it waste of good surgical skill for me to be dressing the
prisoners' wounds, if you folk are going to hang them?"
"I don't know that we are going to hang them," said the lieutenant
quietly. "Perhaps we shall deliver them over to the Chinese authorities
at Wanghai."
"What? My dear fellow, go and beg the captain to hang 'em at once out
of their misery. It will be a kindness. Do you know what a Chinese
prison is?"
"No."
"Then I do. It would be a mercy to kill them."
"The Chinese authorities may wish to make an example of them so as to
repress piracy."
"Let 'em make an example of some one else. Eh? Bandage too tight, my
lad?"
"No, sir," said Barkins rather faintly. "The wound hurts a good deal."
"Good sign; 'tis its nature to," said the doctor jocosely.
"But--er--you don't think, sir--"
"`That you may die after it,' as we used to say over cut fingers at
school. Bah! it's a nice clean honest cut, made with a sharp knife.
Heal up like anything with your healthy young flesh."
"But don't these savage people sometimes poison their blades, sir?"
"Don't people who are wounded for the first time get all kinds of
cock-and-bull notions into their heads, sir? There, go to sleep and
forget all about it. Healthy smarting is what you feel. Why, you'll be
able to limp about the deck with a stick to-morrow."
"Do you mean it, sir?"
"Of course."
Barkins gave him a grateful look, and Mr Reardon shook hands, nodded,
and left us to ourselves for a moment, then the doctor thrust in his
head again.
"Here, lads," he said, "Smith's all right, I've made a capital job of
his arm. Your turn next, Herrick. Good-bye."
This time we were left alone.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
A WILD-BEASTS' CAGE.
All doubts as to our next destination were set at rest the next morning,
for it was generally known that we were making for Tsin-Tsin, at the
mouth of the Great Fo river, where the prisoners were to be delivered
over to the Chinese authorities.
I had been pretty busy all the morning with Barkins and Smith, going
from one to the other, to sit with them and give them what news I could,
both looking rather glum when I went away, for they were feverish and
fretful from their wounds. But I promised to return soon with news of
the men, who were all together in a cool, well-ventilated part of the
'tween-decks, seeming restful and patient, the doctor having been round,
and, in his short, decisive way, given them a few words of
encouragement.
I saw their faces light up as I went down between the two rows in which
they were laid, and stopped for a chat with those I knew best, about the
way in which they had received their wounds, the coxswain of our boat
being the most talkative.
"They all got it 'bout the same way, sir," he said. "It all comes of
trying to do the beggars a good turn. Who'd ever have thought it, eh,
sir? Trying to save a fellow from drownding, and knives yer!"
They were all very eager to know what was to become of the prisoners,
and upon my telling the poor fellows what I knew, I heard them giving
their opinions to one another in a lying-down debate.
"Seems a pity," said one of the men. "Takes all that there trouble, we
does; captivates 'em; and then, 'stead o' having the right to hang 'em
all decently at the yard-arm, we has to give 'em up to the teapots."
"How are you going to hang 'em decently?" said another voice.
"Reg'lar way, o' course, matey."
"Yah, who's going to do it? British sailors don't want turning into
Jack Ketches."
"'Course not," said a third. "Shooting or cutting a fellow down in fair
fight's one thing; taking prisoners and hanging on 'em arterwards, quite
another pair o' shoes. I says as the skipper's right."
"Hear, hear!" rose in chorus, and it seemed to be pretty generally
agreed that we should be very glad to get rid of the savage brutes.
I was on my way back to where Smith lay, when I encountered the doctor,
who gave me a friendly nod.
"At your service, Mr Herrick," he said, "when you want me; and, by the
way, my lad, your messmate Barkins has got that idea in his head still,
about the poisoned blade. Try and laugh him out of it. Thoughts like
that hinder progress, and it is all nonsense. His is a good, clean,
healthy wound."
He passed on, looking very business-like, and his dresser followed,
while I went on to see Smith.
"Good, clean, healthy wound!" I said to myself; "I believe he takes
delight in such things."
I turned back to look after him, but he was gone.
"Why, he has been to attend to the prisoners," I thought, and this set
me thinking about them. To think about them was to begin wishing to
have a look at them, and to begin wishing was with me to walk forward to
where they were confined, with a couple of marines on duty with loaded
rifles and fixed bayonets.
The men challenged as I marched up.
"It's all right," I said. "I only want to have a look at them."
"Can't pass, sir, without orders," said the man.
"But I'm an officer," I said testily. "I'm not going to help them
escape."
The marine grinned.
"No, sir, 'tain't likely; but we has strict orders. You ask my mate,
sir."
"Yes, sir; that's it, sir," said the other respectfully.
"What a bother!" I cried impatiently. "I only wanted to see how they
looked."
"'Tain't my fault, sir; strict orders. And they ain't very pretty to
look at, sir, and it'd be 'most as safe to go in and see a box o'
wild-beasts. Doctor's been in this last hour doin' on 'em up, with
depitty, and two on us inside at the `present' all the time. They'd
think nothing o' flying at him, and all the time he was taking as much
pains with them as if they were some of our chaps. They have give it to
one another awful."
"Well, I am sorry," I said. "I should have liked to see them."
"So'm I sorry, sir; I'd have let you in a minute, but you don't want to
get me in a row, sir."
"Oh no, of course not," I said.
"My mate here says, sir--"
"Get out! Hold your row," growled the other, protesting.
"Yes, what does he say?" I cried eagerly.
"That if we was to shut 'em up close in the dark and not go anigh, sir,
till to-morrow morning, there wouldn't be nothing left but one o' their
tails."
"Like the Kilkenny cats, eh?" I said, laughing; and I went back on deck
with the desire to see the prisoners stronger than ever.
Captain Thwaites was on the quarter-deck, marching up and down, and the
men were hard at work cleaning up, squaring the yards, and repainting.
The spars were up in their places again, and the _Teaser_ was rapidly
resuming her old aspect, when I saw Mr Reardon go up to the captain.
"I'll ask leave," I said. "He has been pretty civil;" and I made up my
mind to wait till the lieutenant came away.
"No, I won't," I said. "I'll go and ask the captain when he has gone."
The next moment I felt that this would not do, for Mr Reardon would be
sure to know, and feel vexed because I had not asked him.
"I'll go and ask leave while they are both together," I said to myself.
"That's the way."
But I knew it wasn't, and took a turn up and down till I saw Mr Reardon
salute and come away, looking very intent and busy.
I waited till he was pretty close, and then started to intercept him.
His keen eye was on me in an instant.
"Bless my soul, Mr Herrick!" he cried, "what are you doing? Surely
your duty does not bring you here?"
"No, sir," I said, saluting. "I beg your pardon, sir; I've been going
backward and forward to Mr Barkins and Mr Smith."
"Ho! Pair of young noodles; what did they want in the boats? Getting
hurt like that. Well?"
"Beg pardon, sir; would you mind giving me permission to see the
prisoners?"
"What! why?"
"I wanted to see them, sir, and go back and tell my messmates about how
they looked."
"Humbug!" he cried. "Look here, sir, do you think I have nothing else
to do but act as a wild-beast showman, to gratify your impertinent
curiosity? Let the miserable wretches be."
"Yes, sir."
"And be off to your cabin and study your navigation, sir. Your
ignorance of the simplest matters is fearful. At your age you ought to
be as well able to use a sextant as I am."
"Beg pardon, sir, I am trying."
"Then be off and try more, and let me see some results."
I touched my cap, drew back, and the lieutenant marched on.
"Jolly old bear!" I muttered, looking exceedingly crestfallen.
"Herrick!" came sharply, and I ran up, for he was walking on, and I had
to keep up with him.
"Yes, sir."
"You behaved very well yesterday. I'm horribly busy. Here, this way."
"Thank you, sir," I said, wondering what he was going to set me to do,
and thinking that he might have given me the permission I asked.
"Now then, quick," he said; and, to my surprise, he led the way to the
hatchway, went down, and then forward to where the two marines were on
duty, ready to present arms to the officer who always seemed of far more
importance in the ship than the captain.
"Let Mr Herrick pass in, marines," he said. "Keep a sharp eye on your
prisoners."
I gave him a look of thanks, and then felt disappointed again.
"Stop," he said; "fetch up two more men and a lantern, Herrick."
I gladly obeyed; and then the door was opened. After a look in through
the grating, and followed closely by three of the marines with their
rifles ready, we walked in to where the prisoners were squatted upon
their heels all round close up against the bulkheads, bandaged terribly
about the faces and necks, and with their fierce eyes glowering at us.
I had expected to find them lying about like wounded men, but, bad as
several were, they all occupied this sitting position, and glared at us
in a way that told us very plainly how unsafe it would be to trust our
lives in their keeping even for a minute.
"Beg pardon, sir," whispered the corporal of marines, who was carrying a
lantern; "better be on the look-out."
"Oh yes," said Mr Reardon. "We shall not stay. I only wanted a look
round. Look sharp, Mr Herrick, and see what you want of them."
"Doctor was dressing that farthest chap's head, sir," whispered the
corporal to me; "and as soon as he was about done, the fellow watched
his chance and fixed his teeth in the dresser's arm, and wouldn't let go
till--"
"Well? Till what?" said Mr Reardon, gazing fixedly at the brutal
countenance of one of the men right before us.
"We had to persuade him to let go."
"Humph!" ejaculated the lieutenant. "Wild-beast."
"How did you persuade him?" I whispered.
"With the butt-end of a rifle, sir; and then we had to wrench his teeth
open with bayonets."
I looked round from face to face, all ghastly from their wounds, to see
in every one a fierce pair of eyes glaring at me with undying hatred,
and I was wondering how it was that people could think of the Chinese as
being a calm, bland, good-humoured Eastern race, when Mr Reardon said
to me--
"Nearly ready, Herrick? The sight of these men completely takes away
all compunction as to the way we treat them."
"Yes, sir; and it makes one feel glad that they are not armed."
"Ready to come away?"
"Yes, sir," I said; "quite."
"Come along, then."
He took a step towards the door, when the corporal said, "Beg pardon,
sir; better back out."
"Eh? oh, nonsense!" said the lieutenant, without changing his position,
while I, though I began to feel impressed with the glaring eyes, and to
feel that the sooner we were out of the place the pleasanter it would
be, thought that it would be rather undignified on the part of officers
to show the wretches that we were afraid of them.
Just then Mr Reardon glanced sidewise to where one of the men on our
left crouched near the door, and said quickly--
"The surgeon saw all these men this morning?"
"Yes, sir," said the corporal, "not half an hour ago."
"He must be fetched to that man. The poor wretch is ready to faint."
"Yes, sir; he shall be fetched."
Mr Reardon bent down to look at the prisoner more closely.
"Hold the lantern nearer," he said.
The corporal lowered the light, which shone on the pirate's glassy eyes,
and there was a fixed look in his savage features which was very
horrible.
"Get some water for him," said Mr Reardon.
But hardly had the words left his lips when I was conscious of a rushing
sound behind me. I was dashed sidewise, and one of the prisoners, who
had made a tremendous spring, alighted on the lieutenant's back, driving
him forward as I heard the sound of a blow; the corporal was driven
sidewise too, and the lantern fell from his hand. Then came a terrible
shriek, and a scuffling, struggling sound, a part of which I helped to
make, for I had been driven against one of the prisoners, who seized me,
and as I wrestled with him I felt his hot breath upon my face, and his
hands scuffling about to get a tight grip of my throat.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
THE SEQUEL.
If ever I was active it was at that moment. I struck out with my
clenched fists, throwing all the power I possessed into my blows, and
fortunately for me--a mere boy in the grasp of a heavily-built man--he
was comparatively, powerless from loss of blood consequent upon his
wounds, so that I was able to wrest myself free, and stand erect.
At that moment the corporal recovered the lantern, and held it up,
showing that fully half the prisoners had left the spots where they were
crouching the minute before, and were making an effort to join in the
fray initiated by one of the savages of whom we had been warned.
It is all very horrible to write of, but I am telling a simple story in
this log of what takes place in warfare, when men of our army and navy
contend with the uncivilised enemies of other lands. In this case we
were encountering a gang of bloodthirsty wretches, whose whole career
had been one of rapine and destruction. The desire seemed to be innate
to kill, and this man, a prisoner, who since he had been taken had
received nothing but kindness and attention, had been patiently watching
for the opportunity which came at last. Just as Mr Reardon was
stooping to attend to his fellow-prisoner, he had made a tremendous
cat-like bound, driving me sidewise as he alighted on Mr Reardon's
back, making at the same time a would-be deadly stroke with a small
knife he had managed to keep hidden in the folds of his cotton jacket.
As I rose up I could see the knife sticking in the lieutenant's
shoulder, apparently driven sidewise into his neck, while he was
standing with his eyes dilated, looking in horror at his assailant, who
now lay back, quivering in the agonies of death, literally pinned down
to the deck.
My brain swam, and for a few moments everything looked misty, but that
horrid sight forced itself upon me, and I felt as if I must stare hard
at the pirate, where he lay bayoneted and held down at the end of the
rifle by the strong arms of the marine sentry, who was pressing with all
his might upon the stock.
The struggling went on for a few moments, then grew less and less
violent, while a low hissing sound came from the prisoners around. Then
the quivering entirely ceased, and the marine gave his bayonet a twist,
and dragged it out of the wretch's chest, throwing himself back into
position to strike again, should it be necessary. But the last breath
had passed the pirate's lips; and, while the sentry drew back to his
place by one side of the door and stood ready, his comrade fell back to
the other, and the corporal and the fourth man seized the pirate, and
rapidly drew him forth through the doorway; we followed, the place was
closed and fastened, and I stood panting, as if I had been running hard,
and could not recover my breath.
The next moment I was clinging to Mr Reardon, trying to hold him up,
but he misinterpreted my action, and seized and gave me a rough shake.
"Don't, boy," he cried in an angry, excited tone. "Stand up; be a man."
"Yes, yes," I gasped; "but quick, corporal! never mind--that wretch--
run--the doctor--fetch Mr Price."
"Bah!" cried Mr Reardon roughly, and trying to hide his own agitation,
"the man's dead."
I stared at him in horror.
"He don't know!" I gasped. "Mr Reardon--sit--lie--lay him down, my
lads. Don't you know you are badly hurt?"
"I! hurt?" he cried. "No; I felt him hit me, but it was nothing."
I reached up my trembling hand, but he caught it as it touched his
shoulder, and was in the act of snatching it away, when his own came in
contact with the handle of the knife.
"Great heavens!" he ejaculated, as he drew it forth from where it was
sticking through the stiff collar of his coat; "right through from side
to side--what a narrow escape!"
"I--I thought he had killed you," I cried faintly, and a deathly
sensation made me feel for the moment as if I must fall.
"No, not a scratch," he said firmly now. "A little memento," he
muttered, as he took out his handkerchief and wrapped it round the blade
before thrusting the knife in his breast-pocket. "I must keep that for
my private museum, Herrick. Here, my lads, throw something over that
wretch. Sentry, I'll talk to you later on. You saved my life."
"Officer's orders, sir," said the man, looking uncomfortable and stiff
as he drew himself up.
"What, to save my life?" said Mr Reardon, smiling, and trying to look
as if everything had been part of the ordinary business of life.
"No, sir; to keep my eye on the Chinees. I had mine on that chap, for
he looked ugly at you, and I see him pull himself together, shuffle in
his blue jacket, and then make a jump at you, just like a cat at a rat."
"What?"
"Beg pardon, sir," said the man awkwardly; "I don't mean to say as you
looked like a rat."
"I hope not, my lad."
"I meant him jumping like a cat."
"Yes; and you saw him springing at me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, what then?"
"Only bayonet practice, sir--point from guard, and he came right on it."
"Yes?"
"Then I held him down, sir."
I saw Mr Reardon shudder slightly.
"That will do, sentry," he said shortly. "I will see you another time.
Come, Mr Herrick."
I followed him on deck, and saw him take off his cap and wipe his
forehead, but he turned consciously to see if I was looking.
"Rather warm below," he said drily. "I'd better have kept to my first
answer to you, my lad. You see it's dangerous to go into a wild-beasts'
cage."
"Yes, sir, I'm very sorry," I said; then, anxiously, "But you are sure
you are not hurt, sir?"
"Tut, tut! I told you no, boy. There, there, I don't mean that. Not
even scratched, Mr Herrick. You can go to your messmates now with an
adventure to tell them," he added, smiling; "only don't dress it up into
a highly-coloured story, about how your superior officer relaxed the
strict rules of dishipline; do you hear?"
"Yes, sir, I hear," I said, and I left him going to join the captain,
while I went down and told Barkins what had been going on, but I had not
been talking to him five minutes before I heard a heavy splash as if
something had been thrown over the side.
"What's that?" said Barkins, turning pale.
I did not answer.
"Sounds like burying some one," he whispered. "Don't say poor old
Blacksmith has gone?"
"No no," I said. "I know what it is. Wait till I've told you all I
have to tell, and then you'll know too."
He looked at me wonderingly, and I completed my account of the scene in
the black-hole place.
"Oh, I see," he cried; "it was the Chinaman?"
I nodded carelessly, but I felt more serious than ever before in my
life, at this horrible sequel to a fearful scene.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
A DISAPPOINTMENT.
"Very jolly for you," said Barkins, as we cast anchor off Tsin-Tsin a
couple of mornings later. "You'll be going ashore and enjoying
yourself, while I'm condemned to hobble on deck with a stick."
"I say, don't grumble," I cried. "Look how beautiful the place seems in
the sunshine."
"Oh yes, it looks right enough; but wait till you go along the narrow
streets, and get some of the smells."
"Hear that, Smithy?" I said to our comrade, who was lying in his berth.
"Grumbles because he can't go ashore, and then begins making out how
bad it is. How about the fox and the grapes?"
"If you call me fox, my lad, I'll give you sour grapes when I get
better. Where's your glass?"
I took down my telescope, adjusted it for him, and pushed his seat
nearer to the open window, so that he could examine the bright-looking
city, with the blue plum-bloom tinted mountains behind covered with
dense forest, and at the shipping of all nations lying at the mouth of
the river.
"S'pose that tower's made of crockery, isn't it?" said Barkins, whose
eye was at the end of the telescope.
I looked at the beautiful object, with its pagoda-like terraces and
hanging bells, and then at the various temples nestling high up on the
sides of the hills beyond.
"I say," said Smith, "can't you tell Mr Reardon--no, get the doctor to
tell him--that I ought to be taken ashore for a bit to do me good?"
"I'll ask him to let you go," I said; but Smith shook his head, and then
screwed up his white face with a horrible look of disgust.
"Oh, what a shame!" he cried. "He gets all the luck;" for a message
came for me to be ready directly to go ashore with the captain in the
longboat.
It meant best uniform, for the weather was fine, and I knew that he
would be going to pay a visit to some grand mandarin.
I was quite right; for, when I reached the deck a few minutes later,
there was Mr Brooke with the boat's crew, all picked men, and a strong
guard of marines in full plumage for his escort.
The captain came out of his cabin soon after, with cocked hat and gold
lace glistening, and away we went for the shore soon after; the last
things I saw on the _Teaser_ being the two disconsolate faces of my
messmates at the cabin window, and Ching perched up on the hammock-rail
watching our departure.
I anticipated plenty of excitement that day, but was doomed to
disappointment. I thought I should go with the escort to the mandarin's
palace, but Mr Brooke was considered to be more attractive, I suppose,
and I had the mortification of seeing the captain and his escort of
marines and Jacks land, while I had to stay with the boat-keepers to
broil in the sunshine and make the best of it, watching the busy traffic
on the great river.
Distance lends enchantment to the view of a Chinese city undoubtedly,
and before long we were quite satiated with the narrow limits of our
close-in view, as well as with the near presence of the crowd of
rough-looking fellows who hung about and stared, as I thought, rather
contemptuously at the junior officer in Her Majesty's service, who was
feeling the thwarts of the boat and the hilt of his dirk most
uncomfortably hot.
"Like me to go ashore, sir, to that Chinesy sweetstuff shop, to get you
one o' their sweet cool drinks, sir?" said one of the men, after we had
sat there roasting for some time.
"No, thank you, Tom Jecks," I said, in as sarcastic a tone as I could
assume. "Mr Barkins says you are such a forgetful fellow, and you
mightn't come back before the captain."
There was a low chuckling laugh at this, and then came a loud rap.
"What's that?" I said sharply.
"This here, sir," said another of the men. "Some 'un's been kind enough
to send it. Shall I give it him back?"
"No, no!" I cried, looking uneasily shoreward; and at that moment a
stone, as large as the one previously sent, struck me a sharp blow on
the leg.
"They're a-making cockshies of us, sir," said Tom Jecks; "better let two
of us go ashore and chivvy 'em off."
"Sit still, man, and--"
_Whop_!
"Oh, scissors!" cried a sailor; "who's to sit still, sir, when he gets a
squad on the back like that? Why, I shall have a bruise as big as a
hen's egg."
"Oars! push off!" I said shortly, as half-a-dozen stones came rattling
into the boat; and as we began to move away from the wharf quite a burst
of triumphant yells accompanied a shower of stones and refuse.
"That's their way o' showing how werry much obliged they are to us for
sinking the pirates," growled Tom Jecks. "Oh, don't I wish we had
orders to bombard this blessed town! Go it! That didn't hit you, did
it, sir?"
"No, it only brushed my cap," I said, as the stones began to come more
thickly, and the shouting told of the keen delight the mob enjoyed in
making the English retreat. "Pull away, my lads, and throw the grapnel
over as soon as we are out of reach."
"But we don't want to pull away, sir. They thinks we're fear'd on 'em.
There's about a hundred on 'em--dirty yaller-faced beggars, and there's
four o' us, without counting you. Just you give the word, sir, and
we'll row back in spite o' their stones, and make the whole gang on 'em
run. Eh, mates?"
"Ay, ay!" said the others, lying on their oars.
"Pull!" I cried sharply, and they began rowing again; for though I
should have liked to give the word, I knew that it would not only have
been madness, but disobedience of orders. My duty was to take care of
the boat, and this I was doing by having it rowed out beyond
stone-throwing reach, with the Union Jack waving astern; and as soon as
the stones fell short, and only splashed the water yards away, I had the
grapnel dropped overboard, and we swung to it, waiting for the captain's
return.
The men sat chewing their tobacco, lolling in the sun, and I lay back
watching the crowd at the edge of the water, wondering how long the
captain and his escort would be, and whether the prisoners would be
given up.
"Hope none o' them pigtailed varmint won't shy mud at the skipper," said
one of the men, yawning.
"I hope they will," said Tom Jecks.
"Why, mate?"
"'Cause he'll order the jollies to fix bayonets and feel some o' their
backs with the p'ints."
The conversation interested me, and I forgot my dignity as an officer,
and joined in.
"Bayonets make bad wounds, Jecks," I said.
"Yes, sir, they do; nasty three-side wounds, as is bad to get healed up
again. They aren't half such a nice honest weapon as a cutlash. But I
should like to see them beggars get a prod or two."
"It might mean trouble, Jecks, and a big rising of the people against
the English merchants and residents."
"Well, sir, that would be unpleasant for the time, but look at the good
it would do! The British consul would send off to the _Teaser_, the
skipper would land a lot on us--Jacks and jollies; we should give these
warmint a good sharp dressing-down; and they'd know as we wouldn't stand
any of their nonsense, and leave off chucking stones and mud at us.
Now, what had we done that we couldn't be 'lowed to lie alongside o' the
wharf yonder? We didn't say nothing to them. Fact is, sir, they hates
the British, and thinks they're a sooperior kind o' people altogether.
Do you hear, mates?--sooperior kind o' people; and there ain't one as
could use a knife and fork like a Chrishtian."
"And goes birds'-nestin' when they wants soup," said another.
"Well, I don't fall foul o' that, matey," said Jecks; "'cause where
there's nests there's eggs, and a good noo-laid egg ain't bad meat.
It's the nastiness o' their natur' that comes in there, and makes 'em
eat the nest as well. What I do holler at, is their cooking dog."
"And cat," said another.
"And rat," cried the third.
"Yes, all on 'em," said Jecks; "and I don't want to use strong language
afore one's orficer, who's a young gent as is allers thoughtful about
his men, and who's beginning to think now, that with the sun so precious
hot he'll be obliged to order us ashore soon for a drop o' suthin' to
drink."
I laughed, and Tom Jecks chuckled.
"But what I do say about their eatin' and cookin' is this, and I stands
by what I says, it's beastly, that's what it is--it's beastly!"
"Ay, ay," was chorussed, "so it is;" and then there was silence, while
we all sat uneasily in the broiling sun.
"Wish I was a gal," growled one of the men at last.
"Ain't good-looking enough, matey," said Jecks. "Why?"
"'Cause then I s'ould have a sunshade to put up."
"Ay, 'tis warm--brylin', as you may say. Any on you know whether the
Chinese is cannibals? You know, sir?"
"I have heard that they cook very strange things now and then," I said,
laughing.
"Then they is," said Jecks; "and that being so, they'll have a fine
chance to-day. Hadn't you better send word to some on 'em to lay the
cloth, sir?"
"What for?"
"'Cause I'm nearly done, sir; and Billy Wakes looks quite. Billy ought
to eat nice and joocy, messmates."
"And old Tom Jecks tough as leather," cried Wakes.
"That's so, matey," growled Jecks, who began to pass his tongue over his
lips, and to make a smacking sound with his mouth.
"My hye, matey, you do seem hungry," said one of the others. "Look out,
Billy, or he won't leave John Chinaman a taste."
"Get out!" growled Jecks; "that don't mean hungry, messmate--that means
dry. Beg pardon, sir, we won't none on us try to slope off; but a good
drink o' suthin', if it was on'y water, would be a blessin' in disguise
just now."
"Yes, Jecks, I'm thirsty too," I said.
"Then why not let us pull ashore, sir, and get a drink at one o' them
Chinee imitation grog-shops yonder?"
"Because it would be a breach of discipline, my man," I said, trying to
speak very sternly. "I should look nice if the captain came back and
found me with the boat and no men."
"Hark at that now!" cried Jecks. "Just as if we'd be the chaps to get a
good-natured kind young orficer into a scrape. Look here, sir, put
Billy Wakes ashore to go and fetch some drink. My hye, what we would
give for half-a-gallon o' real good cool solid old English beer."
"Ha!" came in a deep sigh, and I could not help feeling that a glass
just then would be very nice.
"Will you give the order, sir?" said Jecks insinuatingly. "Billy Wakes
is a werry trustworthy sort of chap."
"Yes," I said; "but he'd forget to come back, and then I should have to
send you to find him, and then the others to find you. I know. There,
you can light your pipes if you like."
"And werry thankful for small mussies," said the old sailor, taking out
his pipe. "You won't want no matches, lads. Fill up and hold the bowls
in the sun."
They lit up, and began smoking, while I watched the long narrow street
down which the captain and his escort must come.
"Think we shall have to land the prisoners, sir?" said Jecks, after a
smoky silence.
"I suppose so," I replied. "I expect that is what the captain has gone
ashore about."
"Don't seem much good, that, sir. We takes 'em, and they'll let 'em go,
to start a fresh lot o' plundering junks."
"Thundering junks, matey?" said Billy Wakes.
"I said plundering, Billy, and meant it. Your eddication ain't what it
oughter be."
"No, Jecks," I said; "if the pirates are given up, they'll be executed
for certain."
"Who says so, sir?"
"First lieutenant," I said.
"Well, he ought to know, sir. Been on the Chinee station afore. P'raps
it's best, but I don't want 'em to be hung."
"Don't hang 'em here, Tommy," growled one of the two silent men.
"What do they do, then, old know-all?"
"Chops their heads off, I've heerd."
"Oh, well, I don't want 'em to have their heads chopped off. How should
we like it if we was took prisoners?"
"Oh, but we arn't Chinees," growled Billy Wakes.
"Nor arn't likely to be, mate; but we've got heads all the same. I know
how I should like to be executed if it was to-day."
The others looked up, and I could not help turning my head at the
strangely-expressed desire.
"I'll tell yer," said Jecks, looking hard at me. "I should like it to
be same as they did that young chap as we reads of in history. They
drowned him in a big tub o' wine."
"Grog would do for me," said Billy Wakes.
"Or beer," cried the others.
"Ask the captain to let you have some tea," I cried, "Quick, haul up the
grapnel! Here they come!"
Pipes were knocked out on the instant, the grapnel hauled up, and oars
seized; but, in spite of urging on the men, I saw to my vexation that
the captain had reached the landing-place first, and I kept him waiting
nearly five minutes in the broiling sun.
He did not say anything, only glared at me as he stepped in, followed by
his escort. The oars were dropped, and, as we began to row back to the
_Teaser_, I saw that his face was scarlet with the heat, and he looked
in a regular temper.
"I shall catch it," I thought to myself; but the very next moment my
attention was taken to the shore, where a yell of derision arose from
the crowd gathered to see the officers embark.
"Brutes!" muttered the captain; and then he sprang up in a rage, for a
shower of stones came pattering into the boat, and splashing up the
water all round.
He was so enraged by the insult, that he ordered the marines to load,
and a volley of twelve rifles was fired over the people's heads.
The result was that they all ran helter-skelter, tumbling over each
other, and by the time they returned and began throwing again we were
out of their reach, but they kept on hurling stones and refuse all the
same, and shouting "Foreign devils!" in their own tongue.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
AN INTERVIEW.
"Mr Herrick! Come to my cabin," said the captain as he stepped on
deck, and I followed him.
"You stupid fellow," whispered Mr Brooke as I passed him, "why didn't
you keep the boat by the wharf?"
I gave him a comical look, and followed the captain; but I was kept
waiting for a few moments at the door while the servant was summoned,
and when I did go in my officer was lying back in his chair, with ice on
the table, and a great glass of what seemed to be soda-water and brandy
before him, but which proved by the decanter to be sherry.
"Oh," he cried angrily, "there you are, sir! Why didn't you come at
once, sir?"
"I did, sir; but was kept waiting till you were ready."
"Well, sir, don't answer in that pert way. It sounds like insolence.
That will not do, Mr Herrick, if you wish to get on in your profession.
Now, sir, your orders were to stop by the landing-place, with the boat
in charge, ready for my return, were they not?"
"Yes, sir; but--"
"Silence, sir! How dare you interrupt me? I go up through the broiling
heat to have an interview with that wretched, stolid, obstinate
mandarin, with his confounded button and peacock-feather; and when I do
get back, perfectly exhausted by the heat, half-dead, I find no boat."
"No, sir; but--"
"Silence, sir! Will you let me speak? The consequence is that, because
you choose to disobey orders, and take the men off to indulge in some of
the disgusting drinks of this wretched country--"
"I beg pardon, sir," I cried; "I--"
"Mr Herrick! am I to place you under arrest? Be silent, sir. I say, I
return with my escort from an important diplomatic visit, arranged so as
to impress the people, and when I return, almost fainting with the heat,
there is no boat, because you have allowed the men to impose upon you;
and you are away drinking with them, I suppose?"
"No, sir; I--"
"Mr Herrick!" he roared, "I will not bear it. I say there was no boat;
and not only am I forced to submit to the indignity of waiting, and
listening to the gibes of the low-class Chinese, and to see their
scowls, but our delay there--through you, sir--results, I say results,
in the miserable wretches taking advantage thereof, and, thinking me
helpless, working themselves up to an attack. When at last you do come
crawling up with those four men, they are purple-faced from drinking,
every one threatened by apoplexy--why, your own face is crimson, sir;
and I could smell the men when I stepped on board."
"No, sir--the dirty harbour, sir," I said. "Smells horrid."
"You are under arrest, sir. Go! No; stop and hear me out first, sir.
I say that, through your delay, I am kept there on that wretched wharf;
and when I do push off, I have--I, Her Majesty's representative, in the
sight of these Chinese scoundrels--I have, I say, to suffer from the
insult and contumely of being pelted, stoned, of having filth thrown at
me. Look at my nearly new uniform coat, sir. Do you see this spot on
the sleeve? A mark that will never come out. That was a blow, sir,
made by a disgusting rotten fish's head, sir. Loathsome--loathsome!
While the insult to Her Majesty's flag called upon me to fire upon the
mob. Do you know what that means, sir?"
"Yes, sir; a good lesson. They won't be so saucy again."
"You ignorant young puppy!" he cried; "it may mean a serious
international trouble--a diplomatic breach, and all through you. There,
I was hot and bad enough before, now you have made me worse."
He stretched out his hand for the glass, but did not drink; and the
sight of the cool liquid half-maddened me, for the heat and emotion had
made my throat very dry.
"Now, sir," he cried, "I am your commanding officer, and no one on board
Her Majesty's cruiser shall ever say that I am not just. Now then,
speak out; what have you to say? How came you to let the men go away to
drink?"
"I didn't, sir," I said huskily. "They wanted to go, for they were
choking nearly, but I wouldn't let them."
"What? Don't seek refuge in a lie, boy. That's making your fault ten
times worse. Didn't I see you returning to the wharf?"
"Yes, sir," I cried indignantly; "but the men had not been to drink."
"Then how dared you disobey my orders, and go away?" he roared, furious
at being proved wrong.
"I went, sir, because it was my duty."
"What!"
"We stayed till the stone-throwing grew dangerous for us, and then I had
the boat rowed out and anchored."
"Oh!"
"But I kept watch till you came in sight, sir; and we were as quick as
we could be."
"The mob pelted you too, Mr Herrick?"
"Yes, sir," I said; "and we couldn't fire over their heads, nor yet row
right away."
He looked at me angrily, and then his countenance changed.
"Pert, Mr Herrick," he said, "but very apt. You have me there on the
hop. Dear me! I've made a great mistake, eh?"
"Yes, sir," I said hoarsely.
"And you sat out there in the broiling sun, and the miserable savages
pelted you as they did me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Tut, tut, tut! and the heat was maddening. Terribly irritating, too; I
felt excessively angry. I really--dear me, Mr Herrick, I'm afraid I
spoke very unjustly to you, and--I--ought a captain to apologise to a
midshipman?"
"I really don't know, sir," I said, feeling quite mollified by his tone.
"Well, I think I do," he said, smiling. "Decidedly not. As Mr Reardon
would say, it would be totally subversive of discipline. It couldn't be
done. But one gentleman can of course apologise to another, and I do so
most heartily. My dear Mr Herrick, I beg your pardon for being so
unjust."
"Pray don't say any more about it, sir," I cried.
"Well, no, I will not. But all the same I am very sorry--as a
gentleman--that I--as your superior officer--spoke to you as I did."
"Thank you, sir."
"And, dear me, my lad, you look terribly hot and exhausted. Let me
prescribe, as Mr Price would say."
He quickly placed a lump of ice in a tumbler, and, after pouring in a
little sherry, filled it up with soda-water.
I grasped the glass, and drank with avidity the cool, refreshing draught
to the last drop.
"Humph! you were thirsty."
"I was choking, sir," I said, with a sigh, as I placed the glass upon
the table.
"And now, Mr Herrick, perhaps it would be as well not to talk about
this little interview," he said quietly. "I rely upon you as a
gentleman."
"Of course, sir," I replied; and feeling, in spite of the severe wigging
I had had, that I never liked the captain half so well before, I backed
out and hurried to my own cabin.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
WE LOSE OUR PRISONERS.
"Here he is," cried Barkins, who was resting his leg; while Smith was
sitting by the open window so as to catch all the air he could. "Got
your promotion?"
"Got my what?" I cried.
"Promotion. I never saw such favouritism. Always being sent for to the
skipper's cabin. I wonder Reardon stands it."
"Don't talk nonsense," I cried. "Phew, isn't it hot?"
"Yes, for us. Regular prisoners, while you have all the fun--"
"Of being roasted, and then stoned by the Chinese."
"That's right," said Smith sulkily, "make as little as you can of it.
Did the skipper consult you about our next movement?"
"He gave me a good bullying for not having the boat ready when he wanted
to come on board."
"Was that why you went in the cabin?" cried Barkins.
"Of course."
"Oh then, if that's the case, we'll let you off. Eh, Blacksmith?"
"Well, I suppose so."
"Let me off what?"
"We had been discussing the matter," said Barkins, "Smithy and I, and
come to the conclusion that as you were such a swell you were too good
for us, and we were going to expel you; but, under the circumstances, I
think we'll let you off this time. Oh!"
"What's the matter?"
"My leg! There's that horrible tingling and aching again. I'm sure
that knife was poisoned."
"Hi! look here," cried Smith just then; "here are two big row-boats
coming out to us."
We both made for the window, and there, in the bright sunshine, were two
large barges, gay with gilding and showy ensigns, coming pretty swiftly
in our direction, while, as they drew nearer, we could see that their
occupants were in brilliant costumes and fully-armed, swords and spears
flashing, and gold and silver embroidery lending their glow to the
general effect.
"Why, those must be all the big pots of the city," said Barkins--"these
in the first boat."
"And the second is full of soldiers."
"I know," I cried; "they're coming to fetch the prisoners. I must go on
deck."
"And we shall see nothing of the fun again," cried Barkins.
"Why not?" I said; "I'll help you on deck."
"Come on, then," cried Barkins eagerly. "Oh, hang this wound!"
He caught hold of my shoulder, and with a little pulling and hauling I
got him on deck, hurting him a good deal, I'm afraid, but he bore it
like a martyr, till I had him seated upon a place near the starboard
gangway.
I then turned to go and help up Smith, but found he had called in the
aid of a couple of the sailors, and the next minute he too was seated by
Barkins.
Meanwhile the drum had called the men to quarters, the officers were on
deck in uniform, and the marines drawn-up to form a guard of honour,
sufficiently smart and warlike, with the white-ducked Jacks, and big
guns bright as hands could make them, to impress the barbaric party
coming on board.
The boats were rowing very near now, and the captain came on deck, to
stand under the awning which had been stretched out since the _Teaser_
had been restored to order. Then the gangway was opened, the steps were
lowered, and half-a-dozen Jacks descended to help the visitors to mount,
while the marines stood at attention.
The boatmen managed to fall foul of the side, and nearly upset the
barge, but our lads saved them from that disaster; and the mandarin and
his suite, who had come off, soon mounted to the deck, to stand
haughtily returning the salutes of the officers.
Then there was an awkward pause, for our officers only knew a few words
of Chinese, while the mandarin's party, although they had had Englishmen
in their city for nearly a hundred years, could not speak a word of our
tongue, and they had brought no interpreter.
There was an awkward pause, broken by a high-pitched voice just outside
the gorgeous-looking throng.
"You wantee Ching?"
"Yes," cried the captain; "tell these gentlemen that they are heartily
welcome on board Her Majesty's ship."
Ching nodded, and, bowing down humbly, gazed at the white deck, and
squeaked out a long speech to the contemptuous-looking Chinese official,
who stood in front of his attendants, each in his long, stiff,
embroidered silk dressing-gown; and what seemed the most comically
effeminate was that the gorgeous officers, with rat-tail moustachios and
armed with monstrous swords, each carried a fan, which he used
constantly.
"He's putting an awful lot of fat in the captain's speech," whispered
Barkins, who was just behind me.
Then the chief of the party said a few words, without condescending to
notice the interpreter, and Ching backed away, to turn to the captain.
"His most noble excellency the big-buttoned mandalin has come on board
the gleat fine ship with his genelals, and blavest of the blave, to
fetch the most wicked and double-bad plisoners whom the gleat sea
captain of the foleign devils--"
"Eh! what?" said Captain Thwaites. "Did he say that?"
"Yes. Come fetch allee bad bad plisoners velly much all together."
"Very well," said the captain; "tell him he can have them, and welcome."
Ching approached the mandarin again, in his former humble form, and made
another long speech; after which the great official turned to one of his
attendants and said something; this gorgeous being turned and spoke to
another; and he went to the gangway and stood fanning himself as he
squeaked out something to the soldiers in the second boat.
Then an order was given, and in a curious shambling way about forty
soldiers came up the steps, and ranged themselves in a double row,
something after the fashion of our drilling.
I was watching these men with their heavy swords and clumsy spears, when
there was a clanking sound, and a dozen more men came on deck with quite
a load of heavy chains, which at a word of command they banged down with
a crash upon the deck, and then stood waiting.
At the same moment the captain gave an order, and our marine officer
marched off with a strong detachment of his men right forward; and after
a pause, during which Englishmen and Chinamen stood staring at each
other and the grandees used their fans, the first prisoner was brought
forward by a couple of marines, strolling along in a heavy, careless way
till he was abreast of his fellow-countrymen.
Then at a word from an officer four soldiers seized the unfortunate
wretch and threw him heavily down upon his face; two knelt upon him, and
in a trice heavy chains were fitted to his legs and wrists, the latter
being dragged behind his back. Then, by one consent, the four Chinamen
leaped up, and waited for the prisoner to follow their example, but he
lay still.
"If he has any gumption he won't move," whispered Barkins, who like
myself was an interested spectator.
Mr Reardon walked to us.
"Silence, young gentlemen," he said sternly. "Let us show these
barbarians what dishipline is.--Brute!"
This last applied to one of the Chinamen, who said something to the
prisoner, who merely wagged his tail, and then received a tremendous
kick in the ribs.
He sprang up then like a wild-beast, but he was seized by as many as
could get a grip of him, bundled to the gangway, and almost thrown down
into the barge, where other men seized him and dragged him forward to
where some spearmen stood ready on guard.
By this time another had been thrown down and chained. He made no
scruple about rising and walking to the side to be bundled down.
Another followed, and another, the grandees hardly glancing at what was
going on, but standing coolly indifferent and fanning away, now and then
making some remark about the ship, the guns, or the crew.
Seven had been chained, and the eighth was brought forward by two
marines, seized, thrown down, and fettered. Then, instead of allowing
himself to be bundled into the boat as apathetically as the others, he
gazed fiercely to right and left, and I saw that something was coming.
So did the indifferent-looking Chinese, for one of the most gorgeously
dressed of the party whipped out a heavy curved sword, whose blade was
broader at the end than near the hilt, and made for him; but, active as
a cat, and in spite of the weight of his chains, the man made a series
of bounds, knocked over two of the soldiers, and leaped at the gangway
behind them, reached the top, and fell more than jumped over, to go down
into the water with a heavy splash.
Half-a-dozen of the men leaped on to the rail, and stood looking down,
before the captain could give an order; while a few words were shouted
from the barge below.
The officer returned his sword, and began fanning himself again; the
soldiers seized the next prisoner and began chaining him, but no one
stirred to save the man overboard, and we all grasped the reason why,--
twenty pounds of iron fetters took him to the bottom like a stone.
I saw the captain frown as he said something to Mr Reardon, who merely
shook his head.
"Ain't they going to lower a boat, sir?" I whispered to Mr Brooke.
"We could do no good," he said. "There are twenty fathoms of water out
there, Herrick, and the man could not rise."
The incident did not seem to discompose the Chinese, who disposed of the
next prisoner. And then I saw that the marines had charge of another,
who suddenly made an attempt to escape, and our men only having one
hand, at liberty, the other holding a rifle, he would have succeeded,
had not six or seven of the soldiers rushed at and seized him, dragging
him to the lessening heap of chains, when he suddenly threw up his hands
and dropped upon his knees, throwing them off their guard by making
believe to resign himself to his fate.
But before the first fetter could be dragged to where he knelt, he
sprang up with the fire of fury in his eyes, and made a rush at the
mandarin, seized him, and it would have gone ill with his gaudy costume,
had not a couple of the officers dragged out their swords.
What followed took only a moment or two. I saw the blades flash, heard
a sickening sound, and saw the prisoner stagger away, while the second
of the two officers followed him, delivering chop after chop with his
heavy blade, till the unfortunate wretch dropped upon the deck, where he
was at once seized and pitched overboard without the slightest
compunction.
"Here, interpreter, tell the chief I cannot have my deck turned into a
butcher's shamble like this," cried the captain angrily.
Ching shuffled forward, and advanced towards the mandarin, spoke at
length; the mandarin replied with a haughty smile, and Ching backed away
again.
"Gleat big-button mandalin say he velly much 'blige captain big fine
ship, and he allee light, no hurtee 'tall by killee badee bad men."
"Bah!" ejaculated the captain, turning angrily away; and I saw Mr
Reardon's face grow fixed, as if carved in wood, in his efforts to keep
from smiling.
The last of the prisoners had been brought out of confinement, thrown
down, chained, and bundled into the barge, half the soldiers followed,
orders were given, and the second barge pushed off, when the captain
once more had recourse to Ching's help.
"Ask the mandarin if he will come into the cabin and take a glass of
wine."
But this was declined, and Ching communicated the fact that the great
man "would not eatee dlinkee, but wantee velly much see ship."
He was taken round, the whole following keeping at his heels, and his
officers and soldiers scowling fiercely, or looking about with supreme
contempt, as they made a great display of their weapons, and acted
generally as if they were condescending to look round, so as to be civil
to the Western barbarians.
At last they went over the side, and the gorgeous barge was rowed away.
"Thank goodness, Reardon," I heard the captain say; and directly after,
as I was passing, Tom Jecks' voice was heard in the midst of a group of
the Jacks.
"Say, messmate," he said, "fancy, stripped and fists only, how many
Chinese could you polish off?"
"Dunno," said a voice, which I knew to be that of Billy Wakes, a big
manly-looking young Plymouth fellow. "'Course I could do one, and I
think I could doctor two on 'em; I'd have a try at three; and I'm blest
if I'd run away from four. That is about as fair as I can put it,
messmate."
I was helping Barkins to the companion-way, and Smith was walking very
slowly by us. But as we heard this we stopped to laugh, just as Mr
Brooke came up and asked what amused us. We told him, and he laughed
too.
"That means one of our fellows would try at four Chinamen. He's too
modest. Four to one, lads! why, if it came to real righting, ten of
them would follow me against a hundred of the enemy. Ten to one.--News
for you."
"News, sir; what?" I said.
"We sail again directly. There is another gang at work south, and we
have a hint of the whereabouts of their nest."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
IN A TRAP.
"Ever feel at all uncomfortable about--that--Chinaman, Morris?" I said
one day, after we had been coasting along the shore southward for about
a week. I had not encountered that marine sentry alone since the
terrible scene in the place where the prisoners were confined; and now,
as soon as I saw him, the whole affair came back with all its shuddering
horrors, and I felt quite a morbid desire to talk to him about it.
"What, bayoneting him, sir?" said the man quietly. "Well, no, sir, it's
very odd, but I never have much. I was so excited when I see him with
his knife ashining by the light o' the corporal's lantern, that all the
bayonet practice come to me quite natural like, and, as you know, I give
point from the guard, and he jumped right on it, and I held him down
after as you would a savage kind of tiger thing, and felt quite pleased
like at having saved the first luff's life. After you'd gone all the
lads got talking about it, and I felt as proud as a peacock with ten
tails. And I got wondering, too, about what Mr Reardon would do, for
he said he would see me again. It was all very well then, but that
night when I turned in I felt quite sick, and I couldn't sleep a wink.
The more I turned about in my hammock, the hotter and worser I got.
There it all was before me, I could see myself holding that pirate chap
pinned down, and there was his eyes rolling and his teeth snapping as he
twisted about. Ugh! it was horrid, sir; and I felt as I was in for it,
and began to understand what one has read about chaps as commits murder
always being haunted like with thoughts of what they've done, and never
being happy no more. Then it got worse and worse, and I says to myself,
`If it was as bad as that for just doing your duty, and saving your
officer's life, what must it be when you kills a man out o' sheer
wickedness to get his money?'"
The man stopped then, and looked round to see if any one was within
hearing, but we were quite alone, and he went on quietly--
"You won't laugh at me, sir, will you?"
"Laugh?" I cried wonderingly. "It's too horrible to laugh about."
"Yes, sir; but I meant, feel ready to chaff about it, and tell the other
young gentlemen, and get thinking me soft."
"Of course not, Morris."
"No, sir, you ain't that sort. You've got a mother, too, ain't you?"
"Yes; but I shouldn't have liked her to see all we saw that day."
"No, sir, you wouldn't. I haven't got no mother now, sir, but I did
have one once."
I felt ready to smile, but I kept my countenance.
"Seems rum of a big ugly fellow like me talking about his mother, sir;
but, Lor' bless you! all us chaps has got a bit of a soft spot somewhere
insides us for our old woman, even them as never talks about it; and do
you know, sir, that night just when I felt worst as I rolled about in my
hammock, and was going to get out and find the bucket of water for a
drink, I got thinking about my old mother, and how she used to come and
tuck me up in bed of a night, and kiss me and say, Gawd bless me, and
then of how she used to talk to me and tell me always to do what was
right, and, no matter what happened, I should feel at rest. And then I
got thinking as I must have done very wrong in killing that Chinee, to
feel as bad as I did. And I got arguing it over first one way and then
the other for a minute or two, and the next thing I remember is it being
tumble-up time, and till you spoke to me about it just now, I've never
hardly thought about it since. It was doing my duty, sir, of course;
now, warn't it?"
"Of course, Morris," I said importantly; and the man nodded, looked
satisfied, and then glanced to right and left again before unbuttoning
his jacket and cautiously pulling out an old-fashioned gold watch.
"Why, hallo, Morris!" I cried.
"Hush, sir; keep it quiet. Mr Reardon give it to me the day afore
yesterday, and said I wasn't to talk about it, for it was just between
ourselves."
"It's a fine old watch," I said, feeling glad that the man we lads
looked upon as such a stem tyrant could show so warm and generous a side
to his nature.
"Said, sir, he gave it to me for attending so well to dishipline, as he
called it, for he said if I had not attended well to my drill, there
would have been no first lieutenant to give me a watch out of gratitude
for saving his life."
"You must take care of that, Morris," I said.
"Yes, sir," he said dolefully. "That's the worst of it. Gold watch is
an orkard thing for a marine, but I mean to try."
"And be very careful to wind it up regularly every night."
He looked at me with his face all wrinkled up.
"Would you, sir--would you wind it up?"
"Why, of course; what's a watch for?"
"Well, that depends, sir. It's all right for a gentleman, but don't
seem no good to me. We allus knows how many bells it is, and the
sergeants takes good care that we're in time for everything. It's
rather in my way, too. Look here, sir; s'pose you took care of it for
me to the end of the voyage?"
"Oh no, Morris. You'll soon get used to having a watch," I said. "Take
care of it yourself."
He shook his head.
"I don't know as I can, sir," he said. "If it had been a silliver one,
I shouldn't so much have minded. I was thinking of sewing it up in the
padding of my jacket."
"No, no; keep it in your pocket and never part with it," I said. "It's
a watch to be proud of, for it was earned in a noble way."
"Thankye, sir," he cried, as I stood wondering at my own words; "that's
done me good;" and he buttoned his jacket up with an intense look of
satisfaction.
"I'm beginning to think the doctor was right, Gnat," said Barkins one
morning.
"What about?" I said.
"My wound; I don't think the knife was poisoned."
"Why, of course it wasn't; you fancied it all."
"Well, I couldn't help that, could I? You wait till you get your wound,
and then see how you'll begin to fancy all sorts of things. I say,
though, Smithy's getting right pretty quick. The doctor's pitched him
over. I should have sent him back to his duty before, if I'd been old
Physic. He was all right yesterday."
"How do you know?"
"Because he was so nasty tempered. Nothing was good enough for him."
"Oh, come, I like that," cried Smith, who overheard him. "Why, I was as
patient as could be; I appeal to the Poet. Did I ever go fussing about
telling people I was wounded by a poisoned knife?"
"No," I said; "you were both magnificent specimens of brave young
midshipmen, and behaved splendidly."
"Oh, did we?" cried Barkins. "Look here, Blacksmith, we'll remember
this, and as soon as we're strong enough we'll punch his head."
"Agreed. He's been growing as cocky as a bantam since we've been ill.
We must take him down."
"Why, what for?" I cried.
"Making game of your betters. Sarce, as Tom Jecks calls it."
We had something else to think of three days later, and in the
excitement both my messmates forgot their wounds, save when some quick
movement gave them a reminder that even the healing of a clean cut in
healthy flesh takes time.
For we overhauled a suspicious-looking, fast-sailing junk, which paid no
heed to our signals, but was brought to after a long chase, and every
man on board was chuckling and thinking about prize-money.
But when she was boarded, with Ching duly established as interpreter,
and all notion of returning to the "fancee shop" put aside for the
present, the junk turned out to be a peaceful trader trying to make her
escape from the pursuit of pirates, as we were considered to be.
Ching soon learned the cause of the captain's alarm. The day before he
had come upon a junk similar to his own, with the crew lying murdered on
board, and, judging from appearances, the wretches who had plundered her
could not have gone long.
Mr Brooke was the officer in charge of the boat, and he told Ching to
ask the master of the junk whether he had seen any signs of the pirates.
The man eagerly replied that he had seen three fast boats entering the
Ayshong river, some thirty miles north of where we then were, and as
soon as he found that we really were the boat's crew of a ship working
for the protection of the shipping trade, his joy and excitement were
without bounds, and showed itself in presents,--a chest of tea for the
crew, and pieces of silk for Mr Brooke and myself; parting with us
afterwards in the most friendly way, and, as Ching afterwards told me,
saying that we were the nicest foreign devils he ever met.
Our news when we went on board made the captain change our course. We
were bound for a river a hundred miles lower down, but it was deemed
advisable to go back and proceed as far up the Ayshong, as a fresh nest
of the desperadoes might be discovered there.
By night we were off the muddy stream, one which appeared to be of no
great width, but a vast body of water rushed out from between the rocky
gates, and from the desolate, uninhabited look of the shores it seemed
probable that we might find those we sought up there.
It was too near night to do much, so the captain contented himself with
getting close in after the boat sent to take soundings, and at dark we
were anchored right in the mouth, with the watch doubled and a boat out
as well to patrol the river from side to side, to make sure that the
enemy, if within, did not pass us in the darkness.
All lights were out and perfect silence was maintained, while, excited
by the prospect of another encounter, not a man displayed the slightest
disposition to go to his hammock.
It was one of those soft, warm, moist nights suggestive of a coming
storm, the possibility of which was soon shown by the faint quivering of
the lightning in the distance.
"Storm before morning," whispered Barkins.
"Yes," said Smith; "storm of the wrong sort. I want to hear our guns
going, not thunder."
From time to time the boat which was on the patrol duty came alongside
to report itself, but there was no news; in fact, none was expected, for
such a dark night was not one that would be chosen by vessels wishing to
put to sea.
I had been disposed to ask for permission to go in the boat, but Mr
Reardon's countenance looked rather stormy, so I had given up the idea,
and contented myself with stopping on board with my two messmates, to
watch the dark mouth of the river.
It soon grew very monotonous, having nothing to see but the shapes of
the distant clouds, which stood out now and then like dimly-seen
mountains high up above the land. But by degrees the distant flickering
of the lightning grew nearer, and went on slowly growing brighter, till
from time to time, as we leaned over the bulwarks, listening to the
faint rushing sound of the river, sweeping past the chain cable, and
dividing again upon our sharp bows, we obtained a glimpse of the shore
on either side. Then it glimmered on the black, dirty-looking stream,
and left us in greater darkness than ever.
Once we made out our boat quite plainly, and at last there came so vivid
a flash that we saw the river upward for quite a mile, and I made out
the low shores, but could see no sign of house or vessel moored anywhere
near where we lay.
Another hour must have passed, during which we made out that the country
on either side was flat and marshy, but we could see no sign of human
habitation. As far as could be made out, the river was about three
hundred yards broad, and about this time we became aware that it must be
very nearly low tide, for the stream which passed us was growing more
and more sluggish, till at last it ceased ebbing, and the _Teaser_ began
to swing slowly round, a sufficient indication that the tide had turned.
We had swung to our anchor till we were right across the stream, when
from higher up a shot was fired, and, as if caused by the report, a
dazzling flash cut right across the heavens, lighting up the river with
its muddy sides, and there, not five hundred yards away, we made out two
large junks that had come down with the tide, which had now failed them,
just as they were close to the mouth.
All had been perfectly silent so far, but as the intense darkness
succeeded the brilliant flash, there was a loud gabbling and shouting
from the direction of the junks, then came the splashing of great oars,
followed by their regular beating, and, as we swung further round with
the men hurrying to their quarters, the boat came alongside, and was
hoisted.
"Well, Mr Brooke?"
"Two large junks, sir; come down with the tide; they've put about, sir,
and are going back."
"Sure?"
"Yes, sir, certain. Hark!"
The hissing sound of the tide had recommenced, and above it we could
hear the splash, splash of great sweeps, sounding hurried and irregular,
as if the men at them were making all the haste they could. Every now
and then, too, came a curious creaking sound, as wood was strained
against wood.
"Tide's setting in very hard, sir," said Mr Brooke.
"Yes," said the captain. "Come on board; ha!"
There was another vivid flash, and we distinctly saw the great
matting-sails of two junks for a moment, and again all was black.
"Come on board, Mr Brooke; they could not sweep those great craft out
against such a tide as this, and there is no wind to help them even if
they wished."
Then the falls were hooked on, after the coxswain had with some
difficulty drawn the cutter up to where the light of a lantern was
thrown down for his guidance, the men stamped along the deck, and the
cutter rose to the davits for the men to spring on board.
Daylight found us lying head to sea, with the tide rushing up, a
beautifully verdant country spreading out on either side, but no
habitation in sight, and our men in great glee, for it was pretty
evident that unless the junks should prove to be merchantmen, we had
come upon a little-known river, up which we had trapped the pirates, who
had been to land plunder at their nest, and were about to make their way
again to sea.
CHAPTER NINETEEN.
UP THE RIVER.
The threatening of a storm had passed away, and the sun rose upon us,
showing distant mountains of a delicious blue, and the river winding
inland broader than at its mouth, and, as far as could be seen, free of
additional entrances through which an enemy could escape to sea.
Steam was got up, the _Teaser's_ head swung round, and, after the lead
had shown great depth and a muddy bottom, we began to glide steadily up
with the tide.
Our progress was very slow, for, as you will easily understand, and must
have noted scores of times in connection with some wreck, a ship is of
immense weight, and, even if moving ever so slowly, touching a rock at
the bottom means a tremendous grinding crash, and either the vessel
fixed, perhaps without the possibility of removal, or a hole made which
will soon cause it to sink. Navigation, then, is beset with dangers for
a captain. If he is in well-known waters, matters are simple enough;
every rock will be marked upon his chart, every mile near shore will
have been sounded, and he will know to a foot or two how much water is
beneath his keel. But as soon as he ventures up some strange creek or
river, paradoxically speaking, "he is at sea." In other words, he would
be journeying haphazard, if the greatest precautions were not taken.
These precautions were soon taken, a couple of boats being sent on ahead
with a man in each taking soundings, while we had this advantage--we
were journeying with a rising tide, and the river naturally grew deeper
and deeper.
But we encountered no difficulty; we steamed on just fast enough to give
the vessel steerage way, while the boats went on, the leads were heaved,
and the result was always the same; plenty of water, and so soft and
muddy a bottom, that even if we had gone aground, all that would have
happened would have been a little delay while we waited for the tide to
lift us off.
The course of the river was so winding that we could not see far ahead.
Hence it was that a careful look-out was kept as we rounded each bend,
expecting at every turn to see a kind of port to which the piratical
junks resorted, and with a village, if not a town, upon the shore. But
we went on and on without success, the river, if anything, growing
wider, till all at once, as we were slowly gliding round a bend, leaving
a thick track of black smoke in the misty morning air, one of the men in
the top hailed the deck.
"Sail ho, sir!"
"Where away?"
"Dead astarn, sir!"
"What?"
"Dead astarn, sir!"
Two of the men near me burst into a laugh, which they tried to hide as
the first lieutenant looked sharply round. But there, sure enough, were
the tops of the junk's masts dead astern, for the course of the river
proved to be just there almost exactly like that piece of twisted flat
wire which ladies fasten on the backs of their dresses, and call an eye;
the great stream forming first a small circle, and then going right away
to form the large loop of the eye, while the junks were lying at the far
side of the loop, so that to reach them where they lay, right across an
open plain about two miles in width, we had to sail for some distance
right away, apparently leaving them right behind.
A little use of the telescope soon showed that we were going quite
right, though, and we went steadily on with the boats ahead sounding,
and the men waiting to be called to quarters.
"I don't believe it's going to be a fight, Gnat!" cried Smith.
"Why not?"
"Can't smell anything like prize-money in it. They're only a couple of
big trading junks."
"Then why did they run away from us as they did?"
"Same reason as the one did last time. Thought we meant mischief. How
stupid it is taking all this trouble to crawl up a muddy river."
"What's he talking about?" said Barkins, stepping over to our side for a
moment before every one would have to be in his place, and unable to
stir.
"Says they're trading junks."
"Then it's all up. He knows. Either his wound or the doctoring has
made him go better. He's awfully sharp now. I'll go and tell the
skipper to turn back."
"That's right; chaff away," cried Smith. "Look at the place we're in!
There isn't a sign of a town. What would bring pirates up here?"
"Pirates don't want towns, do they, stupid?" cried Barkins; "they want a
place to lay up their ships in, and here it is. I'll bet anything those
are pirates, but we shan't catch 'em."
"Why?" I asked. "Think they'll go up higher where we can't follow?"
"Could follow 'em in the boats, couldn't we, clever? Hi! look! they're
on the move! They're pirates, and are going up higher because they see
us. But we shan't catch 'em. If they are getting the worst of it,
they'll run themselves aground, and get ashore to make a dash for it."
Barkins was right; they were on the move, as we could distinctly see
now, and my messmate said again--
"Yes, it's all over; they'll follow this river right away to the other
side, and come out in the Black Sea, or somewhere else. We draw too
much water to follow them farther."
But we did follow them a great deal farther, and found that on the
whole, in spite of our careful progress, we gained upon the junks,
getting so near them once from their position across a bend of the river
that a discussion took place as to whether it would not be advisable to
open fire at long range.
But no gun spoke, and we kept on slowly, carried by the tide, and with
the screw revolving just sufficiently for steering purposes, till once
more the course of the river grew pretty straight, and the junks were in
full view, our glasses showing the men toiling away at the long sweeps,
and that the decks were crowded.
This last was intensely satisfactory, for it swept away the last doubts
as to the character of the vessels. Up to this point it was possible
that they might have been trading junks whose skippers had taken alarm,
but no mercantile junks would have carried such crews as we could see,
with their bald heads shining in the sun.
Just about that time Smith and I passed Tom Jecks, who gave me a
peculiar look.
"What is it?" I said, stopping to speak.
"Can't you put in a word to the skipper, sir, and get him to stir up the
engyneers?"
"What for, Tom?"
"To go faster, sir. It's horrid, this here. Why, I could go and ketch
'em in the dinghy."
"Do you want the _Teaser_ stuck in the mud?" I said.
"No, sir, o' course not; but I say, sir, do you think it's all right?"
"What do you mean, Jecks?"
"This here river, sir. I ayve read in a book about Chinee Tartars and
magicians and conjurors. There was that chap in `Aladdin' as left the
boy shut up down below. He were a Chinee, wasn't he?"
"I think so, Tom; but what have the _Arabian Nights_ got to do with our
hunting these pirates?"
"Well, that's what I want to know, sir. If there was magic in them days
in China, mayn't there be some left now?"
"No, Tom," I said. "We've got more magic on board the _Teaser_ in the
shape of steam, than there is of the old kind in all China."
"Well, sir, you've had more schooling than ever I've had, but if it
ain't a bit magicky about them boats, I should like to know what it is."
"What's he talking about?" said Smith. "What do you mean?"
"They're will-o'-the-wispy sort o' boats, sir," replied Jecks. "Don't
you see how they keep dodging on us? Just now they was in easy shot,
now they're two mile away. What does that mean?"
"Physical conformation of the road," said Smith importantly.
"Oh, is it, sir?" said Jecks, scratching his head, with a dry smile on
his face. "Well, I shouldn't have thought as physic had anything to do
with that, but I daresay you're right, sir. Wish we could give them
junks physic."
"I don't believe we shall get near enough to give them a dose," said
Smith discontentedly. "If I were the skipper, I'd--"
Smith did not say what he would, for just then there was a shout from
the boat, the man with the lead giving such shallow soundings that we
heard the gongs sound in the engine-room, and the clank of the machinery
as it was stopped and reversed.
Then orders were given for soundings to be taken right across the river,
but the result was always the same; the stream had suddenly shallowed,
and it was at first supposed to be a bar; but sounding higher up proved
that the shoal water was continuous, and though the lighter-draft junks
had gone on, they had now come to a standstill, which suggested that
they too had been stopped.
"Told you so," grumbled Barkins, joining us. "All this trouble for
nothing. Why didn't the skipper open fire and blow 'em out of the water
when he had a chance?"
"Go and ask him, Mr Barkins," said Mr Brooke, who overheard his
remark. "And if I were you, I'd ask him at the same time why it is
amateurs can always manage better than the leader."
Mr Brooke nodded, and I saw that he looked very serious as he walked
aft, and a minute later I knew why.
"Bah!" growled Smith, as soon as he was out of hearing. "Shouldn't have
listened."
"No," said Barkins. "It isn't quite manly to play the spy. Talk about
snubbing, why is it officers should think it so precious fine to be
always dropping on to their juniors? Now, then, look out! there's
orders coming. The old _Teaser's_ going to waggle her tail between her
legs, and we're going back again. More waste of Her Majesty's coals."
"If we don't lie-to till the tide turns," I said. "Oh, I say, you two
look sharp and get quite well again; I didn't know that having wounds
would make fellows so sour."
"Who's sour. Here, let's get aft; quick, or we shall be out of the
fun."
For the whistles were going, and the men springing to the boats, three
of which were manned, and the one lying alongside being filled with a
strong, well-armed crew.
We all three did press forward, in the full hope of being sent as well,
and made ourselves so prominent that I saw Mr Reardon frown. But no
orders came; and at last, in a great state of excitement, Barkins seized
the opportunity to speak.
"May I go in the longboat, sir?"
"You--lame still from your wound, sir? Absurd! No, nor you neither,
Mr Smith."
He caught my eye just then, but turned away, and I could not help
feeling disappointed, though I knew well enough that the risk would have
been great.
"Oh, I do call it a shame," grumbled Barkins, as the order was given,
the men cheered, and, under the command of Mr Brooke, the four boats
pushed off, the oars dropped, the oily water splashed in the bright
sunshine, and each boat with its colours trailing astern glided rapidly
up-stream.
"Yes, it's too bad," grumbled Smith in turn, who unconsciously began
nursing his arm as if it pained him.
"Why, it's worse for me," I cried. "I'm quite strong and well. I ought
to have gone."
Barkins exploded with silent laughter, laid his hand on Smith's
shoulder, and said huskily, as if he were choking with mirth--
"I say, hark at him! What for? There'll be plenty of mosquitoes up
there to sting the poor fellows; they don't want a gnat to tickle them
and make them fight."
"No," said Smith. "Never mind, little boy, be good, and we'll take you
on an expedition some day."
"All right," I replied; "I don't mind your chaff, only you needn't be so
nasty because you are disappointed."
"Mr Herrick! Where's Mr Herrick?" cried the first lieutenant.
"Here, sir," I shouted; and I could not help giving my companions a look
full of triumph as I dashed aft.
"Oh, there you are, sir. Now look here, I'm going to mast-head you.
Got your glass?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then up with you, right to the main-topgallant cross-trees. Notice
everything you can."
My heart began to beat before I reached the main shrouds, and it beat
more heavily as I toiled up the rattlins, reached the top, and then went
on again, too much excited to think of there being any danger of
falling, my mind being partly occupied with thoughts of what Barkins and
Smith were saying about my being favoured in this way.
"Just as if they could have come up," I said half-laughing; "one with a
game leg, the other with a game arm."
My thoughts ran, too, as much upon what I was about to see, so that
beyond taking a tight hold, and keeping my spyglass buttoned up in my
jacket, I paid little heed to the height I was getting, I reached the
head of the topmast, and then began to mount the rattlins of the
main-topgallant mast, whose cross-trees seemed to be a tremendous height
above my head.
But I was soon there, and settled myself as comfortably as I could,
sitting with an arm well round a stay, and one leg twisted in another
for safety; but the wood did not feel at all soft, and there was a
peculiar rap, rap, rap against the tapering spar which ran up above my
head to the round big wooden bun on the top of all, which we knew as the
truck.
For a moment or two I couldn't make out what the sound was. Then I saw
it was caused by the halyards, the thin line which ran up through the
truck and down again to the deck, for hoisting our colours. This
doubled line, swayed by the breeze, was beating against the tall pole,
but I checked the noise by putting my arm round it and holding the thin
halyard tight.
I looked down for a moment or two at the deck which lay beneath, giving
me a bird's-eye view through the rigging of the white decks dotted with
officers and men, and the guns glistening in the sunshine. There were
several faces staring up at me, and I made out Barkins and Smith, and
waved my hand. But these were only momentary glances; I had too much to
see of far more importance. For there, spread out round me, was a grand
view of the low, flat, marshy country, through which the river wound
like a silver snake. Far away in the distance I could see villages, and
what seemed to be a tower of some size. Beyond it, cultivated land and
patches of forest; behind me, and to right and left, the shimmering sea,
and straight in front the two junks; while almost at my feet, in spite
of their hard rowing, there were our four boats, with the oars dipping
with glorious regularity, and making the water flash and glitter, but
not so brightly as did the bayonets of the few marines in each, as they
sat in the stern-sheets with their rifles upright between their legs,
and the keen triangular blades at the tops of the barrels twinkling at
every movement of the boats.
It was a sight to make any one's heart throb, and in spite of my
splendid position for seeing everything I could not help wishing I was
there to help make a part of the picture I saw, with the men in their
white ducks and straw hats, the marines glowing like so many patches of
poppies, and the officers with their dark blue coats faintly showing a
lace or two of gold.
How I longed to be with them bound upon such an exciting trip, and all
the time how glad I was to be up there in so commanding a position, as,
after watching the progress of the boats for a few moments, I opened and
focussed my glass, rested it against a rope, and fixed it upon the
junks.
The first thing I noticed was that one of them lay a little over to
port, as if from being too heavily laden on one side; while, as I gazed,
the other was evidently settling in the other direction.
I wondered what they were doing to them, and whether it meant changing
heavy guns over to one side, when I grasped the fact,--they had gone as
high up-stream as they could, and then run aground, and were fixed in
the sticky mud of which the bottom of the river was composed.
"Ahoy! there aloft," shouted Mr Reardon. "What do you make out?"
I did not take the glass from my eye, but shouted down to him--
"Both junks fast aground, sir. Chinese crews running backwards and
forwards, trying to work them off, sir."
An eager conversation ensued between Mr Reardon and the captain, during
which I carefully scanned the two Chinese vessels, and could see the men
swarming here and there, as if in an intense state of agitation, but
they soon ceased trying to rock the junks, and, as I judged, they were
waiting for the tide to rise higher and float them off.
There was nothing between to hinder my having a thoroughly good view of
where they lay, just round a slight bend, but I felt certain that they
could not see our boats, and I had proof that this was the case, on
noticing that a group of men had landed, and were running towards a
clump of tall trees, where they disappeared amongst the growth.
"Cowards!" I said to myself, for I felt that they were deserters, and,
after watching for their reappearance, I was about to turn the glass
upon the junks again, when I noticed a peculiar agitation of the
branches of one tree, which stood up far above the others.
"Well, Mr Herrick, I am waiting for your reports," cried the first
lieutenant.
"Yes, sir," I shouted. "Half-a-dozen men landed from one of the junks,
and ran across to a patch of wood."
"Deserters? Any more leaving the ship?"
"No, sir."
"Ah, they saw the boats coming, I suppose?"
"No, sir, but they soon will. One of them is climbing a big tree, much
higher than the junk's masts."
"For a look-out, eh?"
"Yes, sir, I think so," I shouted; and then to myself, "Oh, bother!
It's hard work talking from up here. There he is, sir, right up at the
top. You could see him from the deck."
"No, I can see nothing from here. Well, what is he doing?"
"Making signals with his hands, sir, and now he's coming down again."
"Then you think he has seen the boats?"
"No, sir; they are following one another close in under the bank."
"Then they can't see them," cried Mr Reardon, "and Mr Brooke will take
them by surprise."
He did not shout this, but said it to the captain. Still the words rose
to where I sat watching, till the Chinamen ran out from among the bushes
at the foot of the trees, and I saw them making for the junks again.
I could not see them climb on board, but I felt that they must have
jumped into a boat and rowed off to their friends, and, fixing my glass
upon the deck of first one and then the other, I began to make out more
and more clearly the actions of the crews, and, judging from the
glittering, I saw some kind of arms were being distributed.
I announced this at first as a supposition, telling Mr Reardon what I
thought it was.
"Yes, very likely," he replied; and a few minutes after I saw something
else, and hailed.
"Yes," he said, "what now?" and I saw that, though he did not speak, the
captain was listening attentively.
"They're burning something, sir."
"Confound them! Not setting fire to the junks?"
"I don't know, sir; I think so," I replied, still watching intently;
and, as I gazed through my glass, I saw black smoke rising in little
coils from both junks, at first very thick and spreading, then growing
smaller.
"I think, sir, they've set fire to the junks in several places," I said.
He asked me why, and I told him.
"Watch attentively for a few minutes."
I did so, and felt puzzled, for it seemed so strange that the fire
should grow smaller.
"Well," he said, "are the junks burning?"
"The little curls of smoke are rising still, sir."
"Have the men left the decks?"
"Oh no, sir! They're running here and there, and seem very busy still."
"Then they have not set fire to the vessels," he cried decisively.
"Pirates, without a doubt. Those are stink-pots that they have been
getting ready. Go on watching, and report anything else."
A noise below, familiar enough, with its rattle and splash, told me that
an anchor had been dropped from the bows; and as the _Teaser_ slowly
swung round from the force of the tide, I also had to turn, so as to
keep the telescope fixed upon the enemy, who were as busy as ever,
though what they were doing I could not make out. The flashes of light
came more frequently, though, as the sun played upon their weapons; and
now I had something else to report--that they had both assumed a
different position, being lifted by the tide and floated upon an even
keel.
My first idea was, that now they would sail on beyond our reach; in
fact, one moved a good deal, but the other stopped in its place, so that
at last they were so close together that they seemed to touch.
"Make out the boats?" came from the deck.
"No, sir; they're close under the bank." Yes, I caught a glimpse of the
marines' bayonets just then.
"How far are they away from the junks, do you think?"
"I can't tell, sir; about a quarter of a mile, I think."
Mr Reardon was silent while I gazed intently at a patch of open water
just beyond a curve of the bank, hoping to see the boats there, though I
felt that as soon as they reached that spot, if the enemy had not seen
them before, they would be certain to then, for beyond that the junks
lay clearly to be seen from where I sat.
"Well? See the boats?" came from the deck.
"No, sir, not yet."
I glanced down to answer, and could see that every one who possessed a
glass was gazing anxiously aft, the only face directed up to me being
the first lieutenant's. Then my eye was at the glass again.
"More smoke from the junks, sir," I cried; but there was no sign of
fire, and I felt that Mr Reardon must be right, for if they had set a
light to the inflammable wood of the vessels, they would have blazed up
directly.
"Can't you see the boats yet?" cried the first lieutenant impatiently,
and his voice sounded as if he were blaming me.
"No, sir, but the junks are more out in the middle of the stream. I can
see them quite clearly now, away from the trees. They are crowded with
men, and--"
"The boats--the boats?"
"No, sir;--yes, hurrah! There they go, sir, all abreast, straight for
the junks."
"Ha!" came in one long heavy breath from below, as if all left on board
had suddenly given vent to their pent-up feelings.
"How far are they away from the junks?" cried Mr Reardon.
"About two hundred yards, sir; you'll see them directly."
"Yes, I see them now, sir," cried Barkins, who was a little way up the
mizzen-shrouds, where I had not seen him before.
"Silence!" cried the captain sternly. "Go on, Mr Herrick; report."
"Smoke from the junks, sir--white," I cried, and the words were hardly
out of my mouth when there came the report of guns--first one and then
another; then two together; and I fancied that I could see the water
splashing up round about the boats, but I could not be sure.
"Boats separating," I shouted.
"Go on."
"Pulling hard for the junks."
"Yes, go on; report everything."
I needed no orders, for I was only too eager to tell everything I saw.
"Two boats have gone to the right; two to the left.--More firing from
the junks.--Boats separating more.--Two going round behind.--Both out of
sight."
By this time, in addition to the sharp reports of the small guns on
board the junks, the sharper crackle of matchlocks and muskets had
begun; but so far I had not seen a puff of smoke from our boats.
"Are our men firing?"
"No, sir; the two boats I can see are pulling straight now for the
junks.--Now the water splashes all about them."
"Yes? Hit?"
"Don't think so, sir.--Now.--Ah!"
"What--what is it, boy?"
"Can't see anything, sir; they've rowed right into the smoke."
My hands which held the telescope were quite wet now with the excitement
of the scene I had tried to describe to my superior officer, and I
thrust the glass under my left arm, and rubbed them quickly on my
handkerchief, as I gazed at the distant smoke, and listened to the
crackle of musketry alone, for the guns had now ceased from fire.
This I felt must be on account of the boats coming to closer quarters,
and then to the men boarding. But I could see nothing but the smoke,
and I raised the glass to my eye again.
Still nothing but smoke. I fancied, though, that the firing was
different--quicker and sharper--as if our men must have begun too.
"Well, Mr Herrick?" now came from below. "Surely you can see how the
fight is going on?"
"No, sir, nothing but smoke,--Yes," I cried excitedly, "it's lifting
now, and floating away to the left. I can see close up to the junks.
Yes; now the decks. Our right boat is empty, and there is a great fight
going on upon the junk."
"And the other?"
"There are two boats close up, and our men are firing. There is black
smoke coming out of one boat. Now the men are climbing up, and--now,
the smoke is too thick there."
"Go on, boy; go on," shouted the first lieutenant, stamping about, while
the captain stood perfectly still, gazing at the rising smoke, from the
bridge.
"They seem to be fighting very hard, sir," I said, trembling now like a
leaf. "I can see quite a crowd, and that some of the people are in
white."
"But who is getting the best of it?"
"I can't see, sir," I said sadly.
"Then for goodness' sake come down, and let some one else come up,"
roared Mr Reardon.
"Yes, sir."
"No, no; stay where you are, boy. But use your glass--use your glass."
I tried my best, but I could only make out a blurred mass of men on
board both junks. They seemed to be swaying to and fro, and the smoke,
instead of passing off, once more grew thicker, and in place of being
white and steamy, it now looked to be of a dirty inky black, completely
enveloping the vessels and our boats.
This I reported.
"They surely cannot have set them on fire?" said Mr Reardon.
"I can't see any flames, sir."
Silence again; and we found that the firing had ceased, all but a sharp
crack from time to time, sounds evidently made by rifles. But there was
nothing more to see, and, in spite of the angry appeals of the
lieutenant, I could report no more than that the black smoke was growing
thicker, and hanging down over the water, hiding everything, to the
bushes and trees upon the bank.
And now, as I gave one glance down, I saw that the captain was walking
to and fro upon the bridge, evidently in a great state of excitement,
for there was not a sound now; the firing had quite ceased; the black
cloud seemed to have swallowed up our four boats and men; and a chilly
feeling of despair began to attack me, as I wondered whether it was
possible that our poor fellows had been beaten, and the boats burned by
the stink-pots the pirates had thrown in.
The thought was almost too horrible to bear, and I stared hard through
the glass again, trying to make out the junks beyond the smoke, and
whether it was really our boats which where burning, and raising the
black cloud which hid all view.
"I can see a boat now, sir," I cried excitedly, as one of them seemed to
glide out of the end of the cloud; but my heart sank as I made the
announcement, for I saw only that which confirmed my fears.
"Well, go on, lad," cried Mr Reardon, stamping with impatience, "what
are they doing in her?"
"She's empty, sir, and floating away, with a cloud of black smoke rising
from her."
"Ah!" he exclaimed, with quite a savage snarl, and I saw the captain
stop short and raise his glass again, though I knew that from where he
stood he could see nothing.
"We're beaten," I said to myself. "Oh, our poor lads--our poor lads!"
A mist rose before my eyes, and I nearly dropped the glass, but I passed
my hand across my face and looked again, sweeping the telescope from the
left side, where the boat was gliding up-stream smoking more than ever,
to the right and the shore.
"Hooray!" I yelled.
"Yes! what?" roared the captain and Mr Reardon together.
"Chinese running in a regular stream away from the shore; making for the
woods. One down--another down."
At the same moment almost came a couple of volleys, then several men
went down, and the crackle of firing commenced again.
"Go on, Herrick!" cried Mr Reardon.
"Our fellows ashore, and running Jacks and jollies together, sir.
Stopping to fire. Running again."
"And the enemy?"
"Running like deer, sir. More of them down. Making for the wood."
"One man stopped, sir, and returning."
"Yes, yes, that's good. What now?"
"Boat out from the smoke, rowing after the other one, sir. They've got
it. Yes, I can see. They're throwing something out that smokes--now
something more."
"Bah! stink-pots!" roared Mr Reardon. "Now then, quick!--quick!
Don't, go to sleep, sir. What next?"
"I'll shy the spyglass at you directly," I muttered; and then aloud,
"Fire, sir; both junks blazing."
"Hurrah!" came from the deck as the rest of the crew set up a tremendous
cheer, for the smoke had suddenly grown less dense; and the junks
gradually grew visible as it floated away; while even in the bright
sunlight the flames were visible, and I could now make out that they
were two floating furnaces with the great tongues of fire licking the
broad matting-sails: and, best news of all, there, quite plainly, were
our four boats, with the men just visible above their sides.
I reported this, and cheer after cheer rose again. After which there
was dead silence once more, so that my reports could be heard.
"Now, Mr Herrick, what now?" cried Mr Reardon.
"Two boats lying in mid-stream, sir; the others are rowing to the side."
"To pick up the men who were sent ashore, I suppose. Good."
"Junks burning very fast, sir; and they're floating across to the other
side. The wind's taking them straight, for the smoke floats that way."
"Very likely," said Mr Reardon; and there was a long pause.
"One junk has taken the ground, sir," I said, "and--"
"Yes, well, what?"
"Her masts and sails have fallen over the side."
"And our boats?"
"Lying-to, sir, doing nothing."
But that was as far as I could see, for they were doing a good deal, as
we afterwards heard.
"Other junk has floated over, sir, nearly to the same place."
"Good; burning still?"
"Oh yes, sir--very fast."
He need not have asked; for, as Barkins told me afterwards, they could
see the flames from the deck, though our boats were invisible.
"Well, what now?" cried Mr Reardon, as I saw the captain quietly pacing
to and fro on the bridge.
"Other two boats pushed off from the shore, sir."
"Ha! that's right. See anything of the Chinamen?"
"No, sir; the forest goes right away for miles. There isn't one to be
seen."
"And the boats?"
"All rowing back, sir, close under the left bank."
"Can you see them?"
"Only three of them, sir," I replied. "Now another is out of sight."
"Then, as soon as they are all invisible, you can come down," cried Mr
Reardon.
"Yes, sir; all out of sight now."
"Then come down."
"Thankye for nothing," I muttered; and then aloud, "Yes, sir;" and I
closed my glass, and wiped my wet forehead, feeling stiff and sore, as
if I had been exerting myself with all my might.
"I suppose I'm very stupid," I said to myself, as I began to descend
slowly, "but I did try my best. What a height it seems up here! If a
fellow slipped and fell, he would never have another hour up at the
mast-head."
I went on downward, with my legs feeling more and more stiff, and a
sense of heavy weariness growing upon me. My head ached too, and I felt
a pain at the back of my neck, while mentally I was as miserable and
dissatisfied as ever I remember being in my life.
"I hope he'll send old Barkins up next time," I thought. "He wouldn't
feel so precious jealous then. Nice job, squinting through that glass
till one's almost blind, and nothing but bullying for the result."
It seemed to be a very long way down to the deck, but I reached the
remaining few rattlins at last, and I was nearly down to the bulwarks,
meaning to go below and bathe my head, if I could leave the deck, when I
was stopped short, just in my most gloomy and despondent moments, by the
captain's voice, his words sounding so strange that I could hardly
believe my ears.
For, as I held on to the shrouds, and looked sharply aft at the mention
of my name, he said--
"Thank you, Mr Herrick; very good indeed;" while, as I reached the
deck, Mr Reardon came up--
"Yes, capital, Mr Herrick. A very arduous task, and you have done it
well."
CHAPTER TWENTY.
AFTER THE FIGHT.
"Bravo, Gnat! Well done, little 'un!" whispered Barkins the next
minute, as I walked aft, feeling quite confused, while my headache and
sensation of misery passed off as if by magic. "Blacksmith would have
done it better, of course; wouldn't you, Smithy?"
"Done it as well as you would," said my messmate sulkily; and there was
a heavy frown on his brow; but, as he met my eyes, it cleared off, and
he smiled frankly. "I say: Well done our side!" he whispered. "What
would they do without midshipmen!"
"I say, though," said Barkins, "we've given John Pirate another
dressing-down; but what about the plunder?"
"Ah, of course," said Smith. "Junks both burned, and no swag. What
about our prize-money? Eh, Gnat?"
"I wasn't thinking about that, but about our poor lads. They must have
had a sharp fight. I hope no one is hurt."
My companion were silent for a moment or two. Then Barkins said
quietly--
"I thought it would be only the teapots that were broken. Think our
chaps were hurt? You couldn't see?"
"I could see that there was a big fight going on; and look here!"
I nodded in the direction of one of the companion-ways, from which the
doctor suddenly appeared with his glasses on, and an eager, expectant
look in his eyes as he bustled up to us.
"I'm all ready," he said. "Boats in sight yet?" I shuddered, and I
noticed that Smith looked white. "Well, why don't you answer? What's
the matter, my lads? Oh, I see." He laughed.
"Horrible sort of person the doctor, eh? But you didn't look like that
when I tackled your wounds the other day. But if you people will fight,
the surgeon must be ready. Oh, let's see: you were up at the
cross-trees, Mr Herrick, with your glass, and saw all. Will there be
much work for me to do?"
"I don't know, sir," I said, trying hard to speak quietly. "I couldn't
see much for the smoke. I hope not."
"So do I, boy, heartily. I don't mind the wounds so long as they're not
too bad. It's painful to have fine strong lads like ours slip through
one's fingers. But we must do our best. Any Chinese prisoners? Sure
to be, I suppose."
"I should think so, sir."
"And wounded. Well, if there are, you three lads ought to come and be
my body-guard with your dirks. Like to see the operations, I daresay?"
"Ugh!" I said, with a shudder.
"Bah! Don't act like a great girl, Herrick," said the doctor
scornfully. "You would never have done for a doctor, sir. I never
shudder at the worst cases."
"But then you are hardened, sir," said Barkins.
"Hardened be hanged, sir!" cried the doctor indignantly. "A clever
surgeon gets more and more softened every time he operates, more
delicate in his touches, more exact in his efforts to save a limb, or
arrange an injury so that it will heal quickly. Hardened, indeed! Why,
to judge from your faces, any one would think surgery was horrible,
instead of one of the greatest pleasures in life."
"What, cutting and bandaging wounds, and fishing for bullets?" blurted
out Smith; "why, sir, I think it's hideous."
"And I think you are an impertinent young coxcomb, sir," cried the
doctor indignantly. "Hideous, indeed! Why it's grand."
He looked round at us as if seeking for confirmation of his words, but
neither spoke.
"Hideous? horrible?" he said, taking off his glasses and thrusting his
hand into his pocket for his handkerchief to wipe them, but bringing out
something soft and white, which proved to be a piece of lint. "Oh, I do
call it cool. If there's anything hideous it's your acts, sir; having
those thundering guns fired, to send huge shells shivering and
shattering human beings to pieces for the doctor to try and mend; your
horrible chops given with cutlasses and the gilt-handled swords you are
all so proud of wearing--insolent, bragging, showy tools that are not to
be compared with my neat set of amputating knives in their mahogany
case. These are to do good, while yours are to do evil. Then, too,
your nasty, insidious, cruel bayonets, which make a worse wound than a
bullet. Oh, it's too fine to call my work horrible, when I try to put
straight all your mischief."
"Here they are," cried Barkins excitedly, as a hail came from the top.
We ran aft to see the first boat come steadily along close in shore,
which was being hugged so as to avoid the full rush of the tide.
Directly after the others came in sight, and glasses were all in use
from the bridge and quarter-deck.
I adjusted mine directly, and saw at the first glance that there was
plenty of work for Dr Price, for men were lying in the stern-sheets
with rough bandages on limbs and heads, while several of those who were
rowing had handkerchiefs tied round their foreheads, and others had
horrible marks upon their white duck-frocks, which told tales of injury
to them as well as to their enemies.
The third boat was given up to men lying down or sitting up together,
leaving only just room for the rowers, while the fourth and largest boat
was being towed; the thwarts, that in an ordinary way would have been
occupied by rowers, now holding the marines, who sat with their rifles
ready, and fixed bayonets, while the stern-sheets were filled
with Chinamen, seated in three groups, and all in the most
uncomfortable-looking way. I could see that their hands were tied
behind their backs, and it was horribly plain that several of them were
wounded; but why they should have formed these three groups, and sat
there with their heads laid close together, was what puzzled me.
A loud cheer rose from our deck as the boats came near; and this was
taken up directly by the returning party, the men rowing harder as they
shouted, and the little triumphant procession reached the side.
The first hail came from the captain.
"Mr Brooke--where's Mr Brooke?"
"Here, sir," cried that officer, standing up with a stained handkerchief
about his head, and his uniform all black and scorched.
"Any fatalities?"
"No, sir; not one."
I saw the captain's lips move, but no one heard him speak. I guessed,
though, what he said, and I felt it.
Then as quickly as possible the boats were run up to the davits, and the
uninjured men leaped on deck. Next the wounded, such as could stir,
descended from the boats, one poor fellow staggering and nearly falling
as soon as he reached the deck. After which the badly wounded were
carefully lifted out and carried below, to be laid in a row to wait the
doctor and his assistant make their first rapid examination, to apply
tourniquets and bandaged pads to the most serious injuries.
"Good heavens, Mr Brooke, what a condition you are in! The doctor must
take you first."
"Oh no, sir," said the young lieutenant quietly. "I'm not very bad; a
cut from a heavy sword through my cap. It has stopped bleeding. My
hands are a little bruised."
"But how was this?"
"As we advanced to board, they threw quite a volley of stink-pots
fizzing away into us. I burned myself a little with them."
"Chucking 'em overboard, sir," cried the boatswain. "Splendid it was."
"Nonsense!" cried Mr Brooke. "You threw ever so many. But it was hot
work, sir."
"Hot! it is horrible. How many prisoners have you there?"
"Eighteen, sir; the survivors escaped."
"But you shouldn't have fired the junks, man," said the captain testily.
"There may have been wounded on board."
"Yes, sir," said Mr Brooke, with his brow puckering; "wounded and dead
there were, I daresay, thirty; but the enemy set fire to their vessels
themselves before they leaped overboard, and it was impossible to save
them: they burned like resin. We saved all we could."
"I beg your pardon; I might have known," cried the captain warmly.
"Come to my cabin. Mr Reardon, be careful with those prisoners; they
are savage brutes."
"Enough to make 'em, Gnat. Look! What a shame!"
I looked, but I could not see any reason for Smith's remark.
"Beg pardon, sir," growled one of the men, who had a bandage round his
arm; "you wouldn't ha' said so if you'd been there. They was all alike.
The junk we took was burning like fat in a frying-pan, and me and my
mate see one o' them chaps going to be roasted, and made a run for it
and hauled him away--singed my beard, it did; look, sir."
Half of his beard was burned off, and his cheek scorched.
"Then my mate gets hold of his legs, and I was stooping to get my fists
under his chest, when he whips his knife into my arm 'fore I knowed what
he was up to. But we saved him all the same."
"Here," cried Mr Reardon, as the marines descended from the third boat,
and stood at attention in two parties facing each other; "who was
answerable for this? Why, it is an outrage. Brutal!"
"S'pose it was my doing, sir," said the boatswain, touching his cap;
"but I asked leave of Mr Brooke first, and he said yes."
"What, to tie the poor wretches up like that, sir, and half of them
wounded!"
"Beg pardon, sir; there was no other way handy. We lashed their arms
behind 'em to keep 'em from knifing us, and then they kept on jumping
overboard, and trying to drown themselves. We haven't hurt them."
"Cast them loose at once."
"Yes, sir; I should like half-a-dozen strong chaps in the boat, though."
"Well, take them," said Mr Reardon, who was speaking less severely now.
"I'll have the uninjured men in irons this time. Be careful."
"And if I'd my way, I'd have 'em all in iron boxes, 'cept their hands."
The boatswain said this to me, with a nod, as the first lieutenant
turned away, and, unable to control my curiosity, I sprang up on the
bulwark to look into the boat.
"Let's have a look too," cried Smith, and he jumped up to gain a
position much closer than mine, but quitted his hold and dropped back on
deck, lost his footing, and came down sitting; for, as he leaned over
the boat's gunnel, one of the prisoners made a sudden snap at him, after
the fashion of an angry dog, and the marines burst into a roar of
laughter.
Smith got up scowling and indignant.
"My hands slipped," he said to me aloud. And then, to carry off his
confusion, "How many are there, Herrick?"
"Three lots of six," I said, as I now saw plainly enough how it was that
the prisoners were in such a strange position. For they had been
dragged together and their pigtails lashed into a tight knot, a process
admirably suited to the object in hand--to render them perfectly
helpless; and their aspect certainly did not excite my anger.
Meanwhile the boatswain had stepped into the swinging boat, and he
turned to me, but looked at Smith as he spoke.
"Like to try whether either of the others will bite, Mr Herrick?" he
said.
Smith coloured and frowned.
"No, thank you," I replied; "I'm satisfied."
"Now then, you two," said the boatswain, "stand by with your bayonets;
and you, my lads, be ready as we cast them loose. Get a good grip of
each fellow by the tail; he'll be helpless then."
I stood looking on at the curious scene, and the next minute was
conscious of the fact that the first lieutenant had returned to
supervise the putting of the prisoners in irons himself; and, as the
tails were unlashed, he took note of the men who were injured, and had
them lifted out and laid on deck.
The others made no attempt to escape, for they were too firmly held;
but, as the armourer fitted on the irons, I could see their
wild-beast-like eyes rolling in different directions, and then become
fixed with a look of savage hate on our men, who were certainly none too
tender with a set of wretches who only waited an opportunity to destroy
life without the slightest compunction.
At last they were all lying on the deck--nine with serious wounds, the
other half for the most part injured, but only to a very slight extent,
and these were soon after taken one by one between a file of marines to
the place in the hold appointed once more for their prison.
Then the doctor came up for ten minutes, and, after a few words with the
sergeant of marines, examined the nine prisoners, passing over six to
the sergeant with orders, and having three laid aside for his own
ministrations.
We three lads stood watching the sergeant, who had evidently had some
practice in ambulance work, and skilfully enough he set to work sponging
and bandaging injuries. But all the time a couple of marines stood, one
on either side, ready to hold the prisoners down, for each seemed to
look upon the dressing of his wounds as a form of torture which he was
bound to resist with all his might.
"Nice boys, Mr Herrick," said the boatswain drily. "Do you know why we
are taking all this pains?"
"To save their lives and give them up to the authorities at Tsin-Tsin, I
suppose."
"Yes, sir."
"For them to be put on their trial for piracy on the high seas."
"Yes, sir, that's it; but it would be a greater kindness to let the
wretches die out of their misery."
"But some of them mayn't be guilty," I said.
The boatswain laughed.
"I don't think there's much doubt about that, sir," he said. Just then,
as the last man was treated by the sergeant, the doctor came on deck
with his assistants, both in white aprons and sleeves--well, I'm a
little incorrect there--in aprons and sleeves that had been white.
"I've no business here," said the doctor hurriedly; "but these men
cannot be left. Keep an eye on them, my men, and don't let them do me
any mischief. I can't be spared just now."
The next moment he was down on his knees by the side of one of the
prisoners, who, in his eyes for a few minutes, was neither enemy nor
piratical Chinaman, but a patient to whom he devoted himself to the full
extent of his skill, performing what was needful, and leaving his
assistant to finish the bandaging while he went on to the next.
In another ten minutes he had finished, and rose from his knees.
"There, Mr Herrick," he said; "do you call that horrible? because I
call it grand. If those three ill-looking scoundrels had been left
another hour they would have died. Now, with their hardy constitutions,
they will rapidly get well, perhaps escape and begin pirating again.
Possibly, when we give them up--oh my knees! how hard that deck is!--the
authorities will--"
"Chop off all head. Velly bad men--velly bad men indeed."
The doctor laughed, and hurried away while the last prisoner was carried
down below.
"There," said the boatswain, when all was over, "that job's done, Mr
Herrick. Nice fellows your countrymen, Ching."
"Not allee nice fellow," replied Ching seriously. "Pilate velly bad
man. No use. Why captain save him up?"
"Ah, that's a question you had better ask him. But I say, Ching, those
fellows came up here with cargo, didn't they?"
"Calgo?" said Ching.
"Yes; plunder out of the ships they took."
"Yes," said Ching.
"Then where is it? There was none on board the junks."
"Ching know," said the interpreter, laying his finger to the side of his
nose. "You likee Ching show?"
"Yes, of course. Prize-money, and you'd share."
"Ching likee plize-money. You bling ship along, and Ching show."
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
IN THE CREEK.
Ching's announcement cleared up what had been somewhat of a mystery. It
had appeared strange to everybody that the junks had been up this river
apparently for no purpose, and more strange that they should have been
light, and not laden with the plunder of the vessels they had taken.
And now, as without any need for taking soundings the _Teaser_ slowly
steamed back, Ching pointed out a kind of landing-place in a little
creek hidden amongst dense growth, so that it had been passed unnoticed
on our way up.
The country here on both sides of the river was wild, and no trace of a
dwelling could be seen; but about half a mile from the shore there was a
low ridge, round one end of which the creek wound, and toward this ridge
Ching pointed, screwing his eyes up into narrow slits, and wrinkling up
his face in all directions.
"Velly bad man live along-along there. Plenty plize-money; plenty tea,
lice, silk; plenty evelyting. Come and see."
The _Teaser_ was moored, and a couple of boats manned with well-armed
crews, Ching looking on the while and cunningly shaking his head.
"No wantee big piecee sword gun. Pilate all lun away and hide."
"Never mind," said Mr Reardon, who was going in command of the
expedition; "we may find somebody there disposed to fight."
"Takee all along big empty boat; cally tea, silk, lice, plize-money?"
"Better see first," said the captain; "there may not be anything worth
carriage. Go with them," he said to Ching. "They may want an
interpleter."
"Yes, Ching interpleter. Talk velly nice Inglis."
"You can come if you like in my boat, Mr Herrick," said the lieutenant;
and I jumped at the opportunity, but before I reached the side I turned,
and saw Barkins and Smith looking gloomily on.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" said Mr Reardon.
"Beg pardon, sir," I said; "I was only thinking that Mr Barkins and Mr
Smith would be very glad to go ashore."
"Of course they would, but I suppose you don't want to give up your
place to them?"
"No, sir," I said; "but I will."
"Oh, very well. Here, Mr Barkins, Mr Smith; do you feel well enough
to go in my boat?"
"Yes, sir," they cried together eagerly.
"Jump in, then."
"Thank you, sir," cried Smith, and he mounted into the first boat; but
Barkins hesitated a moment.
"Thank you, old chap," he whispered, "but I don't like to go."
"Off with you," I said, and I hurried him forward. "Shall I give you a
leg up?" I added, for he limped a good deal still.
"No, no; I don't want to let them see I'm lame. But I say, Gnat, you
go."
"Be off," I whispered. "Quick!" and I helped him in.
"Here, Ching, you had better go in the second boat," said Mr Reardon
sharply; and, as the Chinaman rolled out of the first boat, blinking and
smiling, orders were given to lower away, and the first boat kissed the
water.
I was looking down at my two messmates, feeling a little disappointed,
but glad that they had a chance at last, when Mr Reardon looked up.
"Here, Mr Herrick," he cried. "You had better come on in the other
boat, and take charge of the interpreter. Look sharp."
I did look sharp, and a few minutes later I was sitting in the
stern-sheets, being rowed ashore.
"Plenty loom in littlee liver," said Ching, pointing to the creek.
"Pilate take allee plize-money in sampan up littlee liver."
"Ching thinks the boats could go up the creek, sir, and that the pirates
go that way."
"Try, then; go first, Mr Grey," cried the first lieutenant; and,
ordering his boat's crew to lie on their oars, he waited till we had
passed, and then followed.
"Ching going showee way," whispered the Chinaman to me.
"But how do you know there is a place up there?" I said. "Have you
ever been?"
Ching shook his head till his black tail quivered, and closed his eyes
in a tight smile.
"Ching interpleter," he said, with a cunning look. "Ching know
evelyting 'bout Chinaman. Talkee Chinee--talkee Inglis--velly nicee."
"But talking English velly nicee doesn't make you understand about the
pirates."
"Yes; know velly much allee 'bout pilate," he said. "Velly bad men--
velly stupid, allee same. Pilate get big junk, swordee, gun, plenty
powder; go killee evelybody, and hide tea, silk, lice up liver. One
pilate--twenty pilate--allee do same. Hide up liver."
"Perhaps he's right," said Mr Grey, who sat back with the tiller in his
hand, listening. "They do imitate one another. What one gang does,
another does. They're stupid enough to have no fresh plans of their
own."
By this time we were in the creek, which was just wide enough for the
men to dip their oars from time to time, and the tide being still
running up we glided along between the muddy banks and under the
overhanging trees, which were thick enough to shade as from the hot sun.
The ride was very interesting, and made me long to get ashore and watch
the birds and butterflies, and collect the novel kinds of flowers
blooming here and there in the more open parts, the lilies close in to
the side being beautiful.
But we had sterner business on hand, besides having the first lieutenant
in the following boat, so I contented myself with looking straight ahead
as far as I could for the maze-like wanderings of the creek, and I was
just thinking how easily we could run into an ambuscade, and be shot at
from the dense shrubby growth on the bank, when Mr Reardon called to us
from his boat.
"Let your marines be ready, Mr Grey," he said, "in case of a trap. If
the enemy shows and attacks, on shore at once and charge them. Don't
wait to give more than one volley."
"Ay, ay, sir," said the boatswain; and the marines seized their pieces,
and I looked forward more sharply than ever.
But Ching shook his head.
"No pilate," he whispered to me. "Allee too velly much flighten, and
lun away from foleign devil sailor and maline."
"But they might have come down to their place here," I said.
Ching smiled contemptuously.
"Pilate velly blave man, fight gleat deal when allee one side, and know
sailor can't fightee. When plenty sailor can fightee, pilate lun away
velly fast, and no come back."
"Can you understand him, Mr Grey?" I said.
"Oh yes, I understand him, and I daresay he's right, but there's no harm
in being on the look-out;" and, to show his intention of following out
his words, the boatswain took his revolver from its case, and laid it
ready upon his knees.
"How much farther is this village, or whatever it is?" said Mr Reardon
from behind.
"Do you hear, Ching?" I said.
"Ching hear; Ching don'tee know; not velly far," was the unsatisfactory
reply.
"I'm afraid we've come on a cock-and-bull hunt," said the boatswain,
looking to right and left as he stood up in the boat, for the creek now
grew so narrow that the men had to lay in their oars, and the coxswain
also stood up and drew the boat onward by hooking the overhanging
boughs.
"Do you think they do come up here, Ching?" I said.
He nodded, and looked sharply about him.
"There can be no big traffic up here, Mr Grey," said the lieutenant.
"What does the interpreter say?"
"Do you hear, Ching?" I whispered; "what do you say?"
"Allee light," he replied. "Pilate come along in littlee sampan; cally
silk, tea, lice."
"Oh, bother!" I said. Then aloud to Mr Reardon, whose boat was half
hidden by the growth overhead, "He seems quite sure they do come up
here, sir."
"Well, then, go a little farther, but I feel far from sure. Push right
in at the next place where there's room for the boat, and climb up the
bank."
"Yes, sir," I cried; and we went on again for another hundred yards,
when all at once I caught sight of an opening where I could land, and
pointed it out to Mr Grey.
"Yes," said Ching, "allee light. That place where pilate land allee
plize-money."
I laughed, and Mr Grey told the coxswain to draw the boat close to the
bank, when, to my intense surprise, I found there was a broadly-trampled
path, beaten into soft steps, and I turned in my glee and shouted--
"Here's the place, sir."
The boat glided rustling in; two men sprang out, and then we followed.
The second boat came alongside, and five minutes later our sturdy little
force was tramping along through a dense patch of wood by a well-beaten
path, and in about ten minutes more were out at the foot of a low ridge
which hid the river from our sight, and in face of a couple of dozen or
so low bamboo huts, two of which were of pretty good size.
"Steady! halt! form up!" cried the lieutenant, and skirmishers were sent
forward to feel our way, for no one was visible; but open doors and
windows, suggested the possibility of danger in ambush.
A few minutes settled all doubts on that score, and the word to advance
was given. We went up to the front of the huts at the double, and
examination proved that the places must have been occupied within a few
hours, for the fire in one hut was still smouldering; but the people had
fled, and we were in possession of the tiny village so cunningly hidden
from the river.
Our men were pretty quick, but Ching surpassed them.
"Look at him running!" cried Barkins, as, with his tail flying, Ching
ran from hut to hut, and finally stopped before the two more pretentious
places, which were closely shut.
"Hong--warehouse," he cried to me, and an attempt was made to enter, but
the doors of both were quite fast.
"Steady!" said Mr Reardon; "there may be some of the enemy inside;" and
our men were so placed that when the door was burst in, any fire which
we drew would prove harmless.
One of the sailors came forward then with a heavy flat stone, which
looked as if it had been used to crush some kind of grain upon it, and,
receiving a nod from the lieutenant, he raised it above his head, dashed
it against the fastening, and the door flew open with a crash, while the
sailor darted aside.
But no shot issued from within, and Mr Reardon stepped forward, looked
in, and uttered an ejaculation.
"Look here, Grey," he cried; and the boatswain stepped to his side.
Then my turn came, and there was no doubt about Ching's idea being
correct, for the place was literally packed with stores. Chests, bales,
boxes, and packages of all kinds were piled-up on one side; bags,
evidently of rice, on the other; while at the end were articles of all
kinds, and crates which seemed to be full of china.
"Sentry here," said the lieutenant sternly; and, leaving a marine on
guard, he led the way to the other store, whose door was burst in, and
upon our entering, without hesitation now, this place proved to be
choked with the cargo of different junks which the pirates had rifled,
for everything of value had been packed in tightly, and the pirates'
treasure-houses were no doubt waiting for some favourable opportunity
for disposing of the loot.
"Sentry here," cried Mr Reardon again; and the man having been planted,
we stood together in one of the huts, while the lieutenant made his
plans.
"You wantee big empty boat?" said Ching suddenly.
"Yes, my man, and I wish we had brought one." Then, after a few
minutes' consideration, Mr Reardon decided what to do.
"Now, Mr Herrick," he said, "take a marine and one man with the signal
flags, and go up to the ridge yonder. Place your marine where he can
command the plain, and he will fire if he sees the enemy approaching.
The man is to signal for two more boats."
I started for the ridge after getting my two men, which was about two
hundred yards away, the ground rising in a slope; and, as we went off at
the double, I heard orders being given, while, by the time we were up on
the top, I looked back to see our men going in a regular stream down to
the boats, laden with bales of silk, the white frocks of the Jacks
showing through the thick growth from time to time.
My sentry was soon posted in a position where he could command the plain
for miles, and the Jack hard at work waving flags till his signal was
answered from the ship, which seemed from where we stood to be lying
close at hand.
Then we two returned, to find that one boat was already packed as full
as it would hold; and Barkins and Mr Grey went off with it back to the
river, while the second was rapidly laden, and in half an hour followed
the first. Then Smith and I followed the lieutenant into the store,
with its low reed-thatched roof, and gazed about wonderingly at the
richness of the loot upon which we had come.
"I say, Gnat, we shan't go home without prize-money this voyage,"
whispered Smith; and then, nothing more being possible, the sentries--
four, posted at different distances--were visited, and we all sat down
in the shade to rest, and partake of the refreshments in the men's
haversacks.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
FRESH DANGER.
"They're a long time sending those boats, Herrick," said the lieutenant
to me soon after we had finished our meal.
"It's rather a long way, sir," I ventured to suggest.
"Oh yes, it's a long way; but with the state of dishipline to which I
have brought the _Teaser_ they ought to have been here by now. Suppose
we were surrounded by the enemy, and waiting for their help to save us!"
"We should think it longer than we do now, sir." Mr Reardon turned to
me sharply, and looked as if in doubt whether he should treat my remark
as humorous or impertinent. Fortunately he took the former view, and
smiled pleasantly.
"So we should, Herrick, so we should. But if they knew it was to fetch
all this loot on board, they'd make a little more haste."
"They know it by this time, sir," I said. "They must have met the first
boat."
"Oh, I don't know," he said rather sourly. "The men are very slow when
I am not there."
"Here they are, sir!" I cried; for the marine sentry down by the river
challenged, and then there was a loud cheering, and soon after Mr
Brooke appeared, followed by a long train of fully-armed Jacks.
"Why, I thought when we started that we had come to fight," cried Mr
Brooke as he reached us. "We met the two loaded boats. Is there much
more?"
"Come and look," said Mr Reardon; and we went first into one and then
the other store, while our party of Jacks communicated our luck to the
newcomers, the result being that, as we came out of the second long hut,
the men cheered again lustily.
Then no time was lost; and the way in which the crew attacked those two
stores of loot was a sight to see. It was tremendously hot, but they
laughed and cheered each other as those returning met the laden ones
going down to the boats. They would have liked to make a race of it to
see which crew could load up their boat first, but Mr Reardon stopped
that; and the strength of all was put to work to load one boat and get
it off, so that there were two streams of men going and coming; and the
first boat was deeply laden in an incredibly short space of time, the
men leaving themselves no room to row, but placing the chests amidships
to form a platform, and two smaller ones in the bow and stern.
They would have laden the boat more deeply still but for Mr Brooke, who
superintended at the side of the creek, while Mr Reardon was at the
stores.
Then the first of the boats Mr Brooke had brought was sent off, and by
the time the next was loaded one of those we had previously sent off
returned.
"Velly plime lot of plize-money," Ching said to me every time we met;
and he toiled away with the rest, his face shining, and while our men
grew red he grew more and more yellow. But, in spite of the
tremendously hard work of carrying down those loads, the men took it all
as a party of pleasure; and when, later on in the day, after boatload
after boatload had gone down the creek for hours, I had to go up to Mr
Reardon with a message from Mr Brooke, I was astonished to see how the
contents of the stores had disappeared.
It was getting close upon sundown when the last load was packed into the
longboat. Silk bale, tea-chest, rice-bag, crate, and box, with an
enormous amount of indescribable loot, including all kinds of weapons,
had been taken aboard; and the men who had come up for fresh burdens
began cheering like mad as they found the task was done.
"That will do, my lads; steady--steady!" cried Mr Reardon. "Fall in."
_Bang_!
It was not a loud report, only that of the rifle fired by the sentry on
the ridge; and immediately the men stood to their arms, and were ready
for what promised to be an interruption.
"See the sentry, Mr Herrick?" cried the lieutenant.
"Yes, sir," I said; "he's running in fast."
The next minute the man came up, breathless.
"Strong body of John Chinamans, sir, coming across from over yonder."
"Time we were off, then," said Mr Reardon; and, giving the word, we
started away at the "double" from before the empty stores and huts,
toward the creek.
Our run through the wood, though, was soon brought to a walk, for we
overtook the last laden men, and had to accommodate our pace to theirs.
But they hurried on pretty quickly, reached the boat just as another
empty one returned; the loading was finished, and as soon as the boat
was ready, an addition was made to her freight in the shape of a dozen
Jacks and marines, and she pushed off just as a loud yelling was heard
from the direction of the empty stores.
"They'll be down on us directly," muttered Mr Reardon; and we all
crowded into the empty boat and pushed off after the loaded one, but had
not descended the creek far before we were stopped by the loaded boat,
and had to arrange our pace by hers.
"Now for a slow crawl," I thought, "and they'll be after us directly."
A loud bang behind us told that I was right, and the handful of rough
slugs in the heavy matchlock flew spattering amongst the leaves
overhead, cutting off twigs which fell into the boat.
"Lie down all who can," cried the lieutenant; and we waited for the next
shot, which, to be rather Irish, was half-a-dozen in a scattered volley.
But though the twigs and leaves came showering down, no one was hit; and
the coxswain steadily poled us along as fast as the progress of the
other boat would allow.
I saw that Mr Reardon was on the _qui vive_ to order a return of the
fire; but so far we could not see from whence it came, and it seemed as
if nothing could be done but keep steadily on with our retreat.
"They might have given us another half-hour, Herrick," he said. "I
should like to get the boys on board unhurt."
"Think they can get on ahead, sir?" I whispered.
"I hope not. The forest on each side is so dense that I don't fancy
they can get along any faster than we do. Make haste, my lads, make
haste," he said, almost in a whisper; "we shall have it dark here under
these trees before long."
Crash came another volley, accompanied by a savage yelling, but we were
so low down between the muddy banks that again the slugs went pattering
over our heads.
"Would you mind passing the word to the other boat, messmate," said a
familiar voice. "Tell 'em not to hurry themselves, as we're very
comfortable."
"Who's that? Silence!" cried Mr Reardon.
No reply came to his question, but I could hear the men chuckling.
The next minute they were serious enough, for there was a burst of
voices from very near at hand.
"Aim low, my lads," said Mr Reardon. "You six in the stern-sheets, as
near to where the shooting is as you can."
The rifles were levelled, three of the barrels being passed over our
shoulders. Then came the usual orders, and the pieces went off like
one.
This silenced our pursuers for a few minutes, during which we continued
our progress, snail-like at the best, for the boat in front looked like
a slug.
"I'd give the order to them to draw aside and let us pass, Herrick,"
whispered the lieutenant, who now, in this time of peril, grew very warm
and friendly; "but--ah, that's getting dangerous."
For another volley from very near at hand rattled over us, and was
answered by our men.
"What was I going to say?" continued the lieutenant coolly, "Oh, I
remember! If we tried to get by them they might take the ground with
all that load, and be stuck."
"And it would be a pity to have to leave that load, sir," I said.
"Velly best load--allee best silk!" cried Ching excitedly, "Good, velly
good plize-money!"
There was a roar of laughter at this, and Mr Reardon cried--
"Silence!"
Then, sharply, "Fire, my lads, if you see any one following."
"Ay, ay, sir."
"Yes, it would be a pity," said the lieutenant thoughtfully; "but it's
tempting. If we could get in front, Herrick, we could tow the load, and
it would shelter us all from the firing."
"Unless they got to be level with us, sir," I said.
"And--quick! right and left, my lads. Fire!" cried the lieutenant; for
there was the breaking of undergrowth close at hand on either side, and
a savage yelling commenced as our pursuers forced their way through.
The men, who had been like hounds held back by the leash, were only too
glad to get their orders; and in an instant there was quite a blaze of
fire from both sides of the boat, the bullets cutting and whistling
through the thick trees and undergrowth; and the movement on the banks,
with the cracking and rustling of the bushes and tufts of bamboo,
stopped as if by magic.
"Cease firing!" cried Mr Reardon; and then, as if to himself, "Every
shot is wasted."
I did not think so, for it had checked the enemy, who allowed us to go
on slowly another hundred yards or so.
"Allee velly dleadful," whispered Ching to me, as he crouched in the
bottom of the boat. "You tinkee hit Ching?"
"I hope not," I said. "Oh no; we shall get out into the river
directly."
"No," he said; "velly long way yet."
"But who are these?" I said--"some village people?"
"Pilate," he cried. "Allee come home not kill, and findee plize-money
gone. Makee velly angly. Wantee chop off sailor head."
"Like to catch 'em at it," growled Tom Jecks, who had been very silent
for some time.
"Silence there!" cried Mr Reardon sternly. Then to me, "We seem to
have checked them, Herrick."
At that moment there was a sudden stoppage in front, and our coxswain
growled--
"Starn all!"
"What is it?" cried Mr Reardon, rising.
There was a rattle of matchlocks from our right, and Mr Reardon fell
sidewise on to me.
"Hurt, sir?" I cried in agony.
"Yes, badly--no--I don't know," he cried, struggling up with his hand to
his head. "Here! why has that boat stopped?"
His voice was drowned by the reports of our men's rifles, as they fired
in the direction from which the shots had come; and just then a voice
from the laden boat came through the semi-darkness--
"Ahoy!"
"Yes; what is it?" I said, as I saw that a man had crawled over the
stack-like load.
"There's a gang in front, sir; and we're aground."
"And the tide falling," muttered Mr Reardon. "Herrick, I'm a bit hurt;
get our boat close up; half the men are to come astern here, and check
the enemy; the other half to help unload and get enough into our boat to
lighten the other."
"Yes, sir," I said; and I gave the orders as quickly and decisively as I
could.
The men responded with a cheer; and, with scarcely any confusion, our
boat's head was made fast to the other's stern, and the men swarmed on
to the top of the load, and began to pass down the bales rapidly from
hand to hand.
Crash came a ragged volley from right ahead now; but this was answered
by three rifles in the stern of the laden boat, and repeated again and
again, while the strong party in the stern of ours kept up a fierce fire
for a few minutes.
It was a perilous time, for we knew that if the enemy pushed forward
boldly we should be at their mercy. They could come right to the edge
of the bank unseen, so dense was the cover; and, working as our men were
at such a disadvantage in the gloom, which was rapidly growing deeper,
there was no knowing how long it would be before the first boat was
sufficiently lightened to float again; it even seemed to be possible
that we might not keep pace with the fall of the tide, and then perhaps
we should also be aground.
"Hurt much, sir?" I said to Mr Reardon, who was now seated resting his
head upon his hand.
"Don't take any notice of me, my lad," he said, pressing my hand. "Hit
by a bullet. Not very bad; but I'm half stunned and confused. The men
and boats, Herrick; save them."
"If I can," I thought, as I hurried forward again, and gave orders to
the men to pass the silk bales that were nearest to the bows.
"Ay, ay, sir," they shouted, as readily as if I had been the captain.
From here I went back to the stern, where I found that Mr Reardon was
seated now in the bottom of the boat, supported by Ching, while the men
were keeping up a steady fire at every spot from which a shot or yell
came.
"We're hard at it, sir," said Tom Jecks, who was handling his rifle as
coolly as if it had been a capstan bar; "but I don't think we're hitting
any of 'em. How's the first luff seem?"
"I don't know," I said excitedly.
"Well, sir, we're all right," said the man, "and are doing our best.
You needn't stop if you can hurry the boys on forward."
It was a fact; I could do no good at all, so I hurried forward again.
But even here I could do nothing; the men had their task to do of
lightening the first boat, and they were working as hard as if they had
been lying down in the shade all day, and just as coolly, though every
now and then the rough slugs the pirates fired from their clumsy
matchlocks went spattering through the trees overhead and sent down
fresh showers of leaves and twigs.
But I was obliged to say something, and I shouted first one order and
then another.
"That's your sort, lads," cried a cheery voice. "Down with 'em, and
I'll stow. It's like bricklaying with big bricks."
"Who's that?" I said sharply, for the man's back was towards me, and it
was getting quite dark where we were.
"Me it is, sir--Bob Saunders, sir. Beg pardon, sir."
"Yes; what is it?"
"Tide's going down very fast, sir, arn't it?"
"Yes; why?"
"'Cause we don't seem to get no forrarder. Hi! steady there! D'yer
want to bury yer orficer?"
"Never mind me, man. Stow away; she must soon be lightened enough to
make her float."
"Then we'll lighten her, sir; but don't you go and give orders for any
of the stuff to be chucked overboard. It's too vallerble for that."
"Only as a last resource, Bob," I replied.
"Beg pardon, sir."
"Don't," I cried to the man who touched me. "Never mind ceremony now;
go on firing."
"Yes, sir; but Tom Jecks says, sir, would you like six on us to land and
have a go at the beggars?"
"No," I cried. "Keep together; we may be afloat at any moment."
"Right, sir; on'y we're all willing, if you give the word."
"I know that," I cried. "But be careful, my lads. It's a terrible
position, with our chief officer down like this."
"So it is, sir," said the man, taking careful aim at a part of the bank
where he thought that he saw a movement. Then, almost simultaneously,
there was a flash from the place, and another from his rifle muzzle.
"Either on us hit?" he said coolly, as I clapped my hand to my ear,
which felt as if a jet of cold air had touched it. "Don't think I
touched him, sir, but he has cut off. I can hear him going. Not hurt,
are you, sir?"
"No; a bullet must have gone close to my ear," I said.
"Oh yes; I felt that, sir. It went between us. But it's no use to take
no notice o' misses."
"Well?" I said; for one of the men behind me now touched my arm, and I
found it was Bob Saunders.
"We're getting dead down at the head, sir; hadn't we better begin
stowing aft?"
"Yes, yes, of course," I said excitedly, and feeling annoyed that I had
not thought of this myself.
"Then, if you'll make the lads ease off to starboard and port, sir,
we'll soon pack a row of these here little bales between 'em. Or look
here, sir! how would it be to bring 'em a bit amidships, and let us
begin right astarn, and build up a sort o' bulwark o' bales? They could
fire from behind it when we'd done."
"Yes, capital!" I cried, once more annoyed with myself because I, a
mere boy, had not the foresight of an experienced man.
"No, no," I cried the next moment. "How could we get at the tiller?"
"You won't want no tiller, sir; we can row aboard easy enough, once we
get out o' this fiddling little drain."
"You are right, Saunders," I said. "Go on."
All the while the men astern were keeping up a steady fire, which
certainly had one effect, that of checking the enemy's advance. And now
Saunders came aft with a bale on his head, keeping his balance
wonderfully as he stepped over the thwarts.
"Mind yer eye, Pigtail," he cried.
"Keep back! Where are you coming?" growled a man who was loading.
"Here, matey," cried Saunders; and he plumped the bale down right across
the stern.
"Hooroar!" cried Tom Jecks, stepping behind it, and resting his rifle on
the top.
No more was said, the men easing off out of the way as bale after bale
was brought and planted in threes, so that when six had been placed
there was a fine breast-work, which formed a splendid protection for
those in the stern, and this was added to, until we were fairly safe
from enemies behind. But once more we could hear them creeping nearer
through the bushes on our right; the firing grew more dangerous, and
there was nothing for it, I felt, but to order every man in the two
boats to take his piece, shelter himself behind the bales, and help to
beat the enemy back.
It was a sad necessity, for I knew that the tide was falling very fast,
and that before long we should be immovable; but to have kept on
shifting the load and allow the enemy to get close in over our heads on
the densely-clothed sides of the stream would, I knew, be madness; and
the men showed how they appreciated the common-sense of the order by
getting at once under cover, and then the sharp rattle of our fire was
more than doubled.
But, enraged by their defeat, and doubly mortified to find that we had
discovered their treasure, the pirates seemed now to have cast aside
their cowardice, and were creeping in nearer and nearer, yelling to each
other by way of encouragement; and, in addition to keeping up an
irregular fire, they strove, I suppose, to intimidate us by beating and
making a deafening noise on gongs.
"They will be too much for us," I thought, when we seemed to have been
keeping up the struggle for hours, though minutes would have been a more
correct definition; and, with the longing for help and counsel growing
more and more intense, I was about to kneel down and speak to Mr
Reardon, and ask him to try and save himself.
But I started to my feet, for there was a louder yelling than ever, and
the pirates made quite a rush, which brought them abreast of us.
"Cutlasses!" I cried; and there was the rattle made in fixing them,
bayonet fashion, on the rifles, when--_boom_!--_thud_!--came the roar of
a heavy gun; there was a whistling shrieking in the air, and then
somewhere overhead an ear-splitting crash, followed by the breaking of
bushes and trampling down of grass and bamboo.
Then perfect silence, followed by a cheer from our men.
"Well done, _Teaser_!" shouted Tom Jecks.
It was a diversion which, I believe, saved us, for the enemy fled for
some distance, and gave us time to go on lightening the foremost boat.
But before we had been at work many minutes there was a cheer from close
at hand, and upon our answering it, another and another, with splashing
of oars, and the next minute I heard Mr Brooke's voice from beyond the
first boat.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
SAVED.
"Look sharp, sir," I said, after going forward, and in a few words
explaining our position.
"Right, my lad. Get your men together in the stern of your boat, and
keep up the fire, while we make fast and try and tow you off. Hi! quick
there!" he roared; and a cheer told us that another boat was close at
hand.
But my work was cut out, the men placed well under cover, and we waited
listening for the first sounds of the returning enemy, while from time
to time Mr Brooke's clear, short orders came out of the darkness behind
us, and we knew that he had sent a party into the fixed boat to rock it
from side to side. Then came a cheer, as the water rolled hissing and
whispering among the reeds; there was the simultaneous plash of oars,
and a creaking sound.
Then another sound from the bank of the creek, which I knew well enough.
"Say when, sir," whispered Tom Jecks. "They're a-coming on." To our
astonishment, for the enemy had crept forward so silently that we had
hardly heard a sound, there was a hideous yell, and a crashing volley,
the bullets hissing over our heads again, and once more the gong-beating
began.
"Fire!" I said.
"Yes, fire, my lads, steady--where you see the flashes of their
matchlocks."
The voice came from close to my ear.
"Mr Reardon!" I cried in astonishment.
"Yes, Herrick; that bullet quite stunned me for a minute or two. I'm
better now. But hasn't it grown dark rather suddenly?"
"Yes, sir," I said; for I felt in my excitement as if it would be
impossible to enter into explanations then.
"But we're in motion."
"Hooray!"
Every one took up that cheer; for the combined efforts of the men who
rowed the laden craft, and the tugging of two boats' crews of men
straining with all their might at their stout ashen blades, had the
required effect. We were indeed in motion, and going steadily down the
stream.
"Ahoy, there: Mr Reardon!"
"Answer him, Herrick," said Mr Reardon; and I hailed again.
"Can you keep them off with your fire?"
"Say, yes."
"Yes; all right," I cried.
"Then we'll tow you out as fast as we can."
"Thank Heaven," I heard Mr Reardon whisper, as he crouched there,
listening to the yelling, gong-beating, and firing, and with our men
replying from time to time whenever there seemed a chance.
And now the bullets from the matchlocks began to patter upon the bales;
for the banks were growing lower and lower, and the trees more open, but
not a man was hit; and after another quarter of an hour's sharp replying
we heard fresh cheering, the overshadowing trees on the banks suddenly
began to grow distant. Then it became lighter still, with the stars
twinkling over head and the lights of the _Teaser_ apparently close at
hand.
But the enemy, enraged at our escape, now crowded down to the bank and
began to fire rapidly, while the men replied till the _crack crack_ and
_ping ping_ of the rifles was silenced,--the men stopping as if by
mutual consent. For there was a flash from the side of the _Teaser_
right in front of us, a shell whistled over our heads and crashed in
among the trees where the petty firing of the matchlocks was kept up.
Then--_crash_! the shell sent shrieking amongst them exploded, and all
was still but the steady beating of our oars.
"Are you much hurt, sir?" I said to Mr Reardon; but Ching took the
inquiry to himself.
"Velly stiff; velly hungly," he said.
"I wasn't speaking to you," I cried angrily; for my temper seemed to
have suddenly grown painfully acid, and a titter rose from among the
men.
"No, Mr Herrick, scarcely at all. The bullet struck my cap-band, just
above my temple, and glanced off. I can think more clearly now. How
many men are hurt in this boat?"
There was no reply; and as we at the same moment glided alongside, the
question seemed to be echoed from the _Teaser's_ side high above our
heads.
Still no reply, and the captain said sharply--
"Who is below there, Mr Reardon--Mr Brooke?"
"Ay, ay, sir," cried the latter.
"How many men did you find they had lost?"
"None, sir."
"Brought all off safely?"
"Yes, sir."
A tremendous cheer arose from the deck.
"I felt too giddy to speak just then, Herrick," said Mr Reardon. "Not
one man injured except myself. It is marvellous, my lad. But there; we
had plenty of poor fellows wounded aboard."
Ten minutes later two of the boats were swinging at the davits, and our
two were being towed astern, as the head of the _Teaser_ once more swung
round, and we went down with the tide. We anchored off the mouth of the
muddy river till morning, to which time was put off the hoisting on deck
of the rest of the loot, the account of whose amount and probable value
did more, they said, toward helping on the wounded than any of Dr
Price's ministrations.
But he had serious work with two of the wounded men, who tried very
hard, as he put it, to go out of hand; but he wouldn't let them. Two of
the pirates did die, though, and were cast overboard, sewn up decently
in hammocks, and with shot at their heels.
Seven days later we came to an anchor again off Tsin-Tsin, by which time
Mr Reardon's right eye and temple were horribly discoloured, but in
other respects he was quite well, and was present at what he called our
second gaol delivery, for he came on deck to see the prisoners, wounded
and sound, handed over to the Chinese authorities; but there was no such
display of pomp as on the first occasion, one row-boat only coming
alongside, with a very business-like officer, who superintended the
chaining of the pirates, and bundled them down.
"Just as if they had been so many sacks," Barkins said; and he was very
apt in his comparison.
I only said one word in allusion to the Chinese soldiery and their
officers. That word was--
"Brutes!"
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
A SURPRISE.
I don't think the Chinese authorities were very grateful to us of the
_Teaser_,--there, you see, I say _us_, for I did do something to help in
routing out and destroying two nests of pirates; but the merchants, both
Chinese and English, feted us most gloriously, and if it had not been
for Mr Reardon we three middies might have always been ashore at
dinners and dances.
"But," cried Barkins, "so sure as one gets an invitation he puts his
foot down."
"Yes," said Smith; "and it is such a foot."
"But it's such a pity," grumbled Barkins; "for Tsin-Tsin is after all
rather a jolly place. Mr Brooke says the ball at the consul's last
night was glorious, no end of Chinese swells there, and the music and
dancing was fine."
"Don't be so jolly envious, Tanner," sneered Smith. "You couldn't have
danced if you had gone."
"Dance better than you could," cried Barkins hotly.
"No, you couldn't. Fancy asking a young lady to waltz, and then going
dot-and-go-one round the room with your game leg."
"You've a deal to talk about, Smithy; why, if you asked a lady to dance
you couldn't lift your right arm to put round her waist."
"Couldn't I?" cried Smith. "Look here."
He swung his arm round me, took three steps, and dropped on to the
locker, turning quite white with pain.
"Told you so," cried Barkins, springing up. "Waltz? I should just
think!--oh, murder!"
He sat down suddenly to hold his leg tightly with both hands, giving
Smith a dismal look.
"Oh dear!" he groaned; "what a long time it does take a wound to get
well in this plaguey country. I know that knife was poisoned."
"Nonsense!" I cried, unable to restrain my mirth. "Why, you are both
getting on famously."
"But Dishy might have let us go to the ball last night."
"Play fair," I said; "we've been out to seven entertainments."
"Well, what of that? They've been to a dozen. It's all old Dishy's way
of showing his authority. I'm sure we all work hard when we're on duty,
and run risks enough."
"Go on, you old grumbler. Aren't we to go up the river shooting on
Thursday with Mr Brooke and the doctor?"
"Yes, that's right enough; but we shall be off again soon on another
cruise, and get no more fun for long enough."
"I say, let's ask for a run ashore to-day."
"And get chivvied by the pigtails, same as we did down at that other
place."
"Oh, but perhaps they'll be more civil here," I said.
Smith burst out laughing.
"Why, didn't they pelt you, and shy mud at the skipper?"
"Oh, if you're afraid, you can stop," I said. "Tanner and I can go."
"Afraid!" cried Smith, doubling his fist and holding it within an inch
of my nose. "Say afraid again, you miserable insect, and I'll flatten
you."
"Couldn't with that hand," I said, and I caught his wrist.
"Oh, don't! Murder!" he roared. "I say, you shouldn't. It's like
touching one's arm with red-hot iron."
"Then be civil," I said.
"Ah, only wait. I say, Tanner, our day's coming. As soon as we're both
quite strong he has got to pay for all this, hasn't he?"
"Oh, bother! I say, the skipper and Dishy are both going ashore to-day
with an escort of Jacks and marines."
"Are they?" I said eagerly.
"Yes; there's some game or another on. Let's ask leave, and take old
Ching with us."
"Want to try puppy-pie again?" said Smith, grinning.
"I want to do something for a change. I know! I'll go and see the
doctor, and tell him we want a walk in the country to collect flowers,
and ask him if he'll name them."
"Well, he can't give us leave."
"No; but he'll ask Dishy to let us off."
"Bravo!" cried Smith. "Off you go. I say, though, we must have old
Ching too. You see if he don't come out in his new gown!"
"What new gown?" I said.
"Hallo! didn't you know? He went ashore yesterday and bought himself a
new blue coat. Not a cotton one, but silk, real silk, my boy, and
beckoned me to come and see it,--beckoned with one of his long claws.
He's letting his fingernails grow now, and getting to be quite a swell."
"Oh yes; old Ching's getting quite the gentleman. He says he wrote home
to his broker to sell the fancee shop. What do you think he said,
Gnat?"
"How should I know?" I replied.
"That it wasn't proper for a gentleman in Queen Victolia's service to
keep a fancee shop."
"Murder! Look at that!" cried Smith. "Why, you yellow-skinned old
Celestial, you were listening!"
Barkins and I picked up each something to throw at the round, smooth,
smiling face thrust in at the door, which was held close to the neck, so
that we saw a head and nothing more.
"No flow thing at Ching," the Chinaman said softly. "Offlicer don't
flow thing. Ching come in?"
"Yes," said Barkins, "come in. What is it?"
Ching entered looking very important, and gave his head a shake to make
his tail fall neatly between his shoulders, and drew the long blue
sleeves of his gown over the backs of his hands till only the tips of
his fingers, with their very long nails, were visible.
He advanced smiling at us each in turn, and bowing his round head like a
china mandarin.
"You all velly good boy?" he said softly.
"Oh yes; beauties," said Barkins. "What's up?"
"You likee ask leave go for bit walkee walkee?"
"Don't!" roared Smith. "Don't talk like a nurse to us. Why don't you
speak plain English?"
"Yes; Ching speak ploper Inglis. No speakee pigeon Englis. All ploper.
Interpleter. You likee go shore for walkee, see something?"
"You beggar, you were listening," cried Barkins. "How long had you been
there?"
"Ching just come ask young genelman likee walkee walkee."
"Yes, allee likee walkee walkee velly much," said Barkins, imitating the
Chinaman's squeak. "Why? Can you give us leave?"
Ching shook his head.
"Go ask offlicer. Go for walkee walkee, take Ching; you likee see
something velly nice ploper?"
"Yes," I cried eagerly. "Can you take us to see a Chinese theatre?"
Ching closed his eyes and nodded.
"You come 'long o' Ching, I showee something velly nice ploper."
"All right," I cried. "Now, Tanner, go and try it on with the doctor."
"No, no. Ask offlicer. Doctor only give flizzick. Velly nastee.
Ugh!"
Ching's round face was a study as he screwed it up to show his disgust
with the doctor's preparations.
Barkins went off and returned directly.
"Well," we cried; "seen Price?" and Ching, who was squatted on the
floor, looked up smiling.
"No."
"Not seen him?"
"No; I ran against Dishy, and thought I'd ask him plump."
"And you did?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"I know," cried Smith; "that we were always going out."
"That's it exactly."
"And he won't let us go?" I said in a disappointed tone.
"Who says so?" cried Barkins, changing his manner. "The old chap was in
splendid fettle, and he smiled,--now, now, don't both of you be so jolly
full of doubts. On my honour as an officer and a gentleman, he smiled
and clapped me on the shoulder."
"Yes, my lad, of course," he said. "We shall be off again soon, and
then it will be all work and no play again, and we mustn't make Jack a
dull boy, must we?"
"He's going off his head," said Smith.
"Let him go, then," I cried, "if it makes him like this."
"Don't chatter so, Gnat," cried Smith. "I say, did he really say we
might go?"
"Yes; and that we ought to start at once before the day grew hotter, and
that we were to take great care of ourselves."
"Hurra!"
"And be sure and wash our faces and our hands before we started," added
Barkins.
"Get out; I can see where it joins," I cried. "But did he say any
more?"
"Only that we were to mind and not get into any trouble with the people,
and that we had better take Ching."
"Yes," said that individual gravely. "Much better take Ching. Velly
useful take care."
"To be sure," I cried, full of excitement at the idea of a run through
the mazes of the quaint town, and the prospect of seeing a Chinese
performance. "I say, Ching," I cried, striking an attitude, "take us
where you can give us a tune, `Ti--ope--I--ow.'"
"Yes; velly nicee music," he said, nodding and smiling. "Ching takee
see something velly good. You leady?"
"In five minutes," cried Barkins. "Gnat, go and tell them to have the
boat ready. Mr Reardon said we were to be rowed ashore."
"Ching leady in five minutes," said the interpreter, running towards the
door.
"Eh? Why, you are ready," said Smith.
"No. Go put on new blue silk flock. Leady dilectly."
Ten minutes later we were being rowed ashore, to be landed at the wharf
where we met with so unpleasant an attack a short time before. But
there was no mob of idlers there now, and we stepped ashore, leaving the
good-natured-looking crew smiling at us, and giving the shops many a
longing look, as they pushed off and began to row back at once.
"Plenty time," said Ching. "You likee fust go lestaulant--eatee,
dlinkee, spend plize-money?"
"Can't spend what we haven't yet got, Ching," said Barkins. "What do
you say, lads? I'm hungry again, aren't you?"
Smith sighed.
"I'm always hungry," he said.
"Of course you are. I believe he's hollow all through, Gnat. How do
you feel?"
"As if I haven't had any breakfast," I said earnestly.
Ching smiled.
"Velly much nicee bleakfast all along o' Ching."
He led the way in and out among the narrow streets, apparently again as
much at home as in his own city; and it was hard work to keep from
stopping to gaze at the hundreds of objects which attracted and set me
longing to make purchases to take home for curiosities. But Ching
bustled us along.
"No time now. Come along get good bleakfast. Wantee good bleakfast
before go to see gland show."
"Here, what is it you are going to take us to see, Ching?" cried
Barkins--"all right; I wasn't talking to you," he added, as a couple of
Chinamen turned round to gaze at the young outer barbarian.
"You waitee," cried Ching, smiling; "all velly ploper gland. You likee
see the show."
"Oh, all right. Where's the restaurant?"
"Nex' stleet," said Ching; and after a few minutes he turned into a
showy-looking eating-house, where his blue silk gown and long nails
seemed to command the most profound respect from the attendants; and
where, after laying down the law very stringently to Ching, that we were
to have neither dog, cat, nor rat, we resigned ourselves to our fate,
and ate birds'-nest soup, shark-fin, and a variety of what Barkins
called messes, with midshipmen appetites.
Ching smiled, and seemed to be very proud of our performance.
"You all eat dlink velly much," he said, as we gave up, defeated. "You
all velly quite full?" he said, rubbing his hands carefully, so as not
to injure his long nails.
"Yes, full up, and the hatches battened down," cried Barkins. "Now
then, ask for the bill. How much apiece?"
Ching smiled and nodded his head.
"You come have bleakfast 'long o' Ching. Ching velly glad to see you;
Ching pay."
"What? nonsense!" cried Smith, while we others stared.
"Yes; Ching plenty money. Captain gave Ching plenty plize-money; make
him velly happy to see young offlicer to bleakfast."
"Oh, but we can't let him pay for us, Smithy," cried Barkins.
"No, of course not," we chorussed.
"Ching velly much hurt you want to pay," he said, with dignity.
"But--" I cried.
"You ask Ching bleakfast like Chinese genelman another time, make Ching
velly glad. Come along, makee haste, see gland show."
"But the bill isn't paid," I cried.
"Ching pay long time 'go," he said, rising; and there was nothing for it
but to follow him out and along three or four streets to where there was
a dense crowd in front of a gateway in a high mud wall.
There were some soldiers there too, and Ching walked up full of
importance, showed them some kind of paper, when one, who appeared to be
their officer, spoke to those under him, and they cleared a way for us
to pass to the gate.
Here Ching knocked loudly, and the gate was opened by another soldier;
the paper was shown; and an important-looking official came up, looked
at us, and made way for us to enter.
"It's all right," said Smith. "Ching knows the manager. It will be a
private box."
The official pointed to our left, and Ching led the way behind a kind of
barricade where there were seats erected, and, selecting a place, he
smilingly made us sit down.
"Ching know gleat mandalin," he said. "Askee let come see gland show."
"But what's it going to be?" I asked, as I looked curiously round the
square enclosure surrounded by a high wall, and with seats and pens on
three sides. "I thought we were coming to a theatre!"
"No," said Ching, smiling. "Velly gland show; wait."
We waited, and saw that the space in front of us was neatly sanded, that
posts stood up here and there. In other places there were cross bars,
and in two there were ropes hanging.
"I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
It's Chinese athletic sports. Look, there's the band coming."
He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs,
and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd
of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places
reserved behind the barriers.
Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and
formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best
places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
"You're right, Tanner," said Smith just then; "but they're military
athletic sports. I say, here come the grandees."
For in procession about twenty gorgeously-arrayed officials came
marching in, and the next moment I gave Barkins a dig in the ribs.
"Look," I said.
"All right; I see. Well, we needn't mind. But I say, what a game if we
hadn't got leave!"
"I say," whispered Smith, "look over there. The skipper and old Dishy!
This was where they were coming, then; they'll see us directly."
"Let 'em," said Barkins, as the party settled themselves. "Now then,
we're all here. All in to begin. We ought to have a programme. Here,
Ching, what's the first thing they do?"
"Ching no quite sure; p'laps lichi."
"Lichi?" I said.
"You don't know? You see velly gland--velly ploper for bad, bad man."
He turned away to speak to a Chinese officer close at hand, while we
began to feel wondering and suspicious, and gazed at each other with the
same question on our lips.
Ching turned to us again, and I being nearest whispered--
"I say, what place is this? What are they going to do?"
"Bring out allee wicked men. Choppee off head."
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
THE ENTERTAINMENT.
I felt as it were a sudden jar run through me when I heard Ching's
words. It was as if I had been awakened by a sudden revelation. This,
then, was the grand show he had contrived for us as a treat! It was all
clear enough: our officers had been invited to the execution of the
pirates we had taken, and conceiving, with all a Chinaman's indifference
to death, that we three lads, who had been present at their capture,
would consider it as a great treat to be witnesses of the punishment
awarded by the Government, Ching had contrived to get permission for us
to be present.
I glanced at the Tanner, who had grasped the situation, and was screwing
his face up so as to look perfectly unconcerned; but it was a dismal
failure, for I could see a peculiar twitching going on at the corners of
his eyes, and he passed his tongue rapidly over his lips and went
through the action of swallowing as if his mouth and throat were dry.
I next looked at Smithy, whose eyes showed more white than usual, and
whose complexion was of a sickly-green, just as I had seen it during
some very rough weather we had going down the Channel on first starting
for this voyage.
How I looked I have only Barkins' word for, and he told me afterwards
that I seemed as if I was waiting for my turn to suffer with the
pirates.
After the sharp glance I gave at my fellows neither of us stirred, but
sat there as if petrified. I was horror-stricken, and there was a
strong impulse upon me to jump up and run out, but shame and the dread
of being considered cowardly kept me in my place. In fact, as
after-confessions made clear, we were absolutely stunned, and I don't
think we could have stirred had we made up our minds to go.
Then I felt dizzy, and the brilliant group of officials and military
magnates and judges opposite to where we sat grew blurred and
strange-looking in the bright sunshine.
At last I felt as if I must argue out the question, and with my teeth
set firm, and my eyes fixed upon the sandy ground of the enclosure, some
such thoughts as these ran through my brain--"It is only just that these
men should suffer for their horrible crimes, for they are more dangerous
than venomous serpents, and I suppose that Captain Thwaites and
Lieutenant Reardon are obliged to come as a kind of duty; but we three
came under the idea that we were to see some kind of exhibition, and old
Ching did it out of kindness, not knowing of what kind of stuff we were
made. I shan't stop."
There I paused to fight with other ideas.
"Tanner and Blacksmith will laugh at me and think I am a coward. Well,
let them," I said to myself at last. "It isn't cowardice not to wish to
see such a horror as this. I didn't feel cowardly when they were
shooting at us down in the creek, and it would be far more cowardly to
sit here against my will without speaking. I will tell them I want to
go."
I should think that every lad of the age I then was, will pretty well
understand my feelings, and what a bitter thing it was to turn and
confess what they would jeer at and call "funk." It was hard work
indeed.
"I don't care," I muttered. "I know they'll protest and say they don't
want to come, but be very glad to come away all the time. I will
speak."
Just then that horrible Chinaman turned to me with his round fat face,
all smiling and delighted.
"You velly glad you come?" he said. "You feel velly happy?"
My mind was made up at this, and I spoke out.
"No," I said in a husky whisper. "I didn't know we had come to see
this. I shall go."
"What?" said Barkins, with a forced laugh. "Look here, Blacksmith, he's
showing the white feather."
"Ho! ho!" laughed Smith. "Come, Gnat, I thought you had a little more
spirit in you. Serve the beggars right."
"Yes, I know that," I said firmly enough now, as I looked at their
faces, which, in spite of the masks they had assumed, looked ghastly;
"and I daresay I haven't pluck enough to sit it out. But I don't care
for your grins; I'm not ashamed to say that I shall go."
"Oh, well, if you feel that it would upset you," said Barkins, in a tone
of voice full of protest, "I suppose that we had better see you off, and
go somewhere else."
"Poof!" ejaculated Smith in a low tone. "Look at him, Gnat; he's in
just as much of a stew as you are. Well, it's too bad of you both, but
if you must go, why, I suppose we must."
"You beggar!" snarled Barkins angrily. "Why, you're worse than I am.
Look at him, Gnat! There, I will own it. I felt sick as soon as I knew
what was going to happen, but I won't be such a bumptious, bragging
sneak as he is. Look at his face. It's green and yellow. He wants to
go worse than we do."
Smith did not seem to be listening, for his starting eyes were fixed
upon the far right-hand gate, over which there was a kind of pagoda, and
he rose from his seat.
"Come on at once," he whispered, "they're going to begin."
"Confessed!" whispered Barkins, pinching my knee. "Come on then quick,
Gnat, old man; it's too horrid."
We all rose together, and were in the act of turning when a low hoarse
murmur rose from behind, and we saw that a crowd of angry faces were
gazing at us, and that they were nearly all armed men.
But before we had recovered from our surprise, Ching had caught my arm
and pressed me to my seat.
"No go now," he whispered, with a look of alarm in his face, and he
leaned over me and dragged my companions down in turn. "No can go now.
Allee gate fasten. Makee blave velly angly and dlaw sword; fightee
fightee. Ching velly solly. Must stop now."
There was a low hissing noise all about us, and threatening looks, while
a fierce man in embroidered silk said something in his own tongue to
Ching, who answered humbly, and then tamed to us and whispered--
"Small-button mandalin say make big-button peacock-feather mandalin
velly angly. You no sit still. Sh! sh!"
"We must sit it out, boys," I said, with a shudder; "but we need not
look."
My words were quite correct to a certain extent, but as my companions,
who now looked more ghastly than ever, sank back in their seats, I felt
compelled to gaze across to where I could now see a red table exactly
facing me. Then a movement to the right caught my attention, and
through the far gateway, and lowering it a little as he passed under the
archway, rode an officer with a yellow silk banner, upon which were
large black Chinese characters. Behind him came some more
showily-dressed officials; and then, in a kind of sedan chair, one whom
I at once saw to be the chief mandarin, for whom we had been waiting.
He was carried across to the front, where he alighted and walked slowly
across to the red table, followed by sword, spear, and matchlock men,
who, as he took his place at the table, ranged themselves on either side
facing us, and completing a spectacle that, seen there in the bright
light, strongly suggested the opening of some grand pantomime.
I remember thinking this, and then shuddering at the horrible thought,
and at the same time I began wondering at the intense interest I could
not help taking in what was going on.
Two more grandees in chairs of state followed, and then there was a
pause. I could see that our officers were politely saluted, and that
care was taken that no one should be in front of them. And now came the
more exciting part of the terrible exhibition.
Suddenly there was the loud booming of a gong, and the head of an escort
of spearmen marched through the gateway, followed by a group of men in
twos, each pair bearing a long bamboo pole, from which, hanging in each
case like a scale, was a large basket, and heavily chained in each
basket was a man, whom we knew at once to be one of the pirates we had
captured, without Ching whispering to us--
"Velly bad men, killee evelybody. They killee now."
My eyes would not close. They were fascinated by the horrible
procession; and I now saw, just in front of the bearers, a tall-looking
bare-headed man carrying a large bright sword, curved in the fashion we
see in old pictures of the Turkish scimitar, a blade which increases in
width from the hilt nearly to the end, where it is suddenly cut off
diagonally to form a sharp point.
Behind this man marched five more, the procession moving right to the
front between us and the brilliant party whose centre was the principal
mandarin.
I now saw, too, that every one of the miserable culprits was ticketed or
labelled, a bamboo upon which a piece of paper was stuck being attached
to his neck and head.
A low murmur ran round among the spectators, as, at a signal from the
man with the great sword, who I saw now must be the executioner, the
bearers stopped, and with a jerk threw the poles off their shoulders
into their hands, bumped the baskets heavily down upon the ground, and
shot the malefactors out as unceremoniously as if they had been so much
earth.
I heard Barkins draw a deep breath, and saw Smith leaning forward and
gazing wildly at the scene, while I felt my heart go _throb throb_
heavily, and found myself wishing that I had not shared in the capture
of the wretched men.
The chief mandarin then turned to the officer on horseback, who carried
the imperial yellow flag, said a few words in a low tone, and he in turn
pushed his horse a little forward to where the executioner was waiting,
and evidently conveyed the mandarin's orders.
Then suddenly the pirates, as if moved by one consent, struggled to
their feet and began shouting.
Ching placed his lips close to my ear--
"Say, please no choppee off head. Velly bad men, killee lot always;
velly bad."
And now I felt that the time had come to close my eyes, but they
remained fixed. I could not avert my gaze from a scene which was made
more horrible by a struggle which took place between the first pirate of
the long row in which they stood and the executioner.
The man shouted out some words angrily, and Ching interpreted them in my
ear, his explanation being in company with a strange surging noise--
"Say he come back and killee him if he choppee off head. Oh, he velly
bad man."
But quickly, as if quite accustomed to the task, two of the
executioner's assistants rushed at the pirate; one of them forced him
down into a kneeling position; they then seized his long tail, drew it
over his head and hung back, thus holding the pirate's neck
outstretched; lastly, I saw the executioner draw back, the sword
flashed, I heard a dull thud--the head fell, and the body rolled over on
one side.
Before I could drag my eyes from the horror there was the same terrible
sound again, and another head fell upon the ground, while, with a
rapidity that was astounding, the assistants passed from one culprit to
the other in the long row, the miserable wretches making not the
slightest resistance, but kneeling patiently in the position in which
they were thrust, while _whish, whish, whish_, the executioner lopped
off their heads at one blow.
"Allee done," said Ching. "Execution man have velly much plactice."
He said this to me, but I made no reply, for the whole place seemed to
be going round and round.
"You thinkee they all come back again and have junk? Go kill shoot
evelybody, pilate ghost-man?"
"No," I said hoarsely; "can we go now?"
"Velly soon. Gleat clowd all along gate. Lookee, Mis' Tanner go
s'eep."
These words roused me, and I turned to Barkins, who was lying back with
his eyes nearly closed and looking ghastly, while Smith sat staring
straight before him, with his hands grasping the seat on either side, in
a stiff, awkward position.
"Here, Smithy," I said, "quick, Tanner has fainted;" but he took no
notice, and I whispered to him angrily--
"Get up. It's all over now. Come and help me. Don't let these
horrible people see Tanner like this."
He turned to me then, and let his eyes fall on our messmate.
"Can you get me a drink of water, Ching?" he murmured.
"Yes, d'leckly; wait lit' bit. Po' Mr Barki' Tanner leg velly bad,
makee sick. You' alm velly bad still?"
"Very bad; it throbs," murmured Smith.
"Ah, yes! Wait lit' bit and no clowd. Ching take you have cup flesh
tea, and quite well d'leckly. You not likee execution?"
I shook my head.
"Velly good job cut allee head off. No go killee killee, burn ship no
more."
"We're not used to seeing such things," I said weakly, as I supported
Barkins to keep him from slipping to the ground.
"You no go see execution when Queen Victolia cut off bad men's head?"
I shook my head.
"Ah, I see," said Ching. "Me tink you have velly gleat tleat. But I
see, not used to see. Velly blave boy, not mind littlee bit next time."
"What's the matter? Don't, doctor. It's getting well now."
It was Barkins who spoke, and his hands went suddenly to his injured
leg, and held it, as he bent over towards it and rocked himself to and
fro.
"Throbs and burns," he said, drawing in his breath as if in pain. "I--
I--"
He looked round wildly.
"I remember now," he said faintly. "Don't laugh at me, you chaps. I
turned sick as a dog as soon as that butchering was over. I never felt
like this over the fighting. I say, Gnat, did I faint right away?"
"Yes, dead!" I said; "I was nearly as bad."
"Enough to make you. But oh, my leg, how it does sting! I say, isn't
it queer that it should come on now? Did the fainting do it?"
"I dunno," said Smith hastily, "but my arm aches horribly. I say, do
let's get away from here, or I shall be obliged to look over yonder
again."
"Yes, I'm all right again now," said Barkins quietly. "Let's get away.
I say, lads, it's of no use to be humbugs; we did all feel precious bad,
eh?"
We looked at each other dolefully.
"Yes, let's get away," I said. "I thought we were coming out for a
jolly day."
Barkins shuddered and now stood up.
"Yes," he said; "I hope the skipper liked it. Can you see him now?"
"Skipper? Cap'n?" said Ching, whose ears were always sharp enough to
catch our words. "Gone along, Mr Leardon. Make gland plocession all
away back to palace. You go sail, soon catch more pilate."
"I hope, if we do," said Smith, "that we shall not bring back any
prisoners."
The enclosure was thinning fast now, as we walked toward the gateway by
which we had entered, where a strong body of soldiers had been on guard
over the barricades, in case of an attempt being made by the pirates'
friends to rescue them, and we saw plainly enough that had we wanted
there would have been no getting away.
"You likee go in and see plison?" said Ching insinuatingly. "Plenty bad
men lock up safe."
"No, thank you," I said eagerly. "Let's get out of this, and go and
have some tea."
"Yes, plenty tea. Ching show way."
The Chinese soldiers stared at us haughtily as we walked by, and I drew
myself up, hoping that no one there had witnessed our weakness, for if
they had I knew that they could not feel much respect for the
blue-jackets who hunted down the scoundrels that infested their seas.
Both Barkins and Smith must have felt something after the fashion that I
did, for they too drew themselves up, returned the haughty stares, and
Barkins stopped short to look one truculent savage fellow over from head
to foot, especially gazing at his weapons, and then, turning coolly to
me, he said, with a nod in the man's direction--
"Tidy sort of stuff to make soldiers off, Gnat, but too heavy."
The man's eyes flashed and his hand stole toward his sword hilt.
"'Tention!" roared Barkins with a fierce stamp, and though the order was
new to the guard, he took it to be a military command and stepped back
to remain stiff and motionless.
"Ha! that's better," cried Barkins, and he nodded and then passed on
with us after Ching, whose eyes bespoke the agony of terror he felt.
"Come long quickee," he whispered excitedly. "Very big blave that
fellow. Killee--fightee man. You no 'flaid of him?"
"Afraid? No," said Barkins shortly. "There, let's have this tea."
Ching glanced round once, and we were about to imitate his example, but
he said excitedly--
"No, no, don't lookee. Big blave talkee talkee soldier, and tink Inglis
offlicer 'flaid. Walkee past."
He led us as quickly as he could get us to go towards the tea-house he
sought, and I must own that I was only too anxious about the Chinese
guards to help feeling in a good deal of perturbation lest they should
feel that they had been insulted, and follow us so as to take revenge.
Hence I was glad enough to get within the tea-house's hospitable walls,
and sat there quite content to go on sipping the fragrant infusion for
long enough.
I suppose we were there quite an hour and a half drinking tea, until we
were satisfied, and then passing a look round to draw attention to our
interpreter, who sat back with his eyes half closed, sipping away cupful
after cupful, till Smith whispered to me that he thought he had kept
correct account.
"How many do you think Ching has had?" he whispered.
"Don't know; nearly a dozen?"
"Fifty-three, or thereabouts," whispered Smith.
But I did not believe him, and I do not think he believed himself.
"Now, you likee go 'long see somethin' else?" said Ching, when he had
really drunk tea enough.
"Yes," said Barkins, "I feel ready. What do you say to going to see the
_Teaser_, lads?" he continued.
"I'm willing," said Smith. "I want to lie down."
"You ready, Gnat?"
"Oh yes," I replied. "I don't feel as if I could enjoy anything
to-day."
"Right, then. No, Ching; back on board ship."
"You go velly soon? Now?"
"Yes, directly."
Ching smiled--he had a habit of smiling at everything nearly, and we
paid our reckoning and followed him down to the landing-place, to arrive
there just in time to see the barge with the captain and his escort
gliding rapidly away toward the ship.
"Too soon findee boat," said Ching. "Tellee man come when sun go out of
sight."
"Yes, and that means two hours good," said Barkins. "Look here, Ching,
hire a boat cheap. Get a fellow with a sailing-boat, if you can."
"Yes," said the Chinaman, nodding his head in a satisfied way, "Good
boat--velly nice boat--boat with velly big sail fly over water, eh?"
"Yes, that's it," said Barkins. "And look sharp, for there are a lot of
low blackguardly-looking fellows coming up, and we don't want another
row."
Barkins was quite right, for, as in our own seaports, there were plenty
of roughs about, and whether in blue frocks and pith boots or British
rags, the loafer is much the same. Ching saw at a glance that the
sooner we were off the better, and hurried us a little way along the
wharf till he saw a boat that seemed suitable.
"You all get in velly quick," he said.
"But we must make a bargain with the man."
"Plesently," he replied, as we hurried in, and he ordered the man in
charge to put off.
The man began to protest volubly, but Ching rose up, and with a fierce
look rustled his new coat and sat down again, with the result that the
man loosened the rope which held his boat to the side, and the swift
tide began to bear us away directly, the man hoisting up a small
matting-sail and then meekly thrusting an oar over, with which to steer.
"Why, what did you say to him, Ching?" I asked; and the interpreter
smiled, and wrinkled up his eyes till he resembled a piece of old china
on a chimney-piece.
"Ching say velly lit' bit; only shake his new coat till common man see
it silk. He feel velly much flighten all a same, as if big-button
mandalin get in him boat."
"And what shall we have to pay him?"
"P'laps nothing 'tall."
"Oh, nonsense!" I said. "We must pay him the proper fare."
"Velly well, pay him ploper money."
I anticipated trouble, but when we got to the side and a dollar was
handed to the man, his heavy round face lit up with pleasure, and he
said something aloud.
"What does he say, Ching?" I asked.
"Say velly glad, and didn't tink he get anything 'tall."
We made the best of our way below, fully expecting that, if the captain
and Mr Reardon saw us, they would take us to task for being at the
execution, and ask; us how we dared to follow them there. But, as luck
had it, they had been too much occupied by the horrible affair in
progress, and our presence had escaped them. But it was a long while
before I could get the scene out of my head or think of our trip ashore
that day as anything but a horrible mistake.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
"MAN OVERBOARD."
It was a great relief to us all to find that our visit to the Chinese
prison had not been noticed. We of course kept silence about it, not
even telling Mr Brooke, who was the most friendly of our officers, and
we had the satisfaction of finding that Ching obeyed our orders, and
kept his peace.
I used to be rather sorry for him, his position being so solitary on
board. For he could not make himself at home with the sailors in the
forecastle, and though as frank, good-hearted fellows as ever lived,
they seemed to look upon him only in one way, that of being a butt for
their sharp witticisms, an object upon whom they were to play practical
jokes.
Consequently I used often, when I found him standing alone by the
bulwarks watching the shore, to edge up to him, and stop to talk; our
conversation being directed by me toward some little unpleasantry in the
forecastle, which if he had complained about to the first lieutenant,
there would have been a severe reprimand.
I remember one of these occasions, when Ching came flying up out of the
hatch, followed by a roar of laughter, and as he reached the deck,
_clang-clang_ went something against the sides of the hatch; but Ching
paid no heed, running forward till he was right up by the side of the
bowsprit.
I followed quickly, feeling angry on the man's behalf.
"What's the matter?" I cried. "What have they been doing?"
"No know," he said rather pitifully, as he stood there trembling. "Done
something. Thlow tin-kettle after."
"But what for? What were you doing?"
"Doing? fass 'sleep, dleam 'bout big fly come and bite leg. Jump up and
lun. Then thlow kettle after."
"Here, let's look," I said; for as he shook his head there was the same
hollow sound again, just like that made by a tin sheep-bell.
"Why, they've tied it to you," I said sharply.
"Tie to Ching flock? Don't matter. Not bess blue silkee."
"Here, let me see," I cried. "Turn round."
He turned sharply, and something banged against the bulwark.
"What a shame!" I cried. "They've tied the old canister to your tail."
"Tie canny all along Ching tow-chang?" he cried.
"Yes, and it's a rascally shame."
"Yes, allee lascally shame," he said, nodding his head. "Not hurt
velly. Only flighten velly much, makee lun fass."
"Stand still, and I'll soon have it off," I cried, whipping out my
knife.
"No, no," he cried, dragging the long plait from my hand; "mightee cut
tow-chang, and that velly dleadful. Take long time glow."
"Very well, then. I'll unfasten it, and show it to Mr Reardon."
"What for? make Mis' Leardon velly angly, scold jolly sailor boy. Then
they not like Ching 'tall."
"But it's too bad; treating you just as if you were a dog."
"Jolly sailor boy tie tin-pot dog tow-chang? No. Mr Hellick make
laugh. Dog not got tow-chang."
"No," I said, trying very hard to get the pot off, "but dogs have got
tails."
"Yes, got tails. Don't tellee, make no good. Didn't hurt Ching."
"But it's an insult to you," I said. "Any one would think they were a
pack of boys."
"Yes, jolly sailor boy. You no makee come off?"
"No," I said. "They've made a big hole through the bottom of the
canister, pushed the end of the tail--"
"Tow-chang."
"Well, tow-chang, if you like to call it so--through into the inside,
and then hammered the tin back round it and made it as fast as fast.
Here, I shall have to cut it, Ching."
"No, no," he cried, seizing the canister. "No cuttee piece of
tow-chang."
"Then how are we to get it off?"
"Don't know, Mr Hellick; look velly bad?"
"Horrible--absurd; every one will laugh at you."
"Yes, velly bad. Ching put it in pocket."
"Oh, you're there, are you?" I cried, as Tom Jecks came cautiously on
deck. "I should have thought that a man of your years would have known
better than to help torment this poor Chinaman."
"Not velly poor," he whispered. "Ching got fancee shop. Plenty
plize-money now."
"Didn't have nought to do with it," growled Tom Jecks.
"Then who did, sir?"
"Dunno, sir; some o' the boys. I was caulking till they wakened me wi'
laughing."
"But you saw it done?"
"No, sir; it was all done aforehand. They'd turned his tail into a
bull-roarer, and if you was to swing it round now like a windmill, it
would make no end of a row."
"Silence, sir," I cried. "It's disgraceful."
"Lor', sir, they on'y meant it for a bit of a lark."
"Then they should lark among themselves, and not take advantage of a
poor foreigner whom they ought to protect."
"Yes, sir, that's right enough. But he were asleep, and it didn't hurt
him till one on 'em stuck a pin in his leg to waken him up."
"Ah!" I cried. "Who did?"
"Well, sir," said Tom Jecks. "Now you do puzzle me above a bit. It was
one o' the lads, because the pin must have gone into his leg, for he
squeaked out and then run up the ladder with the tin-pot banging about
right and left, but who it was stuck that pin in, it were so dark that I
couldn't say."
"You mean that you won't say, Tom?"
"Well, sir, you're orficer, and I'm on'y AB, and I shan't contradict
you; have it that way if you like."
"I shall say no more, but we'll see what Mr Reardon says when he hears
about it."
"Why, Mr Herrick, sir, yo' wouldn't go and tell upon the poor lads,
would you? It were on'y a bit of a game, were it, Mr Ching?"
"No, only bit game," said the Chinaman.
"There, you hear, sir. There wasn't no bones broke."
"Hold your tongue, sir."
"Cert'n'y, sir."
"And come here."
Tom Jecks stepped forward obsequiously.
"Look, the tin sticks all round fast into the tail as if it were a
rabbit trap."
"Ay, sir, it do; and if I might say so, they managed it very cleverly."
"Cleverly?"
"Yes, sir. If I'd been doing it, I should on'y have thought of tying it
on with a bit o' spun-yarn; but this here tin holds it wonderful tight."
"How are we to get it off?"
"Oh, I can soon get it off," cried Tom Jecks, who seemed to be imbued
with the same notion as Alexander of old, who unsheathed his sword to
cut the Gordian knot. For he hauled out his knife by the lanyard,
opened the blade with his teeth, and took a step forward, but Ching held
the canister behind him and dodged round me.
"Steady, my lad," growled Tom Jecks, "it arn't a operation. Stand by."
"No, no, no!" shrieked Ching.
"Steady, my lad, I'll soon have it off. I won't cut down to the bone."
"No, no!" cried Ching, who was excited and alarmed, and who now began
chattering in his own tongue, all _pang ang nong wong ong_, and a series
of guttural sounds, while I could do nothing for laughing, but had to
stand like a post for Ching to dodge behind.
"Why don't you stand by, messmate?" growled Tom Jecks. "You can't go
through life with that there tin-kettle tied to your tail. Fust one as
see yer will be calling, `Mad dog.'"
By this time the watch had come to see what was going on, and I now
began to feel sorry for the Chinaman.
"Here, Ching," I said. "Come down below."
But he was too much alarmed for the moment to listen to my words,
expecting every moment as he was that some one would make a snatch at
his tail, to obviate which accident he was now holding the canister
tightly beneath his arm, and looking wildly round for a way to escape.
"Hadn't we better have it took off, sir?" said Tom Jecks, and there was
a roar of laughter. "Let's ketch him and take him to the doctor."
"No, no!" cried Ching, dodging round me again, for Tom Jecks, to the
delight of the others, made a snatch at him.
"You'll be a deal more comfortable, messmate--you know you will. Here,
let's have it?"
Tom Jecks made another snatch at him, but Ching avoided it, and to save
him from further annoyance I too made a snatch.
Poor fellow, interpreter though he was, he misinterpreted my intentions.
He tore away from my grasp and made a rush forward, but several men
were coming in that direction, and he dashed back to find himself faced
by Tom Jecks again. In his desperation he charged right at the sailor,
lowering his head as he did so, and striking him with so much force that
Tom Jecks went down sprawling, and Ching leaped over him.
There was no way open to him for escape, as it seemed, and he made a
rush for the side, leaped up, was on the bulwarks in an instant, and
made a snatch at the foremast shrouds as if to climb up into the
rigging, when either his foot slipped or his long loose cotton jacket
caught in something, I don't know how it was, but one moment I saw him
staggering, the next there was the terrible cry of "Man overboard"
raised as I rushed toward the side, heard the splash, and got upon the
bulwark in time to see the agitated water.
That was all.
It was rapidly getting dark, the tide was running swiftly seaward, and
even if the Chinaman could swim it seemed very doubtful whether he could
maintain himself long, hampered as he was by his loose clinging clothes.
But at the raising of the cry, "Man overboard," there is not much time
lost on board a man-of-war. A crew leaped into the boat; the falls were
seized; and in a minute the keel touched the water, and I found myself,
as I stood on the bulwark holding on by a rope, called upon to direct
those who had gone.
"Which way, sir? See him?"
I could only answer no, and then reply to Mr Reardon, who came up
panting.
"Who is it?" he cried. "Mr Herrick?"
"No, sir, I'm here," I shouted. "It's the interpreter."
"And what business had he up on the hammock-rail?" roared the lieutenant
as he climbed up there himself. "Steady, my lads, he can't be far."
At that moment there was a flash, and a brilliant blue-light burst out
on the surface of the black water, sending a glare all round from where
it floated on the trigger life-buoy, which had been detached and glided
away astern, while directly after a second blue-light blazed out from
the stern of the boat, showing the men dipping their oars lightly, and
two forward and two astern shading their eyes and scanning the flashing
and sparkling water.
"Can't you see him?" roared the lieutenant.
"No, sir."
We leaped downward, hurried right aft where the captain and the other
officers were now gathered, and the orders were given for a second boat
to be lowered and help to save the poor fellow.
"He ought to float, sir," said Mr Reardon in answer to some remark from
the captain. "He's fat enough."
Then he began shouting orders to the men to row to and fro; and my heart
sank as I vainly searched the lit-up water, for there was no sign of the
unfortunate Chinaman.
"What a horrible ending to a practical joke!" I thought, and a bitter
feeling of disappointment assailed me, as I asked myself why I had not
gone in the second boat to help save the poor fellow.
Perhaps it was vanity, but in those exciting moments I felt that if I
had been there I might have seen him, for it never occurred to me that I
had a far better chance of seeing him from my post of vantage high up on
that quarter-deck rail.
"See him yet?"
"No, sir!"--"No, sir!"
The first hail loudly from close by, the other from far away where the
blue-lights shone.
"Bless my soul!" cried Mr Reardon, with an angry stamp. "I can't
understand it. He must have come up again."
"Unless his pockets were heavily laden," said the captain, going to
where Mr Reardon stood. "These men carry a great deal about them under
their long loose clothes. Some heavy copper money, perhaps. A very
little would be enough to keep a struggling man down."
"Ha!" ejaculated Mr Reardon, while I shivered at the idea of poor old
Ching coming to so terrible an end.
"A glass here!" cried Mr Reardon, and one was handed up to him.
"Try the life-buoy," cried the captain.
"Bless me, sir, I was going to," retorted the lieutenant irritably; "but
the idiot who uses this glass ought to be turned out of the service for
being short-sighted. I shall never get it to the right focus."
The captain gave a dry cough, and I turned round sharply, expecting to
hear some angry exclamation.
"No," cried Mr Reardon, "he is not clinging to the life-buoy. I
wouldn't for anything that it should have happened. Poor fellow! Poor
fellow!"
"Ay, poor fellow!" muttered Captain Thwaites. "Any use to lower another
boat, Reardon?"
"No, sir, no," cried the lieutenant, "or I would have had one down.
Ahoy there!" he roared. "Light another blue!"
"Ay, ay, sir!" came from far away, for the tide ran hissing by our sides
in full rush for the sea, and the third blue-light which blazed out
looked smaller and smaller, while those of the first boat and the
life-buoy began to show faint, and then all at once that on the buoy
seemed to go out.
"That blue-light ought to have burned longer on the buoy," cried Mr
Reardon.
"They've picked up the buoy and laid it across the bows of the boat,"
said Mr Brooke, who was watching through his night-glass, and at that
moment the light blazed out again like a star.
And still the halos shed by the lights grew fainter and fainter. Then
one light burned out, and the lieutenant stamped with anger, but there
was no cause for his irritation. Another flashed out directly.
The boats were too far away now for us to see much of what was going on,
the heads of the men growing blurred, but we saw that they were
zig-zagging across the tide, and we listened in vain for the hail and
the cheer that should accompany the words--
"Got him, sir!"
The buzz of conversation among the men, who clustered on deck, in the
shrouds and tops, grew fainter, and I was thinking whether I was very
much to blame, and if I could in any way have saved the poor fellow.
Then I began thinking of the men in the forecastle, and their punishment
for being the cause, in their boyish way of playing tricks, of the poor
Chinaman's death.
I wouldn't be Tom Jecks for all the world, I muttered, and then I turned
cold and shuddered, as the hope, faint though it was, of Ching being
picked up went out like one of the lights that now disappeared; for
Captain Thwaites said sadly--
"I'm afraid we must recall the boats, Mr Reardon."
"Yes, sir," said the lieutenant in a husky voice. "I don't think any
one is to blame about the attempt to save the poor fellow, sir. The
life-buoy was let go, and the boat lowered promptly; the dishipline of
the men was good."
"Excellent, Mr Reardon. I have nothing to say there. It would have
been better perhaps to have lowered down the second boat sooner. But I
think we have done our best. Can you make them hear from this
distance?"
"Yes, I think so; a voice will travel far over the smooth water on a
still night like this. Shall I recall them?"
Captain Thwaites was silent for a full minute, and we all stood gazing
aft at the faint stars on the black water, while to right and left were
those that were more dim and distant, being the paper lanterns of the
house-boats moored a short distance from the bank.
Then the captain spoke again, and his words re-illumined the parting
light of hope which flashed up like an expiring flame.
"Do you think he has struck out straight for the shore?"
"He may have done so, sir," replied Mr Reardon, as we all stood in a
knot together on the quarter-deck, "but he could never have reached it."
"Not in this mill-race of a tide!" said Captain Thwaites. "Recall the
boats."
But Mr Reardon made no sign. He stood there gazing through the
night-glass for some moments, and the captain spoke again.
"Recall the boats, Mr Reardon."
"I beg your pardon, sir," said the lieutenant, with quite a start.
"Aloft there! Who's in the foretop?"
"Ay, ay, sir; Jecks, sir."
I shivered.
"Hail the boats to come back."
The man did not answer for a moment, and Mr Reardon made an angry
gesture, but just then Tom Jecks, with his hands to his mouth, sent
forth a hoarse deep-toned roar.
Then there was a pause and a faintly-heard hail came from far away, the
zig-zagging movement of the boats ceased, and we saw one of them, that
is to say one of the lights, glide slowly toward the other, till one was
apparently only a short distance in front, and the other following.
"Let me know when the boats come alongside, Mr Reardon," said the
captain quietly.
"Yes, sir."
"And, by the way, I'll trouble you for my night-glass."
Mr Reardon gave a violent start.
"Your night-glass, sir?" he said.
"Yes, mine; you borrowed it."
The lieutenant handed the telescope without a word, and at another time
we should all have had to turn away to smother the desire to burst out
laughing, as we recalled the irritable remarks about the idiot to whom
the glass belonged, and the wretchedness of his eyesight, coupled with
an opinion that he ought to be dismissed the service.
But it was not a time for mirth: we were all too sad, and Barkins
contented himself with whispering--
"I say, I'm jolly glad it wasn't I who said that. Don't the skipper
take it coolly now? But he'll give old Dishy a talking-to for it when
he gets him alone."
Mr Reardon's face was not visible to us, but we could see his
movements, which were, so to speak, fidgety, for he began to walk up and
down hastily, and once or twice I heard him mutter--
"How could I be such a fool?"
A dead chill had settled down upon the ship, and I felt as I stood there
as if eight or nine years had suddenly dropped away from me--that I was
a little child again, and that I should like to creep below somewhere
out of sight, or sit down and cry and sob.
For it was such a horrible lesson to me of the nearness of death, and I
felt as if it was impossible for it all to be true--that it must be some
terrible dream.
And now for the first time it dawned upon me that I had a liking for the
strange, simple-hearted Chinaman, who had always shown himself to be
frank, honest, and brave in our service. He had been comic and
peculiar, but always devoted to me as a faithful servant; and now, just
too as I was joining in the mirth against him, instead of being
indignant on behalf of one who had been insulted by the men's horseplay,
he was as it were snatched from life to death.
I was brought back to the present by a voice at my ear--
"Poor old Ching! I am sorry, Gnat."
"Yes, and so am I."
I had not seen my messmates all through the trouble, and now they
appeared close to me in the darkness in a way which made me start.
I turned to them, and I don't know how it was, but as we three stood
there in the darkness, which was hardly relieved by a lantern here and
there, Barkins held out his hand and shook mine, holding it tightly
without letting go. Directly after, Smith took my other hand to give it
a warm, strong pressure; and then we three parted without a word more,
Barkins going one way, Smith another, while I went to the stern rail and
leaned my arms upon it, and then rested my chin upon my arms to gaze out
over the rushing water at the two blue stars.
But they were not there now. They had burned out some time before, and
I could see nothing, only take it for granted that the boats were being
slowly rowed back against the heavy tide, our anchor-lights acting as
their guide.
"Is it possible that they have found him after all?" I thought, and for
a minute I was hopeful. But once more the hope died out, for I knew
well enough that if they had picked the poor fellow up they would have
cheered.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
A SURPRISE.
That night had set in very dark. The clouds were heavy overhead, and
the river now looked intensely black, but toward the shore there were
the dull lights of the Chinese town glimmering in the water, while from
some building, whether on account of a religious ceremony or a festival,
a great gong was being beaten heavily, its deep, sonorous, quivering
tones floating over the place, and reaching my ears like the tolling of
a church bell.
It only wanted that depressing sound to make my spirits at the lowest
ebb, and set me thinking of home, the perils of the career in which I
was engaged, and wondering whether I should ever see England again.
The watch had been set, and from time to time Mr Reardon came aft to
look anxiously astern.
The last time Mr Brooke was with him, and they stopped near where I was
standing.
"But they ought to be back by now," Mr Reardon said.
"It's a long pull," Mr Brooke replied, "and the tide is terribly sharp
at this time."
"Yes, yes--it is; but I want to see them back. Who's that?"
"Herrick, sir."
"Oh! Looking out for the boats?"
"Yes, sir."
"That's right. I like to see a young officer take an interest in the
men."
They moved away to walk forward, while my face burned, for I did not
deserve the praise, and my words had not been quite so honest as I could
have wished.
All at once, from out of the blackness astern, I heard the regular dip
of oars, and at the same moment one of the watch challenged and received
an answer. A minute later they were close up, and I shouted--
"Found him?"
"No, sir; not a sign of him anywhere."
I uttered a low groan, and the boats separated, one going to starboard
and the other to port, to be hauled up to their quarters, and there was
the customary trampling of the men going to their positions to run them
up.
"Poor old Ching!" I said aloud; and then I started back as if I had
received a stroke, for my name was uttered from below in a sharp
whisper.
"Mister Hellick! Mister Hellick!"
"Ching!" I cried, leaning over as far as I could reach, and gazing down
at the water. "Help!--help!" I shouted. "Here he is!"
Mr Brooke ran to me.
"What do you mean, my lad?"
"He's down here," I cried, "clinging to the chains."
"Nonsense! the boats would have seen him."
"But he is," I cried. "He has just called me. Below there! Ching!"
"Yes; help! Velly cold," came up in a piteous wail.
"Hold hard there!" shouted Mr Brooke. "Port boat back here under the
counter."
The falls were unhooked, and the boat drawn back by the coxswain till
she passed round close to the rudder.
"Any one there?" cried Mr Brooke.
"Ay, ay, sir!" and a cheer broke out from the men hurrying aft.
"Help! help!" came in a sharp wail. "No cut tow-chang! No cut
tow-chang!"
"Nobody's going to cut it, my lad. All right, we've got you," came up
from close under the stern windows, where even if it had been light we
could not have seen.
"Found him?" cried the captain, who now came up.
"Ay, ay, sir! Will you lower us down a lantern, sir? He's tied up
somehow to the chain and a ring-bolt. We can't quite lee."
The next minute, as I stood there longing to lower myself down into the
boat, a lantern was swung over to them; while the men came swarming up
the hatchway, for the news had soon spread, and they came running as far
aft as they dared.
"Now then, steady," came from beneath us. "Let go; we've got you, I
say."
"No cuttee tow-chang! No cuttee tow-chang!"
"Then he must have caught at the rudder-chains as he was swept along the
side," said the captain. "Why didn't the fellow hail us, instead of
letting the boats go on such a fool's errand?"
"Too much scared, sir," replied Mr Reardon. "Below there! Got him in
the boat?"
"Got him, sir, and we can't get him," said one of the men. "He's all
twissen up round the chain in a knot somehow."
"What?"
"He's tied hisself up somehow."
"Well, then, cut him loose, man," cried Mr Reardon.
"No cuttee tow-chang! No cuttee tow-chang!" cried Ching in a piteous
wail.
"Not cut his toe?" said the captain in a tone full of disgust. "What
does he mean? He can't have tied his foot to the chain."
"Hold still, will yer!" growled a deep voice; "I'm only untwisten on it.
Nobody wants to cut yer pigtail."
"Oh, no cuttee tow-chang!" wailed Ching piteously.
"Tow-chang?" said the captain.
"Yes, sir; his tail," I said.
"Oh, I see! They're very proud of the length."
"Well, I'm blessed if ever I see such a snarl," cried the man below.
"That's it. There you are. Here, cut this hankychy thing."
"Got him now?"
"Ay, ay, sir! all right," came from the boat; and at this the men burst
out cheering again like mad, while the boat was drawn along the side
with difficulty till the falls were reached, hooked on, and with a stamp
and a run she was hauled up, and I was close up to the side as she was
swung in, and Ching lifted out dripping, and sank down in a heap as soon
as the men tried to set him on his feet.
"Here, let me have a look at him," said the doctor.
"But first of all, why did you cling there instead of calling for help?"
cried Mr Reardon angrily.
"Bah! don't worry the man, sir," said the doctor sharply. "He's nearly
insensible. What's this canister doing at the end of his tail?"
"Bah!" ejaculated the captain angrily, and he said something to Mr
Reardon, and then went down to the cabin.
"Look here," cried the lieutenant angrily, "I want the names of the men
who played this blackguardly trick upon the poor fellow."
"Yes, afterwards," said the doctor. "He's insensible, poor fellow.
Here, one of you, a knife?"
Half-a-dozen jack-knives were opened and presented to the doctor, but I
sprang forward.
"Don't do that, sir, please!" I cried excitedly.
"Eh? Not cut off this absurd thing?"
"No, sir. The poor fellow went overboard to escape having the pigtail
cut, and it would break his heart."
Mr Reardon turned upon me sharply, and I anticipated a severe reproof,
but he only gave me a nod.
"Carry him below," he said. And I walked beside the men to save the
poor fellow from any fresh indignity, while half-an-hour later he had
had a good rubbing and was lying in hot blankets fast asleep, partly
from exhaustion, partly consequent upon having had a tumbler of mixture,
steaming and odorous, which the doctor had administered with his own
hands.
"Not to be taken every three hours, Herrick," he said, with a curious
dry smile. "Fine mixture that, in its proper place. Know what it was?"
"It smelt like grog, sir," I replied.
"Oh, did it? Now, do you for a moment suppose that when a
carefully-trained medical man of great experience is called in to a
patient suffering from shock and a long immersion he would prescribe and
exhibit such a commonplace remedy as grog?"
"Don't know, sir," I said. "But I should."
"Then, my good lad, as soon as you get back from this unpleasant voyage,
the best thing you can do will be to go straight to your father and tell
him that you have made a mistake in your vocation, and that he had
better enter you for a series of terms at one of the universities, and
then as a student at one of the hospitals."
"But I'm going to be a sailor, sir."
"Yes, a bad one, I daresay, my lad, when you might become a good doctor
or surgeon."
"But I don't want to be one," I replied, laughing.
"Of course not, when it is the grandest profession in the world."
"But do you think he will come round all right, sir?" I said anxiously.
"Oh yes, of course. But you are not going to let that absurd thing stop
on the end of his tail?"
"No, sir," I replied. "I'm going to try and get it off directly."
"How?"
"Lay it on a stool and stamp upon it."
"Good! that will flatten it and make the opening gape."
It did, after the exercise of a fair amount of pressure; and then, by
the help of Tom Jecks, who was wonderfully penitent now, and eager to
help with a tool he brought--to wit, a marlinespike--the star-like
points of tin were one by one forced out, and the tail withdrawn
uninjured, except that the silk ribbon at the end was a good deal
frayed.
"Ha!" ejaculated Tom. "We've made an end of it at last. My word, Mr
Herrick, sir, it's truly-thankful-Amen I am that the poor chap's all
right again."
"And so am I, Tom Jecks," I replied.
"O' course you is, sir; I never meant to cut his tail, only to frighten
him a bit; but, poor heathen, he took it all as serious as seas. Shall
I go and chuck the tin-can overboard?"
"No; leave it here for him to find when he wakes up."
"Right it is, sir. But what a fuss for a man to make about a bit o'
hair. He never howls about having his head shaved."
"No," I said; "but you see he would have given anything sooner than have
his tail touched."
"And most got drownded, sir. Well, that all come o' the lads
skylarking. If ever I'm skipper of a ship, no skylarking then. I
s'pose there'll be a reglar hooroar in the morning, and Mr Reardon
wanting to know who started the game."
"And you'll tell him, Tom?" I said.
"O' course, sir," he replied, with a solemn wink. "I'm just the man to
go and split upon my messmates."
"But you'll be punished if you don't tell. You can't get out of it,
because it's known that you were teasing him; and it wouldn't be fair
for you to be punished and for them to escape."
"No, sir, it wouldn't; but sech is life. Wrong chap generally gets the
kick as some one else ought to have ketched, but 'tarn't your fault, and
it's no use to grumble."
"But it is your fault, if you know who were the offenders and will not
tell."
"Is it? Humph! S'pose it is, sir. You're right. That's where you
gents as is scholards gets over the like of me. I see it now; you are
right, sir. What a wonderful head you've got for arguing, sewerly!"
"Then you'll tell Mr Reardon in the morning?"
"I didn't say as I would, sir."
"No; but you will?"
"No, sir, but I won't!" he said emphatically. "But I say, sir, do you
think if I was to go overboard, and then hitch myself on to the
rudder-chains till I was took aboard, the doctor'd give me a dose of
that same physic as he give him?"
"Very likely, Tom," I said. "But you'd rather be without, wouldn't
you?"
He smiled.
"But it was physic?"
"Oh yes, sir, it was physic. But then you see there's physic as he
takes out of one of his little bottles with stoppers, and there's physic
as he makes out of the ship's rum, hot with sugar. I could take a dose
now easy, and it would do me good."
"Nonsense!" I said, after a glance at the sleeping Chinaman. "But I
say, Jecks, how did he manage?"
"Oh, easy enough, sir. Tide would suck him right along the side, and
he'd catch the chains."
"But how did he get in such a tangle?"
"Tied hisself on, sir, with a handkerchy round his left arm, to the
chain; and then Dick Spurling says he twissened his tow-chang, as he
called it, round and round, and tucked the canister in at the neck of
his frock and buttoned it. Dick had no end of a job, as you know, to
get him undone."
"Yes," I said thoughtfully, "I know that; but a man couldn't hang by his
hair."
Tom Jecks laughed softly.
"Oh yes, he could, sir. There's no knowing how little a man can hang by
when he's obliged. Why, ain't you heard how we men hangs on to the
yards when we're aloft?"
"Oh yes, I've heard," I said; "by your eyelids."
"That's it, sir," he said, with a dry grin; "and that's harder than a
man hanging on by his hair."
Ching was still sleeping heavily, and our conversation did not disturb
him, and after a few moments' thought I said--
"But I don't feel at all sure why he did not hail the boats when they
were going off."
"Oh, I do, sir," replied Tom Jecks. "I wouldn't ha' thought it
possible, but the poor fellow was regularly scared, and wouldn't speak
at first, because he thought that if he was hoisted on board the first
thing we would do would be to go for his tail."
"Yes," I said, "that sounds likely; but he did hail after all."
"And enough to make him, sir; poor chap. Do you know why?"
"Well, not exactly," I said.
"A'cause the first fright had gone, and the bigger one had come. At
first he was all in a squirm about losing his tail, but after a bit he
got wacken up to the fact that if he didn't get took aboard he'd
precious soon lose his life."
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
CHING HAS A NOTE.
I suppose that Mr Reardon thought better of his threat, or probably he
came to the conclusion that the expectation of punishment would prove as
effective as the punishment itself. At all events nothing was said, and
the routine of the ship went on as usual. The decks were scrubbed, the
guns polished, and the marines drilled, till, as Barkins said, they
could walk up to the top of a ladder and down the other side without
touching.
The Jacks, too, had their gun drill and sword exercise, till their
cutlasses flashed about with an exactness that promised to shave a head
without cutting off an ear--promised: the performance might have been
another thing.
As soon as I had an opportunity I started to go below and see Ching, but
before I was half-way there I ran against Smith.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"To see how Ching's getting on."
"Did you put on a clean shirt?"
"No," I said innocently. "I can't stand one every day."
"Oh, come, this won't do!" cried Smith. "Here, hi, Barkins!"
"What's the row?" said our messmate, coming up.
"Row enough. Look here, this won't do. The Gnat's going below to see
His Excellency Ching Baron fancee shop, and Knight of the Tow-chang,
without putting on a clean shirt."
"Go and report him to the captain. Why, worse and worse, he hasn't
shaved!"
"No, that he hasn't."
"Well, I haven't got any razors like you fellows have," I retorted. "I
say, Tanner, have you stropped yours up lately? Smithy's are getting
rusty with the sea air."
"You're getting rusty with the sea air," grumbled Smith, who was very
proud of the possession of a pair of razors with Sunday and Monday
etched on the blades. He had once or twice shown them to me, saying
that they were a present from his father, who was going to leave him the
other five, which completed the days of the week, in his will.
I remember how I offended him at the time by saying--
"Well, that will be quite as soon as you want them."
"Look here," said Smith rather haughtily, after a look at Barkins;
"we've been talking this business over, and it is time it was stopped."
"What do you mean?" I said.
"Oh, you know well enough. You came on board the _Teaser_ to take your
place as an officer and a gentleman, and we your seniors received you in
a gentlemanly way."
"Yes, you were right enough," I said. "A bit cocky and bounceable at
first, till you found that I wouldn't stand it, and then you were both
civil."
"Well, I _am_ blessed!" cried Barkins, blowing out his cheeks and
looking down at me. "Of all the impudent little cockboats of boys you
are about the most cheeky. Pretty strong turn that for a Gnat, Smithy."
"Yes; we shall have to put him down, and the sooner the better. Will
you speak to him, or shall I?"
"Oh, I'm just in the humour for it," said Barkins; "so I'll give him his
dose at once. Look here, young fellow: as aforesaid, when you
interrupted, we received you as gentlemen should, and have taken great
care of you, and tried to smooth you down into something like a budding
officer."
"Thank you," I said humbly; "I'm so grateful."
"And so you ought to be, sir. But look here, what in the name of
thunder do you mean by forsaking us and taking to bad company?"
"Who does?"
"Why, you do, sir. Smithy and I talked it over last night, and we both
agreed that you're never happy unless you're along with the forecastle
Jacks, or sneaking about with old Ching."
"Get out!" I said indignantly.
"None of your impudence, sir, because that won't do. It's come to this:
either you've got to give up low society, or high."
"Which is which?" I said.
"What?"
"I said which is which? Do you mean you two fellows are high society?"
"Do you hear this beggar, Smithy?"
"Oh yes, I hear him. Isn't it awful to find so much depravity in such a
small body? But keep him to it, and make him speak. He has got to
choose."
"Yes, you've got to choose, Gnat. We can't have a brother officer
always associating with the low Chinee."
"Do you mean that I oughtn't to go and see the poor fellow now he's
below ill?"
"Something of the sort: you're not a doctor. Of course he ought to
visit the men."
"So ought an officer when his men are in trouble."
"Yes; but not to make friends of them. It won't do, Gnat, and we've
made up our minds not to stand it. That will do now. You have heard
what I had to say, and I hope you will profit by it."
I burst out into a roar of laughter, for Barkins' assumption of dignity
was comic.
"What do you mean by that, sir?" he cried in an offended tone.
"Second-hand captain's rowing!" I cried. "Why, I heard him say those
very words to you."
"Hi! stop!" cried Smith, as Barkins turned red with annoyance. "Where
are you going, sir?"
"Down below to see Ching," I replied coolly; and I descended the
companion-ladder to where the man lay.
He was looking very yellow and gloomy, but as soon as he caught sight of
me his face lit up.
"You come along see Ching?" he said in his high voice; and upon my
nodding--"Velly glad. Doctor say stop along, velly much, not gettee up
to-day."
"But you are ever so much better?"
"Yes, quite well. Not velly wet now. Captain velly closs Ching tumb'
overboard?"
"No, he hasn't said anything."
"Ching velly glad. You go tell captain something?"
"What about?" I said.
"Ching get lettee flom fliend."
"That's right," I said. "How is he?"
"Velly glad you catchee pilate."
"Oh, he is, is he?"
"Yes, velly muchee glad, and send lettee."
"Yes, you said so."
"Allee 'bout pilates."
He took a piece of paper from somewhere and handed it to me.
"You no lead lettee?"
I shook my head as I glanced at the queer Chinese characters.
"No; what does he say about the pirates?"
"Say two muchee big junk in river going to sail, catchee tea-ship,
lice-ship, silkee-ship."
"Going to sail from here?" I cried.
"Yes."
"But how does he know?"
"Know evelyting. Muchee big man. Wantee catchee more pilate."
"But do you mean your friend knows of these junks sailing?"
"Yes."
"When did you get the letter?"
"Chinese coolie bling lettee in flesh-vegetable boat."
"What, this morning?"
"Yes, bling lettee."
"When are the junks going to sail?"
"No know. Keepee watchee and catchee."
I sat thinking for a few moments, and I made up my mind to go and tell
the first lieutenant, but found the Chinaman looking at me smiling the
while.
"You likee this?" he said, holding out a tiny thin stoppered bottle,
covered with Chinese characters.
"Like it? No. What for?"
"Velly good. Headache: lub lit' dlop here. Toothache: lub lit' dlop
there. Got pain anywhere, lub lit' dlop."
I took out the stopper and smelt it.
"Smell velly good; all nicee."
"Why, it smells of peppermint drops," I said carelessly.
"Yes, smell beautiful, all peppimint. Velly gleat stlong. Muchee lit'
dlop, so."
He took the bottle, drew out the stopper, and covered the neck with one
finger, turned the vial upside down, and then rubbed the tiny drop of
moisture upon his temples, replaced the stopper, and gave it back to me.
"Thank you, Ching," I said, placing it in my pocket, but without valuing
the gift in the slightest degree. "I'm going now to tell the first
lieutenant what you say."
"Yes, tell Mr Leardon watchee watchee, killee allee pilate."
"Yes," I said; and I hurried away, muttering, "Watchee watchee, killee.
What stuff they do talk! Any one would think they were all big babies,
who had been taught to speak English by a nurse."
As I reached the deck I saw Barkins and Smith standing by the first
lieutenant, and he was nodding his head.
"Why, they've been telling him about me," I thought as I went aft. "No;
they wouldn't be such sneaks."
But all doubt was at an end directly, for they came down to meet me, and
Smith cried--
"Mr Reardon wants to speak to you directly, Herrick;" while, as I
looked up and caught Barkins' eye, he coloured a little, and hurriedly
avoided my gaze.
"Thank you, tale-bearer," I said to Smith.
"Don't you be insolent, sir, unless you wish me to give you a severe
thrashing."
"With fists?" I said.
"Yes, sir, with fists. I suppose the rules of the service will not
allow us to use such weapons as officers are accustomed to."
"Do you mean officers like you?" I said contemptuously.
"Yes, sir; officers like me."
"Oh, you mean knives and forks, then," I said carelessly. "I say,
Barkins, I didn't think you could have been such a jerry sneak."
He turned upon me with an apologetic look, but his lips began to
bluster.
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Oh, nothing; I am not going to quarrel with old Barkins. He wouldn't
have done this, if it had not been for Blacksmith."
"Go and obey the first lieutenant's orders, sir," said Smith haughtily.
"We will talk to you later on."
"You go and show Doctor Price your arms and legs," I said contemptuously
and spitefully; for, to use a common phrase, my monkey was up. "Fight?
With fists? Where are your muscles? Why, I could upset you both with a
swab."
I hurried aft, and ran up the steps to the quarter-deck in time to
encounter the first lieutenant, who was coming from the wheel with an
angry look upon his face.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.
A QUEER QUARREL.
"I sent a message to you, Mr Herrick," he cried angrily, and I could
then guess that he had been coming to see why I had delayed. "I have
something to say to you, sir, respecting the company you keep, and the
society you affect, which I am given to understand is not that which
conduces to good dishipline."
"Oh, that's what Mr Smith thinks, sir," I said coolly.
"Oh, indeed!" he cried sarcastically.
"Yes, sir; he said something about it to me this morning, but he does
not know."
"Indeed!" he cried, growing black as a thundercloud; "then I am to take
it, sir, that you do?"
"I hope so, sir; I try to know."
"Then you know, sir, possibly why it was that when I sent you a summons
I am kept waiting?"
"Yes, sir; I was delayed a little--"
"Oh, thank you. I am glad to hear that, Mr Herrick. Perhaps you have
something else of importance to communicate?"
"Yes, sir, very."
"Thank you. I am sorry I cannot ask you to sit down."
"Don't name it, sir," I said quietly, while he began to breathe very
hard.
"I was down with Ching the interpreter, sir, this morning--"
"Were you really, Mr Herrick?" he said sarcastically. "Dear me, I hope
he is much better?"
"Yes, sir, he's nearly all right. I was coming to you when I met Mr
Barkins, and Smith." I couldn't say Mr Smith, I felt so exasperated
against him.
"What a curious coincidence, Mr Herrick! If I had known I might have
spared myself the trouble of sending."
"Yes, sir."
"And pray, may I know for what reason I was to be honoured?"
"Of course, sir," I said coolly enough, for I was enjoying the way in
which he was working himself up for an explosion to fall upon my
unfortunate head. "The fact is, sir--"
"Oh, it is a fact, is it?"
"Yes, sir--Ching has friends ashore."
"And wants leave of absence? Are you his envoy?"
"Oh no, sir. One of his friends sent him an important letter this
morning by the vegetable boat."
"Eh? letter?" said Mr Reardon, beginning to grow interested.
"Yes, sir. This friend is a kind of a merchant or something; and he has
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