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 windinginland broader than at its mouth, and, as far as could be seen, free ofadditional entrances through which an enemy could escape to sea.
Steam was got up, the _Teaser's_ head swung round, and, after the leadhad shown great depth and a muddy bottom, we began to glide steadily upwith the tide.
Our progress was very slow, for, as you will easily understand, and musthave noted scores of times in connection with some wreck, a ship is ofimmense weight, and, even if moving ever so slowly, touching a rock atthe bottom means a tremendous grinding crash, and either the vesselfixed, perhaps without the possibility of removal, or a hole made whichwill soon cause it to sink. Navigation, then, is beset with dangers fora captain. If he is in well-known waters, matters are simple enough;every rock will be marked upon his chart, every mile near shore willhave been sounded, and he will know to a foot or two how much water isbeneath his keel. But as soon as he ventures up some strange creek orriver, paradoxically speaking, "he is at sea." In other words, he wouldbe journeying haphazard, if the greatest precautions were not taken.
These precautions were soon taken, a couple of boats being sent on aheadwith a man in each taking soundings, while we had this advantage--wewere journeying with a rising tide, and the river naturally grew deeperand deeper.
But we encountered no difficulty; we steamed on just fast enough to givethe 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 andmuddy a bottom, that even if we had gone aground, all that would havehappened would have been a little delay while we waited for the tide tolift 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 piraticaljunks resorted, and with a village, if not a town, upon the shore. Butwe went on and on without success, the river, if anything, growingwider, till all at once, as we were slowly gliding round a bend, leavinga thick track of black smoke in the misty morning air, one of the men inthe 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 asthe first lieutenant looked sharply round. But there, sure enough, werethe tops of the junk's masts dead astern, for the course of the riverproved to be just there almost exactly like that piece of twisted flatwire 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 awayto form the large loop of the eye, while the junks were lying at the farside of the loop, so that to reach them where they lay, right across anopen plain about two miles in width, we had to sail for some distanceright away, apparently leaving them right behind.
A little use of the telescope soon showed that we were going quiteright, 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 ofbig 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. Howstupid 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 amoment before every one would have to be in his place, and unable tostir.
"Says they're trading junks."
"Then it's all up. He knows. Either his wound or the doctoring hasmade him go better. He's awfully sharp now. I'll go and tell theskipper 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 aplace to lay up their ships in, and here it is. I'll bet anything thoseare 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'reon the move! They're pirates, and are going up higher because they seeus. 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 seenow, and my messmate said again--
"Yes, it's all over; they'll follow this river right away to the otherside, and come out in the Black Sea, or somewhere else. We draw toomuch water to follow them farther."
But we did follow them a great deal farther, and found that on thewhole, in spite of our careful progress, we gained upon the junks,getting so near them once from their position across a bend of the riverthat a discussion took place as to whether it would not be advisable toopen fire at long range.
But no gun spoke, and we kept on slowly, carried by the tide, and withthe screw revolving just sufficiently for steering purposes, till oncemore the course of the river grew pretty straight, and the junks were infull 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 doubtsas to the character of the vessels. Up to this point it was possiblethat 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 apeculiar 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 theengyneers?"
"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 andmagicians and conjurors. There was that chap in `Aladdin' as left theboy 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 ourhunting these pirates?"
"Well, that's what I want to know, sir. If there was magic in them daysin China, mayn't there be some left now?"
"No, Tom," I said. "We've got more magic on board the _Teaser_ in theshape 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 itain'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'tyou 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 onhis face. "Well, I shouldn't have thought as physic had anything to dowith that, but I daresay you're right, sir. Wish we could give themjunks physic."
"I don't believe we shall get near enough to give them a dose," saidSmith discontentedly. "If I were the skipper, I'd--"
Smith did not say what he would, for just then there was a shout fromthe boat, the man with the lead giving such shallow soundings that weheard the gongs sound in the engine-room, and the clank of the machineryas 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 provedthat the shoal water was continuous, and though the lighter-draft junkshad gone on, they had now come to a standstill, which suggested thatthey too had been stopped.
"Told you so," grumbled Barkins, joining us. "All this trouble fornothing. Why didn't the skipper open fire and blow 'em out of the waterwhen he had a chance?"
"Go and ask him, Mr Barkins," said Mr Brooke, who overheard hisremark. "And if I were you, I'd ask him at the same time why it isamateurs can always manage better than the leader."
Mr Brooke nodded, and I saw that he looked very serious as he walkedaft, and a minute later I knew why.
"Bah!" growled Smith, as soon as he was out of hearing. "Shouldn't havelistened."
"No," said Barkins. "It isn't quite manly to play the spy. Talk aboutsnubbing, why is it officers should think it so precious fine to bealways dropping on to their juniors? Now, then, look out! there'sorders coming. The old _Teaser's_ going to waggle her tail between herlegs, 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 twolook sharp and get quite well again; I didn't know that having woundswould make fellows so sour."
"Who's sour. Here, let's get aft; quick, or we shall be out of thefun."
For the whistles were going, and the men springing to the boats, threeof which were manned, and the one lying alongside being filled with astrong, 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 noorders came; and at last, in a great state of excitement, Barkins seizedthe 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 helpfeeling disappointed, though I knew well enough that the risk would havebeen 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 boatspushed off, the oars dropped, the oily water splashed in the brightsunshine, and each boat with its colours trailing astern glided rapidlyup-stream.
"Yes, it's too bad," grumbled Smith in turn, who unconsciously begannursing his arm as if it pained him.
"Why, it's worse for me," I cried. "I'm quite strong and well. I oughtto have gone."
Barkins exploded with silent laughter, laid his hand on Smith'sshoulder, and said huskily, as if he were choking with mirth--
"I say, hark at him! What for? There'll be plenty of mosquitoes upthere to sting the poor fellows; they don't want a gnat to tickle themand make them fight."
"No," said Smith. "Never mind, little boy, be good, and we'll take youon an expedition some day."
"All right," I replied; "I don't mind your chaff, only you needn't be sonasty 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 lookfull 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. Noticeeverything you can."
My heart began to beat before I reached the main shrouds, and it beatmore heavily as I toiled up the rattlins, reached the top, and then wenton again, too much excited to think of there being any danger offalling, my mind being partly occupied with thoughts of what Barkins andSmith were saying about my being favoured in this way.
"Just as if they could have come up," I said half-laughing; "one with agame leg, the other with a game arm."
My thoughts ran, too, as much upon what I was about to see, so thatbeyond taking a tight hold, and keeping my spyglass buttoned up in myjacket, I paid little heed to the height I was getting, I reached thehead of the topmast, and then began to mount the rattlins of themain-topgallant mast, whose cross-trees seemed to be a tremendous heightabove 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 anotherfor safety; but the wood did not feel at all soft, and there was apeculiar rap, rap, rap against the tapering spar which ran up above myhead to the round big wooden bun on the top of all, which we knew as thetruck.
For a moment or two I couldn't make out what the sound was. Then I sawit was caused by the halyards, the thin line which ran up through thetruck and down again to the deck, for hoisting our colours. Thisdoubled 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 thinhalyard tight.
I looked down for a moment or two at the deck which lay beneath, givingme a bird's-eye view through the rigging of the white decks dotted withofficers and men, and the guns glistening in the sunshine. There wereseveral faces staring up at me, and I made out Barkins and Smith, andwaved my hand. But these were only momentary glances; I had too much tosee of far more importance. For there, spread out round me, was a grandview of the low, flat, marshy country, through which the river woundlike a silver snake. Far away in the distance I could see villages, andwhat seemed to be a tower of some size. Beyond it, cultivated land andpatches 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 spiteof their hard rowing, there were our four boats, with the oars dippingwith glorious regularity, and making the water flash and glitter, butnot so brightly as did the bayonets of the few marines in each, as theysat in the stern-sheets with their rifles upright between their legs,and the keen triangular blades at the tops of the barrels twinkling atevery movement of the boats.
It was a sight to make any one's heart throb, and in spite of mysplendid position for seeing everything I could not help wishing I wasthere to help make a part of the picture I saw, with the men in theirwhite ducks and straw hats, the marines glowing like so many patches ofpoppies, and the officers with their dark blue coats faintly showing alace or two of gold.
How I longed to be with them bound upon such an exciting trip, and allthe 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 andfocussed my glass, rested it against a rope, and fixed it upon thejunks.
The first thing I noticed was that one of them lay a little over toport, 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 changingheavy guns over to one side, when I grasped the fact,--they had gone ashigh up-stream as they could, and then run aground, and were fixed inthe 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 andforwards, trying to work them off, sir."
An eager conversation ensued between Mr Reardon and the captain, duringwhich I carefully scanned the two Chinese vessels, and could see the menswarming here and there, as if in an intense state of agitation, butthey soon ceased trying to rock the junks, and, as I judged, they werewaiting for the tide to rise higher and float them off.
There was nothing between to hinder my having a thoroughly good view ofwhere they lay, just round a slight bend, but I felt certain that theycould not see our boats, and I had proof that this was the case, onnoticing that a group of men had landed, and were running towards aclump 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 glassupon the junks again, when I noticed a peculiar agitation of thebranches of one tree, which stood up far above the others.
"Well, Mr Herrick, I am waiting for your reports," cried the firstlieutenant.
"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, muchhigher 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 thetop. 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 takethem by surprise."
He did not shout this, but said it to the captain. Still the words roseto where I sat watching, till the Chinamen ran out from among the bushesat 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 havejumped into a boat and rowed off to their friends, and, fixing my glassupon the deck of first one and then the other, I began to make out moreand more clearly the actions of the crews, and, judging from theglittering, I saw some kind of arms were being distributed.
I announced this at first as a supposition, telling Mr Reardon what Ithought it was.
"Yes, very likely," he replied; and a few minutes after I saw somethingelse, and hailed.
"Yes," he said, "what now?" and I saw that, though he did not speak, thecaptain 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 littlecoils from both junks, at first very thick and spreading, then growingsmaller.
"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 fireshould 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 beengetting ready. Go on watching, and report anything else."
A noise below, familiar enough, with its rattle and splash, told me thatan anchor had been dropped from the bows; and as the _Teaser_ slowlyswung round from the force of the tide, I also had to turn, so as tokeep 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 lightcame more frequently, though, as the sun played upon their weapons; andnow I had something else to report--that they had both assumed adifferent position, being lifted by the tide and floated upon an evenkeel.
My first idea was, that now they would sail on beyond our reach; infact, one moved a good deal, but the other stopped in its place, so thatat 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 themarines' 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 waterjust beyond a curve of the bank, hoping to see the boats there, though Ifelt that as soon as they reached that spot, if the enemy had not seenthem before, they would be certain to then, for beyond that the junkslay 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 aglass was gazing anxiously aft, the only face directed up to me beingthe first lieutenant's. Then my eye was at the glass again.
"More smoke from the junks, sir," I cried; but there was no sign offire, and I felt that Mr Reardon must be right, for if they had set alight to the inflammable wood of the vessels, they would have blazed updirectly.
"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 cansee them quite clearly now, away from the trees. They are crowded withmen, and--"
"The boats--the boats?"
"No, sir;--yes, hurrah! There they go, sir, all abreast, straight forthe junks."
"Ha!" came in one long heavy breath from below, as if all left on boardhad 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 themizzen-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 hardlyout of my mouth when there came the report of guns--first one and thenanother; then two together; and I fancied that I could see the watersplashing 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 fromthe junks.--Boats separating more.--Two going round behind.--Both out ofsight."
By this time, in addition to the sharp reports of the small guns onboard the junks, the sharper crackle of matchlocks and muskets hadbegun; 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 thejunks.--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 excitementof the scene I had tried to describe to my superior officer, and Ithrust the glass under my left arm, and rubbed them quickly on myhandkerchief, as I gazed at the distant smoke, and listened to thecrackle 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 wasdifferent--quicker and sharper--as if our men must have begun too.
"Well, Mr Herrick?" now came from below. "Surely you can see how thefight is going on?"
"No, sir, nothing but smoke,--Yes," I cried excitedly, "it's liftingnow, 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 fightgoing on upon the junk."
"And the other?"
"There are two boats close up, and our men are firing. There is blacksmoke 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, whilethe captain stood perfectly still, gazing at the rising smoke, from thebridge.
"They seem to be fighting very hard, sir," I said, trembling now like aleaf. "I can see quite a crowd, and that some of the people are inwhite."
"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 onboard 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 beingwhite and steamy, it now looked to be of a dirty inky black, completelyenveloping 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 sharpcrack from time to time, sounds evidently made by rifles. But there wasnothing more to see, and, in spite of the angry appeals of thelieutenant, I could report no more than that the black smoke was growingthicker, and hanging down over the water, hiding everything, to thebushes and trees upon the bank.
And now, as I gave one glance down, I saw that the captain was walkingto 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 blackcloud seemed to have swallowed up our four boats and men; and a chillyfeeling of despair began to attack me, as I wondered whether it waspossible that our poor fellows had been beaten, and the boats burned bythe stink-pots the pirates had thrown in.
The thought was almost too horrible to bear, and I stared hard throughthe glass again, trying to make out the junks beyond the smoke, andwhether it was really our boats which where burning, and raising theblack cloud which hid all view.
"I can see a boat now, sir," I cried excitedly, as one of them seemed toglide out of the end of the cloud; but my heart sank as I made theannouncement, for I saw only that which confirmed my fears.
"Well, go on, lad," cried Mr Reardon, stamping with impatience, "whatare they doing in her?"
"She's empty, sir, and floating away, with a cloud of black smoke risingfrom her."
"Ah!" he exclaimed, with quite a savage snarl, and I saw the captainstop short and raise his glass again, though I knew that from where hestood 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 passedmy hand across my face and looked again, sweeping the telescope from theleft 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 thewoods. One down--another down."
At the same moment almost came a couple of volleys, then several menwent 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 gotit. Yes, I can see. They're throwing something out that smokes--nowsomething 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 tremendouscheer, for the smoke had suddenly grown less dense; and the junksgradually grew visible as it floated away; while even in the brightsunlight the flames were visible, and I could now make out that theywere two floating furnaces with the great tongues of fire licking thebroad matting-sails: and, best news of all, there, quite plainly, wereour four boats, with the men just visible above their sides.
I reported this, and cheer after cheer rose again. After which therewas 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 otherside. 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, aswe 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 couldsee the flames from the deck, though our boats were invisible.
"Well, what now?" cried Mr Reardon, as I saw the captain quietly pacingto 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 beseen."
"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 MrReardon.
"Yes, sir; all out of sight now."
"Then come down."
"Thankye for nothing," I muttered; and then aloud, "Yes, sir;" and Iclosed my glass, and wiped my wet forehead, feeling stiff and sore, asif I had been exerting myself with all my might.
"I suppose I'm very stupid," I said to myself, as I began to descendslowly, "but I did try my best. What a height it seems up here! If afellow slipped and fell, he would never have another hour up at themast-head."
I went on downward, with my legs feeling more and more stiff, and asense of heavy weariness growing upon me. My head ached too, and I felta pain at the back of my neck, while mentally I was as miserable anddissatisfied as ever I remember being in my life.
"I hope he'll send old Barkins up next time," I thought. "He wouldn'tfeel so precious jealous then. Nice job, squinting through that glasstill 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 theremaining 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 Iwas stopped short, just in my most gloomy and despondent moments, by thecaptain's voice, his words sounding so strange that I could hardlybelieve my ears.
For, as I held on to the shrouds, and looked sharply aft at the mentionof my name, he said--
"Thank you, Mr Herrick; very good indeed;" while, as I reached thedeck, Mr Reardon came up--
"Yes, capital, Mr Herrick. A very arduous task, and you have done itwell."