CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
AN EXCHANGE.
"Now then," said Mr Brooke, after a few minutes' pause, "what's thefirst thing, Herrick? We can't keep watch for the junks in this boat."
"The first thing is to get her mended, sir."
"Yes; but how?"
"Let's ask Ching."
"Ching!" said Mr Brooke angrily.
"You wantee Ching?" came in the familiar highly-pitched voice fromforward. "You wantee Ching go buy new boatee?"
He came hurrying aft, nearly tumbling once; while, left to his own poweralone, the coxswain redoubled his efforts to keep down the water, andthe tin baler went _scoop scroop, scoop scroop_, and _splash splash_, ashe sent the water flying.
But the dark, angry expression of Mr Brooke's countenance repelled theChinaman, and he stopped short and looked from one to the other in apleading, deprecating way, ending by saying piteously--
"You no wantee Ching?"
Mr Brooke shook his head, and our interpreter went back over thethwarts, reseated himself, and began to bale again, with his head bentdown very low.
"Give way, my lads," said Mr Brooke, bearing hard on the tiller, andthe boat began to bear round as he steered for the landing-place aquarter of a mile away.
I looked up at him inquiringly, and he nodded at me.
"We can't help it, Herrick," he said; "if we stop afloat with the boatin this condition we shall have a serious accident. But we shall losethe junks."
"Oh!" I ejaculated, "and after all this trouble. We had been sosuccessful too. Couldn't we repair the boat?"
"If we could run into a good boat-builder's we might patch it up, but wecan do nothing here."
"Couldn't Ching show us a place?"
"I can't ask the scoundrel."
I winced, for I could not feel that Ching had deceived us, and for a fewmoments I was silent. Then a thought struck me.
"May I ask him, sir?"
Mr Brooke was silent for a while, but he spoke at last.
"I hate risking his help again, but I am ready to do anything to try andcarry out my instructions. We ought to patrol the river here to waitfor the junks coming down, and then follow them, even if it is rightdown to sea. Well, yes; ask him it he can take us to a boat-builder's,where we can get some tarpaulin or lead nailed on."
I wasted no time. "Ching!" I cried; and he looked up sadly, but hisface brightened directly as he read mine.
"You wantee Ching?"
"Yes; where is there a boat-builder's where they will mend the boatdirectly?"
"No," he said; "takee velly long time. Boat-builder same slow fellow.No piecee work along. Take boatee out water, mend him to-mollow, nextweek."
"Then what are we to do?" I cried. "We want to watch the junks."
"Why no takee other fellow big boatee? Plenty big boatee evelywhere.Get in big sampan junk, pilate man no sabby jolly sailor boy come along.Think other piecee fellow go catch fish."
"Here, Mr Brooke," I cried excitedly; "Ching says we had better takeone of these boats lying moored out here, and the pirates won't think ofit being us. Isn't it capital?"
Mr Brooke gazed sharply at us both for a few moments, and then directedthe boat's head as if going up the river again.
"Where is there a suitable boat?" he said hoarsely, and speakingevidently under great excitement, as he saw a means of saving the chanceafter all.
"Velly nice big boat over 'long there," said Ching, pointing to a nativecraft about double the size of our cutter, lying moored about a hundredyards from the shore, and evidently without any one in her.
"Yes, that will do," cried Mr Brooke. "Anything fits a man who has noclothes. Pull, my lads--give way!"
The men dragged at the oars, and I saw that since Ching had left offbaling the water was gaining fast, and that if more power was not put onit would not be long before the boat was waterlogged or sunk.
In a minute we were alongside the boat, one of a superior class,possibly belonging to some man of consequence, and Mr Brooke had runthe cutter along her on the side farthest from the shore, so that ourproceedings were not noticed, as we made fast.
"Now then, tumble in, my lads," he cried; "take the oars and everythingmovable. Throw them in, our game and all. Here, Herrick, take bothguns."
Everything was transferred in a very short time; and this done, MrBrooke stepped aboard the little junk-like craft, gave his orders, and aline was attached to a grating, the other end to one of the ring-bolts.Then the craft's anchor-line was unfastened, and our painter hitched onto it instead. Next the grating was tossed overboard, with plenty ofline to float it as a buoy and show where the boat had sunk, as it waspretty certain to do before long; and we, in our tiny junk, began toglide away with the tide, furnished with a serviceable boat, boasting ofsails, even if they were not of a kind our men were accustomed tomanage.
"Why, it is grand, Herrick!" cried Mr Brooke excitedly. "We shall getthem after all."
"And all Ching's doing, sir," I said quietly.
"Ah, yes, perhaps; he is repentant now he has been found out. But weshall see--"
"That he is quite innocent, sir," I said.
"I hope so, my lad. Now, let's make sail, and beat about here, to andfro. We must keep a good watch for our two friends, and if they comedown we can follow till we see the _Teaser_ in the offing. We may, Isay, capture them yet."
A sail was hoisted, and in a few minutes we found that the craft wentalong easily and well, answering to her helm admirably. Her highbulwarks gave plenty of shelter, and would, I saw, well conceal our men,so that we had only to put Ching prominently in sight to pass unnoticed,or as a Chinese fishing or pleasure boat.
Just then I turned and found him close behind me, rubbing his hands.
"You ask Mr Blooke he likee Ching sit where pilate see him 'gain?" hesaid.
"I am sure he would," I replied.
He looked sad again directly, and just touched the sleeve of my Norfolkjacket with the long nail of his forefinger.
"Ching velly solly," he said.
"What about?"
"Mr Blooke think Ching fliends with pilates. Velly shocking; Chinghate pilates dleadfully; hollid men."
"Yes, I am sure you do," I said.
The Celestial's face lit up again directly, and he rubbed his hands.
"Ching velly--"
"Yes?" I said, for Mr Brooke called to me from the little cabincontrived for shelter in the after part of the vessel.
"Look here," he said, as I joined him, "we can keep below here, andcommand the river too, without being seen. Why, Herrick, my lad, thisis capital; they will never suspect this Chinese boat to be manned by acrew of Her Majesty's Jacks."
"Then everything has turned out for the best," I cried eagerly.
"Humph! that remains to be proved, my lad. We've got to return and faceMr Reardon and the captain, and the first question asked of an officerwho has been entrusted with one of Her Majesty's boats, and who returnswithout it, is--What have you done with the boat or ship? We--yes, youare in the mess, sir--have to go back and say that we have lost it."
"Why, the captain owned to Pat that a thing couldn't be lost when youknew where it was."
"I don't understand you, my lad," said Mr Brooke.
"Don't you remember about the captain's tea-kettle, sir, that Patdropped overboard? It was not lost, because Pat knew where it was--atthe bottom of the sea."
"Oh yes, I remember; but I'm afraid Captain Thwaites will not take thatexcuse."
"Why, she has gone down already, sir," I said, as I looked over the sidefor the boat we had left.
"Yes; but I can see the grating floating. The coxswain took his jacketout of the hole."
He pointed to the stout piece of woodwork which we had turned into abuoy, but I could not make it out, and I thought it did not much matter,for something else had begun to trouble me a great deal just then, and Iwaited very anxiously for my officer to make some proposal.
But it did not
come at once, for Mr Brooke was planning about the watchsetting, so as to guard against the junks coming down the river andpassing us on their way out to sea.
But at last all was to his satisfaction, one man keeping a look-out upthe river for the descending junks, the other downward to the mouth forthe return of the _Teaser_, whose coming was longed for most intensely.
Then, with just a scrap of sail raised, the rest acting as a screendividing the boat, we tacked about the river, keeping as near as wasconvenient to the spot where the _Teaser_ had anchored, and at last MrBrooke said to me, just in the grey of the evening--
"I'm afraid the lads must be getting hungry."
"I know one who is, sir," I said, laughing.
He smiled.
"Well, I have been too busy and anxious to think about eating anddrinking," he said; "but I suppose I am very hungry too. Here, my lad,pass that basket along, and serve out the provisions."
"You likee Ching serve out plovisions?"
Mr Brooke frowned, and the Chinaman shrank away. I noticed too thatwhen the food was served round, the men took each a good lump of saltpork and a couple of biscuits, Ching contented himself with one biscuit,which he took right forward, and there sat, munching slowly, till it wasdark and the shore was lit up with thousands of lanterns swinging inshop, house, and on the river boats moored close along by the shore.
"Bad for us," said Mr Brooke, as we sat together astern steering, andkeeping a sharp look ahead for the expected enemy.
"Why?" I asked.
"Getting so dark, my lad. We shall be having the junks pass us."
"Oh no, sir. Ching is keen-sighted, and all the men are looking outvery eagerly."
"Ah, well, I hope they will not slip by. They must not, Herrick. Thereis one advantage in this darkness, though: they will not find us out."
The darkness favouring the movement, and so as to save time, ready forany sudden emergency, he ordered the men to buckle on theircutlass-belts and pouches, while the rifles were hid handy.
"In case we want to board, Herrick."
"Then you mean to board if there is a chance?" I said.
"I mean to stop one of those junks from putting to sea, if I can," hereplied quietly. "The _Teaser_ having left us, alters our positioncompletely. She has gone off on a false scent, I'm afraid, and we mustnot lose the substance while they are hunting the shadow."
Very little more was said, and as I sat in the darkness I had plenty tothink about and picture out, as in imagination I saw our queer-lookingboat hooked on to the side of a great high-pooped junk, and Mr Brookeleading the men up the side to the attack upon the fierce desperadoeswho would be several times our number.
"I don't know what we should do," I remember thinking to myself, "ifthese people hadn't a wholesome fear of our lads."
Then I watched the shore, with its lights looking soft and mellowagainst the black velvety darkness. Now and then the booming of gongsfloated off to us, and the squeaking of a curious kind of pipe; whilefrom the boats close in shore the twangling, twingling sound of thenative guitars was very plain--from one in particular, where there wasevidently some kind of entertainment, it being lit up with a number oflanterns of grotesque shapes. In addition to the noise--I can't call itmusic--of the stringed instruments, there came floating to us quite achorus of singing. Well, I suppose it was meant for singing; but ourlads evidently differed, for I heard one man say in a gruff whisper--
"See that there boat, messmate?"
"Ay," said another. "I hear it and see it too."
"Know what's going on?"
"Yes; it's a floating poulterer's shop."
"A what?"
"A floating poulterer's shop. Can't you hear 'em killing the cats?"
This interested me, and I listened intently.
"Killing the cats?" said another.
"Ay, poor beggars. Lor' a mussy! our cats at home don't know whathorrible things is done in foreign lands. They're killing cats formarket to-morrer, for roast and biled."
"Get out, and don't make higgerant observations, messmate. It's afuneral, and that's the way these here heathens show how sorry theyare."
"Silence there, my lads," said the lieutenant. "Keep a sharp look-out."
"Ay, ay, sir."
Just at that moment, as the lit-up boat glided along about a couple ofhundred yards from us, where we sailed gently up-stream, there was afaint rustling forward, and Tom Jecks' gruff voice whispered--
"What is it, messmate?"
"Ching see big junk."
There was a dead silence, and we all strained our eyes to gazeup-stream.
"Can't see nought, messmate," was whispered.
"Yes; big junk come along."
_Plash_! and a creaking, rattling sound came forth out of the darkness.
"It is a big junk," said Mr Brooke, with his lips to my ear; "and shehas anchored."
Then from some distance up the river we saw a very dim lantern sway hereand there, some hoarse commands were given, followed by the creaking andgroaning of a bamboo yard being lowered, and then all was perfectlystill.
What strange work it seemed to be out there in the darkness of thatforeign river, surrounded by curious sights and sounds, and not knowingbut what the next minute we might be engaged in deadly strife with agang of desperadoes who were perfectly indifferent to human life, andwho, could they get the better of us, would feel delight in slaughteringone and all. It was impossible to help feeling a peculiar creepysensation, and a cold shiver ran through one from time to time.
So painful was this silence, that I felt glad when we had sailed upabreast of the great vessel which had dropped anchor in mid-stream, forthe inaction was terrible.
We sailed right by, went up some little distance, turned and came backon the other side, so near this time that we could dimly make out theheavy masts, the huge, clumsy poop and awkward bows of the vessel lyinghead to stream.
Then we were by her, and as soon as we were some little distance belowMr Brooke spoke--
"Well, my lads, what do you say: is she one of the junks?"
"No pilate junk," said Ching decisively, and I saw Mr Brooke make anangry gesture--quite a start.
"What do you say, my lads?"
"Well, sir, we all seem to think as the Chinee does--as it arn't one ofthem."
"Why?"
"Looks biggerer and clumsier, and deeper in the water."
"Yes; tlade boat from Hopoa," said Ching softly, as if speaking tohimself.
"I'm not satisfied," said Mr Brooke. "Go forward, Mr Herrick; youreyes are sharp. We'll sail round her again. All of you have a goodlook at her rigging."
"Ay, ay, sir," whispered the men; and I crept forward among them towhere Ching had stationed himself, and once more we began gliding upbefore the wind, which was sufficiently brisk to enable us to easilymaster the swift tide.
As I leaned over the side, Ching heaved a deep sigh.
"What's the matter?" I whispered.
"Ching so velly mislable," he whispered back. "Mr Blooke think himvelly bad man. Think Ching want to give evelybody to pilate man. Chingvelly velly solly."
"Hist! look out!"
I suppose our whispering had been heard, for just as we were beingsteered pretty close to the anchored junk, a deep rough voice hailed ussomething after this fashion, which is as near as I can get to theoriginal--
"Ho hang wong hork ang ang ha?"
"Ning toe ing nipy wong ony ing!" cried Ching.
"Oh ony ha, how how che oh gu," came from the junk again, and then wewere right on ahead.
"Well," whispered Mr Brooke, "what does he say? Is it one of thepirate vessels?"
"No pilate. Big boat come down hong, sir. Capin fellow want to know ifwe pilate come chop off head, and say he velly glad we all good man."
"Are you quite sure?" said Mr Brooke.
I heard Ching give a little laugh.
"If pilate," he said, "all be full bad men. Lightee lantern; thlowstink-pot; make no
ise."
"Yes," said Mr Brooke; "this cannot be one of them. Here, hail the managain, and ask him where he is going."
"How pang pong won toe me?" cried Ching, and for answer there came twoor three grunts.
"Yes; what does he say?"
"Say he go have big long sleep, 'cause he velly tired."
Mr Brooke said no more, but ran the boat down the river some littledistance and then began to tack up again, running across from side toside, so as to make sure that the junks did not slip by us in thedarkness. But hour after hour glided on, and the lights ashore and onthe boats gradually died out, till, with the exception of a few lanternson vessels at anchor, river and shore were all alike one great expanseof darkness, while we had to go as slowly as possible, literallycreeping along, to avoid running into craft moored in the stream.
And all this time perfect silence had to be kept, and but for theintense desire to give good account of the junks, the men would soonhave been fast asleep.
"Do you think they will come down and try to put to sea, Ching?" I saidat last, very wearily.
"Yes, allee 'flaid Queen Victolia's jolly sailor boy come steam up liverand send boat up cleek, fight and burn junks. Come down velly quick."
"Doesn't seem like it," I said, beginning at last to feel so drowsy Icould not keep my eyes open.
"So velly dark, can't see."
"Why, you don't think they will get by us in the darkness?" I said,waking up now with a start at his words, and the bad news they conveyed.
"Ching can't tell. So velly dark, plenty junk go by; nobody see ifvelly quiet. Ching hope not get away. Wantee Mr Brooke catchee bothjunk, and no think Ching like pilate man."
"Here, I must go and have a talk to Mr Brooke," I said; and I creptback to where he sat steering and sweeping the darkness he could notpenetrate on either side.
"Well, Herrick," he said eagerly. "News?"
"Yes, sir; bad news. Ching is afraid that the junks have crept by us inthe night."
"I have been afraid so for some time, my lad, for the tide must havebrought them down long enough ago."
He relapsed into silence for a few minutes, and then said quietly--
"You can all take a sleep, my lads; Mr Herrick and I will keep watch."
"Thankye, sir, thankye," came in a low murmur, and I went forward tokeep a look-out there; but not a man lay down, they all crouchedtogether, chewing their tobacco, waiting; while Ching knelt by the bows,his elbows on the gunwale, his chin resting upon his hands, apparentlygazing up the river, but so still that I felt he must be asleep, and atlast startled him by asking the question whether he was.
"No; too much head busy go sleep. Want findee allee pilate, show MrBlooke no like pilate. Velly 'flaid all gone."
How the rest of that night went by, I can hardly tell. We seemed to befor hours and hours without end tacking to and fro, now going up theriver two or three miles, then dropping down with the tide, and alwayszig-zagging so as to cover as much ground as possible. The nightlengthened as if it would never end; but, like all tedious times of thekind, it dragged its weary course by, till, to my utter astonishment,when it did come, a faint light dawned away over the sea beyond themouth of the river, just when we were about a mile below the city.
That pale light gradually broadened, and shed its ghastly chilly beamsover the sea, making all look unreal and depressing, and showed thefaces of our crew, sitting crouched in the bottom of the boat, silentbut quite wide-awake.
Then all started as if suddenly electrified, for Ching uttered a lowcry, and stood up, pointing right away east.
"What is it?" I said.
"Two pilate junk."
We all saw them at the same time, and with a miserable feeling ofdespondency, for there was no hiding the fact. The river was wide, andwhile we were close under one bank they had glided silently down underthe other, and were far beyond our reach.