CHAPTER FOUR.
"HERE! YOU'D BETTER COME ASHORE."
Foul weather extended the voyage of the steamer to a length of five daysbefore she reached the little port of destination, where, in the midstof a glorious change, Stan followed his conductor into a great clumsyjunk, which was sailed when the windings of the fine, broad Mour Rivermade the wind favourable, and tracked by coolies hauling upon a hugetwisted bamboo cable when the breeze was adverse for a couple of daysmore.
The up-river trip was most enjoyable, through a highly cultivatedcountry teeming with an industrious population and glowing with abundantcrops; while the scenery was so glorious, and the novelty of thecontinuous panorama so great, that Stan felt a chill of disappointmentat sunset one glowing evening when Wing, who had crept quietly up behindhim, touched his shoulder, and stood pointing towards a village at thefoot of a grand stretch of cliff, the houses rising up the beautifulterraced slope, while at the foot was a group of new-looking buildings,at the back of a wharf to which some half-dozen trading-boats weremoored.
"Nang Ti," said Wing, with a broad smile. "Young Lynn big _hong_ fullsilk, full tea, full nicee piecee chop chop all along young Lynn. Seebig Blunt soon. Young Lynn savee big managee Blunt?"
"No, I have never seen him," said Stan as he sheltered his eyes from theruddy orange sunlight and scanned the place.
"Velly big stlong man. Velly good man. Velly big shoutee tongue say`Ho!' and `Ha!' Flighten stlong coolie man; makee wuck. Coolie godlink much _samshu_, lie down, go sleepee; Blunt come behind, takeepigtail, pullee up, and kickee velly much. Makee coolie cly `Oh!'Makee loll ovey and ovey, and say leady to go wuck and nevey dlink_samshu_, no mo'."
"Indeed!" said Stan, who began to picture in his own mind what sort of apersonage the manager in charge might be. "And then, I suppose, afterbeing kicked for getting tipsy on _samshu_, the men never drink anymore?"
"No," said Wing, grinning more widely. "Velly much flighten. Neveydlink any mo' till next time. Poh! Gleat big silly boy, coolie. Gleatstlong man up to head--head like big baby chile. Much flighten when bigBlunt come shout `Ho! ha!' Big piecee man, big Blunt. Mastee managee.Young Lynn mastee managee now. Flighten big Blunt."
"Indeed!" said Stan, smiling. "Well, we shall see."
"Yes, young Lynn see soon. Lookee! Big Blunt."
Wing pointed again, and following the direction of the extendedindex-finger, Stan saw a tall figure in white step out of one of thebuildings, make its way to where a crane stretched out its diagonal arm,from which a chain with heavy ball and hooks was suspended over theriver, and then stop to gaze at the junk upon whose high stern Stan andhis companion were on the lookout.
Just then the _tindal_, or master of the junk, began to shout to hismen, one of whom ran forward and began to thump a gong hanging in thebows, sending forth a booming roar whose effect was to bring a littlecrowd of half-naked coolies out of the buildings ashore, and three orfour Europeans in white, while the crew of the junk began to swarm aboutthe great clumsy vessel like bees.
The wind was favourable, and the great matting sails creaked andrustled, while their yards groaned as they rubbed against the bamboomasts as their sheets were tightened and pulled home, sending the heavyboat gliding up-river at an increased pace, soon getting abreast of thewharf, and then gliding along up-stream and leaving it behind.
"What does this mean?" said Stan excitedly. "Doesn't the captain knowwe are to stop there?"
"Young Lynn soon see," replied Wing. "Velly fast lun watey big stleam.Young Lynn wait. Go 'long bit way. Captain know."
He did know perfectly how to manage his clumsy craft, which, inobedience to his signs to the steersman, was run on in a diagonal coursewhich took it in nearer to the bank from which the cliff ran up. Then,as a few yells were uttered, some of the men seized the ropes, othersgot out great sweeps, there was a bang on the gong, the two great sailscame rattling down upon the deck, the long sweeps began to dip as thejunk's pace grew slower and slower, till she finally stopped and beganto go back, but so slowly and well-directed that she glided closealongside the wharf, whence men threw ropes; and in a wonderfully shorttime, considering the clumsiness of the craft and equipage, the junk wasmoored alongside so closely that it was possible to run a gangway aboardfor the occupants to go ashore.
Stan was making ready to approach the gangway, when the figure in whiteapproached the side, and without taking any notice of him, nodded to theChinese captain shortly, and then turned to Wing.
"Hullo, you, sir!" he shouted in a big, vigorous voice, as if he meanthimself to be heard back at the stern.
"Yes. Come back again," said Wing.
"What made you so long?"
"Velly bad wind blow velly much indeed. Steamship no get 'long fast."
"Humph! Bring me any letters?"
"Yes, bling big pack letteys. Got lot."
"Come along, then, ashore; I've no time to waste."
"I shall never like you," thought Stan to himself as he waited patientlyfor the manager to address him in turn. But the big, keen,masterful-looking fellow did not seem even to glance in the lad'sdirection, keeping his eyes fixed upon Wing, who seemed to be quiteafraid of him, and did not venture to speak till the manager said loudlyand sharply, as if to annoy the stranger:
"Who's that boy you've got on board there?"
Wing looked troubled, and glanced first at Stan and then at the speaker.
"Well, sir, why don't you answer?" continued the manager.
"Young Lynn. Come 'long flom Hai-Hai."
"Oh!" said the manager gruffly. "Whose son is he--Mr Oliver's or MrJeffrey's? Oh, I remember; Mr Jeffrey isn't married." Then turninghis eyes full upon Stan with a searching stare, he said shortly, "Howdo? Here! you'd better come ashore."