Part 1 (2/2)
”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 ash.o.r.e, 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 ash.o.r.e.”
”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 a.s.sure you, sir, that the dis.h.i.+pline of the marines on board this s.h.i.+p is above reproach.”
”Yes, sir. Of course, sir. I only thought that, after being on board the s.h.i.+p 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 paG.o.das, towers, and ornamental gateways glittering in the morning suns.h.i.+ne, 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?”
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