Part 11 (1/2)

”No, catchee,” he said despondently. ”Pilate velly cunning. See Queen Victolia s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+p.”

”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 s.h.i.+p 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 ash.o.r.e.”

”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?”