Part 33 (1/2)
”Oh, but we arn't Chinees,” growled Billy Wakes.
”Nor arn't likely to be, mate; but we've got heads all the same. I know how I should like to be executed if it was to-day.”
The others looked up, and I could not help turning my head at the strangely-expressed desire.
”I'll tell yer,” said Jecks, looking hard at me. ”I should like it to be same as they did that young chap as we reads of in history. They drowned him in a big tub o' wine.”
”Grog would do for me,” said Billy Wakes.
”Or beer,” cried the others.
”Ask the captain to let you have some tea,” I cried, ”Quick, haul up the grapnel! Here they come!”
Pipes were knocked out on the instant, the grapnel hauled up, and oars seized; but, in spite of urging on the men, I saw to my vexation that the captain had reached the landing-place first, and I kept him waiting nearly five minutes in the broiling sun.
He did not say anything, only glared at me as he stepped in, followed by his escort. The oars were dropped, and, as we began to row back to the _Teaser_, I saw that his face was scarlet with the heat, and he looked in a regular temper.
”I shall catch it,” I thought to myself; but the very next moment my attention was taken to the sh.o.r.e, where a yell of derision arose from the crowd gathered to see the officers embark.
”Brutes!” muttered the captain; and then he sprang up in a rage, for a shower of stones came pattering into the boat, and splas.h.i.+ng up the water all round.
He was so enraged by the insult, that he ordered the marines to load, and a volley of twelve rifles was fired over the people's heads.
The result was that they all ran helter-skelter, tumbling over each other, and by the time they returned and began throwing again we were out of their reach, but they kept on hurling stones and refuse all the same, and shouting ”Foreign devils!” in their own tongue.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
AN INTERVIEW.
”Mr Herrick! Come to my cabin,” said the captain as he stepped on deck, and I followed him.
”You stupid fellow,” whispered Mr Brooke as I pa.s.sed him, ”why didn't you keep the boat by the wharf?”
I gave him a comical look, and followed the captain; but I was kept waiting for a few moments at the door while the servant was summoned, and when I did go in my officer was lying back in his chair, with ice on the table, and a great gla.s.s of what seemed to be soda-water and brandy before him, but which proved by the decanter to be sherry.
”Oh,” he cried angrily, ”there you are, sir! Why didn't you come at once, sir?”
”I did, sir; but was kept waiting till you were ready.”
”Well, sir, don't answer in that pert way. It sounds like insolence.
That will not do, Mr Herrick, if you wish to get on in your profession.
Now, sir, your orders were to stop by the landing-place, with the boat in charge, ready for my return, were they not?”
”Yes, sir; but--”
”Silence, sir! How dare you interrupt me? I go up through the broiling heat to have an interview with that wretched, stolid, obstinate mandarin, with his confounded b.u.t.ton and peac.o.c.k-feather; and when I do get back, perfectly exhausted by the heat, half-dead, I find no boat.”
”No, sir; but--”