Part 41 (2/2)
Don't, go to sleep, sir. What next?”
”I'll shy the spygla.s.s at you directly,” I muttered; and then aloud, ”Fire, sir; both junks blazing.”
”Hurrah!” came from the deck as the rest of the crew set up a tremendous cheer, for the smoke had suddenly grown less dense; and the junks gradually grew visible as it floated away; while even in the bright sunlight the flames were visible, and I could now make out that they were two floating furnaces with the great tongues of fire licking the broad matting-sails: and, best news of all, there, quite plainly, were our four boats, with the men just visible above their sides.
I reported this, and cheer after cheer rose again. After which there was dead silence once more, so that my reports could be heard.
”Now, Mr Herrick, what now?” cried Mr Reardon.
”Two boats lying in mid-stream, sir; the others are rowing to the side.”
”To pick up the men who were sent ash.o.r.e, I suppose. Good.”
”Junks burning very fast, sir; and they're floating across to the other side. The wind's taking them straight, for the smoke floats that way.”
”Very likely,” said Mr Reardon; and there was a long pause.
”One junk has taken the ground, sir,” I said, ”and--”
”Yes, well, what?”
”Her masts and sails have fallen over the side.”
”And our boats?”
”Lying-to, sir, doing nothing.”
But that was as far as I could see, for they were doing a good deal, as we afterwards heard.
”Other junk has floated over, sir, nearly to the same place.”
”Good; burning still?”
”Oh yes, sir--very fast.”
He need not have asked; for, as Barkins told me afterwards, they could see the flames from the deck, though our boats were invisible.
”Well, what now?” cried Mr Reardon, as I saw the captain quietly pacing to and fro on the bridge.
”Other two boats pushed off from the sh.o.r.e, sir.”
”Ha! that's right. See anything of the Chinamen?”
”No, sir; the forest goes right away for miles. There isn't one to be seen.”
”And the boats?”
”All rowing back, sir, close under the left bank.”
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