Part 67 (1/2)
”What!” yelled Smith. ”Do you mean to say that Brooke and this--this-- thing are going off wasting Her Majesty's time shooting?”
”Yes; I saw Brooke, and he said it was so.”
”Then I shall resign. Hang me if I'll stop in a service where such beastly favouritism is shown. Profession for gentlemen's sons, is it?
I call it a mockery!”
”Oh, don't be so snaggy, Smithums,” I said banteringly; ”wait till his poor old wing's all right again, and he shall go a shooting too.”
That was too much. He made a rush at me, but Barkins flung an arm round his waist, and as they struggled together I dodged to the other side of the table and escaped from the cabin, but popped my head in again.
”Don't hit him, Tanner,” I cried; ”he ain't got no friends. Good-bye, old chap, I wish you were coming too.”
Our eyes met, and I suppose my tone and the look I gave him seemed sincere, for, as he held Smith, his arms tightly round him from behind, and his chin resting upon our messmate's shoulder, he gave me a friendly nod.
”All right, old chap,” he said; ”I hope you'll enjoy yourself.”
”And I hope the John Teapots 'll get hold of you, you miserable little cad!” cried Smith. ”I shan't be there to help you this time.”
I burst out laughing and ran on deck, to find the men mustered ready, and Mr Brooke standing there in sun helmet and gaiters, looking as unlike a naval officer as he could be.
”Oh, there you are, Herrick,” he said, giving me a look over. ”Yes, that will do.”
”But the men,” I whispered. ”Oughtn't they to be armed?”
”All right, my lad; plenty of tackle in the boat under the thwarts.”
”But my gun--I mean Mr Reardon's?”
”In the stern-sheets, with plenty of cartridges. Where's Ching?”
”I don't--down below, I suppose.”
”Fetch him up; we're off at once.”
There was no need, for the interpreter appeared smiling and happy, looking as if he had not pa.s.sed through such a terrible ordeal a short time before.
The captain and Mr Reardon came up then.
”Ready, Mr Brooke?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Order the crew into the boat, Mr Reardon.”
As the men sprang in, the captain came close to us.
”You'll keep up the appearance of a sporting expedition, Mr Brooke,” he said in a low voice. ”I expect you'll find the junks in the river off some village. The rest I must leave to you.”
”Take them, sir, if I feel pretty certain?”