Part 73 (1/2)

”You wantee Ching?”

”Yes; where is there a boat-builder's where they will mend the boat directly?”

”No,” he said; ”takee velly long time. Boat-builder same slow fellow.

No piecee work along. Take boatee out water, mend him to-mollow, next week.”

”Then what are we to do?” I cried. ”We want to watch the junks.”

”Why no takee other fellow big boatee? Plenty big boatee evelywhere.

Get in big sampan junk, pilate man no sabby jolly sailor boy come along.

Think other piecee fellow go catch fish.”

”Here, Mr Brooke,” I cried excitedly; ”Ching says we had better take one of these boats lying moored out here, and the pirates won't think of it being us. Isn't it capital?”

Mr Brooke gazed sharply at us both for a few moments, and then directed the boat's head as if going up the river again.

”Where is there a suitable boat?” he said hoa.r.s.ely, and speaking evidently under great excitement, as he saw a means of saving the chance after all.

”Velly nice big boat over 'long there,” said Ching, pointing to a native craft about double the size of our cutter, lying moored about a hundred yards from the sh.o.r.e, and evidently without any one in her.

”Yes, that will do,” cried Mr Brooke. ”Anything fits a man who has no clothes. Pull, my lads--give way!”

The men dragged at the oars, and I saw that since Ching had left off baling the water was gaining fast, and that if more power was not put on it would not be long before the boat was waterlogged or sunk.

In a minute we were alongside the boat, one of a superior cla.s.s, possibly belonging to some man of consequence, and Mr Brooke had run the cutter along her on the side farthest from the sh.o.r.e, so that our proceedings were not noticed, as we made fast.

”Now then, tumble in, my lads,” he cried; ”take the oars and everything movable. Throw them in, our game and all. Here, Herrick, take both guns.”

Everything was transferred in a very short time; and this done, Mr Brooke stepped aboard the little junk-like craft, gave his orders, and a line was attached to a grating, the other end to one of the ring-bolts.

Then the craft's anchor-line was unfastened, and our painter hitched on to it instead. Next the grating was tossed overboard, with plenty of line to float it as a buoy and show where the boat had sunk, as it was pretty certain to do before long; and we, in our tiny junk, began to glide away with the tide, furnished with a serviceable boat, boasting of sails, even if they were not of a kind our men were accustomed to manage.

”Why, it is grand, Herrick!” cried Mr Brooke excitedly. ”We shall get them after all.”

”And all Ching's doing, sir,” I said quietly.

”Ah, yes, perhaps; he is repentant now he has been found out. But we shall see--”

”That he is quite innocent, sir,” I said.

”I hope so, my lad. Now, let's make sail, and beat about here, to and fro. We must keep a good watch for our two friends, and if they come down we can follow till we see the _Teaser_ in the offing. We may, I say, capture them yet.”

A sail was hoisted, and in a few minutes we found that the craft went along easily and well, answering to her helm admirably. Her high bulwarks gave plenty of shelter, and would, I saw, well conceal our men, so that we had only to put Ching prominently in sight to pa.s.s unnoticed, or as a Chinese fis.h.i.+ng or pleasure boat.

Just then I turned and found him close behind me, rubbing his hands.

”You ask Mr Blooke he likee Ching sit where pilate see him 'gain?” he said.

”I am sure he would,” I replied.