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"I'll try," I said. "Keep velly close," whispered Ching. "No takee notice. No talkee closs. Ching speakee." He said something in Chinese to the men, and led us in single file between the two most fierce-looking, our prompt action taking them somewhat by surprise, and, as we gave them no excuse for taking offence, they only turned to gaze after us.
"Set of blooming pirates," said Kettle. But Dayton-Philipps seemed to view the situation from a different point. "I'm rather thinking we are the pirates. How about those three we've got on board? This sort of press-gang work isn't quite approved of nowadays, is it, Skipper?" "They no speakee English," said Kettle drily.
"My 'long speakee my goo' flien'," chanted each of these apparitions; and each, after a long, slow discourse that ended more darkly than it began, retired with fatuous nods and smirks of satisfaction, leaving Rudolph dismayed by a sense of cryptic negotiation in which he had been found wanting. Noon brought the only other interval, when two solemn "boys" stole in with curry and beer.
"Oh yes; beauties," said Barkins. "What's up?" "You likee ask leave go for bit walkee walkee?" "Don't!" roared Smith. "Don't talk like a nurse to us. Why don't you speak plain English?" "Yes; Ching speak ploper Inglis. No speakee pigeon Englis. All ploper. Interpleter. You likee go shore for walkee, see something?" "You beggar, you were listening," cried Barkins. "How long had you been there?"
I demanded in English, as he was led up and halted before me. "Too mosh me no speakee Anglish!" he promptly replied, shrugging his shoulders until they touched the great gold rings that adorned the lobes of his ears, and spreading out his hands, palms upward, toward me. "What do you speak, then?" I demanded, still in English, for somehow I did not for a moment believe the rascal's statement.
"Sare," said he, "you are a stranger. These Russians are great rascals. They will cheat you out of your eyes. I speakee English. I am your friend." I thanked him very cordially, but assured him there was no danger of my being cheated.
When we arrived at Nice, and an impertinent policeman got me into a corner, so to speak, and tried to put me through the catechism, I simply said, "No speakee Frenchee Mistress Americano," and at that he shook his head and wrote it down in a note-book about as large as a grocer's ledger.
They come out speakee him, he slap big missee in face, drive 'em off." Holman was crashing through the bushes before Kaipi had finished his recital, and I followed him, with the excited Fijian bringing up the rear. Leith was rushing the Professor and his daughters toward the black hills and we had to do something immediately.
"He no speakee English," said Popo, who had just scrambled into the canoe. "Why, Dicky Popo," cried the commander, "you here, my boy!" I could not resist shaking Popo by the hand, so delighted was I to see him. "Yes, massa cappen; me no drownee," he answered. "That's very evident," said the commander; "and I shall be glad to know how you escaped.
The bear was walking softly on, and offered to meddle with nobody, till Friday coming pretty near, calls to him, as if the bear could understand him, "Hark ye, hark ye," says Friday, "me speakee with you."
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