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Updated: May 29, 2025
"Back directly," I cried, and I hurried on deck so quickly that I nearly blundered up against Mr Reardon. "Manners, midshipman!" he said sharply. "Stop, sir. Where are you going?" "Doctor, sir." "What, are you hurt, my lad?" he cried anxiously. "No, sir, but poor Barkins is." "Bless my soul, how unfortunate! Mr Smith down too! Where is he?"
"He gave me a good bullying for not having the boat ready when he wanted to come on board." "Was that why you went in the cabin?" cried Barkins. "Of course." "Oh then, if that's the case, we'll let you off. Eh, Blacksmith?" "Well, I suppose so." "Let me off what?"
He did not say a Chinese pirate, but he meant it; and I must confess to feeling something of the kind, for I thought how satisfactory it would be to aim one of our big guns at a pirate junk taken in some cruel act, and to send a shot between wind and water that would sink her and rid the seas of some of the fiends. I quite started the next moment, for Barkins said, in a low, thoughtful voice
"You come 'long o' Ching, I showee something velly nice ploper." "All right," I cried. "Now, Tanner, go and try it on with the doctor." "No, no. Ask offlicer. Doctor only give flizzick. Velly nastee. Ugh!" Ching's round face was a study as he screwed it up to show his disgust with the doctor's preparations. Barkins went off and returned directly.
"Come 'long," whispered Ching hurriedly; and he caught our comrade by the arm, forcing him onward as the guards scowled at us fiercely. "Here, what are you up to?" cried Smith, resenting the interference. "Take velly much care of Englis' offlicers. Big mandalin live there. Men sword velly sharp cut off head." "Bosh!" said Smith shortly; "they'd better." "Oh no, they hadn't," cried Barkins.
The man's eyes flashed and his hand stole toward his sword hilt. "'Tention!" roared Barkins with a fierce stamp, and though the order was new to the guard, he took it to be a military command and stepped back to remain stiff and motionless. "Ha! that's better," cried Barkins, and he nodded and then passed on with us after Ching, whose eyes bespoke the agony of terror he felt.
"Yes, tell Mr Leardon watchee watchee, killee allee pilate." "Yes," I said; and I hurried away, muttering, "Watchee watchee, killee. What stuff they do talk! Any one would think they were all big babies, who had been taught to speak English by a nurse." As I reached the deck I saw Barkins and Smith standing by the first lieutenant, and he was nodding his head.
My heart began to beat before I reached the main shrouds, and it beat more heavily as I toiled up the rattlins, reached the top, and then went on again, too much excited to think of there being any danger of falling, my mind being partly occupied with thoughts of what Barkins and Smith were saying about my being favoured in this way.
I acted pettily, but then I was only a boy; and now I am a man, getting on in years, I don't know that I am much better. But it was very comic all the same to see those two fellows try to ignore my proceedings, poor old Barkins following Blacksmith's lead once more. They did not want to know what I was going to do not a bit.
Well, if there are, you three lads ought to come and be my body-guard with your dirks. Like to see the operations, I daresay?" "Ugh!" I said, with a shudder. "Bah! Don't act like a great girl, Herrick," said the doctor scornfully. "You would never have done for a doctor, sir. I never shudder at the worst cases." "But then you are hardened, sir," said Barkins.
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