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Updated: May 10, 2025
For the Chinamen who were sitting sprang up, sword or knife in hand; those who were looking out to sea or making signals faced round, stood staring at the cliff for a few moments as if startled, and then, as Tom Jecks' voice rose again, but in muffled tones, for Ching had thrown himself upon the poor fellow to stifle his utterances, the pirates uttered a yell, rushed to the opening, tore down the sand and stones, and Ching and Tom Jecks were dragged out on to the sand.
"They're a-making cockshies of us, sir," said Tom Jecks; "better let two of us go ashore and chivvy 'em off." "Sit still, man, and " Whop! "Oh, scissors!" cried a sailor; "who's to sit still, sir, when he gets a squad on the back like that? Why, I shall have a bruise as big as a hen's egg." "Oars! push off!"
"Let's ketch him and take him to the doctor." "No, no!" cried Ching, dodging round me again, for Tom Jecks, to the delight of the others, made a snatch at him. "You'll be a deal more comfortable, messmate you know you will. Here, let's have it?" Tom Jecks made another snatch at him, but Ching avoided it, and to save him from further annoyance I too made a snatch.
My word, Mr Herrick, sir, it's truly-thankful-Amen I am that the poor chap's all right again." "And so am I, Tom Jecks," I replied. "O' course you is, sir; I never meant to cut his tail, only to frighten him a bit; but, poor heathen, he took it all as serious as seas. Shall I go and chuck the tin-can overboard?" "No; leave it here for him to find when he wakes up." "Right it is, sir.
But I should like to see them beggars get a prod or two." "It might mean trouble, Jecks, and a big rising of the people against the English merchants and residents." "Well, sir, that would be unpleasant for the time, but look at the good it would do!
"Just as if we'd be the chaps to get a good-natured kind young orficer into a scrape. Look here, sir, put Billy Wakes ashore to go and fetch some drink. My hye, what we would give for half-a-gallon o' real good cool solid old English beer." "Ha!" came in a deep sigh, and I could not help feeling that a glass just then would be very nice. "Will you give the order, sir?" said Jecks insinuatingly.
There, keep her off a bit, Jecks, or you'll have the boat swamped." He seized the right moment, and began to climb up the junk's side. I followed, and Ching was close at my heels, the clumsy vessel giving plenty of foothold; and we soon stood upon the deck, where some dozen or so Chinese sailors pointed aft to where the captain stood, bowing and smiling.
"So am I, Tom Jecks," I said; "but we can follow them." "Arter we've had another naval engagement, sir. I say, look astern; I do like the impidence of these here savages, chasing on us like this, and they're gaining on us fast." "No; only just holding their own." "Gaining, sir." "No." "Yes, sir."
"Ching neve' quite su'e only think so," was the reply, accompanied by a peculiar questioning look, and followed by a glance over his right shoulder at the sky. "No, I suppose not. I ought to have been more careful. They threw something down at the boat as soon as we had mounted: did they not, Jecks?" "Yes, sir; I see it coming.
Meanwhile Tom Jecks sat fast, pressing his feet against the jacket placed over the hole, and kept baling, while Ching took his time from him, and used his baler with enough skill to help get rid of a great deal of water, so that the boat was freed to an extent which set aside all danger of our sinking; but with all their efforts they never got beyond a certain point, for the water oozed in pretty constantly through and round the extempore plug.
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