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Updated: May 10, 2025
"All right, Mr Shing po Num, or whatever your name is," said the coxswain in a low voice, "can't stop this time, we're in a hurry." The man kept on gesticulating. "Can't you hear what I say?" continued Jecks in a whisper. "We're in a hurry. Say, sir, that's the chap as belongs to our boat I mean his boat, and he's getting wilder and wilder now to see us carry it off.
"We're hard at it, sir," said Tom Jecks, who was handling his rifle as coolly as if it had been a capstan bar; "but I don't think we're hitting any of 'em. How's the first luff seem?" "I don't know," I said excitedly. "Well, sir, we're all right," said the man, "and are doing our best. You needn't stop if you can hurry the boys on forward."
Having scanned the sea horizon with the Dollond glass to make sure that the firth was absolutely free from ships, they gave themselves up to the delights of the sunshine and summer air. Now they dipped into little coves, among dainty shells and glistening sand-breadths, where they sat down cross-legged and played at "jecks" or "jacks" one pebble in the air and lift five.
"But one moment, Mr Brooke," I said; "are we sure that those are the right junks?" "I feel sure," he said. "What do you say, my lads?" "Ay, ay, sir, them's right," chorussed the men. "Yes, Ching velly sure those pilate junk." "I know one on 'em, sir," said Jecks, "by her great yard. I never see a junk with such a big un afore. Talk about the cut of a jib I says, look at the cut of her mainsail."
The man had raised his sword to strike at Tom Jecks, and I shuddered and looked aside, to see the great shadow of a man on the sand at my feet, and there was a sword raised close by me.
There wasn't no bones broke." "Hold your tongue, sir." "Cert'n'y, sir." "And come here." Tom Jecks stepped forward obsequiously. "Look, the tin sticks all round fast into the tail as if it were a rabbit trap." "Ay, sir, it do; and if I might say so, they managed it very cleverly." "Cleverly?" "Yes, sir.
I flew to the tiller, but found a big Chinaman before me, and in an instant he had me by the collar and was tugging me over the side. But I clung to it, felt a jerk as there was a loud rap, and, thanks to Tom Jecks, the man rolled over into the water, and began to swim. "Now for it, my lads," shouted Mr Brooke. "All together; over with them!"
I shuddered as I thought of the consequences of being without water in that stifling place, but the simple refreshments did me a wonderful amount of good, and, after dipping my handkerchief in the vessel and squeezing a few drops from time to time between Tom Jecks' lips as he began to mutter, he dropped off to sleep again.
"Tell them to heave us a rope, Ching," said Mr Brooke, and the interpreter shouted through his hands, with the result that a heavy coil came crashing down, and was caught by Tom Jecks, who was nearly knocked overboard. "We said a rope, not a hawser," growled the man, hauling in the rope. "Better shy a few anchors down too, you bladder-headed lubbers!"
"No," he said; "velly long way yet." "But who are these?" I said "some village people?" "Pilate," he cried. "Allee come home not kill, and findee plize-money gone. Makee velly angly. Wantee chop off sailor head." "Like to catch 'em at it," growled Tom Jecks, who had been very silent for some time. "Silence there!" cried Mr Reardon sternly. Then to me, "We seem to have checked them, Herrick."
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