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"Well," exclaimed Drake sharply, as this peculiar-looking individual reached the deck and stood staring round him, "what the dickens d'ye want? Who are ye? What's your name?" "My name Ling-Wong, mastel," replied the Korean, "and I come flom Excellency Kyong-Bah, at Yong-wol." "Phew!" whistled Drake, turning to Frobisher. "Kyong-bah is the man I negotiated with about this cargo.
"No undelstand, mastel," said Ling, regarding Frobisher with a blank stare. "No, you scoundrel!" retorted Frobisher angrily; "you only understand just what suits you, don't you?
"I mean," replied Frobisher, rather testily for he now felt almost convinced that the fellow was trying to hoodwink him "that I suppose you are quite sure that no spy, no one belonging to the enemy, in fact, approached or entered the camp while I was asleep and you were on guard?" "Oh!" exclaimed Ling, his face breaking out into a smile, "I undelstand now. No, mastel; nobody not come neal camp.
And now that I've told you this, tell me in return whether there is any other place beside this where we can cross?" "No, mastel," said Ling, "no othel place. This only place anywhele. And no can closs hele, mastel can see fol himselluf." "Well," said Frobisher determinedly, "if this is the only place, this is where we cross.
"Me no undelstand `anything outel le common', mastel; what mastel mean?" enquired Ling, his almond-shaped eyes opening in apparent puzzlement.
"Ah, mastel," exclaimed Ling, glancing apprehensively over his shoulder; "no speak so loud. Listen. When you save my life this molning, me wish velly much that me could wain you, but me dale not then it too late. But Ling nevel folget kindness of mastel; and me tly to savee you, if can. But to do that me must pletend me velly glad you caught; pletend me velly angly against you.
He even took the trouble to light a fire himself and prepare a cup of hot tea for the "mastel", for which the drenched and shivering young Englishman felt sincerely grateful. The young man had taken only a single sip, however, when he detected a very peculiar taste in the liquid, and spat the mouthful out on to the ground, with an exclamation of disgust.
"And who the mischief may `only me' be?" growled Drake, who had been very considerably startled, and therefore felt rather annoyed with himself. "Sh, sh! mastel," urged the voice; "you makee not so muchee shout; it vely dangelous. Thlow me lope, so I climb up; I got big piecee news for mastel." And the sound of muffled oars was again heard, this time evidently close to the ship.
Ling observed the motion, and shrank back guiltily. "Oh, mastel," he quavered, "me thinkee me heal a sound ovel hele fol me too flightened to sleep and me come hele to see what the mattel." "What kind of sound did you think you heard?" queried Frobisher, looking the man square in the eyes. Ling tried to return the gaze, but failed.
Then, seeing that the Englishman was conscious, Ling remarked: "Me glad see mastel open eyes again. Me thinkee once that mastel killed dead." "It is no fault of yours that I was not, you treacherous rascal!" returned Frobisher, so savagely that the Korean involuntarily stepped backward a pace. "If ever I get out of this and can get my hands on you, I'll make you sorry for your betrayal of me!"
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