"'Cause he'll order the jollies to fix bayonets and feel some o' their backs with the p'ints."

The conversation interested me, and I forgot my dignity as an officer, and joined in.

"Bayonets make bad wounds, Jecks," I said.

"Yes, sir, they do; nasty three-side wounds, as is bad to get healed up again. They aren't half such a nice honest weapon as a cutlash. 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! The British consul would send off to the _Teaser_, the skipper would land a lot on us--Jacks and jollies; we should give these warmint a good sharp dressing-down; and they'd know as we wouldn't stand any of their nonsense, and leave off chucking stones and mud at us.

Now, what had we done that we couldn't be 'lowed to lie alongside o' the wharf yonder? We didn't say nothing to them. Fact is, sir, they hates the British, and thinks they're a sooperior kind o' people altogether.

Do you hear, mates?--sooperior kind o' people; and there ain't one as could use a knife and fork like a Chrishtian."

"And goes birds'-nestin' when they wants soup," said another.

"Well, I don't fall foul o' that, matey," said Jecks; "'cause where there's nests there's eggs, and a good noo-laid egg ain't bad meat.

It's the nastiness o' their natur' that comes in there, and makes 'em eat the nest as well. What I do holler at, is their cooking dog."

"And cat," said another.

"And rat," cried the third.

"Yes, all on 'em," said Jecks; "and I don't want to use strong language afore one's orficer, who's a young gent as is allers thoughtful about his men, and who's beginning to think now, that with the sun so precious hot he'll be obliged to order us ash.o.r.e soon for a drop o' suthin' to drink."

I laughed, and Tom Jecks chuckled.

"But what I do say about their eatin' and cookin' is this, and I stands by what I says, it's beastly, that's what it is--it's beastly!"

"Ay, ay," was chorussed, "so it is;" and then there was silence, while we all sat uneasily in the broiling sun.

"Wish I was a gal," growled one of the men at last.

"Ain't good-looking enough, matey," said Jecks. "Why?"

"'Cause then I s'ould have a sunshade to put up."

"Ay, 'tis warm--brylin', as you may say. Any on you know whether the Chinese is cannibals? You know, sir?"

"I have heard that they cook very strange things now and then," I said, laughing.

"Then they is," said Jecks; "and that being so, they'll have a fine chance to-day. Hadn't you better send word to some on 'em to lay the cloth, sir?"

"What for?"

"'Cause I'm nearly done, sir; and Billy Wakes looks quite. Billy ought to eat nice and joocy, messmates."

"And old Tom Jecks tough as leather," cried Wakes.

"That's so, matey," growled Jecks, who began to pa.s.s his tongue over his lips, and to make a smacking sound with his mouth.

"My hye, matey, you do seem hungry," said one of the others. "Look out, Billy, or he won't leave John Chinaman a taste."

"Get out!" growled Jecks; "that don't mean hungry, messmate--that means dry. Beg pardon, sir, we won't none on us try to slope off; but a good drink o' suthin', if it was on'y water, would be a blessin' in disguise just now."

"Yes, Jecks, I'm thirsty too," I said.

"Then why not let us pull ash.o.r.e, sir, and get a drink at one o' them Chinee imitation grog-shops yonder?"

"Because it would be a breach of discipline, my man," I said, trying to speak very sternly. "I should look nice if the captain came back and found me with the boat and no men."

"Hark at that now!" cried Jecks. "Just as if we'd be the chaps to get a good-natured kind young orficer into a sc.r.a.pe. Look here, sir, put Billy Wakes ash.o.r.e 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 gla.s.s just then would be very nice.

"Will you give the order, sir?" said Jecks insinuatingly. "Billy Wakes is a werry trustworthy sort of chap."

"Yes," I said; "but he'd forget to come back, and then I should have to send you to find him, and then the others to find you. I know. There, you can light your pipes if you like."

"And werry thankful for small mussies," said the old sailor, taking out his pipe. "You won't want no matches, lads. Fill up and hold the bowls in the sun."

They lit up, and began smoking, while I watched the long narrow street down which the captain and his escort must come.

"Think we shall have to land the prisoners, sir?" said Jecks, after a smoky silence.

"I suppose so," I replied. "I expect that is what the captain has gone ash.o.r.e about."

"Don't seem much good, that, sir. We takes 'em, and they'll let 'em go, to start a fresh lot o' plundering junks."

"Thundering junks, matey?" said Billy Wakes.

"I said plundering, Billy, and meant it. Your eddication ain't what it oughter be."

"No, Jecks," I said; "if the pirates are given up, they'll be executed for certain."

"Who says so, sir?"

"First lieutenant," I said.

"Well, he ought to know, sir. Been on the Chinee station afore. P'raps it's best, but I don't want 'em to be hung."

"Don't hang 'em here, Tommy," growled one of the two silent men.

"What do they do, then, old know-all?"

"Chops their heads off, I've heerd."

"Oh, well, I don't want 'em to have their heads chopped off. How should we like it if we was took prisoners?"