"Thank you, Ching," I said, placing it in my pocket, but without valuing the gift in the slightest degree. "I'm going now to tell the first lieutenant what you say."

"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.

"Why, they've been telling him about me," I thought as I went aft. "No; they wouldn't be such sneaks."

But all doubt was at an end directly, for they came down to meet me, and Smith cried--

"Mr Reardon wants to speak to you directly, Herrick;" while, as I looked up and caught Barkins' eye, he coloured a little, and hurriedly avoided my gaze.

"Thank you, tale-bearer," I said to Smith.

"Don't you be insolent, sir, unless you wish me to give you a severe thrashing."

"With fists?" I said.

"Yes, sir, with fists. I suppose the rules of the service will not allow us to use such weapons as officers are accustomed to."

"Do you mean officers like you?" I said contemptuously.

"Yes, sir; officers like me."

"Oh, you mean knives and forks, then," I said carelessly. "I say, Barkins, I didn't think you could have been such a jerry sneak."

He turned upon me with an apologetic look, but his lips began to bl.u.s.ter.

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Oh, nothing; I am not going to quarrel with old Barkins. He wouldn't have done this, if it had not been for Blacksmith."

"Go and obey the first lieutenant's orders, sir," said Smith haughtily.

"We will talk to you later on."

"You go and show Doctor Price your arms and legs," I said contemptuously and spitefully; for, to use a common phrase, my monkey was up. "Fight?

With fists? Where are your muscles? Why, I could upset you both with a swab."

I hurried aft, and ran up the steps to the quarter-deck in time to encounter the first lieutenant, who was coming from the wheel with an angry look upon his face.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

A QUEER QUARREL.

"I sent a message to you, Mr Herrick," he cried angrily, and I could then guess that he had been coming to see why I had delayed. "I have something to say to you, sir, respecting the company you keep, and the society you affect, which I am given to understand is not that which conduces to good dishipline."

"Oh, that's what Mr Smith thinks, sir," I said coolly.

"Oh, indeed!" he cried sarcastically.

"Yes, sir; he said something about it to me this morning, but he does not know."

"Indeed!" he cried, growing black as a thundercloud; "then I am to take it, sir, that you do?"

"I hope so, sir; I try to know."

"Then you know, sir, possibly why it was that when I sent you a summons I am kept waiting?"

"Yes, sir; I was delayed a little--"

"Oh, thank you. I am glad to hear that, Mr Herrick. Perhaps you have something else of importance to communicate?"

"Yes, sir, very."

"Thank you. I am sorry I cannot ask you to sit down."

"Don't name it, sir," I said quietly, while he began to breathe very hard.

"I was down with Ching the interpreter, sir, this morning--"

"Were you really, Mr Herrick?" he said sarcastically. "Dear me, I hope he is much better?"

"Yes, sir, he's nearly all right. I was coming to you when I met Mr Barkins, and Smith." I couldn't say Mr Smith, I felt so exasperated against him.

"What a curious coincidence, Mr Herrick! If I had known I might have spared myself the trouble of sending."

"Yes, sir."

"And pray, may I know for what reason I was to be honoured?"

"Of course, sir," I said coolly enough, for I was enjoying the way in which he was working himself up for an explosion to fall upon my unfortunate head. "The fact is, sir--"

"Oh, it is a fact, is it?"

"Yes, sir--Ching has friends ash.o.r.e."

"And wants leave of absence? Are you his envoy?"

"Oh no, sir. One of his friends sent him an important letter this morning by the vegetable boat."

"Eh? letter?" said Mr Reardon, beginning to grow interested.

"Yes, sir. This friend is a kind of a merchant or something; and he has news of two big junks--piratical junks--lying in this very river."

"The d.i.c.kens he has! Here, Herrick, come down to my cabin."