"Velly. Me no need make breakfast. Captain sick. No want any."
"What! The captain sick? What do you mean?"
"Huh! Him no sail man. Him only gole' glabber; no know nothing 'bout sea. D——" John disappeared as he gave vent to his last exclamation, and, turning round, I saw that Aguinili, the diver and sarang, was approaching.
"Good day, sir," he said, in excellent English.
"Good day, Aguinili. You have given Ah Sing a fright."
"He gabble gabble all day when captain not well."
"Great Scot! What is wrong? The captain was all right half an hour ago."
"Yes, but we are round the head now, and the monsoon is on. I come speak with you, for to-night I have only one man to steer with me; the rest no good. I come ask will you take helm for time to-night, else we must go back?"
I was certainly surprised at Aguinili's words, but, grasping their import, I at once signified that I would willingly take a watch, and following him aft, I was made acquainted with the little peculiarities of the schooner in regards to her steering.