“Do you think they will come out of hiding?”
“Ching don’tee know. Ching thinkee muchee so. Now go sleepee. Velly much tire.”
He curled himself up, drawing his tail round out of the way, and seemed to go off directly; while I rejoined the officer of the watch, who happened to be Mr Brooke, and we walked right forward to the bows, and saw that the men were keeping a bright look-out.
“Well, Herrick,” he said, “got your dirk sharp?”
“No,” I said. “Don’t laugh at me, please, Mr Brooke.”
“Oh no, I will not laugh at you, my lad,” he said; “but as it is quite likely that we may have a bit of a scrimmage to-morrow, if the scoundrels are lured out of their holes, and grow desperate on finding that they have made a mistake, you had better keep out of the way.”
“But—”
“Oh yes, I know what you are going to say; but you are very young yet, and what chance would you have against a great strong savage Chinaman—for there are plenty of powerful fellows among these scoundrels. You must wait a bit before you take to fighting.”
I felt uncomfortable. He seemed to be looking down upon me so, in spite of my being an officer; but I could not boast of my strength, and remained silent for a time.
“Do you think they are likely to get on board, sir?”