The result was that they all ran helter-skelter, tumbling over each other, and by the time they returned and began throwing again we were out of their reach, but they kept on hurling stones and refuse all the same, and shouting “Foreign devils!” in their own tongue.
Chapter Sixteen.
An Interview.
“Mr Herrick! Come to my cabin,” said the captain as he stepped on deck, and I followed him.
“You stupid fellow,” whispered Mr Brooke as I passed him, “why didn’t you keep the boat by the wharf?”
I gave him a comical look, and followed the captain; but I was kept waiting for a few moments at the door while the servant was summoned, and when I did go in my officer was lying back in his chair, with ice on the table, and a great glass of what seemed to be soda-water and brandy before him, but which proved by the decanter to be sherry.
“Oh,” he cried angrily, “there you are, sir! Why didn’t you come at once, sir?”
“I did, sir; but was kept waiting till you were ready.”