“But they might have come down to their place here,” I said.
Ching smiled contemptuously.
“Pilate velly blave man, fight gleat deal when allee one side, and know sailor can’t fightee. When plenty sailor can fightee, pilate lun away velly fast, and no come back.”
“Can you understand him, Mr Grey?” I said.
“Oh yes, I understand him, and I daresay he’s right, but there’s no harm in being on the look-out;” and, to show his intention of following out his words, the boatswain took his revolver from its case, and laid it ready upon his knees.
“How much farther is this village, or whatever it is?” said Mr Reardon from behind.
“Do you hear, Ching?” I said.
“Ching hear; Ching don’tee know; not velly far,” was the unsatisfactory reply.
“I’m afraid we’ve come on a cock-and-bull hunt,” said the boatswain, looking to right and left as he stood up in the boat, for the creek now grew so narrow that the men had to lay in their oars, and the coxswain also stood up and drew the boat onward by hooking the overhanging boughs.
“Do you think they do come up here, Ching?” I said.