“Then he must have caught at the rudder-chains as he was swept along the side,” said the captain. “Why didn’t the fellow hail us, instead of letting the boats go on such a fool’s errand?”
“Too much scared, sir,” replied Mr Reardon. “Below there! Got him in the boat?”
“Got him, sir, and we can’t get him,” said one of the men. “He’s all twissen up round the chain in a knot somehow.”
“What?”
“He’s tied hisself up somehow.”
“Well, then, cut him loose, man,” cried Mr Reardon.
“No cuttee tow-chang! No cuttee tow-chang!” cried Ching in a piteous wail.
“Not cut his toe?” said the captain in a tone full of disgust. “What does he mean? He can’t have tied his foot to the chain.”
“Hold still, will yer!” growled a deep voice; “I’m only untwisten on it. Nobody wants to cut yer pigtail.”
“Oh, no cuttee tow-chang!” wailed Ching piteously.