“Now, lun velly fast. Come along catchee catchee, and no big gun go shoot this time.”
He was quite right, and we took to our heels, with the yelling mob close at hand, and so many people in front, that we felt certain of being run down long before we could reach the waterside.
“And no chance for us when we do,” muttered Barkins from close behind me. “Oh, if a couple of dozen of our lads were only here! Why didn’t they send ’em?” he panted, “instead of firing as a signal for us to go back on board.”
Chapter Three.
Cutting it Close.
My messmate uttered these words close to my ears in a despairing tone as we dashed on, and now I saw Ching strike to his right, while I made a cut or two at my left, as men started from the sides and tried to trip us up.
I was growing faint with the heat down in that narrow, breathless street, my clothes stuck to me, and Barkins’ heavy telescope banged heavily against my side, making me feel ready to unfasten the strap and let it fall. But I kept on for another fifty yards or so with our enemies yelling in the rear, and the waterside seeming to grow no nearer.
“Keep together, lads,” cried Barkins excitedly. “It can’t be far now. We’ll seize the first boat we come to, and the tide will soon take us out of their reach.”