Chapter Forty Four.
Within an Ace.
Ching’s words sent a thrill of delight through me, rousing me, and bringing me out of my half-delirious state.
Without a word, I crept cautiously up to my look-out place, listening to the loud shouting and gabbling of the Chinamen as I got nearer to the tuft of greeny growth, which I parted without so much hesitation now, and, looking out, I could see that by the warm glow of the late afternoon sun which made me shrink back with my heart sinking, and creep down again to Ching.
“Yes?” he whispered. “Allee going ’way?”
“No,” I replied, with my lips to his ear; “they are carrying up boards and pieces of the wreck and sails, and making themselves a shelter. They are going to stay.”
Ching drew his breath with a low hiss, and was silent for a few minutes. Then, quite cheerfully, he whispered—
“Velly bad job. Don’tee want bad wicked pilate here. Nevy mind: come, eat blisket, dlink watee. Muchee best place. Muchee better than pilate. Then go have good long s’eep.”
We stole back to where the biscuit and water vessel had been placed for safety; but when Ching handed me some biscuits I felt as if I could not eat, though a little water refreshed me.