“I should have remembered directly that Captain Thwaites was ashore.”
“Beg pardon, sir,” said Barkins, touching his cap. “Well, Mr Barkins.”
“I hope you will not send any marines with us.”
“And pray why, sir?”
“We should have to be looking after them, sir, as much as they would be looking after us.”
“Mr Barkins, allow me to assure you, sir, that the dishipline of the marines on board this ship is above reproach.”
“Yes, sir. Of course, sir. I only thought that, after being on board the ship so long, sir, they might be tempted, sir.”
“I hope that the men of Her Majesty’s gunboat Teaser are above all temptations, Mr Barkins,” said the lieutenant harshly. “There, upon second thoughts, I will not send a guard. You can go.”
The oars dropped with a splash on either side, and away we went among the hundreds of native boats of all kinds going up and down the river, and onward toward the crowded city, with its pagodas, towers, and ornamental gateways glittering in the morning sunshine, and looking wonderfully attractive to us prisoners, out for the day.
“Don’t speak aloud,” I whispered to Smith, who was gathering himself up for an oration respecting the first lieutenant’s tyranny.