“That’s wan I owe you, boys,” he said, when the operation was completed. “Matt Murphy don’t forgit. Now I’ll be on me way to the bridge, or that Chinee at the wheel will be droppin’ away from the wind an’ there’ll be the Divil to pay.”
As he rose to his feet and started for the door, Frank intervened.
“Won’t you let me come up to have a look around, Mr. Murphy?” he begged.
“I will not,” said Matt Murphy, violently. “Don’t ye know why I kept ye below all day? ’Tis because the Chinees have it in for ye for half-killin’ Wong Ho. There’s only two I kin trust an’ them’s the wans as cooks for ye an’ serves the food. Stay where ye are an’ be safe.”
With that he opened the door, reeled back before the force of the wind and the swirling gray hail of
rain, then lowered his head and charged through, pulling the door to behind him.
“So that explains why we’ve been kept below here,” said Mr. Temple thoughtfully. “Well, the prospect if we fall into the hands of the Chinese crew doesn’t look pleasant.”
“I’ve heard,” said Jack, “that the Chinese idolize certain leaders, and will go to any lengths to obtain revenge for injury to them.”
Mr. Temple nodded.
“Nevertheless,” he said, hopefully, “this man Murphy seems a pretty good sort, rough as he is. He’ll do his best to protect us.”