"Then get up, you owl, and come aboard," said Errington. "Lug the sampan up after you. First chop numpa one fightee man you are."
"My no likee fightee pidgin," mumbled the boy, as he clambered up.
"You belongey chow-chow pidgin,"[#] said Errington. "Sit down."
[#] You're better at eating.
And starting the engine again he ran into the open river, and rushed up-stream against a strong current at the rate of twenty-five knots.
On arriving below the town, he steered the vessel into a narrow unfrequented creek, lowered the sampan, and finished the journey as he had begun it.
"Don't say a word about this, or I'll sack you," he said to Lo San.
He walked up the town, to the office of the local agent of Mr. Burroughs.
"Mr. Ted has lost his flying boat, I hear," he said unconcernedly.
"Yes," replied the agent. "It was stolen yesterday."