CHAPTER XI
THROUGH THE CHINA SEA
Jack Clewlin now found himself in one of the busiest ports of the world, where the ships from the Far East and the Far West met in commercial rivalry, and he was delighted to perceive British colours flying above the Government buildings ashore. Yet the sight of the flag immediately aroused an intense longing, such as hitherto had not been experienced, to return to Stonewell, if only for a few hours, and the desire proved almost overwhelming, for he knew that the barque had now reached a British possession, from which England might be reached within a few weeks. The eight or nine thousand miles seemed insignificant when compared with the countless leagues of ocean traversed by the 'Silver Crown' and the 'Alert.'
'Ay,' he mused, 'and if I put the clock back by a few hours I can tell exactly what dear dad and my old school chums are doing. They seem very close now.'
During such reflections, however, he suddenly became aware that 'a floating chemist's shop,' as he put it, was close aboard, and on passing forward he met Readyman.
'Regular surgery smell, Master Jack,' the quarter-master said.
'It's camphor,' Jack replied; 'where does it come from?'
'That big Chinese junk, just anchored ahead of us,' Readyman replied. 'It's almost enough to knock you down, but very good for the head and lungs, I'm told.'
'Perhaps that is why all Chinamen are such keen bargainers,' Jack returned. 'She must be fairly loaded with it.'
'I should say so,' the quarter-master said. 'But look at the monstrous great stern. That's enough to send her scooting at ten knots, with the wind dead aft. They'll never build better craft.'
'At anyrate,' Jack added, 'she is like the ships in which Sir Francis Drake and Captain Hawkins captured many a good Spanish plate ship, long ago. I have read of their adventures, and seen pictures of the vessels.'