"We were attacking some piratical junks, and landed to destroy the village where the people were firing on us. We entered a place full of pirates, and were knocked down and taken prisoners, and carried away up the country; that is six weeks ago, and you see what we are now."
"Pirate men velly bad," the Chinaman said; "plunder many junk on river and kill crew. Me muchee hate them."
"Can you do anything for us?" Jack asked. "You will be well rewarded if you could manage to get us free."
The man shook his head.
"Me no see what can do, me stranger here; come to stay with wifey; people no do what me ask them. English ships attack Canton, much fight and take town, people all hate English. Bad country dis. People in one village fight against another. Velly bad men here."
"How far is Canton away?" Jack asked. "Could you not send down to tell the English we are here?"
"Fourteen days' journey off," the man said; "no see how can do anything."
"Well," Jack said, "when you get back again to Canton let our people know what has been the end of us; we shall not last much longer."
"All light," the man said, "will see what me can do. Muchee think to-night!" And after saying a few words to the guards, who had been regarding this conversation with an air of surprise, the Chinaman retired.
The guards had for some time abandoned the precaution of sitting up at night by the cage, convinced that their captives had no longer strength to attempt to break through its fastenings or to drag themselves many yards away if they could do so. They therefore left it standing in the open, and, wrapping themselves in their thickly-wadded coats, for the nights were cold, lay down by the side of the cage.