They had to ease down immediately, as seas were coming right over us, and we were hardly clear of the rocks near the entrance before Mr. Lang in "No. 2" sighted us, and came racing along to cut us off, tumbling and lurching through the following seas.
One of the crew came running aft, jabbered to Hi Ling, and pointed to me.
"Captain he wantchee you go topsides all same blidge," said Hi Ling.
Up I went, and they made me understand that I had to make myself conspicuous, so that Mr. Lang could see me.
I waved my handkerchief—I don't know what had become of my cap—and shouted in my excitement, though, of course, that was silly; and then a wave flopped on the bridge and drenched me from head to foot, and as the salt water soaked through my clothes, those places on my chest and leg began to smart again.
Mr. Lang had seen our white flag, and came staggering up with a signal flying at the yard-arm—"Heave to" and "Send a boat".
A boat could not live for a moment in that sea—at any rate, no boat that we had—so I jammed myself against the bridge rails and semaphored with my arms, "Midshipman Glover on board—a prisoner—being taken back to Laird".
I could see the stir this signal made, everybody trying to see me. Then Mr. Lang spotted me and waved his arms. His signalman semaphored, "Remain where you are; will communicate with Laird".
I explained to Hi Ling, and he to the captain—a great, gaunt, honest-looking Tartar—who grunted a reply.
Off went Mr. Lang to the Laird, and in twenty minutes back he came and semaphored, "Will follow you to lee of island and send a boat".