A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China.
While Charlie was regretting his ignorance of trawlers' movements, Ping Wang appeared at the galley-door.
'Well,' Charlie said, 'has the skipper said anything more to you?'
'No,' Ping Wang answered, smilingly; 'I believe you have frightened him. But he will pay you out somehow or other.'
'I hope, for his own sake, that he won't attempt to, for I hate the little fellow already, and if he interferes with me unnecessarily I will give him a sound thrashing.'
'He is very strong,' Ping Wang remarked, warningly.
'Can he do this?' Charlie asked, catching hold of a bucket full of water and holding it easily at arm's-length straight from the shoulder.
Ping Wang made no reply but gazed at Charlie in astonishment. Charlie was slightly built, and Ping Wang had no idea that he was so strong. But he had gone in for a course of physical development exercises before coming to Grimsby, and was in fine condition.
'If the skipper thinks, as I did, that you are not very strong,' he said at last, 'he will be very surprised.'