Week had passed, during which we had cruised here and there, in the hope
of falling in with the pirates. Once in the right waters, it did not
much signify which course we took, for we were as likely to come across
them sailing north as south. So our coal was saved, and we kept
steadily along under canvas.
But fortune seemed to be still against us, and though we boarded junk
after junk, there was not one of which the slightest suspicion could be
entertained; and their masters, as soon as they realised what our
mission was, were only too eager to afford us every information they
could.
Unfortunately, they could give us none of any value. They could only
tell us about divers acts of horrible cruelty committed here and there
within the past few months, but could not point out where the pirates
were likely to be found.
Ching, in spite of some rough weather, had never been obliged to leave
the deck, and had proved to be so valuable an acquisition, that he was
informed that he would have a certain rate of pay as interpreter while
he stayed on board; and as soon as he was made aware of this, he
strutted up to me and told me the news.
"Captain makee interpleter and have lot dollar. Muchee better keepee
fancee shop."
This was after, at my suggestion to Mr Reardon, he had been sent out in
one of the boats to board a big junk, and from that time it became a
matter of course that when a boat was piped away, Ching's pigtail was
seen flying out nearly horizontally in his eagerness to be first in the
stern-sheets.
But it was always the same. The boat came back with Ching looking
disappointed, and his yellow forehead ploughed with parallel lines.
"Ching know," he said to me one evening mysteriously.
"Know what?" I said.
"Plenty pilate boat hide away in island. No come while big ship
_Teasler_ here."
"Oh, wait a bit," I said; "we shall catch them yet."
"No, catchee," he said despondently. "Pilate velly cunning. See Queen
Victolia ship say big gun go bang. 'Top away."
"But where do you think they hide?"
"Evelywhere," he said. "Plentee liver, plenty cleek, plenty hide away."
"Then we shall never catch them?" I said.
"Ching wantee catchee, wantee plenty money; but pilate won't come.
Pilate 'flaid."
"And I suppose, as soon as we go away, they'll come out and attack the
first merchantman that comes along the coast."
"Yes," said Ching coolly; "cut allee boy float, settee fire junk, burnee
ship."
"Then what's to be done?" I said. "It's very disappointing."
"Ching go back fancee shop; no catchee pilate, no plize-money."
"Oh, but we shall drop upon them some day."
"No dlop upon pilate. Ching not captain. Ching catchee."
"How?" I said.
"Take big ship back to liver. Put big gun, put jolly sailor 'board two
big junk, and go sail 'bout. Pilate come thinkee catchee plenty silk,
plenty tea. Come aboard junk. Jolly sailor chop head off, and no more
pilate."
"That sounds well, Ching," I said; "but I don't think we could do that."
"No catchee pilate?" he said. "Ching velly tire. No good, velly
hungry; wantee go back fancee shop."
I thought a good deal about what the Chinaman had said, for it was
weary, dispiriting work this overhauling every vessel we saw that seemed
likely to be our enemy. It was dangerous work, too, for the narrow sea
was foul with reefs; but our information had been that it was in the
neighbourhood of the many islands off Formosa that the piratical junks
had their nest, and the risk had to be run for the sake of the possible
capture to be made.
"Ching says he wants to get back to the fancee shop," sad Smith one
morning. "So do I, for I'm sick of this dreary work. Why, I'd rather
have another of our days ashore."
"Not you," I said. "But I say, look here, I haven't spoke about it
before, but Ching says--hi, Tanner, come here!"
"That he doesn't," cried Smith.
"Hallo! what is it?" said Barkins, whom I had hailed, and he came over
from the port side of the deck.
"I was going to tell Blacksmith what Ching says. You may as well hear
too."
"Don't want to. I know."
"What! has he been saying to you--"
"No, not again."
"What did he say?"
"Ti-ope-I-ow!" cried Barkins, imitating the Chinaman's high falsetto,
and then striking imaginary strings of a guitar-like instrument.
"_Peng_--_peng-peng_."
"I say, don't fool," I cried angrily.
"Gnat!" said Barkins sharply, "you're a miserably-impudent little scrub
of a skeeter, and presume upon your size to say insolent things to your
elders."
"No, I don't," I said shortly.
"Yes, you do, sir. You called me a fool just now."
"I didn't."
"If you contradict me, I'll punch your miserable little head, sir. No,
I won't, I'll make Blacksmith do it; his fists are a size smaller than
mine."
"Be quiet, Tanner!" cried Smith; "he knows something. Now, then, Gnat:
what does Ching say?"
"That we shall never catch the pirates, because they won't come out when
the gunboat is here."
"Well, there's something in that. Tell Mr Reardon."
"Is it worth while? He says we ought to arm a couple of junks, and wait
for the pirates to come out and attack us."
"Ching's Christian name ought to be Solomon," said Smith.
"Thanky wisdom teeth," said Barkins sarcastically. "I say, Gnat, he's
quite right. They'd be fools if they did come out to be sunk. I
daresay they're watching us all the time somewhere or other from one of
the little fishing-boats we see put out."
"Well, young gentlemen," said a sharp voice behind us; "this is contrary
to dishipline. You can find something better to do than gossiping."
"Beg pardon, sir, we are not gossiping," said Barkins. "We were
discussing the point."
"Oh, indeed," said the first lieutenant sarcastically; "then have the
goodness to--"