"Well, that will be quite as soon as you want them."
"Look here," said Smith rather haughtily, after a look at Barkins;
"we've been talking this business over, and it is time it was stopped."
"What do you mean?" I said.
"Oh, you know well enough. You came on board the _Teaser_ to take your
place as an officer and a gentleman, and we your seniors received you in
a gentlemanly way."
"Yes, you were right enough," I said. "A bit cocky and bounceable at
first, till you found that I wouldn't stand it, and then you were both
civil."
"Well, I _am_ blessed!" cried Barkins, blowing out his cheeks and
looking down at me. "Of all the impudent little cockboats of boys you
are about the most cheeky. Pretty strong turn that for a Gnat, Smithy."
"Yes; we shall have to put him down, and the sooner the better. Will
you speak to him, or shall I?"
"Oh, I'm just in the humour for it," said Barkins; "so I'll give him his
dose at once. Look here, young fellow: as aforesaid, when you
interrupted, we received you as gentlemen should, and have taken great
care of you, and tried to smooth you down into something like a budding
officer."
"Thank you," I said humbly; "I'm so grateful."
"And so you ought to be, sir. But look here, what in the name of
thunder do you mean by forsaking us and taking to bad company?"
"Who does?"
"Why, you do, sir. Smithy and I talked it over last night, and we both
agreed that you're never happy unless you're along with the forecastle
Jacks, or sneaking about with old Ching."
"Get out!" I said indignantly.
"None of your impudence, sir, because that won't do. It's come to this:
either you've got to give up low society, or high."
"Which is which?" I said.
"What?"
"I said which is which? Do you mean you two fellows are high society?"
"Do you hear this beggar, Smithy?"
"Oh yes, I hear him. Isn't it awful to find so much depravity in such a
small body? But keep him to it, and make him speak. He has got to
choose."
"Yes, you've got to choose, Gnat. We can't have a brother officer
always associating with the low Chinee."
"Do you mean that I oughtn't to go and see the poor fellow now he's
below ill?"
"Something of the sort: you're not a doctor. Of course he ought to
visit the men."
"So ought an officer when his men are in trouble."
"Yes; but not to make friends of them. It won't do, Gnat, and we've
made up our minds not to stand it. That will do now. You have heard
what I had to say, and I hope you will profit by it."
I burst out into a roar of laughter, for Barkins' assumption of dignity
was comic.
"What do you mean by that, sir?" he cried in an offended tone.
"Second-hand captain's rowing!" I cried. "Why, I heard him say those
very words to you."
"Hi! stop!" cried Smith, as Barkins turned red with annoyance. "Where
are you going, sir?"
"Down below to see Ching," I replied coolly; and I descended the
companion-ladder to where the man lay.
He was looking very yellow and gloomy, but as soon as he caught sight of
me his face lit up.
"You come along see Ching?" he said in his high voice; and upon my
nodding--"Velly glad. Doctor say stop along, velly much, not gettee up
to-day."
"But you are ever so much better?"
"Yes, quite well. Not velly wet now. Captain velly closs Ching tumb'
overboard?"
"No, he hasn't said anything."
"Ching velly glad. You go tell captain something?"
"What about?" I said.
"Ching get lettee flom fliend."
"That's right," I said. "How is he?"
"Velly glad you catchee pilate."
"Oh, he is, is he?"
"Yes, velly muchee glad, and send lettee."
"Yes, you said so."
"Allee 'bout pilates."
He took a piece of paper from somewhere and handed it to me.
"You no lead lettee?"