"Smell velly good; all nicee."
"Why, it smells of peppermint drops," I said carelessly.
"Yes, smell beautiful, all peppimint. Velly gleat stlong. Muchee lit'
dlop, so."
He took the bottle, drew out the stopper, and covered the neck with one
finger, turned the vial upside down, and then rubbed the tiny drop of
moisture upon his temples, replaced the stopper, and gave it back to me.
"Thank you, Ching," I said, placing it in my pocket, but without valuing
the gift in the slightest degree. "I'm going now to tell the first
lieutenant what you say."
"Yes, tell Mr Leardon watchee watchee, killee allee pilate."
"Yes," I said; and I hurried away, muttering, "Watchee watchee, killee.
What stuff they do talk! Any one would think they were all big babies,
who had been taught to speak English by a nurse."
As I reached the deck I saw Barkins and Smith standing by the first
lieutenant, and he was nodding his head.
"Why, they've been telling him about me," I thought as I went aft. "No;
they wouldn't be such sneaks."
But all doubt was at an end directly, for they came down to meet me, and
Smith cried--
"Mr Reardon wants to speak to you directly, Herrick;" while, as I
looked up and caught Barkins' eye, he coloured a little, and hurriedly
avoided my gaze.
"Thank you, tale-bearer," I said to Smith.
"Don't you be insolent, sir, unless you wish me to give you a severe
thrashing."
"With fists?" I said.
"Yes, sir, with fists. I suppose the rules of the service will not
allow us to use such weapons as officers are accustomed to."
"Do you mean officers like you?" I said contemptuously.
"Yes, sir; officers like me."
"Oh, you mean knives and forks, then," I said carelessly. "I say,
Barkins, I didn't think you could have been such a jerry sneak."
He turned upon me with an apologetic look, but his lips began to
bluster.
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Oh, nothing; I am not going to quarrel with old Barkins. He wouldn't
have done this, if it had not been for Blacksmith."
"Go and obey the first lieutenant's orders, sir," said Smith haughtily.
"We will talk to you later on."
"You go and show Doctor Price your arms and legs," I said contemptuously
and spitefully; for, to use a common phrase, my monkey was up. "Fight?
With fists? Where are your muscles? Why, I could upset you both with a
swab."
I hurried aft, and ran up the steps to the quarter-deck in time to
encounter the first lieutenant, who was coming from the wheel with an
angry look upon his face.