"Been thinking 'bout junks, they stop there long time."
"Yes; what for? Are they waiting for men?"
"P'laps; but Ching think they know 'bout other big junk. Some fliends
tell them in the big city. Say to them, big junk load with silk, tea,
dollar. Go sail soon. You go wait for junk till she come out. Then
you go 'longside, killee evelybody, and take silk, tea, dollar; give me
lit' big bit for tellee."
"Yes, that's very likely to be the reason they are waiting."
"Soon know; see big junk come down liver, and pilates go after long way,
then go killee evelybody. Muchee better go set fire both junk
to-night."
"We shall see," said Mr Brooke quietly.
He rose and walked down to the two sentinels.
"Keep a sharp look-out, my lads, for any junks which come down the
river, as well as for any movements on board those two at anchor. I
shall send and relieve you when two men have had their dinner."
"Thankye, sir," was the reply; and we walked back, followed by Ching.
"That last seems a very likely plan, Herrick," said Mr Brooke. "The
scoundrels play into each other's hands; and I daresay, if the truth was
known, some of these merchants sell cargoes to traders, and then give
notice to the pirates, who plunder the vessels and then sell the stuff
again to the merchants at a cheap rate. But there, we must eat, my lad,
and our breakfast was very late and very light. We will make a good
meal, and then see what the darkness brings forth."
We found the men carefully attending to the fire, which was now one
bright glow of embers; and very soon Ching announced that dinner was
cooked, proceeding directly after to hook out the hard masses of clay,
which he rolled over to get rid of the powdery ash, and, after letting
them cool a little, he duly cracked them, and a gush of
deliciously-scented steam saluted our nostrils.
But I have so much to tell that I will not dwell upon our banquet. Let
it suffice that I say every one was more than satisfied; and when the
meal was over, Ching set to work again coating the rest of our game with
clay, and placed them in the embers to cook.
"Velly good, velly nicee to-day," he said; "but sun velly hot, night
velly hot, big fly come to-mollow, goose not loast, begin to 'mell velly
nasty."
As darkness fell, the fire was smothered out with sand, there being
plenty of heat to finish the cookery; and then, just when I least
expected it, Mr Brooke gave the order for the men to go to the boat.
He counter-ordered the men directly, and turned to me.
"These are pretty contemptible things to worry about, Herrick," he said,
"but unless we are well provisioned the men cannot fight. We must wait
and take that food with us."
Ching was communicated with, and declared the birds done. This
announcement was followed by rolling them out, and, after they had
cooled a bit, goose and duck were borne down to the boat in their clay
shells, and stowed aft, ready for use when wanted.
Ten minutes later we were gliding once more through the darkness outward
in the direction of the two junks, while my heart beat high in
anticipation of my having to play a part in a very rash and dangerous
proceeding--at least it seemed to be so to me.