urs
Achille and Jules of the Chasseurs a Pied who generally reimbursed "ces
pauvres betes des Chinois" for what they unceremoniously appropriated,
with true Parisian deviltry, "in kind" of the most unkindly description!

Under these circumstances, the gourmands of the gunroom were most
unfeignedly delighted at abandoning such an inhospitable region as that
of "The Widespreading-sand Island," where they had to starve in the
midst of plenty; so likewise was I, the only thing which I had to thank
our sojourn off the province of Shan-tung for being the nickname Larkyns
gave me in his sportive fancy on my return on board from Pekin after my
imprisonment.

This was, certainly, nothing to be proud of; and yet, such is the
incongruity of things, the sobriquet stuck to me from that day to this,
following me about from ship to ship while I have been on active
service.

Some fellow, whom I had never previously seen in my life, perhaps, or
knew from Adam, accosts me immediately on hearing my proper patronymic,
with a sudden lighting up of face and hand outstretched as if I were an
old friend. "Oh, yes; why, I've heard of you before, I think, old chap!
Ain't you Bamboo Jack, eh?"

This, of course, is extremely gratifying, illustrating the truth of the
adage, which my poor old Dad used to quote to me frequently enough, that
"More people know Tom Fool than Tom Fool knows!"

We all of us enjoyed our long stay at Hong Kong, accordingly, the
_Candahar_ having a thorough overhaul and refit with the rest of the
fleet, now that the campaign was over; for, the residents were
accordingly hospitable and kind to us, including the principal merchants
of the place and the government officials, as well as the military
stationed at Kowloon on the mainland opposite, where there was a large
camp--all of them keeping open house, where we were welcomed at all
hours, dinners, balls, picnics and all sorts of festivities being the
order of the day while we remained in Victoria Bay.

Our ship, however, nearly left her bones behind her here during a
terrific typhoon that sprang up of a sudden, on the eve of our
departure; when all the junks and fishing-boats in the harbour were
wrecked, besides several trading vessels and most of the flimsier of the
buildings ashore demolished.

We dragged our anchors in the very height of the storm, although we were
moored securely with both bowers down; and, it was only by good
seamanship and the active exertion