?"

"Yes. Orders came soon after daylight, and we're going south with our
tail between our legs. Skipper seems to think it's of no use trying any
longer; and you mark my words, as soon as we're gone those beggars will
come out of their creeks and begin murdering and burning every trading
vessel they can catch."

"I am sorry," I said, as I recalled my interview with the captain.

"Sorry! I should think you are. So are we all. It's a shame, that's
what it is, Gnat."

"It seems to be a pity, because we might run against them some time."

"Run against them! Why, of course. The scent's hot now. Oh, I only
wish I was captain of this ship!"

"Wish you were, Smithy," said Barkins, yawning.

"Oh, you're awake at last, are you?"

"Of course I am. Who's to sleep with you yelping about like that. I
say, if you were skipper, we'd share the cabin with you, and have a
jolly time of it--eh?"

"Oh, would you?" cried Smith. "We'd see about that. I tell you what,
though, if I was skipper, this gunboat shouldn't leave the station while
there was a pirate on the east coast."

"Well, there won't be when we've done. I say--oh dear me!--how is it
the legs of your trousers will get tangled when you want to put 'em on
in a hurry."

"'Cause you put 'em on with your eyes tangled up. Hear that?"

"What, you gabbling?"

"No; the screw at work."

"Eh? Yes. What does it mean?"

"We're going back."

"No!"

"We are--full speed."

"Without yard-arming the beggars who took that ship."

"Yes; ain't it a shame?"

Barkins made no answer, but kept on dressing--snatching on his clothes,
so to speak; and when we went on deck that bright, fine morning, there
was a lowering look upon every face; and the officers were all snappish,
the men discontented, and scowling at the two figures marching up and
down the quarter-deck side by side.

I felt disappointed, for we had been looking forward to the exciting
moments when we should first overhaul some piratical junk. Of course I
knew that there might be some danger, but I foresaw very little: our
well-armed ship, with its strong, highly-disciplined crew, would
over-ride every opposition offered by the half-savage Chinamen, I felt
sure; and, like most people in the service, I felt that, if any one was
hurt, it would be some one else. And now there was to be no further
search for the pirates. We were going south again, probably to
Hong-Kong; and I was sick of hot Hong-Kong,