"Yes, sir," I said eagerly; "and I hope it will prove successful."

"So do I," he said drily. "That will do, Herrick. Now, Mr Reardon, I
think we will keep on just as we are, just about four knots an hour. It
gives the idea of our being in trouble; and if we keep on close outside
the islands, it may draw the scoundrels--that is, if they are there."

"Yes, sir, if they are there," said the lieutenant.

"How long do you reckon it will take us to get abreast of the reef where
that barque lay?"

"We ought to be there by noon, sir, I should say."

"That will do. We shall seem to be making for Wanghai."

I heard no more, but went below, and directly after breakfast reappeared
in white flannels and a cricketing cap, a transformation which satisfied
the first lieutenant, but displeased Barkins and Smith, who had orders
to keep below in uniform.

"I hate so much favouritism," grumbled Barkins. "Who are you, Gnat?
You're our junior; and here are we kept below, and my lord you parading
about the deck, and seeing everything."

"Why, you're in the reserve," I said banteringly, "and will have all the
fighting to do."

"Who wants all the fighting to do?" cried Smith. "I don't. I suppose
if we do take a lot of pirate junks, you'll be promoted, and we shan't
get a word."

"Stuff!" I said. "How can I get promoted?"

"But I want to know why you're to be picked out," cried Barkins.

"Go and ask the skipper," I said. "Now, look here both of you; if
you're not civil, I won't come and report everything. If you are, I'll
come down as often as I can to tell you all that is going on."

"Oh then, I suppose we must be civil, Smithy," said Barkins sourly, "but
we'll serve the beggar out afterwards."

I went up on deck again to find that our speed had been slightly
increased, but we drew no nearer to the junk, which sailed on exactly in
the same course as we were taking, and that seemed strange; but beyond
watching her through the telescopes, and seeing that she had only about
a dozen men on board--all blue-frocked Chinamen--no further notice was
taken of her.

Ching was seated right forward, with his blue frock showing well up
against the grey white of one of the hanging-down sails, and he had been
furnished with a pipe, which he smoked slowly and thoughtfully;
half-a-dozen men were in the fore-rigging, making believe to repair
damages up aloft; and soon after four more were sent up to begin
tinkering at the topmast,