; "that don't mean hungry, messmate--that means
dry. Beg pardon, sir, we won't none on us try to slope off; but a good
drink o' suthin', if it was on'y water, would be a blessin' in disguise
just now."

"Yes, Jecks, I'm thirsty too," I said.

"Then why not let us pull ashore, sir, and get a drink at one o' them
Chinee imitation grog-shops yonder?"

"Because it would be a breach of discipline, my man," I said, trying to
speak very sternly. "I should look nice if the captain came back and
found me with the boat and no men."

"Hark at that now!" cried Jecks. "Just as if we'd be the chaps to get a
good-natured kind young orficer into a scrape. Look here, sir, put
Billy Wakes ashore to go and fetch some drink. My hye, what we would
give for half-a-gallon o' real good cool solid old English beer."

"Ha!" came in a deep sigh, and I could not help feeling that a glass
just then would be very nice.

"Will you give the order, sir?" said Jecks insinuatingly. "Billy Wakes
is a werry trustworthy sort of chap."

"Yes," I said; "but he'd forget to come back, and then I should have to
send you to find him, and then the others to find you. I know. There,
you can light your pipes if you like."

"And werry thankful for small mussies," said the old sailor, taking out
his pipe. "You won't want no matches, lads. Fill up and hold the bowls
in the sun."

They lit up, and began smoking, while I watched the long narrow street
down which the captain and his escort must come.

"Think we shall have to land the prisoners, sir?" said Jecks, after a
smoky silence.

"I suppose so," I replied. "I expect that is what the captain has gone
ashore about."

"Don't seem much good, that, sir. We takes 'em, and they'll let 'em go,
to start a fresh lot o' plundering junks."

"Thundering junks, matey?" said Billy Wakes.

"I said plundering, Billy, and meant it. Your eddication ain't what it
oughter be."

"No, Jecks," I said; "if the pirates are given up, they'll be executed
for certain."

"Who says so, sir?"

"First lieutenant," I said.

"Well, he ought to know, sir. Been on the Chinee station afore. P'raps
it's best, but I don't want 'em to be hung."

"Don't hang 'em here, Tommy," growled one of the two silent men.

"What do they do, then, old know-all?"

"Chops their heads off, I've heerd."

"Oh, well, I don't want 'em to have their heads chopped off. How should
we like it if we was took prisoners?"

"Oh, but we a