rn't Chinees," growled Billy Wakes.

"Nor arn't likely to be, mate; but we've got heads all the same. I know
how I should like to be executed if it was to-day."

The others looked up, and I could not help turning my head at the
strangely-expressed desire.

"I'll tell yer," said Jecks, looking hard at me. "I should like it to
be same as they did that young chap as we reads of in history. They
drowned him in a big tub o' wine."

"Grog would do for me," said Billy Wakes.

"Or beer," cried the others.

"Ask the captain to let you have some tea," I cried, "Quick, haul up the
grapnel! Here they come!"

Pipes were knocked out on the instant, the grapnel hauled up, and oars
seized; but, in spite of urging on the men, I saw to my vexation that
the captain had reached the landing-place first, and I kept him waiting
nearly five minutes in the broiling sun.

He did not say anything, only glared at me as he stepped in, followed by
his escort. The oars were dropped, and, as we began to row back to the
_Teaser_, I saw that his face was scarlet with the heat, and he looked
in a regular temper.

"I shall catch it," I thought to myself; but the very next moment my
attention was taken to the shore, where a yell of derision arose from
the crowd gathered to see the officers embark.

"Brutes!" muttered the captain; and then he sprang up in a rage, for a
shower of stones came pattering into the boat, and splashing up the
water all round.

He was so enraged by the insult, that he ordered the marines to load,
and a volley of twelve rifles was fired over the people's heads.

The result was that they all ran helter-skelter, tumbling over each
other, and by the time they returned and began throwing again we were
out of their reach, but they kept on hurling stones and refuse all the
same, and shouting "Foreign devils!" in their own tongue.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

AN INTERVIEW.

"Mr Herrick! Come to my cabin," said the captain as he stepped on
deck, and I followed him.

"You stupid fellow," whispered Mr Brooke as I passed him, "why didn't
you keep the boat by the wharf?"

I gave him a comical look, and followed the captain; but I was kept
waiting for a few moments at the door while the servant was summoned,
and when I did go in my officer was lying back in his chair, with ice on
the table, and a great glass of what seemed to be soda-water and brandy
before him, but which proved by the decanter to be sherry.

"Oh," he cri