coming out to us."

We both made for the window, and there, in the bright sunshine, were two
large barges, gay with gilding and showy ensigns, coming pretty swiftly
in our direction, while, as they drew nearer, we could see that their
occupants were in brilliant costumes and fully-armed, swords and spears
flashing, and gold and silver embroidery lending their glow to the
general effect.

"Why, those must be all the big pots of the city," said Barkins--"these
in the first boat."

"And the second is full of soldiers."

"I know," I cried; "they're coming to fetch the prisoners. I must go on
deck."

"And we shall see nothing of the fun again," cried Barkins.

"Why not?" I said; "I'll help you on deck."

"Come on, then," cried Barkins eagerly. "Oh, hang this wound!"

He caught hold of my shoulder, and with a little pulling and hauling I
got him on deck, hurting him a good deal, I'm afraid, but he bore it
like a martyr, till I had him seated upon a place near the starboard
gangway.

I then turned to go and help up Smith, but found he had called in the
aid of a couple of the sailors, and the next minute he too was seated by
Barkins.

Meanwhile the drum had called the men to quarters, the officers were on
deck in uniform, and the marines drawn-up to form a guard of honour,
sufficiently smart and warlike, with the white-ducked Jacks, and big
guns bright as hands could make them, to impress the barbaric party
coming on board.

The boats were rowing very near now, and the captain came on deck, to
stand under the awning which had been stretched out since the _Teaser_
had been restored to order. Then the gangway was opened, the steps were
lowered, and half-a-dozen Jacks descended to help the visitors to mount,
while the marines stood at attention.

The boatmen managed to fall foul of the side, and nearly upset the
barge, but our lads saved them from that disaster; and the mandarin and
his suite, who had come off, soon mounted to the deck, to stand
haughtily returning the salutes of the officers.

Then there was an awkward pause, for our officers only knew a few words
of Chinese, while the mandarin's party, although they had had Englishmen
in their city for nearly a hundred years, could not speak a word of our
tongue, and they had brought no interpreter.

There was an awkward pause, broken by a high-pitched voice just outside
the gorgeous-looking throng.

"You wantee Ching?"

"Yes," cried the captain; "tel