lieutenant made his
plans.

"You wantee big empty boat?" said Ching suddenly.

"Yes, my man, and I wish we had brought one." Then, after a few
minutes' consideration, Mr Reardon decided what to do.

"Now, Mr Herrick," he said, "take a marine and one man with the signal
flags, and go up to the ridge yonder. Place your marine where he can
command the plain, and he will fire if he sees the enemy approaching.
The man is to signal for two more boats."

I started for the ridge after getting my two men, which was about two
hundred yards away, the ground rising in a slope; and, as we went off at
the double, I heard orders being given, while, by the time we were up on
the top, I looked back to see our men going in a regular stream down to
the boats, laden with bales of silk, the white frocks of the Jacks
showing through the thick growth from time to time.

My sentry was soon posted in a position where he could command the plain
for miles, and the Jack hard at work waving flags till his signal was
answered from the ship, which seemed from where we stood to be lying
close at hand.

Then we two returned, to find that one boat was already packed as full
as it would hold; and Barkins and Mr Grey went off with it back to the
river, while the second was rapidly laden, and in half an hour followed
the first. Then Smith and I followed the lieutenant into the store,
with its low reed-thatched roof, and gazed about wonderingly at the
richness of the loot upon which we had come.

"I say, Gnat, we shan't go home without prize-money this voyage,"
whispered Smith; and then, nothing more being possible, the sentries--
four, posted at different distances--were visited, and we all sat down
in the shade to rest, and partake of the refreshments in the men's
haversacks.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

FRESH DANGER.

"They're a long time sending those boats, Herrick," said the lieutenant
to me soon after we had finished our meal.

"It's rather a long way, sir," I ventured to suggest.

"Oh yes, it's a long way; but with the state of dishipline to which I
have brought the _Teaser_ they ought to have been here by now. Suppose
we were surrounded by the enemy, and waiting for their help to save us!"

"We should think it longer than we do now, sir." Mr Reardon turned to
me sharply, and looked as if in doubt whether he should treat my remark
as humorous or impertinent. Fortunately he took the former view, and
smiled pleasantly.

"So we s