more of him than I have.
Do you think he is honest, or leading us into a trap?"

"Honest, sir," I said, "I feel certain."

"Well, then, we will trust him fully; but if he betrays us, and I can
get a last shot--well, then--"

"He'll be sorry for it, sir," I said, for Mr Brooke did not finish his
remark.

"Exactly; get out your gun and put on your cartridge belt."

I followed his example, and Ching smiled.

"Velly good thing," he said. "Now pilate fliend, see jolly sailor boy,
and say--Come killee duck-bird, goose-bird to make nicee dinner, not
come catchee catchee pilate."

"You hear what this man says, my lads?" said the young lieutenant,
addressing the men.

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Then you understand now that we have not only come up to shoot?"

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Keep your rifles and cutlasses quite handy in case they are wanted. No
confusion, mind, but at the word be ready."

Mr Brooke's words seemed to send a thrill through the men, who pulled
on now with a more vigorous stroke, while, with our guns charged, and
the butts resting on our knees, we gave place to the coxswain, who took
the tiller.

"We'll go forward, Herrick," said my companion; and he stepped over the
thwarts into the coxswain's place, and I sat by him, watching
alternately for birds, junks, and creeks, up which the latter might lie.

"Begin shootee soon," said Ching rather anxiously.

"Why?"

"Velly muchee sail boat behind think why we come."

"There goes something, Herrick," said Mr Brooke just then, and I looked
up and saw a bird flying over the river at a tremendous rate.

I raised my piece quickly, fired, and as soon as I was a little clear of
the smoke, fired again.

"You hit him, sir!" said our stroke-oar. "I see him wag his tail."

"It was a miss," I said quietly.

"Velly good," whispered Ching. "Allee men in other boat look see;"
while I replaced the cartridges in my gun, and looked shoreward, to see
that the land was level for miles, and that little flocks of duck or
other birds were flying here and there. Soon after a wisp of about a
dozen came right over head, and as they approached the men rested upon
their oars till Mr Brooke had fired, without result.

He looked at me and smiled, while the men pulled again, and we went
merrily along, getting a shot now and then, but the result for the
game-bag was very meagre indeed, at which I was not surprised on my own
account, but I fully expected Mr Brooke to have done so