beating fast.

"Afraid?" said Mr Brooke in a whisper.

"I don't know, sir--a little," I replied.

"We're not going to fight, Herrick. I shall go on and find the junks so
as to know them again--take their portraits in our minds--and then go
back for help. They can't escape out of the river, and once we know
them, our boats can soon follow and bring them to book."

The men pulled as if their hearts were in their work, and upon rounding
a bend, there, about a quarter of a mile away, lay two large vessels,
moored close up to the trees.

"We'll keep up the idea that we are shooting," said Mr Brooke. "No,
there is no need now. We have kept it up long enough. We must
reconnoitre and go back. They will think still that we are a
shooting-party, and not know that we are making for them."

"Of course not," I said thoughtfully. "How could they know we had
heard?"

We rowed steadily on for a minute or two, and then Ching said quietly--

"One boat--two boat come behind."

We glanced back, and there, sure enough, were the sailing craft, which
had been hanging about in front and aft, coming steadily along in our
wake. A moment or two later Ching spoke again--

"Look over boat side, see jolly sailor boy."

"Never mind those boats," said Mr Brooke impatiently.

"Steady, my lads, hold hard now; that's right," he continued, as the
oars were held, and checked the boat's progress. "Now, Mr Herrick,
take a good look at them. Do you think we should know them again if you
saw them coming down the river?"

"Yes, sir," I said; "the stern of this one and bows of the other would
be unmistakable. I don't think I could make a blunder."

"No; almost impossible; pull starboard, back water, port side. Now,
we'll just turn and row gently back. I don't see any men on board."

"All lie down flat," said Ching sharply. "Plenty men aboard."

"Ah, well, it does not matter. I'm not going to run risks by attacking
the savages. Lift your gun and look about, Herrick. Let them keep in
the same mind."

I stood up in the boat at this, and noted how rapidly the tide was
running up as Mr Brooke gave the word to pull again.

The movement of the boat brought me in full view of the two sampans
which had followed us, each with a man and boy aboard; and now, as I
looked, I was surprised to see a yellow head raised and begin watching
us. Then another; and Ching said quickly--"Lot men in both boats."

I don't know how they had stowed