d.

"Yes; big junk come along."

_Plash_! and a creaking, rattling sound came forth out of the darkness.

"It is a big junk," said Mr Brooke, with his lips to my ear; "and she
has anchored."

Then from some distance up the river we saw a very dim lantern sway here
and there, some hoarse commands were given, followed by the creaking and
groaning of a bamboo yard being lowered, and then all was perfectly
still.

What strange work it seemed to be out there in the darkness of that
foreign river, surrounded by curious sights and sounds, and not knowing
but what the next minute we might be engaged in deadly strife with a
gang of desperadoes who were perfectly indifferent to human life, and
who, could they get the better of us, would feel delight in slaughtering
one and all. It was impossible to help feeling a peculiar creepy
sensation, and a cold shiver ran through one from time to time.

So painful was this silence, that I felt glad when we had sailed up
abreast of the great vessel which had dropped anchor in mid-stream, for
the inaction was terrible.

We sailed right by, went up some little distance, turned and came back
on the other side, so near this time that we could dimly make out the
heavy masts, the huge, clumsy poop and awkward bows of the vessel lying
head to stream.

Then we were by her, and as soon as we were some little distance below
Mr Brooke spoke--

"Well, my lads, what do you say: is she one of the junks?"

"No pilate junk," said Ching decisively, and I saw Mr Brooke make an
angry gesture--quite a start.

"What do you say, my lads?"

"Well, sir, we all seem to think as the Chinee does--as it arn't one of
them."

"Why?"

"Looks biggerer and clumsier, and deeper in the water."

"Yes; tlade boat from Hopoa," said Ching softly, as if speaking to
himself.

"I'm not satisfied," said Mr Brooke. "Go forward, Mr Herrick; your
eyes are sharp. We'll sail round her again. All of you have a good
look at her rigging."

"Ay, ay, sir," whispered the men; and I crept forward among them to
where Ching had stationed himself, and once more we began gliding up
before the wind, which was sufficiently brisk to enable us to easily
master the swift tide.

As I leaned over the side, Ching heaved a deep sigh.

"What's the matter?" I whispered.

"Ching so velly mislable," he whispered back. "Mr Blooke think him
velly bad man. Think Ching want to give evelybody to pilate man. Ching
velly velly solly