ng to do, my lad, keep them in sight, and I hope
that at any time the _Teaser_ may appear. When she does, she will in
all probability run by those junks without suspecting their nature, then
we come in and let them know the truth."

"But suppose the _Teaser_ does not come into sight?"

"Then our task is clear enough. We must hang on to the track of the
junks till we see where they go. Depend upon it, they have two or three
rendezvous."

"Think they have telescopes on board?" I said.

"It is extremely doubtful; and if we keep Ching always well in sight, I
don't suppose they will notice us. They will take us for a
fishing-boat, that's all."

By this time the sun was pouring down his beams with scorching violence,
and we were glad to give up the tiller to one of the men, and get into
the shelter of the cabin, just beyond which we found that Ching was busy
at work plucking one of the geese.

"Why are you doing that?" I asked.

"Velly good to loast."

"But we've got no fire."

"Go 'shore, make fi', loast all, and come back on board."

"Yes, it will be a good addition to our stock of provisions, Herrick,"
said Mr Brooke, smiling. "Your friend Ching is going to turn out a
benefactor after all."

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

JACK ASHORE.

All was quiet on the junks, not a man being visible as we sailed out of
the river and along the south shore of the estuary; and now, after a
long examination, Mr Brooke declared that there couldn't be a doubt as
to their being the ones we had seen up the branch river when we were in
the trap.

"The rig is too heavy for ordinary traders, Herrick," he said; and he
pointed out several peculiarities which I should not have noticed.

Ching had been watching us attentively, and Mr Brooke, who evidently
wanted to make up now for his harsh treatment of the interpreter, turned
to him quietly--

"Well, what do you say about it, Ching?"

The interpreter smiled.

"Ching quite su'e," he replied. "Seen velly many pilate come into liver
by fancee shop. Ching know d'leckly. Velly big mast, velly big sail,
go so velly fast catchee allee ship. You go waitee all dalk, burn all
up."

"What! set fire to them?"

"Yes; velly easy. All asleep, no keepee watch like Queen ship. No
light. Cleep velly close up top side, big wind blow; make lit' fire
both junk and come away. Allee 'light velly soon, and make big burn."

"What! and roast the wretches on board to death?"

"Some,"