lkee up top sidee
big junk."

"Yes, it will be better," cried Mr Brooke. "Come with me, Herrick.
You too, Ching, of course. There, keep her off a bit, Jecks, or you'll
have the boat swamped."

He seized the right moment, and began to climb up the junk's side. I
followed, and Ching was close at my heels, the clumsy vessel giving
plenty of foothold; and we soon stood upon the deck, where some dozen or
so Chinese sailors pointed aft to where the captain stood, bowing and
smiling.

We had a rough set of bamboo steps to mount to the clumsy poop-deck, and
there found the captain and half-a-dozen more of his men waiting.

"Now, Ching, forward," I said. But he hung back and looked strange.

"Don't be so jolly modest," I whispered; "we can't get on without you to
interpret."

At that moment there came a loud hail from our boat, invisible to us
from where we stood, and there was a tremendous splash.

"What's the matter?" cried Mr Brooke, making for the side; but in an
instant the attitude of the Chinaman changed. One moment the captain
was smiling at us smoothly; the next there was an ugly, look in his
eyes, as he shouted something to his men, and, thrusting one hand into
his long blue coat, he made a quick movement to stop Mr Brooke from
going to the side.

The various incidents took place so quickly that they almost seemed to
be simultaneous. One moment all was peace; the next it was all war, and
the warnings I heard came together.

"Pilate! pilate!" shouted Ching.

"Look out for yourself, my lad! Over with you!" roared Mr Brooke, as I
saw him dash at the Chinese captain, and, with his left fist extended,
leap at the scoundrel, sending him rolling over on the deck.

"Now!" cried Mr Brooke again, "jump!"

"Jlump! jlump!" yelled Ching; and with a bound I was on the great carven
gangway, just avoiding three men who made a rush for me, and the next
moment I had leaped right away from the tower-like stern of the huge
junk, and appeared to be going down and down for long enough through the
glowing air before striking the water with a heavy splash, and
continuing my descent right into the darkness, from which it seemed to
me that I should never be able to rise again.

At last my head popped out of the dark thundering water, and, blinking
my eyes as I struck out, I was saluted with a savage yelling; the water
splashed about me, and I heard shots; but for a few moments, as I looked
excitedly round, I did not real