uble the length it looked, while the nearer we got the higher and more
formidable the ridge seemed to grow, completely shutting out all beyond,
where it ran down from the cliff at right angles into the sea.

All at once, as I was helping the coxswain over an awkward stone, the
poor fellow being weak and rather disposed to stagger, but always
passing it off with a laugh and an "All right, sir, I shall be better
after breakfast," Ching uttered an ejaculation, and pointed to something
that the sea had washed up, and was pouncing upon again like a cat to
draw it back.

My heart seemed to stand still, but a horrible fascination drew me to
the spot along with the Chinaman, for my first thought was that it was
the body of Mr Brooke.

"Not jolly sailor boy," said Ching; and I felt a peculiar exaltation.
"Not Mis' Blooke. Pilate man dlowned. Ching velly glad."

We turned away, and continued our route, for I shrank from going into
dangerous breakers to try and drag the man out, and my companion was too
weak. As to its being one of the pirates, it seemed possible, for I
knew that one, if not two, had gone overboard in the fight, and it was
probably one of these.

We trudged on and reached the ridge at last, to find it bigger and more
precipitous than I had expected. It ran out evidently for hundreds of
yards, its course being marked by foam and fretting waves, and I was
just thinking what a fatal spot it would be for a vessel to touch the
shore, when I reached the top and uttered a startled cry, which brought
the others to my side; for there was the explanation of the presence of
the drowned Chinaman! Spreading away for a couple of hundred yards, the
shore was covered with timbers, great bamboo spars, ragged sails, and
the torn and shattered fragments of some large Chinese vessel; while,
before I could shape it in my mind as to the possibilities of what
vessel this could be, though certain it was not the _Teaser_, Ching said
coolly--

"That velly good job. That big junk blow all to pieces, and allee bad
pilate man dlowned. No go choppee off poor sailor head now. No 'teal
silk, tea, allee good thing, and burnee ship. Velly good job indeed;
velly bad lot."

"You think it was the junk which cheated us?"

"Yes, velly muchee same. Look, allee paint, lacquee, gold. Allee same
junk; no use go find um now. No get head chop off for killee sailo'.
Allee bad pilate allee dlowned."

"Hold hard there, sir," whispered Tom