Jecks. "I can hear people
talking. Quick! squat, hide; there's a lot on 'em coming down off the
cliff."

We had just time to hide behind some rocks, when a party of about twenty
Chinamen came cautiously and slowly down on to the sands, and Ching
whispered as he peeped between the fragments of rock--

"Not allee pilate dlowned. Come along look at junk; take care; choppee
off allee head; must hide."

Ching was quite right, and I was awake to the fact that we three were
prisoners on a little desert island, and in company with a gang of as
savage and desperate enemies as man could have.

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

FOR DEAR LIFE.

It was all clear enough: the great junk which had so deceived Mr Brooke
and Ching had been cast ashore and shattered, these men having escaped
and been exploring the island, or perhaps they were only coming down now
from the spot where they had taken refuge after being cast ashore.

"Why, Ching," I whispered, "perhaps there are more of them about!"

"P'laps," he replied.

We dared not move, but remained there watching; and it now became pretty
evident that the men had come down to examine the wreck, for they began
to hurry about, chattering away as they searched in all directions
amongst the fragments, one or another setting up a shout from time to
time, which brought others to him. Then we saw them drag out now a
chest from the sand in which it was bedded, now a cask; and soon after
there was a burst of excitement over something we could not make out;
but it was evidently a satisfactory find, for they bore it up from the
sea to the soft, warm, dry sand, and all sat down round about it.

"Find something velly good to eat," whispered Ching. "Now allee velly
busy; come along, hide."

It was very good advice; and we followed him down from the ridge, and in
and out at the foot of the cliff, seeking for some place of concealment;
for I had not a doubt about our fate if we were seen. In fact, I did
not breathe freely until the great ridge and several masses of rock were
between us; and only then, a good half-mile away in the direction from
which we had come, did we venture to speak above our breath.

"Velly big pity," said Ching, whose face was all in wrinkles. "Velly
muchee wish back at fancee shop."

"Let's find a place before we talk about that," I said.

"Yes; soon findee place."

"Here, what is it, Jecks?" I cried, catching our companion's arm; for
he suddenly gave a lurch a