ing go down among locks and sand, see if he find something eat."

"No, no," I cried excitedly; "it would be madness."

"Eh? you tinkee Ching mad?" he said, with a smile.

"Oh no; but you would meet some of the pirates."

"No; allee gone 'long shore. Not come back long time."

"But it is too risky. Perhaps some of the wretches are waiting."

"No; allee velly wicked--velly bad men. Feel 'flaid stop all alone.
'Flaid see men again headee chop off. Pilate allee keep together. No
come long time; Ching go find something good eat."

"But if they come on the cliffs and look back, they might see you."

"Yes; might see Ching flom velly long way topside lock chop. Then
think--"

"Think, yes, of course."

"Not allee same you think. See Ching? Yes; see John Chinaman in blue
flock allee torn, long tow-chang; that's all."

I did not grasp his meaning for a moment.

"Oh, I see," I cried at last; "you mean that if they did see you, they
would think it was one of their own crew?"

"Yes; think one of own clew. But Ching not pilate."

"Of course. Then there would be no risk. You shall go, but we must
find some place where we can hide."

"Mis' Hellick help soon makee velly nicee place."

"Wait a minute," I said. "Couldn't we climb up on the cliff like you
did?"

"Yes, Mr Hellick climb, but no cally jolly sailor boy, Tom Jeck, allee
way."

"No; we must make a place here if we cannot find one."

He walked up to the face of the cliff, but there was no spot at all
likely to answer the purpose till he had gone about fifty yards, when he
turned and signalled to me.

I crept close up to the cliff, and then stooped down, after a timid look
in the direction taken by the pirates, and found Ching standing by a
piece of the rock which had split away from above, fallen clear, and
then its top had leaned back against the rock face, leaving a narrow
rift between its base and the cliff, through which we could see the
light dimly, some twelve or fourteen yards away, but it was only a faint
gleam showing that the far end was nearly closed.

"Velly nice beautiful place; ought to come here last night."

"Yes, capital. We can hide here; and once inside, if we had arms, we
could keep the wretches at a distance."

"Don'tee want fight now," said Ching, quietly. "No swold, no shoot gun,
no jolly sailor boy. Wantee eat and dlink."

"Yes; let's get poor Jecks here at once."

"You go fetch him; tly to walkee now: Ching go