the deck, especially as you will be standing up
in the bow holding on with the boat hook till the rest get on board."

"Well, sir, I will do my best; but if you are caught you must not let
out that I knew anything about it."

"I won't do that," Percy said. "I don't think there is much chance of my
being noticed until we get on board the junks, and then they won't know
which boat I came off in, and the first lieutenant will be too busy to
blow me up. Of course I shall get it when I am on board again, but I
don't mind that so that I see the fun. Besides, I want to send home some
things to my sister, and she will like them all the better if I can tell
her I captured them on board some junks we seized and burnt."

The next morning the crews mustered before daybreak. Percy had already
taken his place under the bow thwart of the gig. The davits were swung
overboard, and two men took their places in her as she was lowered down
by the falls. As soon as she touched the water the rest of the crew
clambered down by the ladder and took their places; then Fothergill took
his seat in the stern, and the boat pushed off and lay a few lengths
away from the ship until the heavier boats put off. As soon as they were
under way Percy crawled out from his hiding place and placed himself
in the bow, where he was sheltered by the body of the oarsmen from
Fothergill's sight. Day was just breaking now, but it was still dark on
the water, and the boat rowed very slowly until it became lighter. Percy
could just make out the shores of the creek on both sides; they were
but two or three feet above the level of the water, and were evidently
submerged at high tide. The creek was about a hundred yards wide, and
the lad could not see far ahead, for it was full of sharp windings
and turnings. Here and there branches joined it, but the boats were
evidently following the main channel. After another half hour's rowing
the first lieutenant suddenly gave the order "Easy all," and the men,
looking over their shoulders, saw a village a quarter of a mile ahead,
with the two junks they had chased the night before lying in front of
it. Almost at the same moment a sudden uproar was heard--drums were
beaten and gongs sounded.

"They are on the lookout for us," the first lieutenant said. "Mr. Mason,
do you keep with me and attack the junk highest up the river; Mr. Bellew
and Mr. Fothergill, do you take the one lower down. Row on, men." The
oars all touched the wa