Blue Jackets Part 34

"Pert, Mr Herrick," he said, "but very apt. You have me there on the hop. Dear me! I've made a great mistake, eh?"

"Yes, sir," I said hoa.r.s.ely.

"And you sat out there in the broiling sun, and the miserable savages pelted you as they did me?"

"Yes, sir."

"Tut, tut, tut! and the heat was maddening. Terribly irritating, too; I felt excessively angry. I really--dear me, Mr Herrick, I'm afraid I spoke very unjustly to you, and--I--ought a captain to apologise to a midshipman?"

"I really don't know, sir," I said, feeling quite mollified by his tone.

"Well, I think I do," he said, smiling. "Decidedly not. As Mr Reardon would say, it would be totally subversive of discipline. It couldn't be done. But one gentleman can of course apologise to another, and I do so most heartily. My dear Mr Herrick, I beg your pardon for being so unjust."

"Pray don't say any more about it, sir," I cried.

"Well, no, I will not. But all the same I am very sorry--as a gentleman--that I--as your superior officer--spoke to you as I did."

"Thank you, sir."

"And, dear me, my lad, you look terribly hot and exhausted. Let me prescribe, as Mr Price would say."

He quickly placed a lump of ice in a tumbler, and, after pouring in a little sherry, filled it up with soda-water.

I grasped the gla.s.s, and drank with avidity the cool, refreshing draught to the last drop.

"Humph! you were thirsty."

"I was choking, sir," I said, with a sigh, as I placed the gla.s.s upon the table.

"And now, Mr Herrick, perhaps it would be as well not to talk about this little interview," he said quietly. "I rely upon you as a gentleman."

"Of course, sir," I replied; and feeling, in spite of the severe wigging I had had, that I never liked the captain half so well before, I backed out and hurried to my own cabin.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

WE LOSE OUR PRISONERS.

"Here he is," cried Barkins, who was resting his leg; while Smith was sitting by the open window so as to catch all the air he could. "Got your promotion?"

"Got my what?" I cried.

"Promotion. I never saw such favouritism. Always being sent for to the skipper's cabin. I wonder Reardon stands it."

"Don't talk nonsense," I cried. "Phew, isn't it hot?"

"Yes, for us. Regular prisoners, while you have all the fun--"

"Of being roasted, and then stoned by the Chinese."

"That's right," said Smith sulkily, "make as little as you can of it.

Did the skipper consult you about our next movement?"

"He gave me a good bullying for not having the boat ready when he wanted to come on board."

"Was that why you went in the cabin?" cried Barkins.

"Of course."

"Oh then, if that's the case, we'll let you off. Eh, Blacksmith?"

"Well, I suppose so."

"Let me off what?"

"We had been discussing the matter," said Barkins, "Smithy and I, and come to the conclusion that as you were such a swell you were too good for us, and we were going to expel you; but, under the circ.u.mstances, I think we'll let you off this time. Oh!"

"What's the matter?"

"My leg! There's that horrible tingling and aching again. I'm sure that knife was poisoned."

"Hi! look here," cried Smith just then; "here are two big row-boats coming out to us."

We both made for the window, and there, in the bright sunshine, were two large barges, gay with gilding and showy ensigns, coming pretty swiftly in our direction, while, as they drew nearer, we could see that their occupants were in brilliant costumes and fully-armed, swords and spears flashing, and gold and silver embroidery lending their glow to the general effect.

"Why, those must be all the big pots of the city," said Barkins--"these in the first boat."

"And the second is full of soldiers."

"I know," I cried; "they're coming to fetch the prisoners. I must go on deck."

"And we shall see nothing of the fun again," cried Barkins.

"Why not?" I said; "I'll help you on deck."

"Come on, then," cried Barkins eagerly. "Oh, hang this wound!"

He caught hold of my shoulder, and with a little pulling and hauling I got him on deck, hurting him a good deal, I'm afraid, but he bore it like a martyr, till I had him seated upon a place near the starboard gangway.

I then turned to go and help up Smith, but found he had called in the aid of a couple of the sailors, and the next minute he too was seated by Barkins.

Meanwhile the drum had called the men to quarters, the officers were on deck in uniform, and the marines drawn-up to form a guard of honour, sufficiently smart and warlike, with the white-ducked Jacks, and big guns bright as hands could make them, to impress the barbaric party coming on board.

The boats were rowing very near now, and the captain came on deck, to stand under the awning which had been stretched out since the _Teaser_ had been restored to order. Then the gangway was opened, the steps were lowered, and half-a-dozen Jacks descended to help the visitors to mount, while the marines stood at attention.

The boatmen managed to fall foul of the side, and nearly upset the barge, but our lads saved them from that disaster; and the mandarin and his suite, who had come off, soon mounted to the deck, to stand haughtily returning the salutes of the officers.

Then there was an awkward pause, for our officers only knew a few words of Chinese, while the mandarin's party, although they had had Englishmen in their city for nearly a hundred years, could not speak a word of our tongue, and they had brought no interpreter.