e read in a book about Chinee Tartars and
magicians and conjurors. There was that chap in `Aladdin' as left the
boy shut up down below. He were a Chinee, wasn't he?"

"I think so, Tom; but what have the _Arabian Nights_ got to do with our
hunting these pirates?"

"Well, that's what I want to know, sir. If there was magic in them days
in China, mayn't there be some left now?"

"No, Tom," I said. "We've got more magic on board the _Teaser_ in the
shape of steam, than there is of the old kind in all China."

"Well, sir, you've had more schooling than ever I've had, but if it
ain't a bit magicky about them boats, I should like to know what it is."

"What's he talking about?" said Smith. "What do you mean?"

"They're will-o'-the-wispy sort o' boats, sir," replied Jecks. "Don't
you see how they keep dodging on us? Just now they was in easy shot,
now they're two mile away. What does that mean?"

"Physical conformation of the road," said Smith importantly.

"Oh, is it, sir?" said Jecks, scratching his head, with a dry smile on
his face. "Well, I shouldn't have thought as physic had anything to do
with that, but I daresay you're right, sir. Wish we could give them
junks physic."

"I don't believe we shall get near enough to give them a dose," said
Smith discontentedly. "If I were the skipper, I'd--"

Smith did not say what he would, for just then there was a shout from
the boat, the man with the lead giving such shallow soundings that we
heard the gongs sound in the engine-room, and the clank of the machinery
as it was stopped and reversed.

Then orders were given for soundings to be taken right across the river,
but the result was always the same; the stream had suddenly shallowed,
and it was at first supposed to be a bar; but sounding higher up proved
that the shoal water was continuous, and though the lighter-draft junks
had gone on, they had now come to a standstill, which suggested that
they too had been stopped.

"Told you so," grumbled Barkins, joining us. "All this trouble for
nothing. Why didn't the skipper open fire and blow 'em out of the water
when he had a chance?"

"Go and ask him, Mr Barkins," said Mr Brooke, who overheard his
remark. "And if I were you, I'd ask him at the same time why it is
amateurs can always manage better than the leader."

Mr Brooke nodded, and I saw that he looked very serious as he walked
aft, and a minute later I knew why.

"Bah!" growled Smith, as soon as h