lor boy come along.
Think other piecee fellow go catch fish."

"Here, Mr Brooke," I cried excitedly; "Ching says we had better take
one of these boats lying moored out here, and the pirates won't think of
it being us. Isn't it capital?"

Mr Brooke gazed sharply at us both for a few moments, and then directed
the boat's head as if going up the river again.

"Where is there a suitable boat?" he said hoarsely, and speaking
evidently under great excitement, as he saw a means of saving the chance
after all.

"Velly nice big boat over 'long there," said Ching, pointing to a native
craft about double the size of our cutter, lying moored about a hundred
yards from the shore, and evidently without any one in her.

"Yes, that will do," cried Mr Brooke. "Anything fits a man who has no
clothes. Pull, my lads--give way!"

The men dragged at the oars, and I saw that since Ching had left off
baling the water was gaining fast, and that if more power was not put on
it would not be long before the boat was waterlogged or sunk.

In a minute we were alongside the boat, one of a superior class,
possibly belonging to some man of consequence, and Mr Brooke had run
the cutter along her on the side farthest from the shore, so that our
proceedings were not noticed, as we made fast.

"Now then, tumble in, my lads," he cried; "take the oars and everything
movable. Throw them in, our game and all. Here, Herrick, take both
guns."

Everything was transferred in a very short time; and this done, Mr
Brooke stepped aboard the little junk-like craft, gave his orders, and a
line was attached to a grating, the other end to one of the ring-bolts.
Then the craft's anchor-line was unfastened, and our painter hitched on
to it instead. Next the grating was tossed overboard, with plenty of
line to float it as a buoy and show where the boat had sunk, as it was
pretty certain to do before long; and we, in our tiny junk, began to
glide away with the tide, furnished with a serviceable boat, boasting of
sails, even if they were not of a kind our men were accustomed to
manage.

"Why, it is grand, Herrick!" cried Mr Brooke excitedly. "We shall get
them after all."

"And all Ching's doing, sir," I said quietly.

"Ah, yes, perhaps; he is repentant now he has been found out. But we
shall see--"

"That he is quite innocent, sir," I said.

"I hope so, my lad. Now, let's make sail, and beat about here, to and
fro. We must keep a good watch for ou