or impertinence, sir?"

"I beg pardon, sir; no, sir."

"Oh, I'm very glad it was not. I was saying it was not by my wish that
you are going ashore, for I think you would be all better employed in
your cabin studying navigation."

"Haven't had a holiday for months, sir," said Barkins, in a tone of
remonstrance.

"Well, sir, what of that? Neither have I. Do you suppose that the
discipline of Her Majesty's ships is to be kept up by officers thinking
of nothing else but holidays? Now, listen to me--As you are going--
recollect that you are officers and gentlemen, and that it is your duty
to bear yourselves so as to secure respect from the Chinese inhabitants
of the town."

"Yes, sir," we said in chorus.

"You will be very careful not to get into any scrapes."

"Of course, sir."

"And you will bear in mind that you are only barbarians--"

"And foreign devils, sir."

"Thank you, Mr Smith," said the lieutenant sarcastically. "You need
not take the words out of my mouth. I was going to say foreign
devils--"

"I beg pardon, sir."

"--In the eyes of these self-satisfied, almond-eyed Celestials. They
would only be too glad of an excuse to mob you or to declare that you
had insulted them, so be careful."

"Certainly, sir."

"Perhaps you had better not visit their temples."

Smith kicked me.

"Or their public buildings."

Barkins trod on my toe.

"In short, I should be extremely guarded; and I think, on further
consideration, I will go to the captain and suggest that you have
half-a-dozen marines with you."

"Captain's ashore, sir."

"Thank you, Mr Herrick. You need not be so fond of correcting me."

I made a deprecatory gesture.

"I should have remembered directly that Captain Thwaites was ashore."

"Beg pardon, sir," said Barkins, touching his cap. "Well, Mr Barkins."

"I hope you will not send any marines with us."

"And pray why, sir?"

"We should have to be looking after them, sir, as much as they would be
looking after us."

"Mr Barkins, allow me to assure you, sir, that the dishipline of the
marines on board this ship is above reproach."

"Yes, sir. Of course, sir. I only thought that, after being on board
the ship so long, sir, they might be tempted, sir."

"I hope that the men of Her Majesty's gunboat _Teaser_ are above all
temptations, Mr Barkins," said the lieutenant harshly. "There, upon
second thoughts, I will not send a guard. You can go."

The oars dropped with a