dd, though, doesn't it, Herrick?" he half
whispered.

"What? their getting by us, sir, in the dark?"

"No; I mean, after making up my mind that this fellow Ching was a
traitor, and that I would have no more to do with him, to find myself
forced at every turn to rest upon him for help. Lesson for you, lad."

"In what way, sir?"

"Not to have too much faith in yourself. I am beginning to hope that I
have been deceived about him, but we shall soon have proof."

"I feel sure you are misjudging him, sir," I said eagerly.

"Yes, with a boy's readiness to trust."

"But I feel sure he is honest, sir."

"Well, we shall soon see."

I looked at him for an explanation, and he smiled.

"I am going to give him some money, and send him ashore to buy
provisions. If he is dishonest he will not come back."

"But he will come back," I said confidently.

"We shall see, my lad," he replied; and once more he was silent, after
handing the tiller to me, and looking back longingly at the two junks,
which were apparently making no way, for the wind was blowing dead now
into the mouth of the river.

Early as it was, there were people stirring as we approached the
landing-place Ching had pointed out, and he nodded with satisfaction.

"Allee light," he said, smiling. "Get plenty blead, meat. You fillee
big tub with water;" and he pointed to a large rough vessel, and another
which was a great earthenware jar.

"But where are we to get the water?" I said.

"Out o' liver. Plenty water in liver."

"We can't drink that peasoup," I said, as I looked over the side in
disgust at the yellow solution of mud.

"Velly good water. Allee salt gone now. Plenty clear by and by."

"We must make the best of it, Herrick," said my companion; and then
turning to Ching, he said rather sternly--

"Here are eight dollars: buy as much bread and cooked meat as you can,
and get back as quickly as possible, when we set you ashore."

Ching nodded and smiled.

"Be velly quick," he said; "and you take boat lit' way out, and stop
till come back."

"Of course; trust us for that, my man."

Ten minutes later we ran alongside some rough bamboo piles, to which
about half-a-dozen Chinamen hurried, to stand staring at us. But Ching
paid no attention to them. He only made a leap from the boat when we
were a couple of yards from the platform, landed safely but with tail
flying, and his blue cotton garment inflating balloon-like with the
wind. The