ght have
represented a more considerable smash. Now it was two days following
this that the captain sent the long-boat to procure some sheep and
poultry from a little village situated close to the shores of the bay
on the north of the river. The second mate took charge, and I and
another midshipman and a couple of sailors went along with him. We
landed and left the boat in charge of a seaman, and strolled towards
the village. The second mate was a wild, dissolute young fellow, who,
before he quitted China, became the recipient of more than one round
dozen by order of the provost-marshal for looting. A little knot of
Chinamen stood watching as we approached, whilst just beyond we caught
sight of a couple of women hobbling nimbly away out of reach of our
sight, as though they walked on stilts. Sherman--for such was the
second mate's name,--approaching the Chinamen, began with them in
pigeon English. They did not understand. He exhibited a few dollars,
and traced the outline of a sheep upon the ground, and, with many
surprising motions of his arms, sought to acquaint them with the
object of his visit. All to no purpose. "What's to be done?" said
Sherman, looking at us. "There's nothing that resembles a sheep
hereabouts." His eyes suddenly brightened as they lighted on a large
concourse of cocks and hens pecking in tolerably close order at some
fifty paces distant from us. "Boys," he shouted, "as these chaps can't
be made to understand, let's help ourselves. Each one seize what he
can get and make for the boat. Follow me." He sprang with incredible
agility towards the fowls, and in a trice had a couple of them
shrieking and fluttering in his grasp. In a breath the
Chinamen--thirty or forty strong--uttering a long, peculiar shout,
armed themselves with pitchforks--at all events, a species of weapon
that to my young eyes resembled a pitchfork,--sticks, and stones, and
gave chase. They tramped after us with the noise of an army in pursuit.
We flew towards the boat, screaming to the fellow in charge to haul in
and receive us. A stone struck me in the small of my back, and urged
me forwards faster than my legs were travelling. Down I should have
tumbled on my nose, and in that posture have been straightway
massacred, but for the timely grip of a sailor who was running by my
side. "Hold up, my hearty!" he roared, hooking his fingers into the
back of my collar and jerking me backwards. In a few moments we gained
the boat, wading w