chance again."

"No, cap'en," grinned the imperturbable Chinaman, "no can do."

So, amidst the chaff of the men, who asserted that Ching Wang must have
about fifty wives by this time at various ports, considering the number
of times he had contracted matrimonial engagements, he went over the
side into a sampan he had waiting for him, smiling blandly to the last,
and giving me as a parting present the little brass figure of Buddha
which he worshipped as his deity. This was a sure token of the strong
affection he entertained for me, his "lilly pijjin," as he always called
me from the time that Tim Rooney had commended me to his good graces.

"He'll come back with us next trip," said Mr Mackay, as he with all of
us gave Ching Wang a parting "chin chin" on the celestial cook being
presently rowed ashore in great state, sitting in the stern-sheets of
his sampan and beaming on us with his bland smile as long as his round
face could be distinguished, dwindling away in the distance till it
finally disappeared. "I'm sorry to lose him, though, sir, for he was a
capital cook, besides being a plucky fellow. Recollect how he helped to
save all our lives the other day, as well as the ship and cargo."

"Humph!" grunted "Old Jock," who appeared to have forgotten this. "He's
served us a shabby trick now, by going off like that at the last moment,
and I've half a mind not to have any truck with him again."

"Ha, ha, cap'en," laughed Mr Mackay, "you said so last time, don't you
remember? Yet, you brought him aboard again with the other hands before
we started from Gravesend this trip. You're too good-natured to bear in
mind all the hard things you say sometimes."

"Perhaps I am, Mackay, perhaps I am," sniggered and snorted "Old Jock,"
thinking this a high compliment. "Though, when I say a thing, I mean a
thing, you know."

Ching Wang, when he got ashore, did not forget his old friends and leave
us altogether in the lurch; for he sent off a black cook, a native of
Jamaica, one Tippoo by name, to take his place; and as a messenger from
the brokers on shore came off at the same time with the ship's papers,
nothing now delayed our departure from Shanghai.

Then was heard Tim Rooney's piercing whistle once more on board, and the
welcome--thrice welcome cry:

"All ha-a-nds make sail!"

The topsails were soon loosed by one watch, while the other hove up the
anchor in fine style to the chorus of "Down in the lowlands, oh!"

"U