Blue Jackets Part 29

"Get out! Hold your row," growled the other, protesting.

"Yes, what does he say?" I cried eagerly.

"That if we was to shut 'em up close in the dark and not go anigh, sir, till to-morrow morning, there wouldn't be nothing left but one o' their tails."

"Like the Kilkenny cats, eh?" I said, laughing; and I went back on deck with the desire to see the prisoners stronger than ever.

Captain Thwaites was on the quarter-deck, marching up and down, and the men were hard at work cleaning up, squaring the yards, and repainting.

The spars were up in their places again, and the _Teaser_ was rapidly resuming her old aspect, when I saw Mr Reardon go up to the captain.

"I'll ask leave," I said. "He has been pretty civil;" and I made up my mind to wait till the lieutenant came away.

"No, I won't," I said. "I'll go and ask the captain when he has gone."

The next moment I felt that this would not do, for Mr Reardon would be sure to know, and feel vexed because I had not asked him.

"I'll go and ask leave while they are both together," I said to myself.

"That's the way."

But I knew it wasn't, and took a turn up and down till I saw Mr Reardon salute and come away, looking very intent and busy.

I waited till he was pretty close, and then started to intercept him.

His keen eye was on me in an instant.

"Bless my soul, Mr Herrick!" he cried, "what are you doing? Surely your duty does not bring you here?"

"No, sir," I said, saluting. "I beg your pardon, sir; I've been going backward and forward to Mr Barkins and Mr Smith."

"Ho! Pair of young noodles; what did they want in the boats? Getting hurt like that. Well?"

"Beg pardon, sir; would you mind giving me permission to see the prisoners?"

"What! why?"

"I wanted to see them, sir, and go back and tell my messmates about how they looked."

"Humbug!" he cried. "Look here, sir, do you think I have nothing else to do but act as a wild-beast showman, to gratify your impertinent curiosity? Let the miserable wretches be."

"Yes, sir."

"And be off to your cabin and study your navigation, sir. Your ignorance of the simplest matters is fearful. At your age you ought to be as well able to use a s.e.xtant as I am."

"Beg pardon, sir, I am trying."

"Then be off and try more, and let me see some results."

I touched my cap, drew back, and the lieutenant marched on.

"Jolly old bear!" I muttered, looking exceedingly crestfallen.

"Herrick!" came sharply, and I ran up, for he was walking on, and I had to keep up with him.

"Yes, sir."

"You behaved very well yesterday. I'm horribly busy. Here, this way."

"Thank you, sir," I said, wondering what he was going to set me to do, and thinking that he might have given me the permission I asked.

"Now then, quick," he said; and, to my surprise, he led the way to the hatchway, went down, and then forward to where the two marines were on duty, ready to present arms to the officer who always seemed of far more importance in the s.h.i.+p than the captain.

"Let Mr Herrick pa.s.s in, marines," he said. "Keep a sharp eye on your prisoners."

I gave him a look of thanks, and then felt disappointed again.

"Stop," he said; "fetch up two more men and a lantern, Herrick."

I gladly obeyed; and then the door was opened. After a look in through the grating, and followed closely by three of the marines with their rifles ready, we walked in to where the prisoners were squatted upon their heels all round close up against the bulkheads, bandaged terribly about the faces and necks, and with their fierce eyes glowering at us.

I had expected to find them lying about like wounded men, but, bad as several were, they all occupied this sitting position, and glared at us in a way that told us very plainly how unsafe it would be to trust our lives in their keeping even for a minute.

"Beg pardon, sir," whispered the corporal of marines, who was carrying a lantern; "better be on the look-out."

"Oh yes," said Mr Reardon. "We shall not stay. I only wanted a look round. Look sharp, Mr Herrick, and see what you want of them."

"Doctor was dressing that farthest chap's head, sir," whispered the corporal to me; "and as soon as he was about done, the fellow watched his chance and fixed his teeth in the dresser's arm, and wouldn't let go till--"

"Well? Till what?" said Mr Reardon, gazing fixedly at the brutal countenance of one of the men right before us.

"We had to persuade him to let go."

"Humph!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the lieutenant. "Wild-beast."

"How did you persuade him?" I whispered.

"With the b.u.t.t-end of a rifle, sir; and then we had to wrench his teeth open with bayonets."

I looked round from face to face, all ghastly from their wounds, to see in every one a fierce pair of eyes glaring at me with undying hatred, and I was wondering how it was that people could think of the Chinese as being a calm, bland, good-humoured Eastern race, when Mr Reardon said to me--

"Nearly ready, Herrick? The sight of these men completely takes away all compunction as to the way we treat them."

"Yes, sir; and it makes one feel glad that they are not armed."

"Ready to come away?"

"Yes, sir," I said; "quite."

"Come along, then."