Percy was kneeling up in the bow now.

As they passed a branch channel three or four hundred yards from the village, he started and leaped to his feet.
"There are four or five junks in that passage, Fothergill; they are poling out." The first lieutenant heard the words.
"Row on, men; let us finish with these craft ahead before the others get out.

This must be that piratical village we have heard about, Mr.Mason, as lying up one of these creeks; that accounts for those two junks not going higher up.

I was surprised at seeing them here, for they might guess that we should try to get them this morning.

Evidently they calculated on catching us in a trap." Percy was delighted at finding that, in the excitement caused by his news, the first lieutenant had forgotten to take any notice of his being there without orders, and he returned a defiant nod to the threat conveyed by Fothergill shaking his fist at him.