Of course I was face downwards, and did not know you were with us till they stopped and loosed me from the bamboo and set me on my feet." "But what are they going to do with us, do you think, Jack ?" "I should say they are going to take us to Canton and claim a reward for our capture, and there I suppose they will cut off our heads or saw us in two, or put us to some other unpleasant kind of death.

I expect they are discussing it now; do you hear what a jabber they are kicking up ?" Voices were indeed heard raised in angry altercation in the next room.
After a time the din subsided and the conversation appeared to take a more amiable turn.
"I suppose they have settled it as far as they are concerned," Jack said; "anyhow, you may be quite sure they mean to make something out of us.

If they hadn't they would have finished us at once, for they must have been furious at the destruction of their junks and village.

As to the idea that mercy has anything to do with it, we may as well put it out of our minds.

The Chinaman, at the best of times, has no feeling of pity in his nature, and after their defeat it is certain they would have killed us at once had they not hoped to do better by us.