Don't wait to give more than one volley." "Ay, ay, sir," said the boatswain; and the marines seized their pieces, and I looked forward more sharply than ever.
But Ching shook his head.
"No pilate," he whispered to me.

"Allee too velly much flighten, and lun away from foleign devil sailor and maline." "But they might have come down to their place here," I said.
Ching smiled contemptuously.
"Pilate velly blave man, fight gleat deal when allee one side, and know sailor can't fightee.

When plenty sailor can fightee, pilate lun away velly fast, and no come back." "Can you understand him, Mr Grey ?" I said.
"Oh yes, I understand him, and I daresay he's right, but there's no harm in being on the look-out;" and, to show his intention of following out his words, the boatswain took his revolver from its case, and laid it ready upon his knees.
"How much farther is this village, or whatever it is ?" said Mr Reardon from behind.
"Do you hear, Ching ?" I said.
"Ching hear; Ching don'tee know; not velly far," was the unsatisfactory reply.
"I'm afraid we've come on a cock-and-bull hunt," said the boatswain, looking to right and left as he stood up in the boat, for the creek now grew so narrow that the men had to lay in their oars, and the coxswain also stood up and drew the boat onward by hooking the overhanging boughs.
"Do you think they do come up here, Ching ?" I said.
He nodded, and looked sharply about him.
"There can be no big traffic up here, Mr Grey," said the lieutenant.
"What does the interpreter say ?" "Do you hear, Ching ?" I whispered; "what do you say ?" "Allee light," he replied.

"Pilate come along in littlee sampan; cally silk, tea, lice." "Oh, bother!" I said.

Then aloud to Mr Reardon, whose boat was half hidden by the growth overhead, "He seems quite sure they do come up here, sir." "Well, then, go a little farther, but I feel far from sure.