CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
"MAN OVERBOARD." It was a great relief to us all to find that our visit to the Chinese prison had not been noticed.

We of course kept silence about it, not even telling Mr Brooke, who was the most friendly of our officers, and we had the satisfaction of finding that Ching obeyed our orders, and kept his peace.
I used to be rather sorry for him, his position being so solitary on board.

For he could not make himself at home with the sailors in the forecastle, and though as frank, good-hearted fellows as ever lived, they seemed to look upon him only in one way, that of being a butt for their sharp witticisms, an object upon whom they were to play practical jokes.
Consequently I used often, when I found him standing alone by the bulwarks watching the shore, to edge up to him, and stop to talk; our conversation being directed by me toward some little unpleasantry in the forecastle, which if he had complained about to the first lieutenant, there would have been a severe reprimand.
I remember one of these occasions, when Ching came flying up out of the hatch, followed by a roar of laughter, and as he reached the deck, _clang-clang_ went something against the sides of the hatch; but Ching paid no heed, running forward till he was right up by the side of the bowsprit.
I followed quickly, feeling angry on the man's behalf.
"What's the matter ?" I cried.

"What have they been doing ?" "No know," he said rather pitifully, as he stood there trembling.

"Done something.