As we listened, they came on and on, passed us, and the sounds ceased as before just where the junks were lying.
This time there was no signal and no answering light, the occupants of the boat finding their way almost by instinct, but there was a hail from the junk to our left, and we could distinguish the murmuring of voices for a time, and the creaking of the boat against the side as the fresh comers climbed on board.
"Ah, good information, Mr Herrick!" whispered Mr Brooke.

"We have seen nothing, but we know that they have received reinforcements, and now in a very short time we shall know whether they are going to sail or wait till morning." "How ?" I said.
He laughed gently.
"Easily enough.

They will not sail without getting up their anchors, and we must hear the noise they make." "But I don't quite see what good we are doing," I whispered.
"Not see?
Suppose we had stopped ashore, we should not have known of these men coming to strengthen the crews, and we should not have known till daylight whether they had sailed or were still at anchor.

This last we shall know very soon, and can follow them slowly.

Why, if we had waited till morning and found them gone, which way should we have sailed ?" "I'm very dense and stupid, sir," I said.