"Look at that now.

We in this here little cock-boat just shows our colours, and that theer great bamboo mountain of a thing goes down on her marrow-bones to us, metty-phizickly.

See that, Mr Herrick, sir ?" "Yes, Tom," I said excitedly; "and it's something to be proud of too." For, in obedience to our signals, I saw one of the many Chinamen on board wave his hands as he seemed to be shouting, and the great vessel slowly and cumbrously rounded to, so that in a few minutes we were able to run close alongside.
"Tell them to heave us a rope, Ching," said Mr Brooke, and the interpreter shouted through his hands, with the result that a heavy coil came crashing down, and was caught by Tom Jecks, who was nearly knocked overboard.
"We said a rope, not a hawser," growled the man, hauling in the rope.
"Better shy a few anchors down too, you bladder-headed lubbers!" "Now, say I want to speak to the captain," said Mr Brooke.
A showily-dressed Chinaman leaned over the side of the huge tower of a poop, and smiled down on us.
"Are you the captain ?" cried Mr Brooke, and Ching interpreted.
"Say he the captain," said Ching; "and you please walkee up top sidee big junk." "Yes, it will be better," cried Mr Brooke.

"Come with me, Herrick.
You too, Ching, of course.

There, keep her off a bit, Jecks, or you'll have the boat swamped." He seized the right moment, and began to climb up the junk's side.