"Yes, yes, that's good. What now?" "Boat out from the smoke, rowing after the other one, sir. They've got it. Yes, I can see. They're throwing something out that smokes--now something more." "Bah! stink-pots!" roared Mr Reardon. "Now then, quick!--quick! Don't, go to sleep, sir. What next?" "I'll shy the spyglass at you directly," I muttered; and then aloud, "Fire, sir; both junks blazing." "Hurrah!" came from the deck as the rest of the crew set up a tremendous cheer, for the smoke had suddenly grown less dense; and the junks gradually grew visible as it floated away; while even in the bright sunlight the flames were visible, and I could now make out that they were two floating furnaces with the great tongues of fire licking the broad matting-sails: and, best news of all, there, quite plainly, were our four boats, with the men just visible above their sides. I reported this, and cheer after cheer rose again. After which there was dead silence once more, so that my reports could be heard. "Now, Mr Herrick, what now?" cried Mr Reardon. "Two boats lying in mid-stream, sir; the others are rowing to the side." "To pick up the men who were sent ashore, I suppose. Good." "Junks burning very fast, sir; and they're floating across to the other side. The wind's taking them straight, for the smoke floats that way." "Very likely," said Mr Reardon; and there was a long pause. "One junk has taken the ground, sir," I said, "and--" "Yes, well, what?" "Her masts and sails have fallen over the side." "And our boats?" "Lying-to, sir, doing nothing." But that was as far as I could see, for they were doing a good deal, as we afterwards heard. "Other junk has floated over, sir, nearly to the same place." "Good; burning still?" "Oh yes, sir--very fast." He need not have asked; for, as Barkins told me afterwards, they could see the flames from the deck, though our boats were invisible. "Well, what now?" cried Mr Reardon, as I saw the captain quietly pacing to and fro on the bridge. "Other two boats pushed off from the shore, sir." "Ha! that's right. See anything of the Chinamen?" "No, sir; the forest goes right away for miles. There isn't one to be seen." "And the boats?" "All rowing back, sir, close under the left bank." "Can you see them?" "Only three of them, sir," I replied. "Now another is out of sight." "Then, as soon as they are all invisible, you can come down," cried Mr Reardon. "Yes, sir; all out of sight now." "Then come down." "Thankye for nothing," I muttered; and then aloud, "Yes, sir;" and I closed my glass, and wiped my wet forehead, feeling stiff and sore, as if I had been exerting myself with all my might. "I suppose I'm very stupid," I said to myself, as I began to descend slowly, "but I did try my best. What a height it seems up here! If a fellow slipped and fell, he would never have another hour up at the mast-head."