"I don't think there's much doubt about that, sir," he said. Just then, as the last man was treated by the sergeant, the doctor came on deck with his assistants, both in white aprons and sleeves--well, I'm a little incorrect there--in aprons and sleeves that had been white. "I've no business here," said the doctor hurriedly; "but these men cannot be left. Keep an eye on them, my men, and don't let them do me any mischief. I can't be spared just now." The next moment he was down on his knees by the side of one of the prisoners, who, in his eyes for a few minutes, was neither enemy nor piratical Chinaman, but a patient to whom he devoted himself to the full extent of his skill, performing what was needful, and leaving his assistant to finish the bandaging while he went on to the next. In another ten minutes he had finished, and rose from his knees. "There, Mr Herrick," he said; "do you call that horrible? because I call it grand. If those three ill-looking scoundrels had been left another hour they would have died. Now, with their hardy constitutions, they will rapidly get well, perhaps escape and begin pirating again. Possibly, when we give them up--oh my knees! how hard that deck is!--the authorities will--" "Chop off all head. Velly bad men--velly bad men indeed." The doctor laughed, and hurried away while the last prisoner was carried down below. "There," said the boatswain, when all was over, "that job's done, Mr Herrick. Nice fellows your countrymen, Ching." "Not allee nice fellow," replied Ching seriously. "Pilate velly bad man. No use. Why captain save him up?" "Ah, that's a question you had better ask him. But I say, Ching, those fellows came up here with cargo, didn't they?" "Calgo?" said Ching. "Yes; plunder out of the ships they took." "Yes," said Ching. "Then where is it? There was none on board the junks." "Ching know," said the interpreter, laying his finger to the side of his nose. "You likee Ching show?" "Yes, of course. Prize-money, and you'd share." "Ching likee plize-money. You bling ship along, and Ching show." CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. IN THE CREEK. Ching's announcement cleared up what had been somewhat of a mystery. It had appeared strange to everybody that the junks had been up this river apparently for no purpose, and more strange that they should have been light, and not laden with the plunder of the vessels they had taken. And now, as without any need for taking soundings the _Teaser_ slowly steamed back, Ching pointed out a kind of landing-place in a little creek hidden amongst dense growth, so that it had been passed unnoticed on our way up. The country here on both sides of the river was wild, and no trace of a dwelling could be seen; but about half a mile from the shore there was a low ridge, round one end of which the creek wound, and toward this ridge Ching pointed, screwing his eyes up into narrow slits, and wrinkling up his face in all directions.