"Oh dear!" he groaned; "what a long time it does take a wound to get well in this plaguey country. I know that knife was poisoned." "Nonsense!" I cried, unable to restrain my mirth. "Why, you are both getting on famously." "But Dishy might have let us go to the ball last night." "Play fair," I said; "we've been out to seven entertainments." "Well, what of that? They've been to a dozen. It's all old Dishy's way of showing his authority. I'm sure we all work hard when we're on duty, and run risks enough." "Go on, you old grumbler. Aren't we to go up the river shooting on Thursday with Mr Brooke and the doctor?" "Yes, that's right enough; but we shall be off again soon on another cruise, and get no more fun for long enough." "I say, let's ask for a run ashore to-day." "And get chivvied by the pigtails, same as we did down at that other place." "Oh, but perhaps they'll be more civil here," I said. Smith burst out laughing. "Why, didn't they pelt you, and shy mud at the skipper?" "Oh, if you're afraid, you can stop," I said. "Tanner and I can go." "Afraid!" cried Smith, doubling his fist and holding it within an inch of my nose. "Say afraid again, you miserable insect, and I'll flatten you." "Couldn't with that hand," I said, and I caught his wrist. "Oh, don't! Murder!" he roared. "I say, you shouldn't. It's like touching one's arm with red-hot iron." "Then be civil," I said. "Ah, only wait. I say, Tanner, our day's coming. As soon as we're both quite strong he has got to pay for all this, hasn't he?" "Oh, bother! I say, the skipper and Dishy are both going ashore to-day with an escort of Jacks and marines." "Are they?" I said eagerly. "Yes; there's some game or another on. Let's ask leave, and take old Ching with us." "Want to try puppy-pie again?" said Smith, grinning. "I want to do something for a change. I know! I'll go and see the doctor, and tell him we want a walk in the country to collect flowers, and ask him if he'll name them." "Well, he can't give us leave." "No; but he'll ask Dishy to let us off." "Bravo!" cried Smith. "Off you go. I say, though, we must have old Ching too. You see if he don't come out in his new gown!" "What new gown?" I said. "Hallo! didn't you know? He went ashore yesterday and bought himself a new blue coat. Not a cotton one, but silk, real silk, my boy, and beckoned me to come and see it,--beckoned with one of his long claws. He's letting his fingernails grow now, and getting to be quite a swell." "Oh yes; old Ching's getting quite the gentleman. He says he wrote home to his broker to sell the fancee shop. What do you think he said, Gnat?" "How should I know?" I replied. "That it wasn't proper for a gentleman in Queen Victolia's service to keep a fancee shop." "Murder! Look at that!" cried Smith. "Why, you yellow-skinned old Celestial, you were listening!"