"No, we should not, my boy, because there would not have been a soul left to tell the story. There, my lad, don't indulge in romance. He is the best commander who gains victories at the smallest cost of blood to his country.--Ha, at last! how much longer the creek seems coming back than it did going up." "Running against the tide, too," I cried; and the next minute we glided out into the big stream, crossed the river, and settled down to a quiet, steady row on the far side, where the eddy enabled us to make a very fine rate of speed. But our rate did not satisfy Mr Brooke, who kept on looking at his watch as the time went on, and we found that the swift tide had carried us much farther than we thought for. "We shall never get back at this rate," said Mr Brooke, "and it can't be very long before the tide turns, and then those scoundrels will come sailing down, perhaps pass us before we can get to the _Teaser_." "Hardly," I ventured to observe. "Well, no; you are right," he said. "I am too impatient. We have a good start, and must get to the gunboat long before they can." Meanwhile Tom Jecks sat fast, pressing his feet against the jacket placed over the hole, and kept baling, while Ching took his time from him, and used his baler with enough skill to help get rid of a great deal of water, so that the boat was freed to an extent which set aside all danger of our sinking; but with all their efforts they never got beyond a certain point, for the water oozed in pretty constantly through and round the extempore plug. At last, faint with heat and nearly exhausted, we came in sight of the first straggling houses, then they grew more close together, and fields and gardens gave place to the closely-packed habitations. For we had reached the town, though even then we had quite a long row before we could reach the _Teaser_. The final stretch came at last--just about a quarter of a mile to traverse, and then we should be alongside. "Thank goodness!" said Mr Brooke, drawing a deep breath; "I don't know when I have felt so anxious. Now, my lads, only another five minutes--a long pull and a strong pull, and all together." The men cheered and pulled, sending the boat merrily along now, for the tide was close upon its highest point, and for some little time it grew more and more sluggish before the coxswain cried out-- "She's swung round, sir; tide's with us." "Ha!" ejaculated Mr Brooke. "Then we shall get to the _Teaser_ in time. They couldn't start from the creek with those light junks till now." "How much farther is it, sir?" I said, as he stood up and shaded his eyes with his hand. "It can't be many hundred yards," he replied. "It must be just beyond that head where the boats lie so thick. Yes, off that temple there up on the hill."