It was very curious in its reality, and so clear before me that I could hardly believe it true, when the man who was coming toward us suddenly stooped, picked up something, and then turned and went back to his position in the line. For I had not calculated in my excitement upon the deceptive nature of the ground upon which we lay, with its large masses of rock and scattered fragments of endless shapes, some partly screening, some blending with our clothes as we lay motionless; and above all, upon the fact that our presence there was not expected. Otherwise there might have been quite another tale to tell. Even when I knew that they were passing on, I hardly dared to draw my breath, and lay still now, with my head pressed down sidewise in the sand; till at last I could keep from breathing no longer, and the dry sand flew at one great puff. I lay trembling the next moment, fearing that the sound would bring the bloodthirsty wretches back, hot and eager to hack to pieces the foreign devil who had escaped from their clutches the day before; but the sound of their voices grew more and more faint, till the last murmur died away, and I raised my head slowly, an inch at a time, till I could gaze along the strand. There was nothing visible but the scattered rocks, sun-bleached sand, and the dark, smooth surface over which the foaming water raced back each time a glistening billow curved over and broke. And in proof that the enemy were some distance away, I could see the pale-feathered, white-breasted gulls passing here and there in search of food, while able at any moment to spread their wings and escape. CHAPTER FORTY THREE. OUR REFUGE. "Oh deah me!" said Ching in his most squeaky tones, "I velly hungly. You like nicee bleakfast, Mis' Hellick?" "Don't speak to me as if I were a baby, Ching," I cried angrily. "No; speak like to offlicer, Mr Hellick. You likee bleakfast-- something good eat?" "I hadn't thought of it before, Ching," I said, feeling rather ashamed of my angry tone; "but I am faint, and I suppose that is through being hungry." "Yes; Ching go down among locks and sand, see if he find something eat." "No, no," I cried excitedly; "it would be madness." "Eh? you tinkee Ching mad?" he said, with a smile. "Oh no; but you would meet some of the pirates." "No; allee gone 'long shore. Not come back long time." "But it is too risky. Perhaps some of the wretches are waiting." "No; allee velly wicked--velly bad men. Feel 'flaid stop all alone. 'Flaid see men again headee chop off. Pilate allee keep together. No come long time; Ching go find something good eat." "But if they come on the cliffs and look back, they might see you." "Yes; might see Ching flom velly long way topside lock chop. Then think--" "Think, yes, of course." "Not allee same you think. See Ching? Yes; see John Chinaman in blue flock allee torn, long tow-chang; that's all." I did not grasp his meaning for a moment.