"Oh, I see," I cried at last; "you mean that if they did see you, they would think it was one of their own crew?" "Yes; think one of own clew. But Ching not pilate." "Of course. Then there would be no risk. You shall go, but we must find some place where we can hide." "Mis' Hellick help soon makee velly nicee place." "Wait a minute," I said. "Couldn't we climb up on the cliff like you did?" "Yes, Mr Hellick climb, but no cally jolly sailor boy, Tom Jeck, allee way." "No; we must make a place here if we cannot find one." He walked up to the face of the cliff, but there was no spot at all likely to answer the purpose till he had gone about fifty yards, when he turned and signalled to me. I crept close up to the cliff, and then stooped down, after a timid look in the direction taken by the pirates, and found Ching standing by a piece of the rock which had split away from above, fallen clear, and then its top had leaned back against the rock face, leaving a narrow rift between its base and the cliff, through which we could see the light dimly, some twelve or fourteen yards away, but it was only a faint gleam showing that the far end was nearly closed. "Velly nice beautiful place; ought to come here last night." "Yes, capital. We can hide here; and once inside, if we had arms, we could keep the wretches at a distance." "Don'tee want fight now," said Ching, quietly. "No swold, no shoot gun, no jolly sailor boy. Wantee eat and dlink." "Yes; let's get poor Jecks here at once." "You go fetch him; tly to walkee now: Ching go fetch eat, dlink." He hurried off toward the ridge, while I went back to my wounded man, who seemed to be lying asleep, but he opened his eyes as I approached. "We've found a place," I said. "Do you think you can limp a little way?" He tried to rise, and fell back with a moan, but upon my placing my arm under his, he made a fresh effort, and stood upright, taking step for step with mine, till I had him right up to the narrow opening of our shelter, into which he slowly crawled, and then spoke for the first time, but in a hoarse voice I did not know-- "Water." "I'll try," I said; "don't stir from there till I come back." Creeping along close under the cliff, I soon reached the ridge, and was about to mount, but dropped down and hid, for I saw something move in the direction taken by the pirates. A minute's investigation, however, showed it to be some bird on the strand, and I began to climb, reached the top, took a careful observation in both directions, and then up at the cliff, and,--lastly, looked out for Ching. I soon espied him running out after a retiring billow, then running in again, and continuing this several times as if he were a boy at play. Finally, however, I saw him go splashing in after a wave, and then come hurrying back dragging something, which he drew right ashore. There he stopped, panting, and looking back, caught sight of me, and signalled to me to come.