"Eh? You, Mr Herrick! Pooh! Stop," he said sharply, as, feeling completely abashed, I was shrinking away, when he laid his hand kindly on my shoulder. "Let's hear what you mean, my boy. The mouse did help the lion in the fable, didn't he?" "Yes, sir." "Not that I consider myself a lion, Mr Herrick," he said good-humouredly, "and I will not insult you by calling you a mouse; but these Chinese fiends are too much for me, and I really am caught in the net. Here, send that man forward, and come into my cabin." "Ching, go right up to the forecastle," I said. "No wantee go s'eep," he said angrily. "Makee Ching bad see ship burned." "Never mind now; go and wait," I whispered; and he nodded and went off, while I walked hurriedly back to the captain, who led the way to his cabin. Before I had gone many steps I had to pass Smith, who came quickly up to me. "Hallo! old chap," he whispered, "what have you been up to now? Wigging from the skipper? I'll go and tell the Tanner, and we'll get clean handkerchiefs for a good cry." CHAPTER EIGHT. MY PLAN. "Shut the door, Mr Herrick," said the captain, as he threw himself into a chair, and I obeyed and remained standing there. "Come close up to the table, my lad, and I'll hear what you have to say, for I should be sorry to discourage a young officer who was in earnest about his profession, as I have noted that you seem to be." "Thank you, sir," I faltered, as I walked forward to where the swinging lamp cast its full light on my face, making my eyes ache, after being so many hours in the darkness, while I noticed that the captain sat in the shade. "Now, Mr Herrick," he said, "I talked of one fable, let me say a word about another. I hope this is not going to be a case of the mountain in labour, and out crept a mouse." This put me quite out of heart, my hands grew damp, and I felt a tickling sensation of dew forming upon my temples and at the sides of my nose. My throat felt dry, and my lips parted, but no words came. "There, there," he said kindly, "don't be afraid. Speak out." "Yes, sir," I said hastily. "It was only this. I think I read somewhere once, in a paper, about a Malay prahu being taken by the captain of a ship pretending to be helpless, and this made the prahu, which could sail twice as fast as his ship, come close up to attack him." "Yes; and what then?" "The captain sunk the prahu, sir." "Humph!" said Captain Thwaites, frowning and leaning back in his chair. "That's what I should like to do to the piratical junks, Mr Herrick. But--" He stopped, and I saw that he was watching me keenly. But he had not ordered me out of the cabin, nor called me an impertinent puppy, so I felt better. The plunge had been made, and I waited not quite so nervously for his next words. "Yes--what I should like to do, Mr Herrick; but I am dealing with cunning Chinese, and not with bold Malays." "No, sir," I said; "but could not we--you--I mean we--I mean--" I stammered.