"Yes, all on 'em," said Jecks; "and I don't want to use strong language afore one's orficer, who's a young gent as is allers thoughtful about his men, and who's beginning to think now, that with the sun so precious hot he'll be obliged to order us ashore soon for a drop o' suthin' to drink." I laughed, and Tom Jecks chuckled. "But what I do say about their eatin' and cookin' is this, and I stands by what I says, it's beastly, that's what it is--it's beastly!" "Ay, ay," was chorussed, "so it is;" and then there was silence, while we all sat uneasily in the broiling sun. "Wish I was a gal," growled one of the men at last. "Ain't good-looking enough, matey," said Jecks. "Why?" "'Cause then I s'ould have a sunshade to put up." "Ay, 'tis warm--brylin', as you may say. Any on you know whether the Chinese is cannibals? You know, sir?" "I have heard that they cook very strange things now and then," I said, laughing. "Then they is," said Jecks; "and that being so, they'll have a fine chance to-day. Hadn't you better send word to some on 'em to lay the cloth, sir?" "What for?" "'Cause I'm nearly done, sir; and Billy Wakes looks quite. Billy ought to eat nice and joocy, messmates." "And old Tom Jecks tough as leather," cried Wakes. "That's so, matey," growled Jecks, who began to pass his tongue over his lips, and to make a smacking sound with his mouth. "My hye, matey, you do seem hungry," said one of the others. "Look out, Billy, or he won't leave John Chinaman a taste." "Get out!" growled Jecks; "that don't mean hungry, messmate--that means dry. Beg pardon, sir, we won't none on us try to slope off; but a good drink o' suthin', if it was on'y water, would be a blessin' in disguise just now." "Yes, Jecks, I'm thirsty too," I said. "Then why not let us pull ashore, sir, and get a drink at one o' them Chinee imitation grog-shops yonder?" "Because it would be a breach of discipline, my man," I said, trying to speak very sternly. "I should look nice if the captain came back and found me with the boat and no men." "Hark at that now!" cried Jecks. "Just as if we'd be the chaps to get a good-natured kind young orficer into a scrape. Look here, sir, put Billy Wakes ashore to go and fetch some drink. My hye, what we would give for half-a-gallon o' real good cool solid old English beer." "Ha!" came in a deep sigh, and I could not help feeling that a glass just then would be very nice. "Will you give the order, sir?" said Jecks insinuatingly. "Billy Wakes is a werry trustworthy sort of chap." "Yes," I said; "but he'd forget to come back, and then I should have to send you to find him, and then the others to find you. I know. There, you can light your pipes if you like." "And werry thankful for small mussies," said the old sailor, taking out his pipe. "You won't want no matches, lads. Fill up and hold the bowls in the sun."