In the Yellow Sea

where little drums of the peddlers, and the chatter and smells and heat, soon drove me back to the parade, away from the houses of the natives. Their stupid faces, so smooth and

untry has not impressed me in

ning-and told my man to propel me across the harbour towards Kow-loon. This is in China, where the change of the scenery is marked and wild; but

teamer, though, of course, the latter would be more speedy, and more certain if a storm arose. But they would sail by the nort

the wherries in aggregate thousands. Small and limited is the accommodation, truly, when a family, with a pig, and perhaps ducks, live on board. The chances are in favour of drowning; but the male children

the so-called "Japs." There were hundreds of ships of all sorts, and I was please

aboard, I recognised the speaker as a friend who had assisted me once or

y weighed, and the schooner was only fast to a buoy, for the breeze was light. I recognised the craft as a former smuggling vessel, and named

?" I cried, as I c

d; "think I'd scooted? What

l have a 'peg," I added, as he indicated refr

," I continued. "S

led you to? I can estimate the curiosity, bu

s I watched him mixi

s your spot? What'

ust sculling ar

aks, o' course! Still acting

confirmed

ing nor

by and by. When

in' orders. Maybe to

or's a-peak, and you are loosing sails. You are jus

looked at the lamp through the liquid the glass contai

hemulpo perhaps-

what's your Jap up to?" He started

what's your

ied. "What's t

etorted. "What

y accident hit upon the Coreans' vessel, or

ntly staring at me. Neither would say the

more, thanks. 'Pegs' are likely to upset on

"Well, so-long, mate; we'l

ls are loosed, Eagan. I'

Hallo! where'

My sampan and the bo

e ashore, please," I cried anxio

dinghy's ashore, and I've no time to man an

mean? Remain

there's a signal. That's my boss comin' along

Chinese apparently, came abaft, and a Euro

hooner. I walked to the counter and watched it. The occupants were two

I knew one of them. He was the quasi-Japanese officer whom my captain had spoken with. These men were escap

not know at all,-but neither made any remark to me. The officer,

, please. Make for

gave a few orders which the mate repeated, and in five m

re are you taking me?

to the wheel himself, leavin

iracy. I'll give the alarm if you

ghai, you'll find the steamer there, I expec

this!" I cried, fee

and no one will care except me. So, keep still, and I

lows; I see. There is something wrong

inished. Your old screw will be in Shanghai before us. There's nothing wrong in the

e skipper; he only laughed at first, and then got angry in his turn,

to clear out of Victoria and to go to Shanghai. I can understand some of the lingo, and it's plain to me that the man named Oh Sing, or Kim,-I can't quite catch it,-i

object, th

evidently nervous, and keeps his Japanese servant near him all the tim

shan't be long in reaching Shan

shall go on deck. The captain will want to go down then, and

nt dange

that, after such a jumpy time as we'

and he p

e weather's very bad, because there'll be trouble. If the weather's bad the

y-eight degrees or so you'll pray for something more interesting to yourself! K

cleared the Channel we spun along the ripples, sending the "phosphorus" flying around the stern, and light-up the

bells, ten o'clock, and then I f

t let me or the skipper know. Those fellows have a game on

sman was a Lascar. The crew was composed of a variety of natives; but in t

I said. "I'l

to call it. The company in the saloon had dispersed; the captain had quitted it some time before, and the two Coreans and the Japanese servant, who stuck to Oh Sing, parted. The man Lung, I fancied, dispo

lightly as usual, when I was awakened by a breathing cl

y face. I seized it,

eady expiring lamp, and as I leaped upon the deck-floor I distinctly heard something

you, Mr. Julius? Had a bad dream, I reck

rn upon my scared counte

lashed a knife in my eyes. If I had no

t upon my alarmed looks. "There are no murderers here, lad. But te

I would find a b

. This belongs to one of my

the hints of the mate. "Then perh

ly for quite half a minute, wit

ear a hand for me. I think, somehow, a storm is coming up. Look sl

o the deck. The breezy, somewhat cool, night soon dissipated the feelings of sloth which remained in my eyes, and I was

l so as to look well ahead and around. There was a low grat

he carried small square sails aloft on the foremast, and as I reflected, with a fast-beating heart, upon the very narrow escape I had had below, my glance was

in about six days, supposing no bad weather intervened. I felt very happy and comfortable t

er which I did not like. We had plenty of sail on the vessel, jib, stayforesail, topsail, fore and aft foresail

and after a comprehen

, will you? Watch will reduce sa

ks, at once arose at the summons, and I ran forward to call

he men aloft for me? I must get th

we attempted to secure the sail it flapped and banged us about so that it was with great difficulty we even commenced to secure it. But the six skilful hands managed it, and by ho

except the passengers, and the sea came drifting in foam and spray across the ship. The Harada dashed into the short seas, which rose landward, as if ejected by big hands underneath wit

ike whipcord, sent them flying around our heads and beyond. The schooner dipped and dipped, lower and lower; strake after strake disappeared, until the planks seemed to become lost, and the ve

he squall subsided; and after four such experiences, each one bringing our masts down to the waves, and the last one smashing the mizzen-topmast short at the cap, we floated more steadily.

ed, or we must have cut away the masts. However, we pulled through the cyclone, or "typhoon" as they call it out there, and