IN COMMAND. 99

«We should be quite as well off there, since it is only
thirty-eight miles across to Hong Kong, and I am not
certain but I would rather have the brig in that port in
furtherance of my own plans.”

«TJ did not mean to question anything you did in the
matter, but only asked from curiosity. If it would improve
your chance of getting command by going there, let us do
so by all means.”

“T think I will try it,” Ben said, hesitatingly, and then,
as if having fully made up his mind, he turned again to
the Chinaman.

“You shall take us to Macao. As I said before, all
three of you will be paid for such work as is performed,
and I want you to be very careful that you understand
this portion of the bargain, in order to explain it to your
friends. JI intend to run the risk of allowing you to pilot
the brig into port, but, at the same time, I shall take the
precaution of keeping a mighty strict watch, and at the
least sign of treachery there will be trouble for all three.
I sha’ n’t make any allowance for ignorance, and it will go
hard with your precious bodies if, by the slightest mistake,
this craft touches bottom before our anchors are down in
port.”

The fellow did not seem to think there was any neces-
sity of his replying to these statements, and remained
silent and motionless in front of the young captain, until
the latter, asked impatiently :

“Did you understand all I said?”

The man nodded.