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.
"Come, come, Mr Herrick, there is no need for all this tremor.

Sit down, my lad." "Thank you, sir; I would rather stand, please.

I think I could talk better." "Very well, then," he said, smiling; "stand.