You could make Ching--" "That Chinese interpreter ?" "Yes, sir.

Make him do up some of our lads with pigtails made of blackened oakum, and in duck-frocks they'd do at a distance." "Heads not shaven ?" "No, sir; but they could have their hair cut very short, and then painted white--I mean yellow, so that the pirates wouldn't know at a distance." "Humph! anything else ?" said the captain drily, but I did not notice it; I was too much taken up by my ideas.
"Yes, sir.

Ching could be going about very busily in all directions, showing himself a great deal, and there's no mistake about him." "No," said the captain, "there is no mistake about him." "And it wouldn't be a bad plan to be at anchor near the place where you thought they were, sir, with some of the spars down as if you were repairing damages.

That would make them feel sure that they were safe of a prize, and they'd come off in their boats to attack." "And then you would let them board us and find out their mistake ?" "That I wouldn't, sir!" I cried eagerly; and, oddly enough, my side began to ache where I had had that blow.

"I wouldn't risk any of our poor fellows being hurt.