Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/367

Rh Chinese woman—looking like a porcelain figure—went to the top of the ladder to the lower deck up came a little Japanese officer, and it was quite amusing to watch the bows and smiles and polite little flirtation between Japan and China. Every one said there was plenty of time, and I went to the saloon to have a glass of champagne with Wright. When I came on deck the launch was gone, so was every boat, and the anchor was coming up—the mail-boat actually starting. Here was a situation, for I had no desire to be carried off to Ceylon! At last, by violent signalling and holding up money, we induced a Chinese sampan to come alongside, and I slid down a rope and arrived in a heap on top of its crew! I was just in time, as the next minute the steamer was off.

Then I looked round at my situation. The little sampan had a wet, slippery deck, half of which was under water, with nothing to keep one from slipping overboard. The crew consisted of a Chinese woman and three tiny children, the youngest being a baby. To the back of the baby was tied a large chunk of wood. I soon saw the use of it. When it fell overboard it floated; the mother took a long pole with a hook, and just hooked it back again! They were all at first frightened of me, but being alarmed about the child (and myself, though I was not going to show it—for I had no log of wood on my back), I took possession of its little wet body, and the mother smiled, and signified it was quite safe. She and the two other little mites managed that boat marvellously, and soon we were all the best of friends. I was sitting (and sitting tight, too) on the wet, sloping deck nursing the wet baby, whilst another little kiddie was hanging over my back with its arms round my neck nearly thrott- ling me—but we were all beaming and joking.