eight
o'clock
It was in the highest degree improbable , if perchance one of our messages should fall into the hands of a Chinese seaman , that he would be able to comprehend and act upon it . It was a rather perplexing problem for a young fellow like myself to be confronted with ; but the decision at which I ultimately arrived was that , while recognising the possibility of the junk 's crew being friends , it would be wise to be prepared to meet them as enemies . Having come to this decision , I went below and called the stewardesses , who , since the wreck , had assumed charge of the domestic arrangements -- Susie , the second stewardess , proving herself to be a past mistress of the culinary art . I allowed the others to sleep on , for there was no reason why I should prematurely awaken Mrs Vansittart , only perhaps to worry her needlessly by pouring into her ears the tale of my doubts and fears ; but at eight o'clock she and her daughter came on deck , and caught me watching the slowly moving junk , with the telescope glued to my eye . They looked , and an exclamation of delight burst from their lips , to be instantly followed by a demand from Mrs Vansittart why I had not at once called her to impart the good news . Of course I had to explain at length to them the uncertain state of mind under which I was labouring , as already indicated . `` But you fired the flare , Mr Leigh , '' exclaimed Anthea , pointing to the frame on the poop , from which a thin haze of smoke still arose .