I felt as it were a sudden jar run through me when I heard Ching's words.  It was as if I had been awakened by a sudden revelation.  This, then, was the grand show he had contrived for us as a treat!  It was all clear enough: our officers had been invited to the execution of the pirates we had taken, and conceiving, with all a Chinaman's indifference to death, that we three lads, who had been present at their capture, would consider it as a great treat to be witnesses of the punishment awarded by the Government, Ching had contrived to get permission for us to be present.