`` Oh , please hold me very tight till I get there ! Why do you have the stern so far away ? '' and , stifling several squeaks of alarm in her passage , Rose crept to the distant seat , and sat there holding on with both hands and looking as if she expected every wave to bring a sudden shipwreck . Uncle Alec took no notice of her fear , but patiently instructed her in the art of steering , till she was so absorbed in remembering which was starboard and which larboard , that she forgot to say `` OW ! '' every time a big wave slapped against the boat . `` Now where shall we go ? '' she asked , as the wind blew freshly in her face , and a few , long swift strokes sent them half across the little bay . `` Suppose we go to China ? '' `` Is n't that rather a long voyage ? '' `` Not as I go . Steer round the Point into the harbour , and I 'll give you a glimpse of China in twenty minutes or so . '' `` I should like that ! '' and Rose sat wondering what he meant , while she enjoyed the new sights all about her . Behind them the green Aunt-hill sloped gently upward to the grove at the top , and all along the seaward side stood familiar houses , stately , cosy , or picturesque . As they rounded the Point , the great bay opened before them full of shipping , and the city lay beyond , its spires rising above the tall masts with their gay streamers . `` Are we going there ? '' she asked , for she had never seen this aspect of the rich and busy old city before . `` Yes . Uncle Mac has a ship just in from Hong Kong , and I thought you would like to go and see it . '' `` Oh , I should .
I love dearly to go poking about in the warehouses with Uncle Mac ; everything is so curious and new to me ; and I 'm specially interested in XXXXX because you have been there . ''
Alec China Kong Mac OW Rose larboard minutes squeaks streamers