sure, though I asked you what it was."

"What sort of a game are you trying to play off on me? I am an innocent
young fellow of sixteen, and I don't like to have others playing tricks
on me. Who told you my name, if you please?"

"No one told me your name; and I don't know yet what it is, though I
have asked it of you."

"Oh, get away with you! You are playing off something on me which I
don't understand, and I think I had better bid you good-morning," added
Christy, as he started to move off.

"Then you won't tell me your name. Stay a minute."

"You know my name as well as I do, and you are up to some trick with
me," protested Christy, halting.

"'Pon my honor as a Southern gentleman, I don't know your name."

"If you are a Southern gentleman, I must believe you, for I did not come
from as far north as I might have come. My name is Percy Pierson," added
Christy seriously; for he felt that this was actually war, and that the
strategy that does not always or often speak the truth was justifiable.

"Percy Pierson!" exclaimed the real owner of the name. "Didn't I just
tell you that was my name?"

"Undoubtedly you did, and that is the reason why I thought you were
making game of me."

"But how can that be when my name is Percy Pierson?"

"Give it up; but I suggest that in London, where I came from, there are
acres of King Streets, almost as many Queens; and, though you may not be
aware of the fact, there are seven thousand two hundred and twenty-seven
native and foreign born citizens of the name of John Smith. Possibly you
and I are the only two Percy Piersons in the country, or in the world."

"Now you say you are from London, and a little while ago you said you
were from farther north than I am. Which is it?"

"Isn't London farther north than any Southern State?"

"Enough of this," continued Percy impatiently.

"Quite enough of it," assented Christy.

"Will you tell me what steamer that is, where she is bound, and what she
is here for?"

"My dear Mr. Pierson, it would take me forty-eight hours to tell you
all that," replied the representative of the Bellevite, taking out his
watch. "If you will meet me here to-morrow night at sundown, I will make
a beginning of the yarn, and I think I can finish it in two days. But
really you must excuse me now; for I have to dine with the Chinese
admiral at noon, and I must go at once."

"I can put the owner of that craft in the way of making a fortune for
himself,