I cried, full of excitement at the idea of a run through
the mazes of the quaint town, and the prospect of seeing a Chinese
performance. "I say, Ching," I cried, striking an attitude, "take us
where you can give us a tune, `Ti--ope--I--ow.'"

"Yes; velly nicee music," he said, nodding and smiling. "Ching takee
see something velly good. You leady?"

"In five minutes," cried Barkins. "Gnat, go and tell them to have the
boat ready. Mr Reardon said we were to be rowed ashore."

"Ching leady in five minutes," said the interpreter, running towards the
door.

"Eh? Why, you are ready," said Smith.

"No. Go put on new blue silk flock. Leady dilectly."

Ten minutes later we were being rowed ashore, to be landed at the wharf
where we met with so unpleasant an attack a short time before. But
there was no mob of idlers there now, and we stepped ashore, leaving the
good-natured-looking crew smiling at us, and giving the shops many a
longing look, as they pushed off and began to row back at once.

"Plenty time," said Ching. "You likee fust go lestaulant--eatee,
dlinkee, spend plize-money?"

"Can't spend what we haven't yet got, Ching," said Barkins. "What do
you say, lads? I'm hungry again, aren't you?"

Smith sighed.

"I'm always hungry," he said.

"Of course you are. I believe he's hollow all through, Gnat. How do
you feel?"

"As if I haven't had any breakfast," I said earnestly.

Ching smiled.

"Velly much nicee bleakfast all along o' Ching."

He led the way in and out among the narrow streets, apparently again as
much at home as in his own city; and it was hard work to keep from
stopping to gaze at the hundreds of objects which attracted and set me
longing to make purchases to take home for curiosities. But Ching
bustled us along.

"No time now. Come along get good bleakfast. Wantee good bleakfast
before go to see gland show."

"Here, what is it you are going to take us to see, Ching?" cried
Barkins--"all right; I wasn't talking to you," he added, as a couple of
Chinamen turned round to gaze at the young outer barbarian.

"You waitee," cried Ching, smiling; "all velly ploper gland. You likee
see the show."

"Oh, all right. Where's the restaurant?"

"Nex' stleet," said Ching; and after a few minutes he turned into a
showy-looking eating-house, where his blue silk gown and long nails
seemed to command the most profound respect from the attendants; and
where, after laying down the law ver