ace in front of us was neatly sanded, that
posts stood up here and there. In other places there were cross bars,
and in two there were ropes hanging.

"I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
It's Chinese athletic sports. Look, there's the band coming."

He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs,
and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd
of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places
reserved behind the barriers.

Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and
formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best
places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.

"You're right, Tanner," said Smith just then; "but they're military
athletic sports. I say, here come the grandees."

For in procession about twenty gorgeously-arrayed officials came
marching in, and the next moment I gave Barkins a dig in the ribs.

"Look," I said.

"All right; I see. Well, we needn't mind. But I say, what a game if we
hadn't got leave!"

"I say," whispered Smith, "look over there. The skipper and old Dishy!
This was where they were coming, then; they'll see us directly."

"Let 'em," said Barkins, as the party settled themselves. "Now then,
we're all here. All in to begin. We ought to have a programme. Here,
Ching, what's the first thing they do?"

"Ching no quite sure; p'laps lichi."

"Lichi?" I said.

"You don't know? You see velly gland--velly ploper for bad, bad man."

He turned away to speak to a Chinese officer close at hand, while we
began to feel wondering and suspicious, and gazed at each other with the
same question on our lips.

Ching turned to us again, and I being nearest whispered--

"I say, what place is this? What are they going to do?"

"Bring out allee wicked men. Choppee off head."

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

THE ENTERTAINMENT.

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 Governm