most of the
day,--_Tuesday night here_. He sleeps in Canton one night. _Wednesday
here_; leaves Canton, _via_ Air-Line, the next morning,--_Wednesday
night here_; and arrives at Jamaica Plain on Thursday morning. Absent
from home forty-eight hours; twenty-four consumed in travelling _via_
Air-Line; twelve in pedestrian excursion through the Kwangtung country
in China; and twelve in pecuniary negotiations and sleep at the British
and American Coffee-House, Canton. This makes every thing clear and
consistent. We would simply remark, that, when John first told us his
singular tale of adventure, we remarked that he seemed to have had a
very small allowance of food, as he ate but one good meal in the whole
forty-eight hours. To which he replied in a rather lofty manner, which
repressed all further comment on our part, that, when the mind was
filled with great thoughts, it didn't require much to sustain the body.
We should like to take John as a boarder. But he is now on his feet
again, and we let him speak for himself.]

"As soon as I found myself alone with my young brother Bob,--a bright
fellow he was, and quick at a bargain,--I told him in strict confidence
the whole story of my adventures, and then laid before him my plans for
the future, in carrying out which plans I should need his co-operation.

"I am now going," said I, "to Mr. Simpson's office, and shall pay him
handsomely for the papers I have sold. I then propose to contract with
him for the New York and Boston daily papers, paying for six months in
advance, to be delivered to you every morning at half-past five o'clock
precisely. At six o'clock you will drop the bundle, carefully made up
and nicely secured, as I shall direct Mr. Simpson, right through the
centre of the hole, to which I will direct you by and by,--always being
very careful to let it fall from your hand at a height of four feet
above the surface of the earth; in which case it will, of course, rise
just four feet _above_ the surface on the other side, and I shall be
able to secure it without difficulty. I will pay you fifteen per cent on
the net profits of the enterprise for the first six months, which ought
to be regarded as a liberal compensation for the small amount of time
that you will be obliged to give to the work.

"Now, Bob, listen to what I am about to say with strict attention. On
every Saturday morning you must delay dropping your bundle for half an
hour; and between six and half-past