e no more capable of doing so than they would be if
they were really children.

To meet this difficulty, and help the Chinamen, an organization called the
First Company was formed in San Francisco, which undertook the duties of
the elders of the families, and was a great comfort to the Chinamen in
America.

By and by, as more Chinamen came into the country, the First Company got
too large, and others were formed on the same principle, until finally
there were six companies altogether. Then other societies were formed by
the Chinamen, and among them the Sam Yup and the See Yup.

These two societies seem to have the true clannish spirit, and a hatred
and rivalry exist between them that remind one of the stories of the
Middle Ages.

Belonging to the Sam Yups was a Chinaman named Little Pete, and it is
indirectly through him that trouble has fallen upon the heads of the ten
Chinese merchants.

If what is said about him is true, Little Pete must have been a very great
rascal. He was a well-known character in San Francisco, and there was no
work too bad or too wicked for him to undertake.

Among his other crimes he bribed juries, and had a whole regiment of
witnesses ready to swear as he wished.

The See Yups knew all about this, and so, when a case was coming into
court against any of their members, they would go to Little Pete, and hire
his witnesses to swear for them,--well knowing that if they didn't do
this, Little Pete would have them there to swear against the See Yups.

By these means Little Pete grew very rich, and was as much hated by his
enemies of the See Yups, as admired by his friends of the Sam Yups.

Time passed on, and Little Pete, full of his power, began to make the tax
on the See Yups a little heavier than they could submit to. They appealed
to the Consul. He took no notice of them. They went to Washington, accused
the Consul of being in league with the Sam Yups, and asked that he be
dismissed.

The Minister would have nothing to do with them, and they went back to San
Francisco, vowing vengeance on Little Pete.

With the Chinese, murder is very lightly regarded, and Little Pete never
doubted that his enemies of the See Yups would try to murder him when they
got back from Washington. For weeks he went about wearing a coat of mail,
and followed by two sturdy Sam Yups, his hired guards.

One night he went into the barber's, and, feeling safe, sent his guards
away. The See Yups were watching for