camelia-bush where Father Somazzo cannot see
us."

"But why must he not see us? You are not going to do anything wrong,
are you?" asked the small Chinaman trembling.

"What? Anything wrong? I'll play him a trick or two--the tyrant--and
that will not be wrong, I say. Is there anything wrong about my
looking to see whether my father's boat is here? Come with me right
now." Peppo hesitated. "Come this minute or I'll drag you along by
your pig-tail the way naughty Freddy used to do before I took you in
charge."

Joseph went with his protector without more ado, but did not approve of
the plan disclosed to him behind the camelia bush.

"Don't do it, Willy. It will be disobedience, and it's against the
fourth commandment."

"The fourth commandment of God tells me to love my father, and for love
of my father I want to climb up and look for his ship. That cannot be
against the fourth commandment," said the sinful distorter.

The sophism did not enlighten small Peppo. "I believe, Willy," he
said, "that it is against the fourth commandment, because the Father
has forbidden it. He will be very sorry to have you do this, and will
give us a dreadful punishment. Only think! the day after tomorrow will
be the Chinese New Year, and then in the evening we shall be allowed to
go to the marketplace and the harbor to see all the lights,--and the
fireworks,--and the Punch and Judy show, if we are good boys. You have
never in all your life seen anything so beautiful,--green, and red, and
blue, and yellow lanterns,--and all the people,--and the
sky-rockets,--and the puppet show. Wouldn't you be sorry to have to
stay at home for punishment while all of us boys go to the show?"
Willy was almost persuaded and hesitated a moment; then he struck his
heels into the ground defiantly and said:

"Never mind, Peppo, Father Somazzo won't catch me, and, if he does, I
won't tell on you. Now you've got to help me over the wall, and I'll
climb up on the other side where he can't see me from the house. Come,
now hurry up, Peppo, if you want to be my friend."

Unwillingly the young Chinaman yielded to his comrade's command. He
felt it was wrong to lend a helping hand to one who was disobeying, but
he did not wish to lose his best friend, the one who had so often
defended him from the teasings of his companions. He slipped along
with Willy in the shadow of the bushes, then helped him climb the wall,
but even when the youthful sinner