Ching shook his head.

"Go ask offlicer. Go for walkee walkee, take Ching; you likee see something velly nice ploper?"

"Yes," I cried eagerly. "Can you take us to see a Chinese theatre?"

Ching closed his eyes and nodded.

"You come 'long o' Ching, I showee something velly nice ploper."

"All right," I cried. "Now, Tanner, go and try it on with the doctor."

"No, no. Ask offlicer. Doctor only give flizzick. Velly nastee.

Ugh!"

Ching's round face was a study as he screwed it up to show his disgust with the doctor's preparations.

Barkins went off and returned directly.

"Well," we cried; "seen Price?" and Ching, who was squatted on the floor, looked up smiling.

"No."

"Not seen him?"

"No; I ran against Dishy, and thought I'd ask him plump."

"And you did?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"I know," cried Smith; "that we were always going out."

"That's it exactly."

"And he won't let us go?" I said in a disappointed tone.

"Who says so?" cried Barkins, changing his manner. "The old chap was in splendid fettle, and he smiled,--now, now, don't both of you be so jolly full of doubts. On my honour as an officer and a gentleman, he smiled and clapped me on the shoulder."

"Yes, my lad, of course," he said. "We shall be off again soon, and then it will be all work and no play again, and we mustn't make Jack a dull boy, must we?"

"He's going off his head," said Smith.

"Let him go, then," I cried, "if it makes him like this."

"Don't chatter so, Gnat," cried Smith. "I say, did he really say we might go?"

"Yes; and that we ought to start at once before the day grew hotter, and that we were to take great care of ourselves."

"Hurra!"

"And be sure and wash our faces and our hands before we started," added Barkins.

"Get out; I can see where it joins," I cried. "But did he say any more?"

"Only that we were to mind and not get into any trouble with the people, and that we had better take Ching."

"Yes," said that individual gravely. "Much better take Ching. Velly useful take care."

"To be sure," 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 att.i.tude, "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 ash.o.r.e."

"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 ash.o.r.e, 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 ash.o.r.e, 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."