The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-11-02


and when warned by old residents as to
city rooms, he grinned, and stretching
out his muscular limbs, reminded them
that he was wide-awake and not the man
to be triaed with, and, to use his own
terms, "the beasts would know better
than to try to play any dirty tricks upon
this person" Though the Chinese com.
pradores were undoubtedly jealous of his
increasing business, they never in any
way showed it, but always made way for
''the taipan," chin Ginning him with the
utmost politeness.
Harry c. had been bookkeeper for
the E. brothers, and. of course, knew
both well. 1t was, therefore, the most
natural thing in the world for Bill to ask
Harry, as we settled into the cane bot
toned chair at the door:
when did you see Dick last?'
Saw him t'other day, looking gay as
lark, but swiping little, fancy,
though--a tinge redder than usual.
While they talked on 'layed back"
and enjoyed the choroot and the busy
scene apread out below us. Hong Kong,
or the town of Victoria, more properly
speaking PEASANT, | was amused to
see in one of our dailies, few days
since, this notice: "The English Consul
late at Hong Kong was destroyed by fire
on - inst, and most of the consulate
records lost" Why not add, the Ameri-
can Consulate at Boston, Mass, U. s. A.,
by strange coincidence. was burned the
same day?-is built on the western side
of the peak of Victoria, on the island OF
Hong Kong.
1.-THE Peak" rises twelve hundred feet
from the water of the narrow bay, which
lies between it and Cowloon, on the
main land. From my seat at the door l
could look down on Queens road and
Pettes' pier, and see, through the golden
haze Of the sunset, the motley procession
that swarmed to and fro; watch the
crowd of noisy boatmen as they gesticu-
lated to and importuned each new conner
to "the steps, the loungers of all nations
and costumes that leaned idly against the
sea. wall, or sauntered lazily about on
the tier-head, and the numerous small
crafts and boats (of equally varied form
and rig) that darted in aud out on the
sparkling waters of the bay among the
crowded shipping OF many nationalities.
To the left of the field lay Green Island
and the Cum SIMEON Pass, leading to the
Boca Tigris; to the right the narrow
channel of the LYNDON Pass to the open
waters OF the China Sea; while broad be-
fore lay the baked plain and canoned red
sandstone hills of Cowioon. My eyes
wandering over the scene-whdse sole
charm was in its orientalism--settled
down and rested lovingly on the "star
spaugled banner" that waved" from the
peak of Commodore Tatnall's flagship,
the San Jacinto.
My thoughts plunged through the
sphere to antipodes, and in fancy l
sought the scenes Of my childhood-the
orchard, the meadow and deep-tangled
wildwood, and this little porch, girls;
pictured the "old folks at home," and
many another loved form aud face; but,
with the flash of the sunset gun, the
'old flag" sank to rest, and my visions of
"the dearest spot on earth" vanished
with the bunting that had given them
birth, and fell into brown study, won
dering when my time would come to 60
"to Gods country" flor thus we Ameri
cans ever call the United States.l
Scarcely had my musings taken shape
when was startled by the exclamation,
my Godl there's Dick" and, looking
up. saw E. standing beside Harrys
chair, with startled expression on his
face, AMI an air of expectation. looking
intently at the dead wall through the lit
tie doorway OF the passage leading to the
staircase. "Therei' and without
further warning he sprang forward
through the doorway. and We heard him
running wildly along the passage and up
the stone steps.
Harry and turned blankly to each
other, aud wondered what the deuce had
got into Bill.
Got the Jim jams, Think" asked Harry
who was the first to find his tongue.
think not" and vontured, "guess
he saw something" There tue conversa-
ton ceased, and we smoked meditatively.
Presently we heard Bill stumbling
down the stairs; he came weakly along
the passage and entered. How changed!
his face usually no red and flushed, was
livid; his eyes sunken, and lips blue; his
whole form seemed shrunk. and trem-
BLEED as il with palsy; and the perspira-
ton, oosing from every pore. fairly
dripped from his chin and hands.
Dicks deadr' he gasped. % he sunk
into the nearest chair.
"Whatr' "How do Won know?" when
did you hear?" were our startled queries.
"Saw him."
"Where?"
"Therel in the passage, standing
against the wall. Saw him. gentlemen,
as plsinly as I see you. No! l amt
drunk" Neither OF us had spoken. II