The Florence daily tribune., 1898-04-19

my mysterious employer. The hotel
servant who had carried my bag put it
down and, having received his gratuity,
left me-.
Suddenly the patter Of naked feet be-
bind me caught my ear. A Chinese
chair borne by two stalwnrt bearers
was approaching. Very naturally set
tied 1t In my own mind that 1t con-
tained the man whom was to meet
and turned to receive him. But when
tho conveyance was set down 1t was not
the respectable Englishman had seen
before who stepped ont of it, but port
ly Chinaman of considerable rank ard
dignity. He WAS gorgeously clad in fig-
urod silk. His pigtail reached half way
to his heels and was adorned with much
ornamentstion. and / noticed that he
wore large tortoise shell speotaoles
which, while they completely hid his
eyes, gave curious effect to his other
wise not unhandsome countenance.
Having descended from his equipago,
he dismissed his bearers and began to
stump solemnly up and down the land
ing stage, drawing closer and oloser to
me at every turn. Presently he sum-
moned up courage enough to accost me.
To my surprise he said:
What for you come here one piecoe
look see3''
Not being an adept at pigeon Eng
lish. simply answered:
'I'm afraid don't understand you"
What for you come here look seer"
"I'm waiting for a friend"
Your friend alice same Englees-
mani"
Eyes, believe hos nn Englishman.
"You go way look see chop chopf'
You'll excuse me, but that's my
own affair, think.
"Allee same smalleepoxee, think"
"You may think what you please
"S'posing you say smalleepoxee, alice
same one piecee thousan pound?"
I'm afraid can't continue this ocn-
versation. Good evening""
turned ON my heel and was about
to leave him when he stopped me by
saying in excellent English:
"Thank you, DR.. De Normanvillc.
I'm quite satisfied
Good graciousl What's all thiss'
why, it means that have been try
ing you; that's all. Forgive tho deoep-
hon. but the Importance Of our mission
must be my excuse. Now we must be
going. Here is the boat
AS he spoke large sampan shot out
from among its companions and came
swiftly toward the wharf.
1.-Two cautions before we embark
The first, remember that / am China
man and speak only pigeon English;
she second, If you are armed, be care
tul of your revolver. The men who
work the junk We are going down to
meet are not to be trusted, hence my
lisguise."
He left me and descended the steps.
rhe sampan by this time had come
alongside. A woman was rowing, and
. vigorous conversation in Chinese en-
ued. When it was finished, my oom-
panion beckoned to me. and picking up
ny bag went down to him. Next mo-
nent / was aboard and stuffed away In
The little poky rathole of q cabin
midships. My friend took his place be-
tide me, small boy tock the helm,
md we pushed off. Not word was
poken, and In this fashion for nearly
an hour We pursued our way down the
harbor, passed fiotilla Of junks, thread
cd course batween the blue and red
funnel boats, and finally swept out into
tho clear space that stretches away from
Port Victoria as far as Green island
For hours we seemed to be imprisoned
In that stuffy little cabin. Like most
sampans, the boat smelled Abominably,
and as we could only see the mechanical
rowing Of the women In the we'll for
ward and hear the occasional commands
of the tiny boy steering aft our enjoy
ment may be placed on the debit side Of
the account without any fsar of miscal-
oulatiou
At length my companion. who had
not uttered word since he stepped
aboard, began to show signs Of impa-
tience. He rose from his seat and peered
out into the night. Presently he appear
ed to be little relieved in his mind,
for he reseated himself with a muttered
Thank goodness, y and gave himself
up to a careful consideration Of our DO
sition. Through slit in the taFpaulin
could just see that we were approach.
ing big junk, whose ample girth al
most blocked the fairway. Her great,
square cut stern loomed above us, and
round it our cockswain steered us with Q
deftness extraordinary.
AS we came alongside one Of the
women rowing drew in her oar and said
few words to my companion. In an
swer he stepped out Of the shelter and
called something in Chinese. A voice
[ m