"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 attitude, "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 ashore." "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 ashore, 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 ashore, 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." "Oh, all right. Where's the restaurant?"