To Jack, Hong always seemed to possess some romantic mystery, and he pictured him as having been a pirate, or, perhaps, one of the redoubtable Tai Pings. In the gate-house he always kept a large sword, a weapon made either for theatrical or processional purposes, but round this weapon Master Jack had woven volumes of romance, so much so that he regarded the weapon as something that it would be indelicate or inquisitive for him to demand of Hong the history. Both Jack and Dorothy understood and spoke the local dialect, but Hong was very particular to make his morning salutations in pidgin-English, and then, if any story were forthcoming, it was told in the vernacular, which, for the sake of our readers, we will translate. Thus Master Jack: “Morning, Hong; blong velly hot, my tink.” “Morning, Master Jack; morning, Missis Dolothy. My tink plenty hot bymby. This time no blong too hot.” “Hong, you ever cachee torture? Cachee bamboo beating, or so fashion thing?” says Jack. Hong’s face is almost lit up with a smile, but with imperturbable gravity he replies that he was once sentenced to a painful death, and that part of the sentence was carried out. “Tell us at once,” says Jack; but Dorothy pouts and says, “Hong, baby no wanchee hollible stoly; s’pose you speakee hollible ting, baby go away.” Hong’s face became at once serious as he says, “No, Missis, Hong no speakee hollible stoly; s’pose like hear he tell stoly of old time custom. No blong hollible.” The wide-eyed Dorothy being reassured, she and Jack sit on the bench by the gate, while Hong relates as follows:— “Many years ago, before either of your honourable selves was born, this person lived in Chin Wen Fu in Foh Kien. The honourable Hop Li was tao-tai, and many gentle and pleasant amusements could be enjoyed in Chin Wen. The person who tells this was very fond of visiting the theatres, and, being a big strong youth, would occasionally take part in trials of strength in public places, and had, on occasion, appeared on the public stage in processions and such spectacles where a big man was needed to represent an emperor, a general, or some other person of importance. “Now it happened that at one time a travelling company of actors came to our town, and while the stage was being erected one of their company fell sick and died. They were going to perform a very popular and amusing drama, in which much depended on the performance of one character, who, as tao-tai, becomes very drunk, thus causing numerous complications. After some considerable haggling it was at last decided that this person should play the part—my figure and deportment were suitable, and as the spoken words were not very numerous, I was fit to take the part by the time the performance was opened.