"The very thing!" said Parks explosively. "The best advertisement we could have. Here’s our motto: ’The Chinese must go.’ You can see it stirs ’em. Listen to that cheer. What could rouse the men of the city faster than to have Kearney thrown into jail for expressing their sentiments? Sir, if you think otherwise, you do not understand the people." Parks gave an emphatic shake to his head and another to his warning forefinger that was held before me, and the wild look of the enthusiast glowed in his face. "Doubtless you are right," I admitted. "But I must keep an engagement that will deprive me of the privilege of listening to your orator." "You will have to listen to him some day," said Parks, shaking his finger at us once more. "The day of the people is coming." Mr. Baldwin had been watching us with some interest. "Your friend appears to be very much in earnest," he said as we went our way. "There’s a man who’s very likely to be hanged because he thinks he has an idea," I replied. "I should say he was more likely to end his days in the violent ward at Stockton," returned Mr. Baldwin. "Perhaps you are the better guesser," I admitted. "It will depend on his opportunities." We had come among the hackmen at the other end of Portsmouth Square, and I picked out one with courage in his face and a good span of horses to his hack. "This will do, I think," I said. "Very good," replied Mr. Baldwin, stepping into the hack. "Have you arranged any plan of proceeding? I suppose you know the condition of affairs better than I." This last an evident apology for deferring to my judgment. "Yes," said I, as we lurched around the corner and rolled up Washington Street. "You had better remain with the hack across the street and a door or two from Big Sam’s. I shall run up-stairs and tell him our plans. If he approves of them we will bring the girl down, bundle her into the hack and get her out of here as quick as the fates will let us." "You are certain you would not like company when you go up the stairs to see Big Sam?" inquired Mr. Baldwin carelessly. "I don’t think it necessary," I replied. "Are you armed?" he asked. "I have a revolver." "Very good. I have nothing but a penknife. It is hardly customary to carry firearms when making a social call." "I do not make a habit of it," I said coldly. "I expected to come here to-night, and I did not foresee that I was to have company." He made no reply to this, and the hack drew up near Big Sam’s door as I had directed. I stepped out and Mr. Baldwin followed. "I think you had better remain here," I said. "Perhaps," he replied. "But if you have no objection I’ll stop at the foot of the stairs. You might have occasion to call to me and I should hear you better there." "I think there is no danger." "Big Sam is not as scrupulous as you may think. It has been said that men have gone up those stairs who never came down."