"Chihuahua him a beas' to me," said Annawillee. "I hat' heem, but I hav' no other man now and I no more a pretty klootchman. What I do if he tak' other klootchman?" "I rather die, Annawillee," said Jenny. "Him no so velly bad," said Annawillee, "but easy for young and toketie gal lik' you fin' nodder man." She murmured, snuffling, a song that the Siwash women often sing: "Kultus kopet nika, Spose mika mahsh nika, Hyu tenas men koolie kopa town, Alkie wekt nika iskum, Wake kul kopa nika." "'Tis naught to me, If you act so, For I can see, Young men who go About the town, and when I can I soon will take another man." "You soon fin' a man, you," said Annawillee. "All men say you toketie. S'pose Shautch Quin mimaloose any man tak' you, Jenny." "Dat so," said Annie soothingly. "I fin' you Shautch, Jenny, and I queek fin' other one, my pretty Jenny!" And Jenny's heart was cold within her. For her child's sake perhaps---- And then there came a knock at the door, and her heart leapt again like a babe. Annie opened the door, and outside stood Sam. "My Missus here, oh, where my Missus?" he cried dolorously. "My loosee my Missus in the clowd!" Jenny cried out to him. "Oh, Sam, Sam!" He had always been good and kind and was clean and bright. "Oh, Missus here, my heap glad, Missus. What for Missus stay inside house like t'is, no good for Missus, no clean, bah!" She cried out for George, and Sam shook his head mournfully. "Boss no come back, Missus, Moola-man say Boss low boat in liver, looksee t'at tief makee fy in Moola and house. Bymby boss catchee. You come, Missus." But Annie had no mind to let her go. "Dam' Shinaman, klatawa, you go. Jenny she stay wit' Annie." She stood in the doorway, and Jenny was behind her. Annawillee went on with her song. "Soon Jenny get another man. That easy for Jenny!" "Oh, where I go, Sam?" "My tinkee you go Wong's, Missus. Him velly good man, house heap clean." "She no go dam' Shinaman," roared Annie. "I will go," said Jenny. But Annie slammed the door in Sam's face. The boy was furious. "All light, Missus! One Moola-man, him Long Mac, wantshee you. My tellee Wong and him. Bymby my comee back. Yah, old cow-woman, Annie!" He ran to Wong's shack and told the old man he had found the "Missus." By the time they came again to Annie's, Chihuahua and Spanish Joe had gone there and, being more drunk than ever, Chihuahua had burst the door in. Joe tackled Annie and took the iron bar from her. She screamed like a wild-cat in a trap. Both the men went for Jenny, who stood in the corner and shrieked for George and Sam. "'Ole your tongue, peretty one," said handsome Joe. "I always lov' you; now you be my woman----" Chihuahua trampled over Annie to get to Jenny. "She mine, Joe, she mine!" Joe turned on Chihuahua with a very evil smile, and spoke to him in Spanish. "I take her, see, Chihuahua!"