Part 12 (1/2)
[#] Food.
”Well, bring some back with you. Make your brother's brother-in-law understand clearly.”
The comprador went ash.o.r.e. He was absent much longer than Burroughs antic.i.p.ated. When he at length returned, his usually inexpressive face wore a look of smug satisfaction hardly to be accounted for by his purchases of food.
”What a time you have been!” said Burroughs. ”Have you made it all right with your brother's brother-in-law?”
”Yes, sah, allo lightee,” replied the man, with a gleam of suppressed amus.e.m.e.nt.
He laid his bundles in the boat, then approached his master, fumbled in the little bag he wore at his waist, and drew from it a small packet done up in rice paper, which he handed to Burroughs.
”Allo lightee, sah,” he repeated.
Burroughs opened the packet with a mild curiosity, and started. There lay a thick brown moustache, brushed up and waxed at each end, and neatly attached to a strip of light flexible gauze.
”Where on earth did you get this?” he asked, fingering the stiff hair.
”Pa-tang, sah. My catchee he fo' hundled dolla.”
”I hadn't any idea you could buy such things here. Where did you buy it?”
The comprador smiled an enigmatical smile.
”My makee allo plopa Toitsche,[#]” he said, and, taking from his pouch a small bottle of gum, he proceeded to fix the moustache upon his master's upper lip. When this was done to his satisfaction, he produced a small cracked mirror which he had obtained in the town, and held it before Burroughs' face.
[#] German.
”By George! It's almost exactly like Reinhardt's,” he said; ”a shade darker, perhaps. It's the very thing, Sing Wen; you shall have the money when I get back. I could almost venture to start now, but I suppose I had better wait until night.”
There being three or four hours to spare, he decided to employ part of the time in thoroughly overhauling the engine. His Chinese engineer was supposed to have seen that everything was in order, but Burroughs always examined things for himself, and had only omitted to do so in the hurry of starting. The engineer had been left behind as an unnecessary enc.u.mbrance. All the parts had been well cleaned; there was plenty of petrol; but Burroughs saw to his annoyance that the lubricating oil was low. Luckily there was still time to supply the deficiency. He sent Chin Tai into the town to buy some castor oil, warning him not to talk, and to be very careful not to bring any one upon his track.
It was nearly dark before the man returned. Then he ran up in great excitement.
”My hab catchee plenty muchee fun, sah,” he said breathlessly. ”My go longside opium houso. Hai! boss he come outside chop-chop; bang! Knock my velly hard, makee my spill plenty oil. Whitey man he come bust 'long after boss, catchee he, catchee pigtail, whack, whack, velly hard. He say all time: 'What fo' you steal my moustachee? What fo' you piecee devil steal my moustachee?' Boss he makee plenty bobbely; he call p'liceman; two piecee p'liceman he come, catchee boss, catchee whitey man all same, makee he belongey chop-chop inside yamen. My belongey inside too--What fo' you pinch my?” he cried, suddenly turning on the comprador, who had sidled up to him.
[Ill.u.s.tration: REINHARDT AVENGES HIS LOSS]
”You talkee plenty too muchee all same,” said Sing Wen, indignantly.
”Ma.s.sa no wantchee listen foolo talkee.”
”Let him alone,” said Burroughs. ”Go on, Chin Tai.”
”My go inside yamen,” the boy continued, while the comprador sidled away, gained the gangway un.o.bserved, and presently slipped ash.o.r.e.
”Plenty men inside. White man he say he go sleep inside houso little time, wake up, no can find moustachee. He velly angly; he say mandalin makee opium boss smart. Mandalin say boss muss find moustachee. Boss say no can do. He say: 'Hon'ble fan-kwei[#] he belongey plenty big moustachee what time he come inside houso; no belongey what time he go wailo. Two piecee man inside all same; he look-see fan-kwei sleep; my look-see other side; hai! he shave moustachee, fan-kwei no savvy all same. My no savvy nuffin.”