Part 4 (2/2)

”Why, sure enough, I didn't think of that!” exclaimed Clarence in dismay. ”We can't carry the sampan close enough, that's certain.”

Mr. Chefoo was now seen throwing off his sandals and rolling up his pantaloons, while Mr. Kit-ze, holding the sampan steady by means of his long pole, was giving him some directions. The next moment Mr. Chefoo sprang over the side of the sampan and into the water. He slipped once or twice as he was trying to make headway over the rocks, and two or three times also, he was seen to mire; but notwithstanding these difficulties he reached the birds all right, and was soon returning with them. As he came again to the side of the sampan it was toward the compartment occupied by the boys, the one in the rear of that in which all had been sitting since the boat left Han-Kang. He placed his hand upon the side of the boat to vault upward, but as he did so a quick exclamation escaped him, which the next moment changed to a decided whoop as Mr. Chefoo landed full in the compartment. A second or so later what was the astonishment of all when he dragged into view by the neck of his blouse a man, and began to shake him vigorously. To Helen was given something more than astonishment. Her heart leaped up, then almost ceased to beat. For the face exposed to view by Mr. Chefoo was the same she had seen on the river bank at Han-Kang with the glittering eyes fixed upon the red _miriok_ Mr. Kit-ze held.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”HE BEGAN TO SHAKE HIM VIGOROUSLY.”]

CHAPTER V

BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE

The man made no effort to resist Mr. Chefoo, neither did he offer a word of protest, but stood silent and sullen, his lean face leaner than ever in its side view, his eyes half closed and gazing steadily downward.

”The rogue!” cried Mr. Wilburn. ”He was there for no good purpose. Come, sir, what have you to say for yourself?”

But still the culprit made no answer. He only raised his eyes and let them sweep past Mr. Wilburn, past them all to Mr. Kit-ze, and rest there with a deep and burning glance.

”Speak to him, Mr. Kit-ze,” said Mr. Reid. ”Find out what was his object in concealing himself in the sampan. It may be,” he continued charitably, ”that he wanted to steal a ride to one of the villages.”

But Mr. Kit-ze, instead of obeying this request, s.h.i.+fted himself a little farther away from the man, and seemed to be intent on something in the river.

”I think Mr. Kit-ze doesn't want to get mixed up in any trouble,” said Mr. Wilburn in an undertone. ”He probably fears it may end in his having to appear before a magistrate. That always means a fine, you know, whether one is in the right or the wrong. It is evident, brother, that we must adjust this matter ourselves with Mr. Chefoo's help, since Mr.

Kit-ze plainly doesn't want to take a hand in it.”

But neither threats nor persuasions could elicit a word of reply from the man. Even Mr. Chefoo's fine speeches failed.

”Can he be deaf and dumb?” asked Mr. Reid finally.

”No, father, he is not,” replied Helen positively.

All eyes were now quickly turned to her, astonishment plainly written on the faces.

”Why, my daughter, how do you know?”

”Because, father, I saw him in the crowd that surrounded me for a few moments on the bank of the river at Han-Kang. I distinctly heard him talking to himself, though I could not understand the words. I thought at the time,” she continued, ”from the way in which he regarded Mr.

Kit-ze, that they might be acquaintances.”

As Helen spoke these last words, she turned her head so as to get a view of Mr. Kit-ze, but he still persistently kept his face turned away, while he seemed to be making aimless search in the river with his pole.

He was a.s.suredly doing nothing toward the progress of the boat, since that still remained stationary in the little rocky inlet toward which he had dexterously steered it when Mr. Chefoo had started for the birds.

Desiring that he should understand what Helen had suggested, Mr. Reid repeated it to him. The man was no acquaintance of his, Mr. Kit-ze emphatically declared.

”I think we had better pitch him into the river,” said Mr. Chefoo, ”and leave him to get out as best he can.”

”Yes,” said Clarence, ”he deserves a ducking, if no more.”

”No, we won't be so cruel as that,” Mr. Reid replied, ”although he may have been after no good. We'll go ash.o.r.e at the next village and leave him.”

”But first,” said Clarence, ”hadn't you better search him? He may have taken something of value.”

<script>