Part 6 (2/2)
”No; and those beggars would hunt us down there at once,” said Barkins.
”Won't do. I say, though, why don't they give us better tools than these to wear?”
”Hark!” I said; ”listen!”
We listened, but there was nothing but the murmur of voices in the house, and not a soul to be seen on our side, till all at once I caught sight of something moving among the shrubs, and made out that it was the gay coat of one of the men from whom we sought to escape.
”Come on!” said Smith excitedly, and he threw open the gate leading into the narrow lane, so that in another moment we should have been in full retreat, had not a door behind us in the side of the house been opened, and Ching appeared.
He did not speak, but made a sign for us to enter, and we were hardly inside and the door thrust to--all but a c.h.i.n.k big enough for our guide to use for reconnoitring--when we heard the soft pat-pat of the men's boots, then the rustle of their garments, and the tap given by one of their swords as they pa.s.sed through the gateway and ran down the narrow lane.
”All gone along, catchee you,” whispered Ching. ”Come 'long other way.”
He stepped out, made us follow, and then carefully closed the door.
”Now, come 'long this way,” he said, with his eyes twinkling. ”No walkee fast. Allee boy lun after.”
We saw the wisdom of his proceedings, and followed him, as he took us by the way our enemies had come, straight out into the main street, down it a little way, and then up a turning, which he followed till we came to another important street parallel to the one by which we had come, and began to follow it downward toward the waterside.
”Muchee flighten?” he said.
”Oh, I don't know,” growled Barkins, who had the deepest voice of the three. ”It was startling. Did they mean mischief?”
”Mean chop chop. Allee bad wick' men. No catchee now. Ching velly much flighten.”
He did not look so, but chatted away with open, smiling face, as he pointed first on one side then on the other to some striking-looking shop or building, though he never paused for a moment, but kept on at a good rate without showing a sign of hurry or excitement.
”How are we to get on board when we get to the river?” I said, as we went on. ”There'll be no boat till sundown.”
”Ching get one piecee boat low all aboard s.h.i.+p.”
”Can't you keep us in your place till our boat comes?”
The man shook his head. ”Mandalin boy come burn um down, makee all lun out. So velly hot. No stay. Get boat, low away.”
”How far is it, do you think?” asked Smith.
”I don't know,” said Barkins. ”We seemed to be walking for hours in the hot sun coming up. How far is it, Ching?”
”Velly long way. No look at garden now.”
He pointed to one of the handsome gateways about which a party of armed retainers were hanging, and, whispering to us not to take any notice, he walked us steadily along.
But we were not to get by the place without notice, for the loungers saw us coming, and strode out in a swaggering way--three big st.u.r.dy fellows in blue and scarlet, and pretty well blocked the way as they stood scowling at us.
”Look out,” whispered Barkins, ”ready with your toasting-forks, and then if it comes to it we must run.”
”You'll stick by us, Gnat,” whispered Smith in a hasty whisper.
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