answer no questions. No one
was allowed to come on board.

"Good-morning, my friend," said a young man to Christy, as he landed on
the day after the arrival.

"Good-morning," replied the owner's son, civilly enough, as he looked
over the person addressing him, who appeared to be a young man not more
than eighteen years old.

"What steamer is that?" continued the stranger, pointing to the
steam-yacht.

Christy looked at his interlocutor, who was a pleasant-looking young
man, though there was something which did not appear to be quite natural
in his expression; and he suspected that he had been placed at the
landing to interrogate him or some other person from the steamer, in
regard to her character and nationality. Possibly he derived this idea
from the fact that he had himself been employed on a similar duty at St.
George.

"Do you mean that schooner?" asked Christy carelessly, as he pointed at
a vessel much nearer the shore than the Bellevite.

"No, not at all," replied the stranger. "I mean that steamer, off to the
north-east," replied the young man, pointing out into the bay.

"North-east?" added the owner's son. "That is this way;" and he turned
about, and directed his finger towards the interior of the island. "That
would put the craft you mean on the shore, wouldn't it?"

"Not a bit of it! I don't mean that way. Don't you know the points of
the compass?"

"I learned them when I was young, but I forget them now."

"Pray how old are you, my friend?" asked the stranger, who thought his
companion was stupid enough to answer any question he might put to him.

"I was forty-two yesterday; and in a year from yesterday, I shall be
forty-three, if I don't die of old age before that time," replied
Christy, looking the other full in the face, and with as serious an
expression as he could command.

"Forty-two! You are chaffing me. Didn't you come from that steamer over
there?" demanded the young man, pointing at the Bellevite again.

"No, sir. I came from China, from a place they call Shensibangerwhang.
Were you ever there?"

"I never was there, and I question if you were ever there."

"Do you mean to question my veracity?" demanded Christy, knitting his
brow.

"Oh, no, not at all!"

"Very well; and when you go to Shensibangerwhang, I shall be glad to see
you; and then I will endeavor to answer all the questions you desire to
ask."

"I thought you came from that steamer over there."

"Thought made a w