m.

Max repeated the gesture and then lay back upon his elbow, raising
the mouthpiece of the little pipe to his lips--but carefully avoiding
contact.

Ah-Fang-Fu shuffled back to the broken cane chair, from which he had
evidently arisen to admit his late visitors.

Inarticulate sounds proceeded from the bunks, breaking the sinister
silence which now descended upon the den. Ah-Fang-Fu began to play
Patience, constantly muttering to himself. The occasional wash of
tidal water became audible, and once there came a scampering and
squealing of rates from beneath the floor.

"Do you notice the sound of lapping water" whispered Stuart. "The
place is evidently built upon a foundation of piles and the cellars
must actually be submerged at high-tide."

_"Pardieu!_ it is a death trap. What is this!"

A loud knocking sounded upon the street door. Ah-Fang-Fu rose and
shuffled up the steps into the shop. He could be heard unbarring the
outer door. Then:

"Too late! shuttee shop, shuttee shop!" sounded.

"I don't want nothin' out of your blasted shop, Pidgin!" roared a loud
and thick voice. "I'm old Bill Bean, I am, and I want a pipe, I do!"

"Hullo, Bill!" replied the invisible 'Pidgin.' "Allee samee dlunk
again!"

A red-bearded ship's fireman, wearing sea-boots, a rough blue suit
similar to that which Stuart wore, a muffler and a peaked cap, lurched
into view at the head of the steps.

"Blimey!" he roared, over his shoulder. "Drunk! _Me_ drunk! An' all
the pubs in these parts sell barley-water coloured brown! Blimey! Chuck
it, Pidgin!"

Ah-Fang-Fu reappeared behind him. "Catchee dlunk ev'ly time for comee
here," he chattered.

"'Taint 'umanly possible," declared the new arrival, staggering down
the steps, "fer a 'ealthy sailorman to git drunk on coloured water
just 'cause the publican calls it beer! I ain't drunk; I'm only
miserable. Gimmee a pipe, Pidgin."

Ah-Fang-Fu barred the door and ascended.

"Comee here," he muttered, "my placee, all full up and no other placee
b'long open."

Bill Bean slapped him boisterously on the back.

"Cut the palaver, Pidgin, and gimme a pipe. Piecee pipe, Pidgin!"

He lurched across the floor, nearly falling over Stuart's legs, took
up a mat and a cushion, lurched into the further corner and cast
himself down.

"Ain't I one o' yer oldest customers, Pidgin?" he inquired. "One o'
yer oldest, I am."

"Blight side twelve-time," muttered the Chinaman. "Getchee me in
tlouble, B