il," I said.

"Ah, only wait. I say, Tanner, our day's coming. As soon as we're both
quite strong he has got to pay for all this, hasn't he?"

"Oh, bother! I say, the skipper and Dishy are both going ashore to-day
with an escort of Jacks and marines."

"Are they?" I said eagerly.

"Yes; there's some game or another on. Let's ask leave, and take old
Ching with us."

"Want to try puppy-pie again?" said Smith, grinning.

"I want to do something for a change. I know! I'll go and see the
doctor, and tell him we want a walk in the country to collect flowers,
and ask him if he'll name them."

"Well, he can't give us leave."

"No; but he'll ask Dishy to let us off."

"Bravo!" cried Smith. "Off you go. I say, though, we must have old
Ching too. You see if he don't come out in his new gown!"

"What new gown?" I said.

"Hallo! didn't you know? He went ashore yesterday and bought himself a
new blue coat. Not a cotton one, but silk, real silk, my boy, and
beckoned me to come and see it,--beckoned with one of his long claws.
He's letting his fingernails grow now, and getting to be quite a swell."

"Oh yes; old Ching's getting quite the gentleman. He says he wrote home
to his broker to sell the fancee shop. What do you think he said,
Gnat?"

"How should I know?" I replied.

"That it wasn't proper for a gentleman in Queen Victolia's service to
keep a fancee shop."

"Murder! Look at that!" cried Smith. "Why, you yellow-skinned old
Celestial, you were listening!"

Barkins and I picked up each something to throw at the round, smooth,
smiling face thrust in at the door, which was held close to the neck, so
that we saw a head and nothing more.

"No flow thing at Ching," the Chinaman said softly. "Offlicer don't
flow thing. Ching come in?"

"Yes," said Barkins, "come in. What is it?"

Ching entered looking very important, and gave his head a shake to make
his tail fall neatly between his shoulders, and drew the long blue
sleeves of his gown over the backs of his hands till only the tips of
his fingers, with their very long nails, were visible.

He advanced smiling at us each in turn, and bowing his round head like a
china mandarin.

"You all velly good boy?" he said softly.

"Oh yes; beauties," said Barkins. "What's up?"

"You likee ask leave go for bit walkee walkee?"

"Don't!" roared Smith. "Don't talk like a nurse to us. Why don't you
speak plain English?"

"Yes; Ching speak ploper