y gazing at his weapons, and then, turning coolly to
me, he said, with a nod in the man's direction--

"Tidy sort of stuff to make soldiers off, Gnat, but too heavy."

The man's eyes flashed and his hand stole toward his sword hilt.

"'Tention!" roared Barkins with a fierce stamp, and though the order was
new to the guard, he took it to be a military command and stepped back
to remain stiff and motionless.

"Ha! that's better," cried Barkins, and he nodded and then passed on
with us after Ching, whose eyes bespoke the agony of terror he felt.

"Come long quickee," he whispered excitedly. "Very big blave that
fellow. Killee--fightee man. You no 'flaid of him?"

"Afraid? No," said Barkins shortly. "There, let's have this tea."

Ching glanced round once, and we were about to imitate his example, but
he said excitedly--

"No, no, don't lookee. Big blave talkee talkee soldier, and tink Inglis
offlicer 'flaid. Walkee past."

He led us as quickly as he could get us to go towards the tea-house he
sought, and I must own that I was only too anxious about the Chinese
guards to help feeling in a good deal of perturbation lest they should
feel that they had been insulted, and follow us so as to take revenge.
Hence I was glad enough to get within the tea-house's hospitable walls,
and sat there quite content to go on sipping the fragrant infusion for
long enough.

I suppose we were there quite an hour and a half drinking tea, until we
were satisfied, and then passing a look round to draw attention to our
interpreter, who sat back with his eyes half closed, sipping away cupful
after cupful, till Smith whispered to me that he thought he had kept
correct account.

"How many do you think Ching has had?" he whispered.

"Don't know; nearly a dozen?"

"Fifty-three, or thereabouts," whispered Smith.

But I did not believe him, and I do not think he believed himself.

"Now, you likee go 'long see somethin' else?" said Ching, when he had
really drunk tea enough.

"Yes," said Barkins, "I feel ready. What do you say to going to see the
_Teaser_, lads?" he continued.

"I'm willing," said Smith. "I want to lie down."

"You ready, Gnat?"

"Oh yes," I replied. "I don't feel as if I could enjoy anything
to-day."

"Right, then. No, Ching; back on board ship."

"You go velly soon? Now?"

"Yes, directly."

Ching smiled--he had a habit of smiling at everything nearly, and we
paid our reckoning and followed him dow