the ball of
his right thumb an' see if there's a scar there!"

"If he's a sailorman from New York," Jack put in, "he'll eat corn out of
your hand, like a billy goat! Go on and talk with him, Ned."

Ned arose to his feet and moved toward the table where the sailor sat.
Then he turned back to the boys again.

"If I go away with him," he said, "don't attempt to follow us. Go back
to the hotel and wait for me. You understand, now, Jimmie? No chasing
out after me! This is not New York!"

"I'll be good!" replied the boy, with a wink at Jack.

"You bet you will!" replied Jack, seizing him by the sleeve. "You don't
get away from me to-night. Too much trouble looking you up!"

"What are we to do with that blooming interpreter?" asked Frank,
motioning to the Jap, who sat a short distance away, where he could not
overhear the talk.

"Take him back to the hotel with you," was the reply, "and hold him
there until I come."

There was no little excitement around the table where the sailor sat
when Ned approached it. The sailor was talking in English, the waiter
was talking in his native tongue, and the bystanders were trying to tell
each one what the other was saying.

Ned made out from the pigeon English brought forth by the bystanders
that the sailor had run up a large bill and was unable to pay it.

"P'lice come!" one of the officious ones said.

The sailor heard the words and stirred uneasily in his seat. After
wiggling about for a moment he removed his cap and scratched a bald head
thoughtfully. Ned advanced to his side and laid a hand on his arm,
whereat the sailor squirmed as if he anticipated immediate arrest.

"What's the trouble, pard?" the boy asked.

The sailor sat back in his chair and regarded Ned with evident suspicion
for a moment, then, observing that his interrogator was only a boy, he
extended his hand, his bleary eyes showing the pleasure he felt at the
meeting.

"You look mighty good to me!" he said, in the tone and manner of a man
who had had educational advantages.

"What's the difficulty?" repeated Ned, taking the hard hand of the
other. "I saw the commotion here and thought you might be in trouble.
You're an American, I take it?"

"Proud to say yes to that!" replied the other.

"Well, what are they trying to do to you?" asked Ned, taking a chair by
his side. "Americans must stand back to back when they meet in a place
like this!"

"They don't all do that," was the reply. "My pardner got