me here and
shook me. I'm broke, and that's all there is to it. Kept buying after I
had spent all my money. I guess it is the coop for mine!"

"Perhaps we can fix it up in some way," Ned said. "I'm not a
millionaire, but I may be able to help you out. How much do you owe?"

"About two dollars in American money," was the reply. "It is a small
sum, but I'm your slave for life if you get me out of this. Ever spend a
day in a Japanese jail, waiting for the American consul to get you out?"

"Never did," was the reply. "How are you fixed for lodgings?"

"Got a room up over a tea house," was the reply. "I'm looking for a ship
that will take me back to New York."

"Well," Ned said, "I'll pay this bill and go home with you for the
night. I'll need free lodgings somewhere after I settle!"

"You'll be as welcome as the flowers of May!" the sailor said, and the
boys, still sitting where Ned had left them, saw him hand the waiter
some money and leave the place with the sailor.

A moment later, however, they saw a keen-eyed Jap come rushing through
the door and up to the table where the sailor had been seated. He talked
with the waiter a moment, speaking angrily at last, and darted out of
the door again.

"That fellow came after the sailor," Frank said, "and will follow him.
When he finds Ned working him for his story he won't do a thing to Ned!"

"An' we'll go back to the hotel, like good little boys, an' sit there
knittin' while they pinch Ned an' chuck him into the bay! Not for your
uncle!"

"We'd make a hit wandering about Yokohama in the night!" Jack said. "I
reckon Ned can take care of himself. Anyway, he's had to go and find you
every time you've gone out without him."

But before Jack had finished Jimmie had jerked away and was out in the
street.

CHAPTER XI.

A FAIRY HISTORY OF JAPAN.

The shop in which Ned had discovered the object of his search was well
down toward the water front, and the course of the sailor was now toward
the center of the city. The two passed the customs quarters and the
official offices of the city--Yokohama is the old-time treaty port of
Japan--and so on to wide streets lined with shops, still alight, though
the hour was getting late.

Such quaint little shops Ned had never seen before, and more than once
he stopped to look at lacquered ware of rare quality, bronze work, and
fancy embroidery. Directly the sailor led the way from the wide streets
to the old-time narrow ones