u did not attempt to come to us, to share our living?"

"A Chinaman likes to live alone," quietly replied Seng Vou. "He is
sufficient for himself, and he wants no one!"

And thereupon this eccentric individual bowed to William W. Kolderup,
landed, and disappeared.

"That is the stuff they make real Crusoes of!" observed Uncle Will.
"Look at him and see if you are like him! It does not matter, the
English race would do no good by absorbing fellows of that stamp!"

"Good!" said Godfrey, "the smoke is explained by the presence of Seng
Vou; but the beasts?"

"And my crocodile!" added Tartlet; "I should like some one to explain my
crocodile!"

William W. Kolderup seemed much embarrassed, and feeling in turn quite
mystified, passed his hand over his forehead as if to clear the clouds
away.

"We shall know later on," he said. "Everything is found by him who knows
how to seek!"

A few days afterwards there was celebrated with great pomp the wedding
of the nephew and pupil of William W. Kolderup. That the young couple
were made much of by all the friends of the wealthy merchant can easily
be imagined.

At the ceremony Tartlet was perfect in bearing, in everything, and the
pupil did honour to the celebrated professor of dancing and deportment.

Now Tartlet had an idea. Not being able to mount his crocodile on a
scarf-pin--and much he regretted it--he resolved to have it stuffed. The
animal prepared in this fashion--hung from the ceiling, with the jaws
half open, and the paws outspread--would make a fine ornament for his
room. The crocodile was consequently sent to a famous taxidermist, and
he brought it back to Tartlet a few days afterwards. Every one came to
admire the monster who had almost made a meal of Tartlet.

"You know, Mr. Kolderup, where the animal came from?" said the
celebrated taxidermist, presenting his bill.

"No, I do not," answered Uncle Will.

"But it had a label underneath its carapace."

"A label!" exclaimed Godfrey.

"Here it is," said the celebrated taxidermist.

And he held out a piece of leather on which, in indelible ink, were
written these words,--

_"From Hagenbeck, Hamburg,
"To J. R. Taskinar, Stockton, U.S.A."_

When William W. Kolderup had read these words he burst into a shout of
laughter. He understood all.

It was his enemy, J. R. Taskinar, his conquered competitor, who, to be
revenged, had bought a cargo of wild beasts, reptiles, and other
objectionabl