t, and for every one you break a
precious good thump you'll get."

With tears in his eyes poor little Peppo choked down his rice, and went
to work. "Oh, dear," he said to himself, as he dipped the plates in
hot water and burned his fingers trying to get them out, "Oh, dear, how
God is punishing me for my disobedience! If I had only stayed where I
was told. Father Somazzo must have known what Lihoa was going to do.
This is what I get for running off and having my own way. And who
knows whether I'll ever see Hongkong and the good Fathers again so long
as I live?"

Poor little Peppo's cup was full to overflowing. As with trembling
fingers he kept on fishing the hot plates out of the dishpan, he
noticed that all the plates had on them the word "St. George"; then he
recalled that that was the name of Willy's father's boat. Just as it
was dawning on him that he must be on the "St. George" the kitchen door
opened and he heard a well-known voice say, "Give me some breakfast
quicker than a wink, dear cook, for I've got to go to work as cabin-boy
right away."

Peppo was walking across the floor to the crockery chest to put away a
dozen or more clean plates which he had in his hands, when at the sound
of the voice he turned and saw Willy whom the Captain had given a push
that sent him half across the kitchen. The small Chinaman gave a cry
of surprise and let the plates fall on the floor where they broke into
a thousand rattling pieces. Angrily the cook sprang at him, and would
have struck him with the big wooden cooking spoon, if Willy had not
come between them and received the blow meant for Peppo.

"Peppo, Peppo," he cried, "are you here?"

"Yes, Willy, as a punishment for my disobedience. And now see what
more mischief I have done, and what more punishment I shall get. The
cook will beat me half to death for breaking all the beautiful plates,"
moaned Peppo.

"But I was all to blame for that," said Willy. "I frightened you so
that you let them fall. That's so, isn't it, dear cook? You won't
punish him, will you?"

The cook's anger was somewhat mollified. The good-natured man was
pleased with the boys, and gave them both some breakfast on a little
table. Peppo told of his adventures, and Willy comforted him by
saying, "You have been disobedient and you'll have to take your
punishment, but the dear God ordained it that you should come to me.
We'll pray together and be good, so that our holy guardian angels