Patsey and Hickory, who, failing to understand a word of this
explanation, had given themselves up to the unconstrained enjoyment
of the sweets, began now to apprehend that some change was
impending, and prepared for the worst by hastily swallowing what
they had in their mouths, thus defying enchantment, and getting
ready for speech. Polly, who had closely followed the story, albeit
with the embellishments of her own imagination, made her eyes
rounder than ever. A bland smile broke on Wan Lee's face, as, to the
children's amazement, he quietly disengaged himself from the group
and stepped before the leader.

"Melican man plenty foolee Melican chillern. No foolee China boy!
China boy knowee you. _You_ no Led Lofer. _You_ no Pilat--you allee
same tunnel man--you Bob Johnson! Me shabbee you! You dressee up
allee same as Led Lofer--but you Bob Johnson--allee same. My fader
washee washee for you. You no payee him. You owee him folty dolla!
Me blingee you billee. You no payee billee! You say, 'Chalkee up,
John.' You say, 'Bimeby, John.' But me no catchee folty dolla!"

[Illustration]

A roar of laughter followed, in which even the leader apparently
forgot himself enough to join. But the next moment springing to his
feet, he shouted, "Ho! ho! A traitor! Away with him to the deepest
dungeon beneath the castle moat!"

Hickory and Patsey began to whimper. But Polly, albeit with a
tremulous lip, stepped to the side of her little Pagan friend.
"Don't you dare to touch him," she said, with a shake of unexpected
determination in her little curly head; "if you do, I'll tell my