Sit tight." As he spoke, however, an active form bounced up beside the squat man at the sweep,--a plump, muscular little barefoot woman in blue.

She tore the fellow's hands away, and took command, keeping the boat's nose pointed up-river, and squalling ferocious orders to all on board.
"The Pretty Lily!" cried Rudolph.

This small, nimble, capable creature could be no one but Mrs.Wu, their friend and gossip of that morning, long ago....
The squat man gave an angry shout, and turned on her to wrest away the handle.

He failed, at once and for all.

With great violence, yet with a neat economy of motion, the Pretty Lily took one hand from her tiller, long enough to topple him overboard with a sounding splash.
Her passengers, at so prompt and visual a joke, burst into shrill, cackling laughter.