You no 'flaid of him ?" "Afraid?
No," said Barkins shortly.

"There, let's have this tea." Ching glanced round once, and we were about to imitate his example, but he said excitedly-- "No, no, don't lookee.

Big blave talkee talkee soldier, and tink Inglis offlicer 'flaid.

Walkee past." He led us as quickly as he could get us to go towards the tea-house he sought, and I must own that I was only too anxious about the Chinese guards to help feeling in a good deal of perturbation lest they should feel that they had been insulted, and follow us so as to take revenge.
Hence I was glad enough to get within the tea-house's hospitable walls, and sat there quite content to go on sipping the fragrant infusion for long enough.
I suppose we were there quite an hour and a half drinking tea, until we were satisfied, and then passing a look round to draw attention to our interpreter, who sat back with his eyes half closed, sipping away cupful after cupful, till Smith whispered to me that he thought he had kept correct account.
"How many do you think Ching has had ?" he whispered.
"Don't know; nearly a dozen ?" "Fifty-three, or thereabouts," whispered Smith.
But I did not believe him, and I do not think he believed himself.
"Now, you likee go 'long see somethin' else ?" said Ching, when he had really drunk tea enough.
"Yes," said Barkins, "I feel ready.

What do you say to going to see the _Teaser_, lads ?" he continued.
"I'm willing," said Smith.