CHAPTER V.
In the City.
Lohe attached himself to the party of fish carriers, because he did notwish them to get away before binding themselves to go to the goldfields. A two hours' walk diagonally across the island brought them toa high point of land above the city of Hongkong. Below them the whitehouses shimmered in the moonlight, stretching row after row like stepsdown to the harbor, and out on the glistening sea many large vesselslay at anchor. The carriers put down their burden to rest for a timebefore descending into the streets of the city.
"The barbarians of the West are a capable people after their fashion,"said Lohe. "See what a great city they have built here where a fewyears ago there were only a half dozen or more bamboo huts. And, too,each day their power increases. Over there another great building withtowers reaching to the very sky is going up. What can it be?"
"One of their pagodas," answered Lihoa, "and down there is the schoolin which one of my nephews is being instructed in the learning of theWest. The white-faced women with the long veils brought him up becausemy sister exposed him when a baby. They found and cared for him in thegreat white house where a light burns in the window; there they bringup the children which our women are not able to care for. Let us godown and see what is going on at this time of the night."
Lohe and Lihoa went down to the long low orphanage in which the Sistersof Mercy care for a hundred or more foundlings. The shutters weredrawn, but they found a tiny hole through which they could peep. Inthe dormitory they saw four rows of small white beds, all spread withbeautiful white linen, and in each little bed lay a child. The most ofthem were asleep, but a few were crying and fretting--for Chinesebabies have quite as many troubles as American children. Some of thenuns were walking up and down between the rows of beds, lovinglytucking up the fretful little beings, giving the bottle to some, androcking others with the utmost patience. Hardly did they quiet onebefore another began to whimper, and so it went on. Shaking theirheads the two Chinamen slipped away. They had seen for themselves thelove and patience with which the Sisters care for these poor desertedinfants.
"I thought we were going to find them putting the children's eyes out,"said Lohe, "when I heard the cries in there. These women show greaterlove for these babes than their own mothers."
"Yes, yes," answered Lihoa. "It is wonderful. I wish our priestswould do for our children what the foreigners do for them."
Without further delay Lihoa went to Nona, the fish dealer, who lived inone of the alleys near the harbor. All night long he watched andwaited for the fishermen who came to him from all parts of the island.Complaining as he took what Lihoa had brought, he weighed the fish andpoured the oysters out in a heap to estimate their value, then handedthe old Chinaman a tael ($1.50) and several sapecks.
"What? Is that all you are going to give me, when you know that thesum must be divided among twenty families?" complained Lihoa."To-morrow morning in the market you will get three times that amountfor the beautiful fish."
"Well--and why not? When I take inferior things to the market, I haveto content myself with a small price.--Not a sapeck more for you,"answered the dealer.
"Now then, Nona, don't be surprised if you get no more fish from us.We are going into a more profitable business. We are going to thedistant Goldland, and shall come back rich men."
"What? What do you mean, you fools?" cried Nona. "Do you want to bedrowned? Well, if you get back with whole skins you'll be doing well,and no matter how much gold you get, the rich Natse will have it allbefore you are through with him."
"As far as drowning is concerned, we could drown easily in the businessin which we are now engaged, and as to Natse's getting our gold, we'llattend to that." With these words Lihoa put the money in his pocketand started with his followers to the harbor, where, behind one of thewarehouses, they laid down and took a nap.
At break of day they went to interview Natse, who was trying to getthree hundred men to sail on the "St. George". When they arrived, hehad just engaged a hundred or more, and there seemed no likelihood ofthere being a place for Lihoa and his followers, "though Lohe's peoplealways had the preference". "But", said Natse, "if you have some oneamong your people who understands the language of the West well enoughto act as interpreter, perhaps I can arrange for you and a dozen ormore of your friends to go."
Then an idea popped into old Lihoa's head: "Wait until to-night, and Iwill bring you an answer," he said. "I think I can get an interpreter."
Lihoa sent his companions to the hamlet with the command, that thosewho wished to go on the trip to the Goldland were to get readyimmediately, and he betook himself straight to the College of the HolySaviour. There he asked to see the foreign teacher. Father Somazzocame into the reception room, and learned to his utter astonishmentthat the old Chinaman had called to demand his beloved pupil, littlePeppo. Quietly the priest listened while the old man spoke, then tooka pinch of snuff, and said: "My dear friend, for twelve years we havehad this boy in our care, and have spent much time and money on him,and now that he is old enough to be of use, you ask us to give him toyou. You are unreasonable. Prove in the court that the child isyours, and then, that we took him illegally, and you can have him. Hehas not been brought up in your religion, as you know, but is aChristian. We have many plans and hopes for him, and I am sure he willnot care to leave us. Go, and may peace attend you."
"But I am the boy's uncle, and an uncle has paternal power over hissister's children according to Chinese law. I know the boy by thebirthmark on his wrist," said Lihoa.
"Take your claims into court, and we will settle them there. In themeantime may peace attend you," repeated the missioner as he left theman.
Lihoa expected a refusal, for he was not so simple-minded as to believethat the child would be given over to him without ado, but the answerthat he received, according to his way of thinking, justified hiskidnapping his nephew. He knew a Chinese youth, who was a servant atthe seminary, and to him he went for help to carry out his plan ofgetting possession of Peppo. In a nearby tavern he waited forTotu--for that was the youth's name--knowing that while the missionersand their pupils were at table, he was accustomed to come here for aglass of saki, a wine made from burnt rice. When he entered, Lihoawent and sat down beside him, addressed him as cousin, and ordered andpaid for a second glass of saki. The two conversed for a time in lowtones, then finally Totu said:
"Agreed! The day after to-morrow, at the New Year's celebration, I'llsee to it that you get your nephew, but may the gods of the sea destroyyour ship, if you do not pay me the money you say you will. I musthave three tael to-morrow, for this may cost me my job, and you know,'No penny, no paternoster'." Lihoa promised what Totu asked, and thetwo separated.