In the City.
Lohe attached himself to the party of fish carriers, because he did not
wish them to get away before binding themselves to go to the gold
fields. A two hours' walk diagonally across the island brought them to
a high point of land above the city of Hongkong. Below them the white
houses shimmered in the moonlight, stretching row after row like steps
down to the harbor, and out on the glistening sea many large vessels
lay at anchor. The carriers put down their burden to rest for a time
before 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 few
years ago there were only a half dozen or more bamboo huts. And, too,
each day their power increases. Over there another great building with
towers reaching to the very sky is going up. What can it be?"
"One of their pagodas," answered Lihoa, "and down there is the school
in which one of my nephews is being instructed in the learning of the
West. The white-faced women with the long veils brought him up because
my sister exposed him when a baby. They found and cared for him in the
great white house where a light burns in the window; there they bring
up the children which our women are not able to care for. Let us go
down 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 Sisters
of Mercy care for a hundred or more foundlings. The shutters were
drawn, but they found a tiny hole through which they could peep. In
the dormitory they saw four rows of small white beds, all spread with
beautiful white linen, and in each little bed lay a child. The most of
them were asleep, but a few were crying and fretting--for Chinese
babies have quite as many troubles as American children. Some of the
nuns were walking up and down between the rows of beds, lovingly
tucking up the fretful little beings, giving the bottle to some, and
rocking others with the utmost patience. Hardly did they quiet one
before another began to whimper, and so it went on. Shaking their
heads the two Chinamen slipped away. They had seen for themselves the
love and patience with which the Sisters care for these poor deserted
infants.
"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 greater
love for these babes than their own mothers."
"Yes, yes," answered Lihoa. "It is wonderful. I wish our priests
would do for our children what the foreigners do for them."
Without further delay Lihoa went to Nona, the fish dealer, who lived in
one of the alleys near the harbor. All night long he watched and
waited 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 and
poured the oysters out in a heap to estimate their value, then handed
the old Chinaman a tael ($1.50) and several sapecks.
"What? Is that all you are going to give me, when you know that the
sum must be divided among twenty families?" complained Lihoa.
"To-morrow morning in the market you will get three times that amount
for the beautiful fish."
"Well--and why not? When I take inferior things to the market, I have
to 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 the
distant Goldland, and shall come back rich men."
"What? What do you mean, you fools?" cried Nona. "Do you want to be
drowned? 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 all
before you are through with him."
"As far as drowning is concerned, we could drown easily in the business
in which we are now engaged, and as to Natse's getting our gold, we'll
attend to that." With these words Lihoa put the money in his pocket
and started with his followers to the harbor, where, behind one of the
warehouses, they laid down and took a nap.
At break of day they went to interview Natse, who was trying to get
three hundred men to sail on the "St. George". When they arrived, he
had just engaged a hundred or more, and there seemed no likelihood of
there being a place for Lihoa and his followers, "though Lohe's people
always had the preference". "But", said Natse, "if you have some one
among your people who understands the language of the West well enough
to act as interpreter, perhaps I can arrange for you and a dozen or
more of your friends to go."
Then an idea popped into old Lihoa's head: "Wait until to-night, and I
will bring you an answer," he said. "I think I can get an interpreter."
Lihoa sent his companions to the hamlet with the command, that those
who wished to go on the trip to the Goldland were to get ready
immediately, and he betook himself straight to the College of the Holy
Saviour. There he asked to see the foreign teacher. Father Somazzo
came into the reception room, and learned to his utter astonishment
that the old Chinaman had called to demand his beloved pupil, little
Peppo. Quietly the priest listened while the old man spoke, then took
a pinch of snuff, and said: "My dear friend, for twelve years we have
had 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 to
you. You are unreasonable. Prove in the court that the child is
yours, and then, that we took him illegally, and you can have him. He
has not been brought up in your religion, as you know, but is a
Christian. We have many plans and hopes for him, and I am sure he will
not care to leave us. Go, and may peace attend you."
"But I am the boy's uncle, and an uncle has paternal power over his
sister's children according to Chinese law. I know the boy by the
birthmark on his wrist," said Lihoa.
"Take your claims into court, and we will settle them there. In the
meantime may peace attend you," repeated the missioner as he left the
man.
Lihoa expected a refusal, for he was not so simple-minded as to believe
that the child would be given over to him without ado, but the answer
that he received, according to his way of thinking, justified his
kidnapping his nephew. He knew a Chinese youth, who was a servant at
the seminary, and to him he went for help to carry out his plan of
getting possession of Peppo. In a nearby tavern he waited for
Totu--for that was the youth's name--knowing that while the missioners
and their pupils were at table, he was accustomed to come here for a
glass of saki, a wine made from burnt rice. When he entered, Lihoa
went and sat down beside him, addressed him as cousin, and ordered and
paid for a second glass of saki. The two conversed for a time in low
tones, then finally Totu said:
"Agreed! The day after to-morrow, at the New Year's celebration, I'll
see to it that you get your nephew, but may the gods of the sea destroy
your ship, if you do not pay me the money you say you will. I must
have three tael to-morrow, for this may cost me my job, and you know,
'No penny, no paternoster'." Lihoa promised what Totu asked, and the
two separated.