" PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING" 275 



hundred pounds in good English gold what sewer in 

 Li-Chiang could not be transformed into Paradise ? 



One basket contained a huge fruit which he under- 

 stood his white customers to term "plonkn"; with it 

 was a broad-bladed knife, with which he would slice 

 off slabs according to demand. That one item might 

 bring him in more money than his revered father's 

 fortune. Wrapped in day-dreams, he hummed again 

 his chant, dwelling on the refrain with lyrical gladness — 



" Li she tzu." 



Perhaps it was the name of the maiden he proposed to 

 ask to share his fortune and his portion of the sewer, 

 and so he repeated — 



" Li she t !" 



A big, strong, authoritative hand had gripped him 

 by the shoulder. 



He screamed. The baskets sat down plump. 



"Come away wid ye 1 I've cotched yer ! I'll tache 

 ye to escape from lawful custody 1" 



"No savee ! No savee 1" screamed Hu Dra. 



"I'll tache ye, thin !" shouted Tim, and Hu Dra 

 reeled under the severity of the first lesson — a back- 

 hander across the face. 



"Wha' for ?" asked Hu Dra, still staggering. 



"Come on ! You know wha' for 1 I'll stan' none 

 o' yer wha' for's !" 



Hu Dra clung to the basket-stick threateningly. 



"Fwhat ! Resisting the pollis in the execution of 

 dooty. Me bho}^, ye're a new-chum or yer niver wad 

 be so bould. It is sarious bizinis." The stick flew 

 out of Hu Dra's hands, and, as if by magic, he found 

 his hands clamped in iron bands, which pinched his 

 wrists excruciatinglv. 



I 



