Page:Ballinger Price--Fortune of the Indies.djvu/183

 come the rickshaws now. All right, tell the boy to let Mr. Huen know that we accept with gratitude."

There were only two rickshaws, and the coolies seemed doubtful about getting another. The student, looking timid behind his shell goggles, said that he would wait and they could send one back for him. The servant gave directions to the men, and then, bowing deeply, ran off toward the walls of Huen's house.

Mark sat with the canvas-covered box between his feet, scowling alertly at the twisting streets through which the rickshaws trundled. They bumped and rattled through interminable dirty thoroughfares before a yellow glimpse of the creek opened at the end of an alleyway. The boat, when they reached it, looked a sumptuous enough craft to the boys. It was a bamboo-roofed affair with a gaudily painted prow adorned by two large eyes with which to see its way, and it was hung all about with bright ornaments. It was the last one of a string of varying boats which a launch was prepared to tow up to Changhow. The launch was already puffing, and the three boatmen seemed impatient.