Page:Under Dewey at Manila.djvu/79

Rh His boarding-house was quite a distance from the shipping, and Larry had not covered many squares before he noticed that he was being followed. The persons after him were the two natives who had watched him, and each was armed with a stout club.

"It's queer that they should follow me," thought Larry. "What can they be up to?"

The youth was not kept long in doubt. Having passed from the main street into one of less pretensions, he was on the point of entering the shady grounds surrounding the new boarding-house he had selected, when both natives ran up, each catching him by an arm.

"Want to speak to American boy," said the one named Wakari.

"Well, what do you want?" demanded Larry, at the same time trying in vain to pull himself free.

"American boy take work away from Kuola," answered the second native. "Must pay for doing dat."

"Took work away from you? What do you mean?"

"Kuola work down at dock, on boat Columbia.