"Oh, they're all right!" said the boy, shaking hands with Mrs. Newbegin, and wondering what sort of a queer old guy this was whom he had been sent to rescue. "Beastly hot, isn't it? Do you have it like this often?"
"Eight months in the year," said Mrs. Newbegin, "but we're used to it."
At this moment the boy became conscious of the presence of one whom he at first took to be the prettiest Chinese girl he had ever seen.
"Let me present my niece—Ensign Russell," said Newbegin.
The boy held out his hand but the girl only smiled.
"It is very good of you to come so far to help us," said the girl.
"Oh, no trouble at all!" exclaimed the boy without taking his eyes from her face. "I'm glad I got here in time," he added.
"Did you come on a ship?" asked the girl.
"Just a little gunboat," he answered, "but that makes me think. This plagued lake is sinking all the time. I got aground in half a dozen places. We've got to start right along back. I'm by no means sure we can get out as it is, but it's better than staying here. You'd oblige me by packing up as quickly as possible."
"Eh?" said the Rev. Theophilus, with something of a start, "what's that?"