John did not reply.
But be it here understood that on Australasian and doubtless other goldfields, all Chinamen have but one name--John--not given to them by their godfathers and godmothers; and the countrymen of Confucius have meekly accepted it.
The Tipperary man repeated his question.
"How deep, John?"
John preserved silence. The Tipperary man and his mates followed suit for a few seconds. Then he broke cover again.
"M'lenty gold, John?"
M'lenty means plenty; this was everywhere recognised as Chinaman's English.
"M'lenty gold, John?"
Compelled to reply by the sense of danger which the slightly raised tone in which this second question was repeated conveyed to the sensitive soul of the Mongolian, John looked blankly into the face of his interlocutor, and said, with all the innocence of a babe.
"Me no sabby!"