"No unne'stan'," said Chuan Kai, wrinkling his lips in a manner that showed his yellow teeth.
Mr. Stevens was patient. He repeated his request, laid his hand on Teeny-bits' shoulder, pointed toward the ceiling as he mentioned the room above and then held up two fingers as he spoke of the Chinese who had been present when Teeny-bits escaped. The only answer was a puzzled frown on Chuan Kai's wrinkled features; either the old man was bewildered by the request of his visitors or he was a good actor. Suddenly Mr. Stevens decided the latter, for he spoke rapidly and with considerable force:
"I think you understand English all right. Now tell me, where are those two men of yours? If you will let me see them quickly perhaps we can agree not to trouble you further. Now then, where are they?"
Chuan Kai smiled with such ingenuousness as he could summon. "Ai," he said. "You like to see my boys?"
He turned away from them quickly and cried out something in Chinese, at the same time throwing back a door which led to the kitchen.
"Come, look, see," he said as he turned back to Teeny-bits and Mr. Stevens. "You like see all boys."
In the kitchen which was disclosed to view were four Chinese in loose-sleeved shirts and aprons. They were engaged in cutting up meat and in mixing food over the fire. Among them Teeny-bits did not recognize either one of the Orientals who had acted so strangely at the sight of the knife mark.
"I don't think they're here," he said to Mr. Stevens. "As I remember it they were bigger than these fellows."
The English master turned to Chuan Kai and said, "We don't intend to cause you any trouble. This young friend of mine has a mark on his shoulder which looks like a knife. Two of your men acted strangely when they saw it. What can you tell me about it? Don't be afraid to speak up."
Chuan Kai and his four employees looked at their American visitors with every semblance of frank amazement and bewilderment.