CHAPTER XXXVIII.
VILLAINOUS WORK.
Gaines and Ah Sin were also sleeping in the torpedo room. As soon as Clackett had left, Bob bent down over the Chinaman and shook him roughly. The Celestial started up and stared blankly into the stern face of the young motorist.
“Wha’chee want?” he asked.
“Is this yours?” inquired Bob, producing the chopstick and studying the Chinaman’s face attentively as he did so.
The brim of the old slouch hat—which the yellow man had kept on while sleeping—shaded his eyes, so that Bob’s view was not as good as he would have liked to have it. So far as Bob could discover, not a shadow of guilt crossed Ah Sin’s face. Thrusting one hand into the breast of his blouse he drew out the mate to the chopstick Bob was holding, a grateful grin split his countenance, and he caught the piece of ebony out of Bob’s hand.
“Me losee um, huh?” he chuckled. “My no savvy how me losee um.”
“Go up the hatch to the periscope room,” ordered Bob.
If Ah Sin was surprised at the command he cloaked his feelings admirably.
Without a word he left the torpedo room, climbed to the deck above, and gained the periscope chamber. Bob pounded on the door of Glennie’s quarters, and the ensign quickly opened the door.