"If he's a sailorman from New York," Jack put in, "he'll eat corn out of your hand, like a billy goat! Go on and talk with him, Ned."
Ned arose to his feet and moved toward the table where the sailor sat. Then he turned back to the boys again.
"If I go away with him," he said, "don't attempt to follow us. Go back to the hotel and wait for me. You understand, now, Jimmie? No chasing out after me! This is not New York!"
"I'll be good!" replied the boy, with a wink at Jack.
"You bet you will!" replied Jack, seizing him by the sleeve. "You don't get away from me to-night. Too much trouble looking you up!"
"What are we to do with that blooming interpreter?" asked Frank, motioning to the Jap, who sat a short distance away, where he could not overhear the talk.
"Take him back to the hotel with you," was the reply, "and hold him there until I come."
There was no little excitement around the table where the sailor sat when Ned approached it. The sailor was talking in English, the waiter was talking in his native tongue, and the bystanders were trying to tell each one what the other was saying.
Ned made out from the pigeon English brought forth by the bystanders that the sailor had run up a large bill and was unable to pay it.
"P'lice come!" one of the officious ones said.