Hal wheeled. It was the Filipino dandy whom he confronted. That smiling, prosperous-looking native was employing his left hand to twist one end of the upturned moustache to a finer point.
"No; we haven't been here long," Hal smiled. "Three days, in fact."
"And you do not yet know how to bargain with these sharp-witted Chinos (Chinese)?"
"I'm afraid not," said Sergeant Overton.
"May I ask, señor, what you wished to buy?"
"This box," Hal answered.
"And how much did the Chino want for it, if I may make bold enough to ask so much of the señor's business?"
"Why, he wants a hundred dollars in gold," Hal responded.
The Filipino dandy inspected the box critically.
"You are right, señor; the price is too high. It is muy caro (very dear), in fact. It could be bought for less, if you knew better how to deal with these smiling yellow heathen."