"Bless my soul, First Lieutenant!" said he. "Look at these fowls!" They were sorry looking birds, it is true, but Chinese chickens are not renowned for their beauty and sprightliness of appearance at the best of times.
"They seem quite healthy, sir," the First Lieutenant answered, putting his head on one side in a most judicial manner.
"Yes, yes," murmured the Commander. "But they are all the colours of the rainbow. White, yellow, brown, grey, and black."
"So they are, sir," said Pardoe, as if he had observed the astounding fact for the first time.
"Who do they belong to?"
"They're yours, sir. Your steward looks after them."
"Does he, indeed?" said the skipper, rather nonplussed. "Well, send for my steward."
The portly and dignified Ah Fong presently appeared.
"Is it not possible for you to buy fowls of all the same colour?" the
"Owner" wanted to know.
Ah Fong stared in hopeless bewilderment, trying to grasp his master's meaning. "My no savvy, sah," he said, shaking his head.