“The doctor,” said Joe, softly, “calls him ‘Old Death’s-Head.’”
“Well, what of it?”
“I’m afraid of Death.”
We both started at this; but Archie, recovering courage, asked:
“What can one miserable Chinaman do, opposed to three Americans?”
“Very little, in America,” replied Joe. “But we’re going to his own country, to China, where old Death’s-Head is a high mandarin, and the governor of a province. He won’t kow-tow there, for the Prince is his only superior, and the Prince will be deep under the ocean soon.”
We thought this over. There was usually something to think over when Joe made a long speech.
“Do you mean, then, that you’re scared out; that you won’t undertake this thing?” demanded Archie, finally.
“No,” said Joe, “I’m going to China. That is, if you fellows are game to go with me.”
“That’s the way to talk!”