"Oh, he is liable to do almost anything," was the reply. "What is the matter, Hop? Who told you that you could come over here?"
"Allee samee nothing the mattee, Misler Wild," answered Hop, shaking his head and looking serious. "Nobody say me comee over here; me comee allee samee, so be."
There was a laugh at this, and then Hop had succeeded in doing what he had tried for. He had got the good will of the miners.
Having satisfied himself on this point, he stepped up to the bar, and, nodding pleasantly to Hoker, the boss, he observed:
"Me likee chuckee dicee for um dlinks, so be."
"You would, eh? Well, I never yet chucked dice with a Chinee; but blamed if I don't do it jest this once. What's it goin' ter be, fur all hands?"
"Lat light; allee samee all hands gittee lillee dlink. If me lose me pay; if you lose you allee samee givee um dlinks."
"Good!"
The saloon keeper brought out the dice, and, shaking them in the leather box, rolled them out.
"There yer are!" he said, exultantly. "There's fourteen fur yer ter beat. If yer do it you're a mighty good one."