“Oh, you can laugh, can you?” thought Kirke, hopping down over the opposite wheel. “You ought to be howling, you dog-murderer!”
“You’re early, Sing Wung,” said Mr. Keith, who had come out to shake hands with the boys. “You’ve got ahead of Yeck Wo.”
“Hasn’t Yeck Wo come yet?” asked Paul quickly. “You don’t suppose the man is sick again, do you, Mr. Keith?”
“I’m beginning to fear it, Paul.”
“If he is, what’s to be done, Mr. Keith?”
Paul still stood by the wagon, reins in hand. He was very much interested in the progress of the well, and wanted the digging to go on, since Kirke had come on purpose to watch it.
“Sha’n’t I go for Mateo, Mr. Keith?”
“No, Paul, thank you, not quite yet. I don’t want Mateo as long as there’s any hope of Yeck Wo. But if Yeck Wo doesn’t come, I may ask you later to go for Mateo. We’ll tie the mules here under the pepper-tree to have them handy.”
“No workee?” asked Sing Wung, not quite understanding what was said.
“Yes, yes, Sing Wung, you can go right to work here,” said Mr. Keith, leading the way to the new well. “Come boys, please, and help me lower him down in the bucket. He must go to digging.”