“Can you speak English?” inquired Ned, advancing.
A shake of the head, and a consequent waggle of the tail was the reply.
“Or French?”
(Shake and waggle.)
“Maybe ye can do Irish?” suggested Larry.
The shake and waggle were more vigorous than before but Ah-wow rose, and, drawing on his boots, made signs to his visitors to follow him, which they did, through the bushes, round the base of a steep precipice. A short walk brought them to an open space quite close to the banks of the stream, which at that place was broken by sundry miniature waterfalls and cascades, whose puny turmoil fell like woodland music on the ear. Here was another log-hut of minute dimensions and ruinous aspect, in front of which sat another Chinaman, eating his dinner. Him Ah-wow addressed as Ko-sing. After a brief conversation, Ko-sing turned to the strangers, and said—
“Ho! Kin speek English, me can. What you want?”
“We want to look at your diggings,” answered Ned.
“We are going to turn the river here, if we can; and if you and your companions choose to join us, we will give you good wages.”
“Kin speek, but not fery well kin on’erstan’. Work, work you say, an’ pay we?”