“Walk him along toward the railroad station,” said O’Shea to his comrade. “He will give you no bother once he makes his offing and goes clear of this Chinese colony. Here’s the gun, if ye need to persuade him a bit. Wait for me there, Johnny. This young man from Cathay will have a talk with me.”
“It looks as if you had sort of started things, Cap’n Mike. Aye, aye, I’ll take Bill in tow and run to moorings with him till you throw up signal rockets.”
With this reply, which betokened excellent discipline, the engineer grasped the sailor-man by the arm, and marched him into the road. O’Shea and the secretary were about to resume their conversation when the latter’s attention was caught by the beckoning gesture of the Chinese ambassador, who seemed impatient.
“His Excellency wishes to ask me why there was so much unseemly excitement by his servants,” said the young man. “I would prefer first to talk with you, but his command must be obeyed. Your name? Thank you. I shall have the pleasure of acquainting Captain O’Shea with the ambassador of China to the United States.”
“’Tis no pleasure for any one concerned, to judge by the symptoms,” replied the shipmaster.
“I agree with you, my dear sir. But it is something to have spared His Excellency the sight of the disfigurement which is written on the back of your most unfortunate friend.”
“Maybe the ambassador could see it from where he stood,” suggested O’Shea.
“No. His eyes are not of the best without spectacles. He is not a young man and his health is inferior. To shock him by the sight of something dreadful to see might have unhappy consequences.”
“But what is the answer? Why was every man of you bowled off his feet?” exclaimed O’Shea. “’Tis not the way of your people to be afraid of scars and wounds. Ye deal out some pretty tough punishments to your criminals.”
“It is advisable that you should pay your respects to His Excellency,” evasively returned the Chinese.