"Now, when did you two ruffians put it there?" I asked sternly.
"Thief-man put it there," protested Dam Li, with a magnificent look of injured innocence.
"I know," said I. "Come on, now, tell me why you stole it, and, as you've brought it back again, I may let you off."
"China boy's lations too muchee few, him plenty hungly," said Ah Sin, seeing that the game was up.
"S'pose him sellum jug, buy plenty beer," confided Dam Li unblushingly.
"But hon'lable officer lookee too muchee sad, so China boy dam solly. Fetchee back jug," resumed Ah Sin.
As I had often gone out of my way to do the pair a good turn I was naturally pained at their ingratitude. Taking the jug, I turned away in silence and left them. Ah Sin pursued me.
"Hon'lable officer likee jug?" he asked.
Dam Li, who had followed, answered for me.
"Likee jug allee same China boy likee lations," he explained.