Look at him now." I looked up quickly, and saw the man turn away from looking at us, and say something to his fierce-looking companions, who glanced towards us and laughed.
"There," said Barkins, "I'm not going to be laughed at by those jolly old pigtailed heathens.

Here, Ching, old chap, we want to go." As he spoke he gave our guide a sharp nudge, which made him turn round and stare.
"Ti--ope--I--ow!" "Do you hear?
We want to go!" "Ti--ope--I--ow!" howled Ching, beginning again.
"Yes, we want to go," I said anxiously.
"Ti--ope--I--ow!" he howled again, but as he gave forth his peculiar sounds he suddenly struck--purposely--a false, jarring note, lowered the instrument, seized one of the pegs as if in a passion, and began talking to me in a low, earnest voice, to the accompaniment of the string he tuned.
"Ching see now,"-- _peng_, _peng_, _peng_--"bad men with swords,"-- _pang_, _peng_--"look velly closs,"-- _pang_, _pong_--"wantee fightee,"-- _pang_, _pang_--"you no wantee fightee,"-- _pung_, _pung_.
"No," I whispered anxiously; "let's go at once." "No takee notice,"-- _pang_, _peng_, _peng_.

"All flee, walkee walkee round one sidee house,"-- _pang_, _pong_--"Ching go long other sidee,"-- _peng_, _peng_.

"No make, hully--walkee velly slow over lit' blidge,"-- _ping_, _ping_, _ping_, _ping_, _pang_, _pang_.
The little bridge was just behind us, and I grasped all he said--that we were to go slowly over the bridge and walk round the back of the house, while he would go round the front and meet us on the other side.
_Bang_, _jangle_, _pang_, _pang_, _ping_, _ping_, _peng_, _peng_, went the instrument, as Ching strummed away with all his might.
"Wait, Ching come show way," he whispered.

And as I saw that the mandarin's men were coming nearer and evidently meant mischief, Ching raised his instrument again, and, after a preliminary flourish, began once more, to the delight of the crowd.