"Say, Why you men cut chop young offlicer head off?
Mandalin say, Velly solly.

He find out who blave was who chop young offlicer head, and give him lichi." "You mean toco ?" said Barkins.
"No; lichi." "What's lichi ?" I said.
"Tie blave up along post, and man come velly sharp sword, cut him all in 'lit pieces while he live." "And do they do that ?" I asked, in horror.
"Neve' find out blave who chop off head," said Ching, with a queer twinkle of the eyes.

"No find blave, no can give him lichi." "Sounds pleasant, Poet, don't it ?" said Barkins.
"Horrid!" I cried, with a shudder.
"Moral: Don't try to peep into mandarins' gateways, Blacksmith," continued Barkins.
"Bosh! it's all gammon.

I should like to see one of them try to cut my head off." "I shouldn't," I cried, laughing; "and he wouldn't." "No," said Ching perfectly seriously.

"Velly bad have head chop off.
Head velly useful." "Very," said Barkins mockingly.