"Land?" laughed Gray. "Land on what? We have been under sail for six
hours or more and are now a goodly number of miles from Hongkong, and
probably won't see land again for weeks. For good or for evil, for
better or for worse, my little pigmy, you'll have to go with us until
we land those cousins of yours in Australia. Get up. I'll take you to
the kitchen, and there our cook will find so much for you to do, that
you won't have time for sad thoughts."
With these words he seized Peppo by the arm and led him to the kitchen,
where he gave him over to the cook. The fat cook with the big white
apron looked at the slender youth half angrily, half compassionately,
and grumbled:
"That little Chinaman is to give me the promised help? How is he to
lift the heavy kettles of rice off the fire, Mr. Gray?"
"Well now, Mr. Blue, it's better to have a little help than none at
all. Why, indeed, you'll have to lift the heavy kettles off the fire
yourself. The boy can peel potatoes and wash dishes."
"Yes, and break more than his neck is worth in Brothers. I
understand.
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