"Me," said Carl, "I made it habben. Venefer I go afder some fellers I ged him. Yah, so!"
"To make sure mit meinseluf dot he vould come."
"In vone oof dose ganvas wagons bedween vich der money vas took. He vas ashleep. I ged me some ropes und vile he shleep, py shiminy, I ged der rope on his hants. Den I porrow der mu-el und der leedle vagon. I see der flying mashine in der air, und I hear der people yell like plazes, aber I don'd haf time for nodding but der shink. You say to pring him, und I dit. Dere he vas. Ven Modor Matt tell Carl Pretzel to do somet'ing, id vas as goot as dit."
Another wail came from Ping, but it was not accompanied by any words that could be understood.
"Take the ropes off him, Carl," ordered Matt. "You should not have tied him like that."
"Den for vy he shleep in der ganvas wagon ven you tell him to drail der Hintoo?"
"My velly bad China boy," gurgled the prisoner. "Motol Matt no likee ally mo'. Givee China boy bounce."
Carl, with an air of great importance, proceeded to take the cords off Ping's hands. The moment the ropes were all removed Ping leaped at Carl over the side of the cart, grabbed him savagely, and they both went down and rolled over and over in the road. The mixture of pidgin English and Dutch dialect that accompanied the scrimmage was appalling.
Quickly as they could, Matt and McGlory separated the boys and held them apart.
"I told you somet'ing," yelled Carl, "und dot iss der shinks is der vorst peoples vat I know."
"Dutchy boy no good!" piped Ping. "No lettee China boy savee face. Woosh!"
"Here, now," spoke up Matt sternly. "Tell us all about this, Ping. Did you follow the Hindoo, as I told you?"
"Why did you leave the trail? Did you lose it?"
"My velly bad China boy," insisted Ping, with the usual wail.
"Yes, yes, I know all that, but tell me why you quit following Dhondaram."
"Him makee tlacks fo' ticket wagon, makee pidgin with tlicket man, makee go to canvas wagon, makee hide. Bymby, 'long come Dutchy boy, blingee tlicket man. Tlicket man him cally two bag. Hindoo makee jump, hittee Dutchy boy, knockee down." Ping chuckled as though he considered the matter a good joke. "Tlicket man and Hindoo man takee money bags, empty allee same in hat, takee snake flom basket, puttee snake in one bag, puttee othel bag in Dutchy boy's pocket. My savvy. Hindoo man and tlicket man stealee money, makee think Dutchy boy stealee. My thinkee one piecee fine business. Stopee follow tlail. Dutchy boy findee heap tlouble. My no ketchee Motol Matt, for' Motol Matt makee China boy tellee 'bout Dutchy boy. Woosh! Ping him velly bad China boy. No likee Dutchy boy. Heap likee him get in tlouble."