"I've always heard that the Five Companies were stronger on the Pacific coast than they are here. I wonder why?"
"I asked that very question," Hamilton said, "and the man who told me all about this explained that it was because they controlled the Chinese slave traffic to America."
"'Tis like enough," the policeman agreed, "and of course the most of that would be on the other slope. But there's enough of it here, just the same, and half the trouble between the Tongs is because of it."
"That was what started the trouble in Oakland between the Hop Sings and the Bing Gongs," Hamilton said, "and there were eight men killed in that. It began over the possession of a slave girl who had been given as security for debt. But they never caught any one for that."
[Illustration: ARRESTED AS THE FIRING STOPS. Watching the close of a shooting affray; the principals trying to escape the police.]
"You can't ever catch a Chinaman," the policeman said. "I've arrested a dozen myself--but it never did any good. Look at Boston--it was open talk that there were two regular executioners under Tong law, but the Chinks got out of it by tellin' the judge that there never had been any executions and that it was merely an ancient title!"
"There have been cases in New York, too," the boy said, "that they haven't found out yet!"
"It doesn't matter what the case is--you can never prove it on them. Look at that young girl, a missionary, who was killed! And that's only one of dozens. And they can shoot, and shoot straight, too!" he added. "Look at the shooting galleries," the two were walking down the Bowery, "they've been kept going for years by the practice of the Tong marksmen. You'd never think it, but some of those Highbinders could make our crack shots do their best to keep an even score. Well," he broke off, "here we are at Mott Street. Bob," he called to the policeman across the street, "here's a young fellow wants to go into Chinatown."
"Sorry, sir," said the other, a great big burly fellow, coming forward to meet them, "but orders are strict. No one going in at all, unless on business."
"It is on business, officer," said Hamilton. "I'm a census agent and the Inspector told me to check up some names on this schedule."