The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

BELOW THE DECK OF A JUNK. 272
how the sailors could stand there when the planks were wet by the spray,
or the sea Avas at all rough. But there was no denying that they did stay
there, and so the boys concluded that the men must have claws on their
feet like those with which a tiger is equipped. Fred remarked that the
steep incline reminded him of a conundrum he had somewhere heard,
which was as follows
"Why is a dog with a broken leg like the space between the eaves
and the ridge of a house V
Frank could not answer, and the question was propounded to Dr.
Bronson ;
the latter shook his head, and then Fred responded, in triumph,
" Because he is a slow pup." It was three seconds at least before Frank
could see the point of the joke,.
The boys had too much to do in the way of sight-seeing to spend more
time over conundrums. Tliey proceeded to explore the interior of the
junk, and to look about the decks in the hope of finding something new in
the way of navigation. They discovered that there was considerable space
for the stowage of cargo, in consequence of the great width of the craft in
proportion to her length. The accommodations of tlie crew were not ex-
tensive ; but as they did not expect much, they were not likely to complain.
As the boys were near the bow of the junk, they came upon two of the
sailors at dinner ; the meal consisting of rice and fish, which they ate
JAI'ANK8E SAILOKS AT DINNEK.
18