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

408 THE BOY TRAVELLERS.
THE
CIIAPTEE XXXI.
SIGHTS AND SCENES IN CANTON.
party remained three days at Canton. They rose early every
morning, and went on excursions through and around the city, and
it is fair to say tliat they did not liave a single idle moment. Each of the
boys made careful notes of what he saw and heard, and by the end of
tlieir stay both had enough to fill a small volume. They returned to
Ilong-kong on the fourth day, and on the morning after their return
they sat down to write the stor}^ of their adventures. But befoi'e they
began writing the projected letter a discussion arose between them, which
was about like this :
They expected the steamer to arri\'e from America in a day or two,
and it would doubtless bring letters for them, which would determine
their future mo\ements. They expected to return home by way of San
Erancisco, as they had come ;
but it was by no means improbable that they
would keep on to the west\rard, and so go around the world by way of
India and Europe.
"What is the use of writing up our Canton experiences," said Erank,
"till we know what we are to do? If we go home by San Francisco, we
will have plenty of time on the steamer; and if we go on to the west, we
will have to go hj steamer too; and then we will have time enough be-
tween ITongdvong and the iirst port we stop at. Why should we be in a
hurry to write up our account, when, in any case, we shall have the time
to do so while we are at sea?"
Fred admitted the force of the argument, but thought there would
be an advantage in wj'iting while the subject was fresh in their minds.
While they were debating the pros and cons of the case, the Doctor came
into the room, and the question was appealed to him. After careful de-
liberation, he rendered a decision that covered the case to the perfect sat-
isfaction of both the disputants.
" It will be several days, at any rate," said he, " before we can leave
Ilong-kong, whether we go east or west. Kow, I advise you to take an