SIGHT-SEEING IN TOKIYO. i 127

“Moving off?” repeated Uncle Nat. “TI guess it is time for me to
move off also, and hunt up that young traveller.”

The doctor offered to accompany him. ‘They hunted and hunted
but in vain. At. last, they saw in the street a crowd, and in the
midst of this, was the lost Rick, screaming away at his runners, they
heartily screaming back.

“Ship ahoy!” shouted Uncle Nat making his way through the
crowd. Glad enough was Rick to bring his independent travels in
Japan to an end and return to the hotel with Uncle Nat. He
tried to tell his uncle how it had happened, but Uncle Nat was
greatly puzzled to understand the course of his remarks.

“Took here, young man,” said Uncle Nat, “the next time you want
to make a trip, you had better know just where you are gomg, how
you are going, and if you don’t get there, whether you can get back.”

Rick thought so too.

The next day they all went to a noted spot in Tokiyo, Asakusa.

“Why it looks like Boston Common on the Fourth of July,” said
_ Ralph. They had reached rows of booths making a showy display
of goods. There were shops too for the sale of toys, of ladies’ hair pins,
and smokers’ comforts. Then came booths where one could buy little
idols or amulet bags or incense burners. This showed they were
nearing the more sacred part of Asakusa. When they reached the
temple, they found a motley collection of idols, some of the figures
being hideous. There were gardens too in which grew the azalea,
camellia, lotus and chrysanthemum.

Everywhere were people. Some were trading at the tobacco booths,
or drinking out of little cups at the, tea-booths. There were men
saying their prayers . before the temple-shrines, and robed priests
were bowing in their services. It was a queer mixture to the boys,
“a great gala day,” as Ralph said, “and some praying thrown in.”