CHAPTER XXIII.

A HANDSOME OBJECT.

 

THE RAIN.

AM afraid it was a bad omen,

seeing that fellow in the rain-
coat. The rain must be coming, for
the clouds look dark and watery
enough,” called. out Uncle Nat.

Word was passed to the jinrikisha-
bearers to hurry up; and away the
went rapidly.

“Hold on!” shouted Uncle Nat.
“Put on your night-caps!’’

Ralph and Rick knew what that’
meant.

The runners stopped, and chattering
away, raised a hood of oiled paper that
went with each jinrikisha, securely
covering their passengers. A chilly
spring rain was now slanting down
in heavy, sweeping lines. Ralph and
Rick for awhile enjoyed a ride under

their “night-caps,” but as they were obliged to alight several times,
either for lunching or consultation about the way, the chillmg rain
was disagreeably felt by them. When they stopped for the night,

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