eye, at least, upon the
opening, and although the passage was filled with shadow he was quite
sure there was nobody lurking there who was friendly to the law-breakers.

"Just step around behind those two men and see if they are armed, Miss
Ruth, will you?" went on Copley. "Take 'em from behind. Don't get in line
with my pistol. For if I begin to shoot, somebody is bound to get hit.
Keep your hands up, you fellows!" and he gestured toward the Chinamen.

Even the two of their number who had been half-overcome with the fumes of
opium had come to attention when Chess produced his pistol. The Chinamen
huddled together at one side. The boatman and Bilby were opposite the
doorway of the tunnel. Ruth promptly obeyed Chess and went around behind
the last-named two of the enemy.

Ruth hesitated a moment in the dusk there at the opening of the passage.
She hated to touch either Bilby or the other man. But probably both of
them were armed, and for the sake of safety their weapons must be taken
from them.

While she hesitated she heard a faint rustle in the passage. Then came
the softest possible whisper:

"Ss-st!"

Ruth jumped and glanced over her shoulder. Was it friend or enemy who
evidently tried to attract her attention by this sibilant sound?

A figure moved in the gloom. Before she could cry any warning to Copley
an arm was put firmly about her and Ruth was almost lifted to one side.
She saw the gleam of a weapon in the other hand of her neighbor, and the
point of this weapon was dug suddenly into the broad back of the gruff
boatman who was Bilby's companion.

"Don't get nervous, 'Lasses," came in Tom Cameron's voice. "We're all
friends here. Ah! A nice automatic pistol from our friend, Mr. Bilby.
Just so. Here, Nell!"

But it was Ruth's hand that took the captured weapon, although Helen
stood at her side squeezing her other hand and whispering:

"My goodness, Ruthie, what a perfectly glorious experience! Are those the
real smugglers?"

"I shouldn't wonder," replied her friend. Then she accepted the revolver
extracted from the hip pocket of the boatman by Tom Cameron. "Where is
the King of the Pipes?"

"Taking the air. We heard the talk below here through the hollow tree. Do
you know," whispered Helen, "that old beech is a regular chimney. And we
saw the boat come here. Then we grabbed the King of the Pipes outside."

"Tom did not hurt him, I hope?" murmured Ruth.

"Not a bit of it. In fact, the queer old fel