n get the boys into the street as silently
as possible. Once there, they would have little difficulty in making
their way out of the city.

It is quite probable that Sandy would have come off second best in the
encounter if Jack had not heard the racket the two made and came into
the cellar with a bound. The two boys soon had the Chinaman down and
well tied up.

"You're a brick, Sandy," Jack said, as the boys faced each other in the
dim light. "While we sat in there waiting for some one to get us out,
you got a move on and did something! Say," he added, with a grin,
"ain't this tie-up game getting stale? Suppose we knock this fellow on
the head? He may get away if we don't. And these others? Think they
are sufficiently soused with opium?"

"They won't make any trouble for a long time," Sandy answered. "It is a
wonder they got into such a trance! There must have been something
stronger than opium in their pipes."

"Didn't know there was anything meaner than opium," Jack said.

"There is a drug that is used by old soaks after the poppy stuff gets
too mild for them," replied Sandy. "Perhaps these men got some of that.
Keep quiet, boys!"

This last as Frank and Hans came through the tunnel and stood staring at
the men on the floor and their chums.

"Who did it?" asked Frank.

"Sandy did it!" answered Jack. "Ain't he the broth of a lad? Sure he's
the goods."

"Perhaps we'd better be getting out," Sandy observed. "I hear some one
upstairs. They're comin' down here, too."

CHAPTER XV

WHY ESCAPE WAS SO EASY

As Sandy finished speaking two figures dropped down the ladder, not
stopping to descend rung by rung. As they landed on the floor the boys
sprang toward them, ready to make a battle for their liberty. Then came
another surprise.

Instead of making hostile demonstrations, the two newcomers, Chinamen so
far as appearances went, threw up their hands and dropped back against
the wall. Then shouts of laughter echoed through the place.

Directly the newcomers seemed to forget to keep their hands up, for they
gripped their waists with them and roared. There was something about
the laughter, too, which was not at all like the Orient.

"Go it!" Jack exclaimed.

"Have your fun before we come to settlement with you," Frank threatened.

"Let me soak heem!" Hans pleaded.

Sandy stood by with wonder showing in his face.

"What kind of a play house is this?" he asked. And still the oth