fusillade of bullets and knives stabbing in the darkness? It would seem
that the Chinamen would hardly dare attack an American military squad,
yet these men were outlaws, and there was no knowing what they might do.

The lads heard the marines, as they supposed the newcomers to be, pass
around an angle of the old house and stand for an instant talking in the
doorway to which they had been directed by the voice of the man on the
inside. Frank was preparing to set up a cry of warning, let the
consequences be what they might, when the rattle of arms told him that
the marines had surrounded the house, and that every door and window was
guarded! The men who were guarding the boys evidently knew what was
taking place, for they released their clutches on the lads and moved
away.

Next came a struggle at the window, and then a strong electric light
swept into the room. Jimmie jumped forward and bumped into Ned, who was
clambering over the decayed window sill.

There were several shots exchanged on the outside, followed by shouts of
both rage and pain, then three men in the uniform of the United States
marine service entered the room. One of them picked up Ned's
searchlight, which had fallen to the floor when Jimmie bunted its owner,
and turned its rays on the mix-up under the window.

There was a flutter of arms and legs, as Frank and Jack, half choking
with laughter at the manner in which tragedy had so suddenly and
unexpectedly been changed into comedy, pulled Ned and Jimmie apart.
Jimmie sat up, wrinkling his nose until one would think it never would
smooth out again, and gazed at Ned with provoking grin.

"Gee!" he cried. "I thought I was mixing it with six Chinks! Wonder
you wouldn't knock before entering a private room!"

"I did knock," laughed Ned, rising from the floor and taking the
flashlight.

"Yes, you knocked me down," grunted Jimmie.

The three marines, standing in the middle of the room with amused faces,
regarded the four boys curiously for a moment and then moved out of
range of the window. Also Ned was asked to shut off the light.

"We're not out of it yet," one of them said. "Our men chased the Yellow
Faces into a bad part of town, and they are likely to be chased back,
not by a few, but by a mob! These Chinks like Americans about as much
as brook trout love the desert."

"Perhaps I'd better go out an' see what's comin' off," suggested the
little fellow.

"You'll only get captured again