e some outlaws, so be," answered the
Chinaman. "Me likee havee lillee tanglefoot; len me go outee huntee,
too, so be."

"Is that so? Well, I don't know how much of a hunter you are, but if yer
are as good at it as yer are with ther cards you'll make out all right,
I reckon."

"Lat light."

Hop got his drink, and then he had a flask filled with whisky for use
later on.

"Now, len," said he, blandly, "me chuck dicee to see if me pay or you
givee me um tanglefoot."

"No yer don't!" was the quick reply. "You fork over ther money. I ain't
goin' inter no gamblin' game with you. You're too much fur me, an' I
ain't ashamed ter own up ter it."

Hop grinned and paid the bill.

Then he put the flask in his pocket and set out for the pass.

He had heard Wild say that the spot where the hidden cave was located
was only about a mile from the camp, so that made a nice, little walk
for him.

The fact was that Hop did not mind walking, anyhow.

He was in the saddle so much that it was a relief to get the opportunity
to walk around once in a while.

Reaching the pass, he took a good look at the sign and gave a nod of
approval.

Hop had learned to read English pretty well, though he could not speak
it with any great degree of accuracy.

But he did not want to do any better than what he did in that line, for
his style just suited him.

"Make pay allee samee toll, so be," he said, musingly. "Whattee lat?"

That was just a little too much for him.

But he was not going to let it worry him any, so he started through the
pass without any further delay.

The trail made by our friends was very plain in places, and Hop took
notice of this fact.

He walked along leisurely, taking in all he saw, which was not a great
deal, since there were nothing but cliffs and the blue sky above to be
seen.

He kept right on until finally he rounded a turn in the pass and saw Jim
Dart and the girls about a hundred yards ahead.

As they were gathered behind a big rock, as though hiding, he knew that
something was wrong right away.

Hop came to a pause.

Though he wanted to know what was up, he felt that it would be best to
go it alone, so he did not walk ahead and join them.

While he stood back close to the cliff a revolver shot rang out.

He saw Jim raise his head above the rock and take a quick look in the
direction it came from, and then all was still.

It so happened that Hop had got there just in time to hear the shot that