As the Chinaman pa.s.sed inside he waited for half a minute, and then he took the risk of raising the curtain a trifle.

The coast was clear, so he crawled through.

Once on the inside, he moved over to a rocky wall and then listened.

He could hear the Chinaman talking in his bland way to the villains.

There had been a man watching for Hop's return, but in some way he had neglected to be looking at the time Charlie crept up, and it was not until he had escorted the Chinaman to the leader that he went to the curtain to stand guard again.

But he did not see the crouching form of the scout, and once he had pa.s.sed him Charlie began moving toward the rear of the cave.

He soon got to within a few feet of the villains in the cave, and when he peered from behind a rock and saw his wife and Eloise sitting at the table near Wild; he felt a little easier.

Hop was standing before the leader of the band, and all eyes were turned on him.

He had been talking in a random sort of way, not seeing fit to make a report just yet.

"Stop that!" exclaimed Roche, as he started in to give an account as how smart his uncle in China was. "Did you get the money from Young Wild West's partners--that's the question?"

"Me allee samee git tee bigger pile of money and um bottle of tanglefoot, so be," answered the Chinaman, quickly getting down to business.

"Give me the money!"

"You lettee Miss Anna and Missy Eloise go?" Hop went on asking.

"Yes, I'll let them go right now."

To make good his words he cut the ropes that held them helpless and told the two girls to walk on out.

Surprised at their sudden release, they lost no time in obeying.

Hop handed over the roll of counterfeit money.

"Now you can go, too," he said, nodding to the Chinaman.

"How aboutee Misler Wild?"

"Well, we'll keep him a little while longer, I reckon."

Anna and Eloise lost no time in getting out of the cave.

Just why the villainous leader of the band had seen fit to let them go they did not know.

The scout saw them go past him, but he did not offer to attract their attention.

He was waiting to get a chance to release Wild.

But it was not going to come to him just then, for Cap Roche suddenly called Chuck Snivel and said:

"Take Young Wild West out and tie him to the post again. I reckon we can't trust altogether to that Chinaman. It may be that he has told the miners of Big Bonanza all about this. If he has we will need the prisoner to make terms with them. There is one thing about it, and that is that Young Wild West don't go free until I know for a certainty that we will be allowed a chance to get away."

As soon as Hop saw that they were going to take Wild outside he made his way toward the front of the cave.

"Goodby!" he said. "When you finder lat me allee samee keepee my word you let Misler Wild go. Len you all go 'way, and n.o.body hurtee you."

Hop lost no time in getting outside.

He found the girls where the horses were.

But Jim and Arietta were nowhere to be seen.

"Missy Anna," he said to the scout's wife, "you and Missy Eloise allee samee takee horses and lide to meet um miners. You tellee allee 'boutee.

But makee um stay light here till Misler Charlie or Misler Jim come."

"All right, Hop," Anna answered. "We will do just as you say. But where is Charlie?"

"He in um cave."

"What!"

"He come in light after me, so be. He waitee to git tee lillee chance to git tee Misler Wild outee."

The girls understood.

Just then the walking miners from the camp came in sight.

There were twenty or more of them, and they were all armed to the teeth.

When they saw the girls they broke into a cheer, but a motion from Hop quickly silenced them.

"Don't makee no noise," he said. "Misler Wild no git tee outee yet, so be."

Then he told them just how things were, and the men agreed to wait with the girls until they received orders from either Charlie on Jim.

Hop now clambered up the cliff to find Arietta and Jim.

Once at the top he looked around, but could see nothing of them.

He quickly made his way over to the other side and cautiously peered over.

The outlaws had just brought Wild out of the cave, and on a ledge about twelve feet above him were Arietta and Jim, hiding behind a rock.

"Young Wild West," said Cap Roche, as the boy was led out to the post, "are you ready to give your promise that we will not be interfered with?"

"I can't give a promise like that until I know for certain that I am to be freed," was the reply.

As Wild spoke the words he caught a glimpse of Arietta and Jim on the ledge.