Part 21 (1/2)

”Here you, Ah Sing, hurry muchee quick and cook us a meal,” roared Red Bill as he perceived the newcomer.

”Alee litee,” was the easy-going response, ”me catchum plentee quick.”

The Oriental, who was by this time quite close, allowed his slant eyes to rest curiously on the two young prisoners. His mask-like face, however, betrayed no emotion of any kind, and with a guttural grunt he was off; apparently to set about his preparations for obeying the orders of the outlaw leader.

Red Bill turned to Peggy and Roy, who had dismounted.

”I'll speak to you two after we've eaten,” he said; ”in the meantime the young lady kin take that hut thar.” He indicated a tumble-down structure near at hand.

”It ain't a Fift' Avenoo mansion,” he grinned, ”but I reckon it'll hev ter do.”

Then he switched on Roy.

”You boy,” he growled, ”you kin hev thet other shack. If you want ter wash up thar's a bucket. We've hot and cold water in these diggin's, too, so take yer choice. Hot's above, cold's below. An'

one thing. You ain't goin' ter be closely watched. It ain't needful. You rec'lect that red-hot basin we come through?”

As the questioner seemed to pause for an answer Roy nodded.

”Wall the country all around hyar's jes' like that, so thet if yer moseyed you wouldn't stand a Chinaman's chance of gittin' away alive.”

Red Bill, with a vindictive grin, turned on his heel abruptly and stalked off, followed by the others. Peggy and Roy were left alone.

Seemingly no restraint was to be put upon them. In fact, it appeared, as Red Bill had pointed out, that an attempted escape could only result fatally for them.

”Whatever will Aunt Sally and the rest be thinking?” exclaimed Peggy as the rough looking group, talking and gesticulating among themselves, made toward the upper end of the valley.

”Poor aunt! She must be in a terrible state of mind,” rejoined Roy dejectedly. ”If only we could have got word to her or Mr. Bell--”

”In that case we could have taken it ourselves,” wisely remarked Peggy; ”well, brother mine, there is no use in borrowing trouble.

Let's make the best of it. I've an idea that that redheaded man means to offer us some sort of a proposition after dinner.”

”Wish he'd offer us some dinner first; I'm ravenous.”

”Well, I couldn't eat a thing till I've got some of this dust off me, so please get me a bucket of water.”

”Say, look at that Chinaman eyeing us,” broke off Roy suddenly; ”wonder what's the matter with him?”

”Guess he isn't used to visitors,” suggested Peggy. ”So this is where this gang, we heard talked about in Blue Creek, have been hiding themselves. No wonder the sheriff couldn't find them.”

”It's an ideal hiding place,” agreed Roy, ”far too ideal to suit us.

I don't see how we'd ever get out of here without help.”

”Oh, as for that, I kept careful track of the way we came. I noted all the landmarks, and I really believe I could pick up the trail--is that the way you say it?--again.”

”Good for you. I hope we have a chance to try out your sense of observation. But I'm off to get that water. Say, that Chinaman's staring harder than ever. What do you suppose he wants?”

”I haven't an idea. Opium perhaps. Don't they eat it or do something with it and then have beautiful dreams? I've heard--oh, Roy,” the girl broke off breathlessly, ”I've got it! You know that little jade G.o.d that Clara c.u.mmings brought back from China with her when her father resigned as consul there?”

”Yes. But what--”

”Well, look here, you silly boy, I've got it on now. Look on my watch chain. I wonder if that could be what--what that Mongolian was regarding so closely?”