Part 28 (1/2)

As for Bilby and the boatman, they reached toward the roof of the cavern hastily. There was no hesitation on their part. Although Copley was alone, his unwavering att.i.tude and the threat of the automatic pistol, played hob with such shreds of courage as the malefactors possessed.

CHAPTER XXIV

A LETTER COMES

n.o.body had come through the pa.s.sage into the cave save Bilby and the boatman. Chess stood where he could keep half an eye, at least, upon the opening, and although the pa.s.sage was filled with shadow he was quite sure there was n.o.body lurking there who was friendly to the law-breakers.

”Just step around behind those two men and see if they are armed, Miss Ruth, will you?” went on Copley. ”Take 'em from behind. Don't get in line with my pistol. For if I begin to shoot, somebody is bound to get hit.

Keep your hands up, you fellows!” and he gestured toward the Chinamen.

Even the two of their number who had been half-overcome with the fumes of opium had come to attention when Chess produced his pistol. The Chinamen huddled together at one side. The boatman and Bilby were opposite the doorway of the tunnel. Ruth promptly obeyed Chess and went around behind the last-named two of the enemy.

Ruth hesitated a moment in the dusk there at the opening of the pa.s.sage.

She hated to touch either Bilby or the other man. But probably both of them were armed, and for the sake of safety their weapons must be taken from them.

While she hesitated she heard a faint rustle in the pa.s.sage. Then came the softest possible whisper:

”Ss-st!”

Ruth jumped and glanced over her shoulder. Was it friend or enemy who evidently tried to attract her attention by this sibilant sound?

A figure moved in the gloom. Before she could cry any warning to Copley an arm was put firmly about her and Ruth was almost lifted to one side.

She saw the gleam of a weapon in the other hand of her neighbor, and the point of this weapon was dug suddenly into the broad back of the gruff boatman who was Bilby's companion.

”Don't get nervous, 'La.s.ses,” came in Tom Cameron's voice. ”We're all friends here. Ah! A nice automatic pistol from our friend, Mr. Bilby.

Just so. Here, Nell!”

But it was Ruth's hand that took the captured weapon, although Helen stood at her side squeezing her other hand and whispering:

”My goodness, Ruthie, what a perfectly glorious experience! Are those the real smugglers?”

”I shouldn't wonder,” replied her friend. Then she accepted the revolver extracted from the hip pocket of the boatman by Tom Cameron. ”Where is the King of the Pipes?”

”Taking the air. We heard the talk below here through the hollow tree. Do you know,” whispered Helen, ”that old beech is a regular chimney. And we saw the boat come here. Then we grabbed the King of the Pipes outside.”

”Tom did not hurt him, I hope?” murmured Ruth.

”Not a bit of it. In fact, the queer old fellow said he was willing to abdicate in Tom's favor, and now, I suppose, Tommy-boy is King of the Pipes,” and Helen, the irrepressible, grinned.

The two ex-army men, however, took the matter quite seriously. Tom disarmed the Chinamen as well as the white men. And to search and disarm a squirming Oriental, they found not easy work.

”But I disarmed enough Fritzies in Europe to learn my job pretty well.

How's the weather, Sergeant?”

”All right here, Captain Cameron,” said Copley seriously.