Young Wild West at "Forbidden Pass" Part 17

"He's ther one ter talk ter, anyhow."

It was just then that another shot sounded from the pa.s.s.

The next minute Bob came running out of the rear of the cave.

"Another man got his medicine, Chuck!" he exclaimed. "He would go out ter git ther body of Wally, an' he got shot down afore he could git hold of it!"

"That makes four of you!" said Young Wild West coolly gazing at the villains. "Where do you think you are coming out in this game?"

CHAPTER XI.

WHAT HOP WAH DID.

Though he had been told to remain with Wing and watch the camp, Hop grew so restless after our friends had been gone about half an hour that he decided to follow them and see if he could not a.s.sist in hunting down the outlaws.

He had heard enough of the conversation to make him understand just how the hidden cave was located, and he relied on his sleight-of-hand work to help him.

If there was anything that the Chinaman liked it was to do something that met with the approval of Young Wild West.

After he had once got it into his head that he wanted to go Hop grew very restless.

Finally he turned to the cook and said:

"Me go takee lillee walk thlough um pa.s.s, so be, my blother."

"Misler Wild say you, allee samee stay here, so be," was the reply.

"Lat allee light. But me 'flaid Misler Wild allee samee git tee in um tlouble; me wantee helpee out."

Wing did not care if he did go, for he thought he was perfectly able to take care of the camp.

So when Hop said he thought Wild might be in trouble he nodded and retorted:

"Allee light; my blother go if he wantee to. Me allee samee stay here, likee Misler Wild say."

"Lat light, my blother. You velly muchee goodee Chinee; but you no understand, likee me; me allee samee velly muchee smartee, allee samee my uncle in China."

"Um uncle in China allee samee dead; git tee head cuttee off for stealee pig!"

"s.h.!.+" said Hop, holding up his hand. "My blother mustee not lettee Misler Charlie knowee lat."

"Me no care, so be. You allee samee foolee."

Wing acted as though he was disgusted, but a sorrowful look from his brother soon brought him around.

"Me no tellee Misler Charlie," he said.

"Allee light. Now me go to um saloon and git tee lillee dlop of tanglefoot; len me go and havee lillee look alound up Forbiddee Pa.s.see, so be."

Hop was not long in getting ready.

Without another word he set out for the saloon.

The miners were all at work by this time, so there was no one there but Hoker and the man he had to help him.

They were both busy cleaning up the place when the Chinaman entered, but they greeted him cordially.

"Where's Young Wild West?" asked Hoker, though he well knew that he had started out to go through Forbidden Pa.s.s.

"He takee lillee tlip to huntee uppee 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 pa.s.s.

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 pa.s.s, 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 pa.s.s 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.