There was no one to be seen. He could see no opening in the ceiling overhead. "Hide and seek! You can't find me!" cried the voice with a chuckle. "Say, Lungy, old man. I know why you were so stuck on marrying Skeep Hup. I know her secret! Did you think I'd sell out for any $5,000? No, not for five times five. I'm out for bigger game." "Has she betrayed the secret to you?" cried Ah Lung quickly. There was no answer. Again and again the merchant repeated the demand, but it was just the same until all at once the voice fairly shouted: "Now, Ah Lung, I've got you! It was myself who kidnapped your princess! The secret of Gong Schow's hidden treasure is mine. Now you die!" As he spoke these ominous words three shots were fired in quick succession through some hole in the ceiling. Instantly Harry shut off the light. Probably he was not quick enough to prevent the would-be murderer from taking some sort of aim, for Ah Lung with a deep groan dropped to the floor. At the same time a violent banging was heard overheard. Harry held his breath and waited, not daring to turn on the light. "Lung, are you badly hurt?" he breathed. There was no reply. "Lung! Speak! Where are you hit?" persisted Harry. Still no answer. The banging kept right up. "He is dead," thought Young King Brady. "Merciful heavens! What about Alice's fate in the hands of that yellow fiend?" Just then came a crash. Hurrying footsteps were heard overhead. "Why there is nobody here, Leggett!" Old King Brady's voice exclaimed. "Upon my word!" thought Harry. "And just in the nick of time! "Governor! Oh, Governor!" he shouted. "Harry, my dear boy, where are you?" cried Old King Brady, for like Harry and Ah Lung, he and the Secret Service man had penetrated into a seemingly vacant room. "I fancy I am in the room below you!" replied Harry. "So? Who fired those shots? You?" "No, that yellow fiend, Garshaski!" "As I supposed. You are not hurt, I judge from the way you speak." "I am not, Governor, but poor Ah Lung who is here with me got it in the neck and I greatly fear he is dead." "Well, well, that's a bad job. Do you know anything of Alice?" "Only that Garshaski said she is far enough away if you can believe him, which is more than I can. Can't you come down here?" "I must try to get there. Are you locked in?" "Bolted in, most securely." "There seems to be but one door here; I daresay there is another, a secret door. But I am going to take the back track and try it another way." "I don't care what way you try it as long as you get here. I'm in a bad enough fix. I have no doubt Ah Lung is dead." All this talk took place in the dark. Harry was so rattled that he did not turn on his flash light. He never even thought of it until now, and he flashed it on Ah Lung. Evidently the Chinaman had been hit in the head for his face was all covered with blood. He was breathing, however. There seemed to be some slight hope.