The room was dimly lighted by a lantern. Ed found that he had been undressed also. He had nothing on but an old undershirt now. After lying awake a long time he got up to see how he could stand it on his feet. He found he was all right; a little shaky, perhaps, but so much better than he had been the night before that he felt that the effects of the drug had practically passed. He tried the door and found it locked. Window there was none. Escape thus seemed impossible, but the enterprising Ed did not give up. He was resolved to know all about his prison before he did that. In course of his search he took in the ceiling, and there he beheld a trap door. It fascinated the boy, for it seemed to offer an avenue of escape. No one coming, Ed resolved to make the attempt to reach it. He looked around for clothes first, but there were none to be found. Stripping the cot, he leaned it up against the wall under the trap door and climbed upon it. He could now reach the trap and had some room to spare. Pushing on it, the door arose and fell back with noise enough to startle any one within hearing. But evidently there was no one, for nothing happened. Ed waited several minutes, and at last feeling himself safe, he caught hold and pulled himself up through the opening. He found himself now in a dark narrow passage so low that he could not stand upright. The lantern was needed. Why had he forgotten that? It was necessary to get down on top of the cot again. Ed made the descent, reached for the lantern, got it and returned. "I suppose if I do succeed in reaching the street I shall be arrested," he said to himself, "but I don't care. Anything is better than being held a prisoner by these horrible Chinese." He crept along the passage, which appeared to be of considerable length, at last coming upon three steps leading down to a door. And now the boy caught the sound of strange music. Some one was strumming on a banjo. The tune was most monotonous, just the same thing over and over again. "Chinese music," thought Ed. "That's one of their big moon banjos. I suppose I may as well go back. I'll only get myself into trouble if I try to butt in here." But the music seemed to fascinate him, and he found it hard to pull away. Creeping down the steps, he stood for some moments listening at the keyhole. Feeling at last as if it really would be better for him to go, he was just about to pull away when, as he turned, the lantern hit hard against the door. Instantly the music ceased. Scared, Ed bounded up the steps and retreated along the passage. But it was no use. The door flew open and he could hear somebody coming after him. Feeling that he might as well be caught in the passage as in the act of getting down through the trap door, Ed turned to face his pursuer. He was a young Chinaman, very much Americanized in appearance.