Still standing where he could see any light or hear any noise proceeding from the cavern, Carl kept his eyes fixed on the machines, rather dimly outlined by the rays of the single lamp. He had remained in this position only a short time when a cry of alarm came from the passage down which Ben had proceeded. Swinging his light and answering the call by a shrill whistle, the boy rushed forward. At the turning point he saw Ben, Jimmie and Kit standing huddled about a figure lying on the stone floor of the cavern. Seeing his light, they beckoned him to approach. “You see,” Jimmie said with a chuckle as Carl came up, “that we can’t visit any part of the world, in the air or underground, that doesn’t yield an adventure. Look what I found here!” “What is it?” asked Carl, bending forward. “Chinaman!” was the short answer. The boys stood looking into each other’s faces with wondering glances for a moment, and then Ben bent closer over the figure lying on the stone floor. “He’s still alive!” he said, in a moment. “And tied up like a chicken!” Jimmie added, pointing to the cords which bound the Chinaman’s wrists and ankles. “Any old time we don’t go and find some one tied up!” Carl laughed. “Where did you find him, Jimmie?” asked Carl. “Wait a moment, boys!” Ben advised. “We’d better get back to the machines before listening to any long stories.” “And I was just thinking,” Jimmie cut in, “that I haven’t had any supper! I’m just about starved to death!” “Perhaps that’s what’s the matter with the Chinaman,” observed Carl. “Anyway, we’d better carry him out to the machines and see how he acts when presented with a square meal,” advised Ben. “That’s all right!” Jimmie declared. “It’s all right to rescue the perishing, and all that, but if some forest ranger should come along here and find us mixed up with a Chinaman, we’d all be pinched!” “Do they smuggle on this coast?” asked Carl. “Of course they do!” replied Jimmie scornfully. “Smuggle what?” “Chinks and opium!” “Then I see myself owning the Night and Day bank when I get back to New York!” Carl exclaimed. “There’s a government reward for the capture of men who run in Chinks and smuggle opium!” “Well, we may as well be getting back to the machines,” urged Ben. “I’ll run on ahead and see if they’re all right, and you boys may bring the Chinaman along if you think best.” “We’ll bring him along all right!” Jimmie answered. “We can’t leave him lying here unconscious.” Ben found that the machines had not been molested, and in a short time his chums returned carrying the light form of the Chinaman with them. The Celestial had regained consciousness and sat gazing about with inquisitive eyes as soon as placed on the ground. “Who trussed you up?” asked Jimmie. The Chinaman shook his head until his queue rattled about like a rope’s end in the wind. “He can’t talk United States,” Carl explained. “What are we going to do with him?” asked Jimmie.