“That’s all right!” exclaimed Jimmie. “That’s all right, so far as it goes, but what about our finding this fellow all tied up?” “That’s a thing no fellow can find out!” grinned Carl. “When I followed Jimmie into the cave,” Kit replied, “there wasn’t no Chinaman lying where this fellow was found.” “We can’t solve the mystery if we talk here all night,” Ben observed, directly, “so we’d better get our suppers and make up our minds what we’re going to do through the night.” “I want to sleep!” cried Jimmie and this sentiment was echoed by all the others. “This is a nice, quiet place to sleep,” Ben said, in a sarcastic tone, “especially,” he added, “as there’s another beacon fire burning not far south of us. If you look closely, you’ll see its reflection lighting up the north wall of the canyon!” CHAPTER XI. A DANGEROUS GAME. “I’ll tell you my idea of the situation in about one minute!” Jimmie broke in. “If you follow my advice, you’ll get into the aeroplanes and get away from this old smuggler’s den. I want to get somewhere where I can lay down and sleep, and get up and eat, and go back and sleep, and get up and eat again, without being interrupted!” “Does the young man express the sentiments of the meeting?” asked Carl with a laugh. “He expresses mine!” answered Kit. “And mine, too,” replied Ben, “only——” “Only, what?” demanded Jimmie. “Only it strikes me,” Ben continued, “that we’ve stumbled on a streak of luck.” “I don’t see how!” Jimmie argued. “Look here,” explained Ben, “if Phillips and Mendoza are in this vicinity they are familiar with the stir of outlaw life about this place. It is quite probable that they know exactly what is going on, and it is also quite probable that they have not made their presence here known to the smugglers.” “Do you get the idea?” asked Carl turning to Jimmie. “I’ll tell you right now that I don’t.” “So, you see,” Ben went on with a tolerant smile, “the outlaws will credit any rumpus that takes place here to the smugglers.” “That’s all right, so far as we’re concerned,” replied Jimmie, “but what will the smugglers say to our nesting down here and cuddling up to them?” “I can answer that question!” Carl cut in. “The first time we leave camp they’ll smash our machines and consume our provisions!” “I’m not so sure about that,” Ben mused. “I have an idea that they’ll just naturally get their imported Chinamen out of the way and abandon the camp!” “That beacon fire to the south may be shouting a warning to the skies right now!” Jimmie exclaimed. “They may be sending a mob up here, right now, to steal our machines and give us decent burial.” “I wish Mr. Havens could drop out of the sky just about now!” suggested Carl. “Perhaps he could tell us what we ought to do.”