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 assist 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 pass, 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!" "Sh!" 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 Passee, 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 Pass. "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 pass.