rays of the sun which were now quite warm.

"We'll be in the shade here, and yet just see the view we'll have," cried
Gif.

"Suits me," announced Spouter promptly; and the others agreed that the
spot was a first-rate location.

It did not take the six chums long to give the horses their feed and then
to empty the saddlebags and prepare their mid-day meal. They had brought
along chicken as well as roast-beef sandwiches, hard boiled eggs,
pickles, and a large cake, and also a bag of doughnuts which Hop Lung had
learned to make from Mrs. Powell and of which the Celestial was justly
proud. They also had with them a thermos bottle of hot cocoa and another
of coffee, all fixed ready to drink.

"Well, Hop Lung certainly spread himself for us," said Jack, as he took
up one of the fat chicken sandwiches and surveyed it with satisfaction.
Then he turned to the twins. "What are you grinning about?" he questioned
quickly.

"Oh, I was only thinking about the trick we played on the Chink,"
chuckled Andy.

"And I was thinking of the same thing," put in his twin.

"It's a wonder he didn't try to get square with us for that," came from
Fred. "An American would be sure to try it."

The long ride in the open air had made all of the boys hungry, and it was
not long before they had disposed of a large part of the sandwiches,
pickles and eggs, washing the meal down with cocoa and coffee and also
with water from a regular water bottle Spouter carried.

"Now I guess it's about time we passed around some of the cake," remarked
Jack, presently.

"I think I'll start on a doughnut," answered Gif.

The cake was in a square tin and had been cut ready for use. In a few
seconds all of the boys were munching away lustily.

And then something happened! It was Fred who was the first to notice that
the piece of cake he was devouring had a peculiar puckery taste. He
rolled some of the cake around in his mouth, and then suddenly ejected
it, and just as he did this Andy dropped the doughnut he was devouring.

"Oh my! What's the matter with that cake?"

"Say, this doughnut tastes like fire!"

"Gee, my mouth is burning up!"

"Give me some of that water, quick! My tongue is getting blistered!"

"What do you suppose is in this cake, anyhow, and in the doughnuts?"
demanded Jack, as he, too, made a wry face and stopped eating.

"Gracious me! do you suppose Hop Lung put the wrong stuff in the cake and
in the doughnuts?" demanded Spouter anxio