e is Hop!" she exclaimed in a low voice. "Maybe he can help us out."

Jim brightened when he saw the clever Chinaman, for he knew very well
that Hop had been of great value to them in such cases.

"Come here," he said, beckoning to him. "Don't make any noise, Hop."

"Me no makee noisee," was the reply. "Me knowee allee 'boutee; me just
see Misler Wild. He tied to um post, and ten mans by him. Allee samee
velly muchee bad workee."

"You saw Wild!" Arietta exclaimed, looking at the Chinaman in surprise.

"Lat allee samee light, Missy Alietta."

"Where did you see him?"

"Me go uppee lere, and me allee samee lookee down on um other side, so
be."

"Great Scott!" cried Jim Dart. "Who would have thought of doing that?
Hop, you are a dandy!"

"Me velly muchee smartee Chinee, so be," was the reply. "Where Misler
Charlie? Me takee and showee where Misler Wild is velly muchee quicken,
so be."

Jim gave a signal, which was answered right away by the scout, who was
crouching behind a big boulder, right close to the curtained entrance of
the cave.

The next minute Charlie was seen approaching them.

"Come on," said Jim. "Hop has seen Wild, and he wants to show us where
he is."

CHAPTER XII.

THE OUTLAWS TAKE SOME MORE PRISONERS.

As soon as Hop had explained just how they could get up to the top of
the ridge Cheyenne Charlie was eager to go.

"Ther gals kin go back ter Big Bonanza, I reckon," he said. "Then there
won't be any danger of 'em gittin' hurt."

Anna and Eloise were perfectly willing to this, but Arietta shook her
head.

"I am going to stay here till Wild is free," she declared.

The scout knew very well that there was no use in arguing the question
with her. Arietta had a mind of her own, and the only one she would ever
listen to was Young Wild West.

"All right," the scout said, "Hop, you jest show us where yer got up
there, an' me an' Jim will go up an' take a look."

He quickly showed them, and then Charlie and Jim at once began to
ascend.

Arietta promptly followed them.

"Hop, you stay here with the girls till we come back," she said, "Keep a
watch, and if anything happens call out to us."

"Allee light, Missy Alietta," he answered, though he would have much
liked to go up with them, since it was he who had made the important
discovery.

Young Wild West's two partners and Arietta were soon out of sight.

Anna and Eloise watched them until they disappeared, and they continued
to l