in fine shape.

Both Wild and the scout fired three or four shots apiece, and some of
them took chips off the high heels of the boots the cowboys wore.

"I reckon that will be about all," said our hero, as he ejected the
shells from his revolver and then coolly proceeded to reload the
chambers. "You galoots will know better the next time. I don't much like
the looks of you, but I want to tell you that if you happen to take a
notion to get square with us for what has happened you'll get the worst
of it. I hope you understand what I say."

The rascals--for they were undoubtedly such--did not stop to make a
reply, but darted into the saloon.

The Chinaman gave a parting laugh, and then, turning to the other
Celestial, observed:

"Me havee velly nallow escapee, my blother."

"You allee samee velly muchee fool!" was the retort. "You allee timee
lookee for um tanglefoot, so be."

"Me havee two velly nicee lillee dlinks, my blother; you no havee."

"Me no wantee," was the scornful rejoinder.

It was Wing, the cook, who claimed he did not want any whisky.

He was just a common, everyday Chinee, who did his work well and slept
whenever he had nothing else to do, providing no one disturbed him.

Hop, on the other hand, was one of the very shrewd and cunning ones of
his race.

Gifted with the art of sleight-of-hand, a lover of gambling and a
fondness for playing jokes on people had made him a great character,
indeed.

But he was a real fixture to the party that Young Wild West led, and as
he had on more than one occasion been the means of saving the lives of
different members of it through his cleverness, he was thought a great
deal of by them all, and many of his shortcomings were overlooked.

Having disposed of the cowboys, Young Wild West now asked the keeper of
the saloon if he thought there would be any objections to their pitching
a camp somewhere around in the vicinity.

"I reckon not," was the reply. "There ain't no one as lives here in Big
Bonanza, what would 'ject ter anything like that. They've all heard tell
about Young Wild West, I reckon, an' some of 'em says as how they've
seen yer. Yer kin bet that yer will be welcome here! Jest help
yourselves ter any spot yer want."

"Thank you. I thought perhaps some one might raise objections--the three
cowboys, for instance."

"Oh, they're strangers here. I never seen them until this afternoon.
They must have come a putty long ways, fur there ain't a ran