"How are you all? I took a
notion to ride over to-night through Forbidden Pass. I did not let the
notion get out of my head, and came right away. How is business,
anyway?"

Several of the men hastened to shake hands with him, and soon a lively
conversation was taking place.

"So yer come through ther pass, eh?" observed Hoker, after there came a
lull. "A putty risky thing ter do, I reckon."

"Well, I don't know. You see, I have had the place watched pretty
closely the last few days, and not the least sign of any one has been
discovered there. I feel that the outlaws, if there were any there, have
left for some other parts."

Just then Cap Roche happened to set eyes on Hop Wah, who was sitting at
a table, showing half a dozen miners some tricks with a pack of cards.

"Hello! You've got a heathen here, eh?" he exclaimed. "When did he
strike here!"

"Late this afternoon, Cap," answered Hoker. "He's a great Chinee, too.
He's a sleight-of-hand feller, an' he kin handle dice an' cards any way
he wants ter. A man don't stand no more show winnin' from him than he
does walkin' on air."

"Ah! He must be a curious sort of a heathen, then. Did he come here
alone?"

"Oh, no. He come here with Young Wild West. You've heard of him, I
reckon?"

"Yes, I believe I have. A sort of dashing young fellow, who can shoot
well, isn't he?"

"Well, I should say so! You oughter been here a couple of hours ago an'
seen what he done ter three cowboys! He sartinly did take ther starch
out of 'em in no time."

"Yes?" and the two-faced man arched his eyebrows and looked surprised.
"I should like to get acquainted with the young fellow. Where is he
stopping?"

"Right down below here. He carries a campin' outfit with him, an' he's
got two young gals an' a young woman along, as well as his two pards an'
this Chinee an' another one. Oh, Young Wild West is used ter goin'
about, an' it don't 'pear ter make any difference ter him an' his
friends whether there's a hotel ter put up at or not. They didn't even
ask me if I could accommodate 'em."

Hoker shook his head, as though he felt that he had been slighted
somewhat.

But Cap Roche only smiled.

"I reckon they could tell by the size of your shanty that there wasn't
much chance of getting accommodated here," he said. "I don't wonder that
they didn't ask you. Why don't you put up a bigger shanty, like we've
got over at the Bend? This place is growing all the time, and the time
will soon