t. For some reason he did not trust
the Chinaman.

"Slomthing fly in float," was the answer, and Chung Wow coughed again.
Then he walked on, and they came behind him. But Gilbert drew his pistol
and motioned for Ben to do the same.

"I may be mistaken, but we may be walking into a trap," he whispered.

"Why, Gilbert, I don't----" began Ben, when without warning a heavy
object dropped upon his head from the limb of one of the trees and bore
him to the ground. Another object dropped on Gilbert, but he squirmed
from under,--to find himself confronted by several Chunchuses. A cry
went up, and a crashing was heard in the bushes back of the trees.

"A trick, Ben, just as I suspected!" ejaculated the young Southerner,
and he discharged his pistol point-blank at the Chinese bandit in front
of him. This done he made a leap to one side, hurling over Chung Wow as
he did so, and darted forward into some bushes. A shot was aimed at him,
but did no injury, and he kept on, running as hard as he could.

In the meantime Ben did his best to get up. But one man was on his
shoulders and another had him by the legs, so to move was next to
impossible. Then, as he continued to struggle, he received a heavy kick
from a wooden shoe which stretched him out like a log.

"He is out of the fight now," said one of the Chunchuses, as he bent
over Ben. "Go after the other. Do not let him escape if you can help it.
Americans are worth a good deal to us in these days!"

Three of the brigands remained to guard Ben and the others made after
Gilbert. But they could not catch the young Southerner, and after a long
chase they came back.

"He has gone back to his camp," said one of the Chunchuses to his chief.
"He will have his friends about our ears very shortly."

As soon as this news was received, Ben's hands and feet were bound, and
four of the Chinamen caught him up as if he were a dead animal and
hoisted him on their shoulders. Off they set at a dog-trot, with the
remaining brigands around them.

It was the jogging over the rough mountainous road which finally brought
the young captain to his senses. At first he did not realize that he was
on the move.

"Gilbert!" he called faintly. "Gilbert!"

Nobody answered him, and now he essayed to sit up. He could not budge
and consequently began to struggle.

"Be still!" cried one of the Chunchuses, in Chinese.

"Where am I? What are you doing to me?" queried Ben.

For answer he received a good