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occasionally lifting their legs in a solemn rhythmic movement known
only to childhood。
〃It's orful far off！〃 said Patsey with a sudden look of dark
importance。 〃Pap says it's free miles on the road。 Take all day
ter get there。〃
The bright faces were overcast。
〃Less go down er slide！〃 said Hickory boldly。
They approached the edge of the cliff。 The 〃slide〃 was simply a
sharp incline zigzagging down the side of the mountain used for
sliding goods and provisions from the summit to the tunnel…men at
the different openings below。 The continual traffic had gradually
worn a shallow gully half filled with earth and gravel into the
face of the mountain which checked the momentum of the goods in
their downward passage； but afforded no foothold for a pedestrian。
No one had ever been known to descend a slide。 That feat was
evidently reserved for the Pirate band。 They approached the edge
of the slide； hand in hand； hesitated； and the next moment
disappeared。
Five minutes later the tunnel…men of the Excelsior mine； a mile
below； taking their luncheon on the rude platform of debris before
their tunnel； were suddenly driven to shelter in the tunnel from an
apparent rain of stones； and rocks； and pebbles； from the cliffs
above。 Looking up； they were startled at seeing four round objects
revolving and bounding in the dust of the slide； which eventually
resolved themselves into three boys and a girl。 For a moment the
good men held their breath in helpless terror。 Twice one of the
children had struck the outer edge of the bank； and displaced
stones that shot a thousand feet down into the dizzy depths of the
valley； and now one of them； the girl； had actually rolled out of
the slide and was hanging over the chasm supported only by a clump
of chamisal to which she clung！
〃Hang on by your eyelids； sis！ but don't stir； for Heaven's sake！〃
shouted one of the men； as two others started on a hopeless ascent
of the cliff above them。
But a light childish laugh from the clinging little figure seemed
to mock them！ Then two small heads appeared at the edge of the
slide； then a diminutive figure； whose feet were apparently held by
some invisible companion； was shoved over the brink and stretched
its tiny arms towards the girl。 But in vain； the distance was too
great。 Another laugh of intense youthful enjoyment followed the
failure； and a new insecurity was added to the situation by the
unsteady hands and shoulders of the relieving party； who were
apparently shaking with laughter。 Then the extended figure was
seen to detach what looked like a small black rope from its
shoulders and throw it to the girl。 There was another little
giggle。 The faces of the men below paled in terror。 Then Polly；
for it was she；hanging to the long pigtail of Wan Lee； was drawn
with fits of laughter back in safety to the slide。 Their childish
treble of appreciation was answered by a ringing cheer from below。
〃Darned ef I ever want to cut off a Chinaman's pigtail again；
boys；〃 said one of the tunnel…men as he went back to dinner。
Meantime the children had reached the goal and stood before the
opening of one of the tunnels。 Then these four heroes who had
looked with cheerful levity on the deadly peril of their descent
became suddenly frightened at the mysterious darkness of the cavern
and turned pale at its threshold。
〃Mebbee a wicked Joss backside holee； he catchee Pilats；〃 said Wan
Lee gravely。
Hickory began to whimper； Patsey drew back； Polly alone stood her
ground； albeit with a trembling lip。
〃Let's say our prayers and frighten it away；〃 she said stoutly。
〃No！ no！〃 said Wan Lee； with a sudden alarm。 〃No frighten
Spillits！ You waitee！ Chinee boy he talkee Spillit not to
frighten you。〃*
* The Chinese pray devoutly to the Evil Spirits NOT to injure them。
Tucking his hands under his blue blouse； Wan Lee suddenly produced
from some mysterious recess of his clothing a quantity of red paper
slips which he scattered at the entrance of the cavern。 Then
drawing from the same inexhaustible receptacle certain squibs or
fireworks； he let them off and threw them into the opening。 There
they went off with a slight fizz and splutter； a momentary
glittering of small points in the darkness； and a strong smell of
gunpowder。 Polly gazed at the spectacle with undisguised awe and
fascination。 Hickory and Patsey breathed hard with satisfaction：
it was beyond their wildest dreams of mystery and romance。 Even
Wan Lee appeared transfigured into a superior being by the potency
of his own spells。 But an unaccountable disturbance of some kind
in the dim interior of the tunnel quickly drew the blood from their
blanched cheeks again。 It was a sound like coughing； followed by
something like an oath。
〃He's made the Evil Spirit orful sick；〃 said Hickory in a loud
whisper。
A slight laugh； that to the children seemed demoniacal； followed。
〃See！〃 said Wan Lee。 〃Evil Spillet he likee Chinee； try talkee
him。〃
The Pirates looked at Wan Lee； not without a certain envy of this
manifest favoritism。 A fearful desire to continue their awful
experiments； instead of pursuing their piratical avocations； was
taking possession of them； but Polly； with one of the swift
transitions of childhood； immediately began to extemporize a house
for the party at the mouth of the tunnel； and； with parental
foresight； gathered the fragments of the squibs to build a fire for
supper。 That frugal meal； consisting of half a ginger biscuit
divided into five small portions； each served on a chip of wood；
and having a deliciously mysterious flavor of gunpowder and smoke；
was soon over。 It was necessary after this that the pirates should
at once seek repose after a day of adventure； which they did for
the space of forty seconds in singularly impossible attitudes and
far too aggressive snoring。 Indeed； Master Hickory's almost
upright pose； with tightly folded arms and darkly frowning brows；
was felt to be dramatic； but impossible for a longer period。 The
brief interval enabled Polly to collect herself and to look around
her in her usual motherly fashion。 Suddenly she started and
uttered a cry。 In the excitement of the descent she had quite
overlooked her doll； and was now regarding it with round…eyed
horror。
〃Lady Mary's hair's gone！〃 she cried； convulsively grasping the
Pirate Hickory's legs。
Hickory at once recognized the battered doll under the aristocratic
title which Polly had long ago bestowed upon it。 He stared at the
bald and battered head。
〃Ha！ ha！〃 he said hoarsely； 〃skelped by Injins！〃
For an instant the delicious suggestion soothed the imaginative
Polly。 But it was quickly dispelled by Wan Lee。
〃Lady Maley's pigtail hangee top side hillee。 Catchee on big
quartz stone allee same Polly； me go fetchee。〃
〃No！〃 quickly shrieked the others。 The prospect of being left in
the proximity of Wan Lee's evil spirit； without Wan Lee's
exorcising power； was anything but reassuring。 〃No； don't go！〃
Even Polly （dropping a maternal tear on the bald head of Lady Mary）
protested against this breaking up of the little circle。 〃Go to
bed！〃 she said autho