"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.