McGlory awoke from a drowse to unbosom himself of a subject which had not, as yet, claimed its proper share of attention.
"The fellow who came up the mountain and told Jackson there was a burning car piled by the roadside," said he, "said there were two Chinamen watching the conflagration. Think chink number two was Kien Lung with another yellow cord, Matt?"
"I've been thinking that it was Sam Wing, the San Francisco Chinaman, who has been keeping track of the two thieves for the mandarin."
"That's you!" exclaimed McGlory. "Why, I never thought of that dark horse. Have you any notion he coaxed the mandarin away on important business?"
"Anything's likely. For instance, it's quite likely the fat Chinaman is a washee-washee boy from 'Frisco with a fine, large imagination, and that he's stringing us."
"No _sabe_, but there's a lot of things we can't _sabe_ concerning this layout."
"He showed us all of a hundred in double eagles. But did he let us get our hands on the coin? Not any. He allows, in his large and offhand way, that he has millions of taels--but that may be one of his tales," and McGlory grinned.
"Anyhow," said Matt doggedly, "we ride to Purling to-morrow and see the man at the general store."
Matt fell into a drowse again. No one from the office came to announce the arrival of Tsan Ti, and when the hour arrived for the evening meal the boys had their supper sent to their room. They were not arrayed properly for "dining out."
Following the meal they patched up their garments with safety pins, settled their bill, and walked over to the Mountain House garage. Dusk was falling as they trundled their machines into the road and lighted their lamps.
"We'll have an easier time of it going down the mountain," said Matt, "than we had coming up."
"Don't be so sure, pard," answered McGlory. "There are a number of things to trouble us besides the road."
"Don't cross any trouble bridges until you come to them, Joe," advised Matt.
The motor boys were feeling a little stiff and sore, but their engines were humming cheerfully, and there was a joy for them in the downward spin through the woods.
They remembered the tree root, and slowed down for it as it came under their headlights; and they also remembered the location of the wrecked automobile and gave it a wide berth.