Chinaman came to a dead halt. "Who callee?" he yelled. "Who callee Ah Sid?"
"I called you, you monkey. Come here," answered Dawson, and now Ah Sid saw us and reached our side on the double-quick.
"Me gittee away flom bad man," he puffed. "Hide in tree woods, or him cochee all flee—lun! lun!" And he lost no time in diving into the forest, and we came after him.
We had scarcely concealed ourselves when two Tagals burst into view, skipping along the sands with long spears in their hands, ready to be launched forth at the first sight of the terror-stricken Celestial. Ah Sid's footprints were plainly visible, so they lost no time in following him into the forest.
"We must down them!" whispered Dawson excitedly, and as one of the Tagals passed him he leaped out, caught hold of the man's spear, and threw him headlong. Seeing this, I threw myself on the second copper-colored rascal, and a fierce, all-around struggle ensued.
It was little Ah Sid who turned the tide of battle in our favor. Paralyzed at first with fear, he quickly recovered, and picking up a big stone, approached and struck first one enemy and then the other on the head. The blows were well directed and heavy, and each Tagal went down insensible.
