They passed on to a point at some distance from the bathing houses to a place where there had once been quite a little grouping of little shacks where various kinds of small business had once been carried on.
But these, owing to certain changes, had all been abandoned since the fire. Many of them had been pulled down and carried away for firewood. The few which still remained were all unoccupied and fast going to ruin.
Skeep Hup's description of the place would have fitted either one of those remaining.
Even Old King Brady was at fault, sure as he had been that he could easily identify the house.
They returned to the North Beach proper and started to inquire.
They could not find any one who remembered old Gong Schow, strange as it seemed, for the man had been there for several years.
"It looks as though we should have to give it up altogether," remarked Harry when this stage of the game was reached.
"It does," replied Old King Brady, "and it don't give us the Chinese Princess either. There is but one way to solve the mystery that I can think that is to get hold of some old Chink who knew and had business with Gong Schow."
"But it is doubtful if such a person can be made to tell."
"Very."