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diff --git a/26540-h/26540-h.htm b/26540-h/26540-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1ab320 --- /dev/null +++ b/26540-h/26540-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7575 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone, by G. Harvey Ralphson. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size: 1.2em;} + hr.full {width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + div.ce p {text-align: center; margin: auto 0;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size:.8em;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + hr.minor {width: 35%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + hr.silver {width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size: 1.4em;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone, by G. Harvey Ralphson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone + The Plot Against Uncle Sam + +Author: G. Harvey Ralphson + +Release Date: September 5, 2008 [EBook #26540] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY SCOUTS IN THE CANAL ZONE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 316px; height: 522px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 316px;'> +FRONTISPIECE. Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone; or The Plot Against Uncle Sam.<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:2.2em; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:;'>Boy Scouts</p> +<p style=' font-size:2.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:0.5em;'>in the Canal Zone</p> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>Or</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:1em;'>The Plot Against Uncle Sam</p> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>By</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>Scout Master, G. Harvey Ralphson</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-emb.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 139px; height: 183px;' /><br /> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>Author of</p> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>“Boy Scouts in Mexico; or On Guard with Uncle Sam.”</p> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>“Boy Scouts in the Philippines; or The Key to the Treaty Box.”</p> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:4em;'>“Boy Scouts in the Northwest; or Fighting Forest Fires.”</p> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:2em;'>Embellished with full page and other illustrations.</p> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>M. A. Donohue & Company, Chicago</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:; font-variant:small-caps;'>Copyright 1911.</p> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:0.5em; font-variant:small-caps;'>M. A. Donohue & Company.</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:3em;'>ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.</p> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:1em;'>Made in U. S. A.</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>M. A. Donohue & Co.</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:1em;'>Contents</p> +</div> + +<table border='0' width='500' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>I.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Plot Against the Gatun Dam.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_THE_PLOT_AGAINST_THE_GATUN_DAM'>7</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>II.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Theft of the Emerald Necklace.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_THEFT_OF_THE_EMERALD_NECKLACE'>19</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>III.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>How the Trick was Turned.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_HOW_THE_TRICK_WAS_TURNED'>31</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Man in the Closet.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_THE_MAN_IN_THE_CLOSET'>43</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>V.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>At the Great Gatun Dam.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_AT_THE_GREAT_GATUN_DAM'>55</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Bomb and a Ruined Temple.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_A_BOMB_AND_A_RUINED_TEMPLE'>67</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Working on Ned’s Theory.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_WORKING_ON_NED_S_THEORY'>79</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Explosives for the Gatun Dam.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_EXPLOSIVES_FOR_THE_GATUN_DAM'>93</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Fasting Stunt is Suggested.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_A_FASTING_STUNT_IS_SUGGESTED'>105</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>X.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Delegation of Boy Scouts.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_A_DELEGATION_OF_BOY_SCOUTS'>116</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Jack and His Friend Gastong.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_JACK_AND_HIS_FRIEND_GASTONG'>127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Lost in the Jungle at Night.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_LOST_IN_THE_JUNGLE_AT_NIGHT'>139</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Boy Scouts to the Rescue.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_BOY_SCOUTS_TO_THE_RESCUE'>150</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Kill in the Jungle.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_THE_KILL_IN_THE_JUNGLE'>161</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Signal Fires in the Jungle.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_SIGNAL_FIRES_IN_THE_JUNGLE'>172</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Mighty Jar in the Jungle.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_A_MIGHTY_JAR_IN_THE_JUNGLE'>183</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Watcher in the Thicket.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII_THE_WATCHER_IN_THE_THICKET'>194</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Jimmie Releases a Prisoner.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVIII_JIMMIE_RELEASES_A_PRISONER'>207</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Guardian Needing Guarding.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIX_A_GUARDIAN_NEEDING_GUARDING'>220</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Spoil of the Locks.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XX_THE_SPOIL_OF_THE_LOCKS'>233</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Tangle Straightened Out.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXI_THE_TANGLE_STRAIGHTENED_OUT'>245</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span></div> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>OR</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.3em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:1em;'>The Plot Against Uncle Sam</p> +</div> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='I_THE_PLOT_AGAINST_THE_GATUN_DAM' id='I_THE_PLOT_AGAINST_THE_GATUN_DAM'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>THE PLOT AGAINST THE GATUN DAM.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Five Black Bears, two Wolves, and a Panther. +That would be a choice collection of wild +animals to take to the Canal Zone.”</p> +<p>The remark was greeted with shouts of laughter, +and then the boys in the handsome clubroom +of the Black Bear Patrol, in the city of New York, +settled down to a serious discussion of the topic +of the evening. There were seven present, Ned +Nestor and Jimmie McGraw, of the Wolf Patrol; +George Tolford, Harry Stevens, Glen Howard, +and Jack Bosworth, of the famous Black Bear +Patrol; and Peter Fenton, of the Panther Patrol. +They ranged in age from thirteen to seventeen, +Jimmie being the youngest and Ned Nestor the +oldest of the group. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span></p> +<p>They were all enthusiastic Boy Scouts, and +their clubrooms were well supplied with boxing +gloves, foils, and footballs, as well as weapons +and articles necessary on camping expeditions. +The clubroom in which the boys were assembled +on this gusty night in early April was situated in +the upper part of the fine residence of Jack’s +father, on Fifth avenue. The Black Bear +Patrol was composed almost entirely of the sons +of very wealthy parents, and the boys were off +to the woods and waters whenever opportunity +offered.</p> +<p>In company with Lieutenant Gordon, of the +United States Secret Service, and Frank Shaw, +a member of the Black Bear Patrol, whose arrival +was momentarily expected, the boys present +had, on the previous day, returned from a series +of unusual and exciting experiences in Mexico, +and now they were discussing a proposed plan for +an excursion to the Canal Zone. Of course they +could make the trip if they desired, but what +they wanted was to go in the company of Lieutenant +Gordon, sent there on a secret mission by +the Secretary of War.</p> +<p>“Aw, come on, Ned, an’ be a good feller,” +Jimmie McGraw urged, as Nestor expressed +a doubt as to the advisability of taking the boys +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span> +on the Canal Zone trip, to which he had been +invited by the lieutenant, both as assistant and +companion. “Let us go! We’ll talk the lieutenant +into letting us go along if you’ll say a good +word for us.”</p> +<p>During the trip to Mexico to which reference +has been made, Ned Nestor had succeeded in +averting serious complications between the government +of that rebellious republic and the +government of the United States. Through his +efforts a threatened raid across the Rio Grande +from the Mexican side had been checked on the +very border, and the secret service men associated +with him did not hesitate to declare that +his tact and activity had done much to prevent a +war between the two countries.</p> +<p>Before leaving the scene of their operations +in Mexico, Lieutenant Gordon had been ordered +to New York on important official business. +Only an inkling of what that official business +was contained in his letter of instructions. Only +the bare fact that complications in the Canal +Zone were placing the Panama Canal in danger +was conveyed to him. Later, after his arrival +in New York, he had learned that the government +suspected plots to destroy the great Gatun +dam by the use of explosives. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span></p> +<p>Only a hint of the threatened danger had +been conveyed to the War department, but that +was enough to set on foot the investigation of +which Lieutenant Gordon was to be the head. +One of the lieutenant’s first acts after receiving +his instructions was to secure the services of Ned +Nestor, being guided in this by the wonderful +success of the boy’s efforts in Mexico.</p> +<p>Thus it chanced that on this night every boy +who had had the good fortune to share in the +Mexican adventures was importuning Nestor +to use his influence with the lieutenant in order +that they might all be taken into the party. +They had already gained the consent of their +parents, Nestor, individually, was willing, and +it only remained to convince Lieutenant Gordon +that they could be of use to him and the government +on the Canal Zone.</p> +<p>“If you don’t loosen up and take us with +you,” Harry Stevens declared, with a grin in the +direction of his companions, “we’ll give you a +chase to the equator. You know how you found +Jimmie in George’s bed? Well, if you don’t +take us along with you, you’ll find us all in your +bed before you get to Panama.”</p> +<p>“It seems a pity to unload such a mess of wild +animals on the people of the Zone,” laughed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +Nestor, “but we’ll leave it all to Lieutenant +Gordon. Lavish your honeyed words and smiles +on him!”</p> +<p>“What’s it all about, anyway?” demanded +Jimmie. “It’s something concerning the big +canal, I know, for I heard you two talking of +explosives at the Gatun dam.”</p> +<p>“We all heard that,” cried Jack Bosworth. +“You can’t keep secrets from us. What is it all +about? Is some one trying to blow up the big +dam?”</p> +<p>Nestor looked into the faces of the boys with +serious eyes. He had not suspected that they +knew anything definite regarding the secret +mission, and was annoyed to think that he in part +might be to blame for the leak which had been +discovered.</p> +<p>“Is that what you’re going for?” asked Harry +Stevens. “Are you going to mix with governmental +affairs again? Because we’ve got to go +if you are. Honest, now, we won’t say a word +if you tell us.”</p> +<p>“Do you all promise that?” asked Nestor.</p> +<p>“Sure we do,” came in chorus.</p> +<p>“Well, then,” Nestor went on, “we don’t +know much about the matter, except that there +are hostile influences at work down there, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +directed against the canal. We do not know the +proposed point of attack, but presume that the +big dam is in the greatest danger. We do +not even know where to look for the plotters, or +whether they are Americans or of foreign birth. +The motive for the contemplated destruction of +the great waterway is not even surmised. In +fact, for all we know, this may be a scare, but +the thing is serious enough to call for rigid investigation, +so down there we go.”</p> +<p>“Sure you can’t get along without us!” +cried Jimmie. “If you want to know who is +at the bottom of it all, just ask me. It’s the +railroads. I’ve heard men say the canal would +have been finished years ago only for the determined +opposition of the transcontinental +lines.”</p> +<p>“Much you know about it!” cried Harry +Stevens. “If anybody should ask you where +to look for the trouble, put your finger on the +map of Japan. The little brown men are digging +under the Gatun dam if any one is.”</p> +<p>“It does not seem possible that either the +Japanese government or the railroad interests +would descend to such despicable work,” Nestor +said. “I won’t believe it of either of them until +I have absolute proof.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></p> +<p>“It would be going some to blow up the +Gatun dam,” Peter Fenton cut in. “Why, +when finished, that dam will be more than a +hundred feet high, and will cover one hundred +and sixty-four square miles with water. Its +purpose is to huddle the highland streams into a +lake which will become a part of the canal. This +lake will cover plantations, small farms, villages, +and even the present right of way of the Panama +railroad.”</p> +<p>“If they succeed in blowing up the Gatun +dam,” Jack said, “there will be no Canal Completion +Exposition in San Francisco in four +years. That would be a shame, for we were all +going.”</p> +<p>“Think of all that land being put down in the +bed of a lake!” Harry Stevens exclaimed. “We +ought to have taken a tip when the canal was +first talked about and bought up that property. +Uncle Sam would have bought it of us at a fancy +price. Just think of a sure-thing speculation +like that.”</p> +<p>Peter Fenton, known as the Encyclopedia, +sat back in his chair and laughed until his face +was as red as the painted snout of the black bear +which looked down from a shield on the wall. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +The boys shook him up until he regained the +power of speech.</p> +<p>“If you boys had been one year old when the +Panama Canal was first mentioned,” he managed +to say, choking back his laughter, “you +would now stand at the venerable age of four +hundred and sixteen years.”</p> +<p>“I guess you get your history in the dream +book,” Jimmie cried.</p> +<p>“Nixy dream book,” declared Peter, with +the dignity which comes of much knowledge. +“The Spaniards who lived in the Province of +New Granada, on the Isthmus of Darien, as it +was then called, planned a ship canal across the +neck in the year 1518, and there has been talk +of the big ditch ever since.”</p> +<p>“Then it takes a long time to get at the job,” +suggested Jimmie. “The trench could have +been scooped out with a teaspoon in less than +four hundred years.”</p> +<p>“Wait until you get down there! You’ll +see what impression your teaspoon would make. +I’ve been reading up since I’ve returned to New +York, and know something about the size of the +job. The canal will cost millions more than +Congress figured on, and the job is going ahead +without graft, at that.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></p> +<p>“Still,” Harry Stevens interrupted, “it would +have been a wise move to have annexed a lot of +that land.”</p> +<p>“If your speculation had developed when the +first talk of the canal was heard,” Peter went on, +“you would have had to do business with King +Ferdinand, of Spain. He would have put the +soil on the bargain counter for you one day and +shot you up the next. That wouldn’t have been +so cheerful.”</p> +<p>“Nice party to do business with,” laughed +Harry.</p> +<p>“He was next to his king job, all right,” +Peter continued. “He was there with the gunpowder +when any subject stood to put anything +over on him. He caused Columbus to be returned +to Spain in chains, and permitted one of +his officials to shoot up the first white man who +ever looked out on the Pacific from the divide +of the Isthmus. He carried things by a large +majority, did Ferdinand.”</p> +<p>“It was his queen who put her jewels in soak +to buy a ship for Columbus,” commented +Jack Bosworth. “I read about it when I was +laid up with my broken arm. You remember +the time the horse climbed into my motor car?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span></p> +<p>“The police say you never stopped running +until you bumped against one of the White +Mountains,” laughed Harry. “Who was this +white man who first climbed the divide?” he +asked; “as I’m going down there, I want to know. +I may set up a monument to his memory.”</p> +<p>“Don’t be too sure about going,” warned +Glen Howard. “Lieutenant Gordon may kick +on the whole bunch of us.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll all go down in my motor boat,” +replied Harry. “You can’t keep me out of the +Canal Zone when there’s things doing.”</p> +<p>“The man’s name was Balboa,” said Peter, +in answer to the question, as he smiled at this +tardy recognition of the services of the explorer. +“He went broke at St. Domingo, one day in the +year 1510, and hired a fellow to head him up in a +wine cask and put the cask on board a ship +bound for Darien. He made the trip, all right, +and landed broke, but in three years he was captain +of the precinct, as they say in Manhattan, +and on his way to the Pacific. He looked out on +the big ocean for the first time on the 26th of +September, 1513. Some say it was the 25th. +I don’t know which is right.”</p> +<p>The door of the clubroom now opened and +Lieutenant Gordon entered. He was a man of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +not more than thirty, with a stern though not +forbidding face and an alert military figure. +His brown eyes lighted up with sudden humor as +he dodged the clamorous boys, and dropped into +a chair.</p> +<p>“What about it?” asked Jimmie, who seemed +to be a favorite with the officer. “Do we go +with you, or do we trail along in the motor boat?”</p> +<p>“The man higher up,” began the lieutenant, +“says you may go with me if you will try to—”</p> +<p>There was no necessity for the lieutenant +going on with the sentence. He had warned the +boys so many times as to their conduct on the +Isthmus, if permitted to go with the secret service +men, that they now knew in advance what +he was going to say, and they repeated his former +admonitions with shouts of laughter.</p> +<p>“All right,” said the lieutenant, trying to +look dignified, “if you won’t listen you can’t go.”</p> +<p>“Go on an’ talk your chin off,” shouted +Jimmie. “We’ll listen to every word until our +arms drop to the floor.”</p> +<p>“Never mind that now,” laughed the officer. +“I’m too busy at present to speak the advice +you’ll all forget before I’m out of the room. +Where is Frank Shaw? I came here to see him.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span></p> +<p>“He was coming down to-night,” George +Tolford replied, “but it is so late now that he +may not be here. Anything special?”</p> +<p>“Why, yes,” was the reply. “I want to +know what he has been saying to his father about +the difficulty in the Canal Zone.”</p> +<p>“Why, he doesn’t know anything to tell,” +said Nestor, “not even as much as the boys here +now know, for I have talked the situation over +with them but not with him.”</p> +<p>“What do they know regarding the situation?” +asked the lieutenant, apprehensively.</p> +<p>“Nothing except that the Panama canal is +threatened by some unknown influence.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said the lieutenant, thoughtfully, +“some one has been leaking, and it seems as if +our first move in the game must be made right +here in New York.”</p> +<p>“It wasn’t Frank that leaked,” Jimmie asserted, +in defense of his friend. “He wouldn’t +do such a thing, and he couldn’t tell what he +didn’t know, anyway,” with which logical conclusion +the boy turned his back to the group.</p> +<p>“There is something wrong somewhere,” +Lieutenant Gordon said. “Wait until I tell +you what took place this afternoon and you will +agree with me.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='II_THEFT_OF_THE_EMERALD_NECKLACE' id='II_THEFT_OF_THE_EMERALD_NECKLACE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<h3>THEFT OF THE EMERALD NECKLACE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Early this afternoon,” the lieutenant went +on as the boys gathered about him, “I was interviewed +by a reporter for the <i>Daily Planet</i>.”</p> +<p>“Frank’s father owns that newspaper,” +Jimmie suggested.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the officer, “and that is why I +thought Frank might know something of the +origin of the inquiry. The reporter was not +slow in getting at the point he was in my rooms +to discuss. Almost the first question he asked +me was this: ‘Is it true that the government +has ordered you to the Canal Zone to investigate +an alleged plot to blow up the Gatun dam?’ +Coming from a reporter, as it did, the question +knocked me all in a heap.”</p> +<p>Ned Nestor leaned forward with a new interest +showing in his face.</p> +<p>“I should think so,” he said. “What did +you tell him?”</p> +<p>“I tried to bluff him out at first, but soon +learned that he knew more about the Zone situation +than I did. He didn’t get much information +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +from me, but I learned from him that the <i>Daily +Planet</i> is wise to the whole situation, as the +boys say. Now, the question is this: ‘Where +did the editor secure his information?’ I asked +him in so many words, but he only laughed at +me.”</p> +<p>“The place to go for that information,” +Nestor suggested, “is to the editor himself. +Mr. Shaw would, of course, know all about it.”</p> +<p>“That is exactly what I thought,” said +the lieutenant, “so I lost no time in getting to +the editorial rooms. Mr. Shaw was there, and +treated me very courteously, but the only satisfaction +I could get from him was the information +that he knew something of what was going on, +and was doing his best to secure enough facts +regarding the matter for a news story.”</p> +<p>“I may be able to get more than that out of +him,” George ventured.</p> +<p>“I doubt it,” the lieutenant said, “for he is +afraid some rival newspaper will get an inkling +of the matter and beat him out on the sensation +he is preparing. It seems that his men have +discovered documentary evidence of some sort, +papers which might be of great value in the hands +of the government.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span></p> +<p>“Wouldn’t he give you a hint as to the contents +of the papers?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“No; he wouldn’t even give me an idea as +to the parties he suspects. I think he might +have done that, in the interest of good government. +Well, of course his information is his +own, but he might have trusted me not to betray +his confidence to his rivals. I must confess that +I don’t like his attitude in the matter.”</p> +<p>“The papers may contain nothing the government +could use,” Ned observed, “although their +value to the newspaper may be great.”</p> +<p>“I would like to get a look at them, all the +same,” said Gordon.</p> +<p>“I wish he would call off his reporters,” Ned +went on. “If they go about the city asking the +questions they asked of you, the plotters will +soon know that they are being watched, and that +will make their capture more difficult.”</p> +<p>“That is the idea,” exclaimed the lieutenant. +“Perhaps we can get him to let the case alone +for a few days.”</p> +<p>“That is doubtful,” Ned said, “but there is +one ray of light in the situation. If the plotters +find out that the editor of the <i>Daily Planet</i> has +documentary evidence against them, they may +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +try to steal the papers, and so disclose their +identity.”</p> +<p>“I would steal them myself if I got a chance,” +laughed Gordon. “The government needs every +pointer it can get.”</p> +<p>“Better let the others try first,” advised +Nestor, with a smile. “It really does begin to +look as if the first move in this Panama game +might be made right here in New York.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to know where Shaw got the pointer,” +Gordon said, in a moment. “I thought at +first that Frank might have let out something +in asking permission to go to the Zone.”</p> +<p>“He doesn’t know a thing about it,” Jimmie +put in, warm in the defense of his friend. “How +could he drop a hint, then?”</p> +<p>“There was something said about the situation +in Panama before we left the Sierra del +Fierro mountains in Mexico,” said Nestor, “but +I can’t for the life of me tell just what it was.”</p> +<p>“It was nothing definite,” said Harry Stevens, +“for I had forgotten all about it. There +was some talk about our going to the Canal Zone, +but nothing was decided on, and the plot against +the government wasn’t mentioned. At least that +is my best recollection of the talk there.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span></p> +<p>“There was something more than that said,” +the lieutenant observed, “but that is unimportant +now. The thing to do, if we can, is to stop +this investigation by the <i>Daily Planet</i>. The +reporters will let the cat out of the bag and the +interests back of the plot will either act immediately, +before we can check them, or delay the +matter until everything in connection with it +is forgotten.”</p> +<p>“If the papers collected by the <i>Daily +Planet</i> people give any inkling of the motive +which is leading the plotters on,” Nestor said, +“we really ought to get hold of them.”</p> +<p>“I believe you are as bad as the lieutenant, +and would steal them yourself if you got a +chance,” grinned Jimmie.</p> +<p>“I would at least try to get a look at them,” +was the reply.</p> +<p>“Look here, fellows!” George Tolford cried, +excitedly, “I think I know where Mr. Shaw got +his pointer. It is this way: Mr. Shaw is interested +in Zone property, and owns a large block +of stock in an emerald mine. He spent most of +the past winter on the Isthmus, and there is +where he unearthed the story. You take it from +me that this is right.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span></p> +<p>“That view of the case makes it all the more +imperative that we learn the contents of the +papers Mr. Shaw has,” said the lieutenant, rising +and pacing the room excitedly. “If he got +his information on the Isthmus, it is more than +likely that it points out not only the motive but +also the interest which is planning the outrage. +I must send some high official to talk with Mr. +Shaw. He is interested in an emerald mine, +you say?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Sure he is,” replied George Tolford. “Frank +told me all about it not long ago, at the time he +showed me an emerald necklace his father gave +him.”</p> +<p>“An emerald necklace,” repeated Jimmie. +“What you gettin’ at? Boys don’t wear necklaces.”</p> +<p>“This emerald necklace,” George went on, +“is as old as the hills. Frank says the stones +were taken out of a mine in a valley in the interior +of Colombia four hundred years ago. There +are twenty-five stones, each weighing over six +carats. Taken separately, the stones are worth +a thousand each, and together their price is +fabulous. Frank says the necklace formerly +belonged to some secret order of natives, and that +$100,000 has been offered for it because of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +perfectly matched stones, and because of its +wonderful history. It is a peach, I can tell you +that, and Frank will never go broke as long as he +sticks to it.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t know that there were any emeralds +down that way,” Glen Howard said. “We +will bring a couple of carloads back with us.”</p> +<p>“Emeralds down that way!” repeated Peter +Fenton. “Why, the best emeralds in the world +are found in South America. The very best are +found in veins traversing clay-slate, hornblende +slate, and granite, in a little valley not far from +Bogota, the capital of the United States of +Colombia. Inferior stones are found imbedded +in mica slate in Europe. You see I’ve been +reading up on South America.”</p> +<p>“It looks that way,” laughed Lieutenant +Gordon. “I must get a look at Frank’s emerald +necklace before I leave New York.”</p> +<p>“We may find one like it in the ruins of +Spanish Panama,” said Peter.</p> +<p>“Guess there ain’t many ruins around Panama,” +declared Jimmie. “Not many ruins anywhere +Uncle Sam’s soldiers are.”</p> +<p>“Just the same,” persisted Peter, “the Panama +built by the Spaniards in the year 1518 is +now in ruins, unless it has been restored since +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +the Americans took possession of the Canal +Zone. It lies six miles to the northeast of the +present city of that name.”</p> +<p>“I wish Frank would drop in to-night,” the +lieutenant said, after a pause. “I have an idea +that he might suggest something of value just +now, some way in which his father may be +reached. We are leaving for the Zone on Thursday +morning, so have only one more day in the +city, consequently there is no time to lose.”</p> +<p>The boys fairly shrieked their appreciation +of the information that they were to depart for +the Isthmus so soon, and gathered about Lieutenant +Gordon with extended hands.</p> +<p>“But you must understand this,” the lieutenant +said, returning the greetings heartily, +“you are not supposed to be in my company at +all. I may need to talk with some of you, but if +I do it will be in a casual manner, just as one +tourist might address another. I am traveling +alone, understand. I shall stop at the Tivoli, at +Ancon, a short distance from Panama, and you +will have a cottage in the jungle, near Gatun.”</p> +<p>“And we are to ramble about wherever we +like?” asked Harry.</p> +<p>“Wherever you like,” was the reply, “only +you must not look me up unless in case of serious +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +trouble. I’ll communicate with you when necessary.”</p> +<p>The boys all agreed to the conditions readily +enough; they would have consented to almost +any arrangement in order to be taken on the +trip. After the details were disposed of, Ned +called the lieutenant aside and asked him a most +surprising question:</p> +<p>“Are you really thinking of trying to steal +those papers?”</p> +<p>“I’ve a great mind to make the attempt,” +was the smiling reply. “We need them in our +business, and, besides, the government has +plenty of men here who may as well be working +on this case as any other.”</p> +<p>“This is on the theory that the papers may +reveal to you the nature of the plot and the +names of the plotters?”</p> +<p>“That is the idea, exactly. I have no doubt +now that Mr. Shaw secured his pointers while +on the Isthmus, and the papers doubtless contain +information which it might take us months +to procure. Yes, I think I shall set men at work +on the case to-morrow. Besides getting the papers, +we will rob Shaw of his sensation. A publication +of the situation just now would be a +calamity.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span></p> +<p>“I think,” Nestor said, modestly, “that I see +a way to accomplish the ends you seek without +resorting to larceny. Will you promise me that +you will do nothing further in the matter of the +documents until I have talked with you again on +the subject?”</p> +<p>“But it is imperative that we act quickly,” +protested the lieutenant.</p> +<p>“I understand that,” Nestor replied, “but, +all the same, I think I see a way to gain our ends +by keeping out of the way at present. Will you +promise?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes! Have your own way about it. I +can set the men at work just before we leave +New York, and the information contained in the +papers can be sent to me by code. Have your +own way, my boy.”</p> +<p>“Thank you,” Nestor said, and the two +returned to the main room. The ’phone in a +closet near the door was ringing sharply, and +Harry Stevens entered the closet and shut the +door. In a moment exclamations of dismay and +surprise were heard issuing from the other side +of the closed door, and then Harry bounced back +into the room, his face white, his eyes shining +with excitement.</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked half a dozen voices. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span></p> +<p>“Lieutenant Gordon and Ned are wanted at +Shaw’s house at once,” the boy said. “Go on +the run, boys, for there is something stirring +there. Mr. Shaw has been chloroformed, the +servants knocked about like tenpins, and Frank’s +emerald necklace has been stolen. We’ll wait +here for news.”</p> +<p>“And so,” the lieutenant said, looking Nestor +in the eyes, “you were waiting for the interests +back of this thing to show their hand by +trying to get the papers.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Nestor, “I had an idea the +interests would try to do a little stealing on their +own hook.”</p> +<p>“But if they have secured the papers—”</p> +<p>The lieutenant hesitated, and Nestor went on:</p> +<p>“If they have secured the papers, they know +no more now than they did before. They are not +out after information concerning their own plots. +They are trying to reduce the outside supply of +knowledge about their movements.”</p> +<p>“There was nothing said about papers being +stolen, was there?” asked the lieutenant. “Perhaps +the necklace really was the point of attack.”</p> +<p>Nestor turned to George Tolford.</p> +<p>“Do you know where Frank kept his necklace?” +he asked. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span></p> +<p>“Sure I do,” was the quick reply. “He kept +it in a hinky-dinky little safe up in his room. +I told him he was foolish to take such a risk +with it.”</p> +<p>“Did he keep the safe locked?”</p> +<p>“Locked! Not half the time. He would +rush in there, open it up, and then run all over +the house, leaving the door swinging.”</p> +<p>Nestor and the lieutenant now left the room, +after asking the boys to wait there for a short +time. Once out on the street, the lieutenant +remarked:</p> +<p>“If the necklace was kept in Frank’s room, +why did the thief take the pains to chloroform +Mr. Shaw, who must have been in his own +room?”</p> +<p>Nestor shrugged his shoulders for reply. +That was a point he had already considered. +Again the lieutenant asked a question:</p> +<p>“If the papers had been taken, wouldn’t that +have been mentioned the very first thing? +Wouldn’t Mr. Shaw think first of recovering +them?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied Nestor. “The +thing for us to do now is to find out who it was +that entered the Shaw house to-night, and what +was taken besides the necklace.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='III_HOW_THE_TRICK_WAS_TURNED' id='III_HOW_THE_TRICK_WAS_TURNED'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<h3>HOW THE TRICK WAS TURNED.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Leaving the boys in the luxurious clubroom +of the Black Bear Patrol, and promising to keep +them posted as to the situation by ’phone, +Lieutenant Gordon and Ned Nestor hastened in +the direction of the Shaw residence, only three +blocks away. A surprise awaited them at the +Shaw door.</p> +<p>When they mounted the marble steps to the +front portal they were astonished to see Jimmie +McGraw standing in the shadow of a column, +waiting for them with a grin on his face. He +pushed the electric button for admittance as +soon as they reached his side.</p> +<p>“What are you doing here?” demanded the +lieutenant, trying hard to appear angry with the +boy.</p> +<p>“Why, I just come over to tell Frank—”</p> +<p>“Never mind that now,” said the lieutenant, +interrupting. “If this is the way you obey orders +you can’t go to the Canal Zone with me.”</p> +<p>“Well, you see,” Jimmie began, in a contrite +tone, “I thought of something, after you left, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +that I wanted to say to Frank, and I knew he’d +have asked for me if he’d ’a’ thought of it, so I +just run over.”</p> +<p>“What was it you wanted to say to Frank?” +asked the lieutenant, with a smile in Ned’s +direction. The persistence of the boy pleased +him, to say the least.</p> +<p>Just then the door was opened, saving Jimmie +the exertion of manufacturing a smooth tale +to tell the lieutenant, and the three entered the +great hall of the fine residence, where they found +Frank awaiting them.</p> +<p>“I was afraid you’d both left the clubroom +and couldn’t be found,” he cried, as he took his +friends by the hand. “Come right up to my +room, and I’ll show you just how the thieves +got the emerald necklace.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps we ought to see your father first,” +Lieutenant Gordon suggested, thinking of something +much more important, to him at least, than +the bauble.</p> +<p>“Father is with Doctor Benson just now,” +was the reply.</p> +<p>“Was he seriously injured?” asked Nestor, +anxiously.</p> +<p>“Not a bit of it,” was the reply. “They just +sneaked up behind him and stuffed a big handkerchief +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +soaked with chloroform into his face. +The drug knocked him out for a short time, but +he is all right now. He told me to show you my +room as soon as you came, and then to take you +to him.”</p> +<p>“Who else is in the house?” asked Nestor.</p> +<p>“No one but Doctor Benson and the servants,” +was the reply.</p> +<p>“Then the police have not been called?”</p> +<p>“No, indeed. I asked father to wait until +you two came. I don’t take much stock in the +cheap plain clothes men they send about on +robbery cases. But come on up to my room, and +I’ll show you what a sucker I am.”</p> +<p>“If I had said that,” Jimmie put in, “you’d +’a’ handed me one.”</p> +<p>“So Jimmie is on the case too,” laughed +Frank. “Well, son, there’s money in it for the +man who restores my emerald necklace, which +I’m sure to get back, in the end. Why, that +necklace has been stolen about a thousand times, +and has always been restored to the rightful +owner. Once it was found in the heart of Africa, +in the kinky hair of a native. There’s blood on +it, too, for men have been killed trying to steal +it, and trying to prevent its being stolen. It’s +the most valuable necklace in the world.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span></p> +<p>The boy mounted the staircase as he spoke, +leading the others to his room, which was at the +front of the house on the second floor, directly +over the apartment used by his father as a +library, or study. The suite occupied by the boy +was elegantly furnished, the only thing which +marred the tasty arrangement of the place being +a steel safe which stood between the two front +windows of the sitting room.</p> +<p>“There,” said Frank, closing the door of the +room behind the little party, “they got the necklace +out of that safe.”</p> +<p>“How did they open it?” asked the lieutenant, +and Jimmie laughed.</p> +<p>“Frank never closed a door in his life,” the +boy said.</p> +<p>“Was the safe open?” asked Lieutenant +Gordon.</p> +<p>“Yes,” was the reply, “it was open. I had +just been there to get some money when I heard +a scrap going on in the corridor and rushed out, +leaving the door open, like a sucker. The necklace +was taken while I was gone.”</p> +<p>“Anything else taken?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Not a thing. Oh, I guess the thief got a +couple of dollars there was in the cash drawer, +but nothing else was disturbed.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></p> +<p>“How long was he in the room?” asked the +lieutenant.</p> +<p>“Oh, perhaps fifteen minutes. What I mean +is that it must have been about that length of +time before I came back here. You see, when I +got out into the hall, Pedro, that’s one of Dad’s +pet servants, was scrapping with two pirate-looking +fellows at the head of the stairs. One of +them had him by the throat when I came up.”</p> +<p>“And they both got away?” asked the +lieutenant.</p> +<p>“Yes, they both got away. They turned and +ran down stairs when I came up and bolted out of +the front door, just as if some one stood there +holding it open for them.”</p> +<p>“Was the night-lock on?”</p> +<p>“Certainly; it always is at night.”</p> +<p>“Couldn’t anybody open it from the inside, +whether familiar with the house or not?” asked +Ned.</p> +<p>“No; for the night-bolt is controlled by an +electric button, which you have to push before +it can be moved from the inside, so no one not +familiar with the house could have opened it.”</p> +<p>Nestor glanced at the lieutenant with a question +in his eyes, and the officer nodded. There +was little doubt in the mind of either that the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +crime had been planned by some one thoroughly +conversant with the premises. It was at least +certain that exit had been made easy for the +thieves.</p> +<p>“You spent this fifteen minutes, after the +flight of the thieves by way of the front door, in +your father’s room, I take it?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Yes; when the thieves ducked out of the +front door I found a maid fainting in the corridor +running along back of the parlor to Dad’s room, +the place where he does his work while in the +house. She flopped over when I spoke to her +and pointed to Dad’s room. There I found him +lying on the couch, drugged with chloroform.”</p> +<p>“They placed him on the couch, did they?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, sir, the thieves didn’t take that +trouble. Pedro was there before I entered the +room, and it was he that did that. He had +’phoned for the doctor, too, before I got into the +room.”</p> +<p>“He was chasing the thieves?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Why, yes. He was just ahead of me at +the front door.”</p> +<p>“Then how did he get back and do so much +before you reached the study?”</p> +<p>“I opened the front door and looked out for +a couple of minutes,” was the reply. “I was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +rattled, of course, and don’t know how long I +stood there, but I remember seeing two men +running down the street. If I had known then +that they had my emerald necklace, I’d have +chased them and roared until the police came up +and stopped them.”</p> +<p>“Then you came right in?”</p> +<p>“Yes; right to the corridor where I found +the maid lying on the floor.”</p> +<p>“And you remained with your father until +the doctor came, and then went back to your +room? It was then that you discovered the loss +of the emerald necklace?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I missed it when I came back.”</p> +<p>“You saw only two intruders?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“There were only two.”</p> +<p>“And these two ran down the staircase just +ahead of you?”</p> +<p>“Yes; they went down in about one leap.”</p> +<p>“Now, was the necklace in the safe when you +went to it?”</p> +<p>“I am certain that it was.”</p> +<p>“You saw it there?”</p> +<p>“I saw the case in which it was enclosed.”</p> +<p>“And the case was gone when you returned?”</p> +<p>“Yes; oh, the necklace was taken from the +safe during my absence, all right.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span></p> +<p>“Yet the two men were ahead of you, and +went out of the street door before you reached +the lower landing?”</p> +<p>Frank’s face showed that the idea presented +by Nestor was new to him. He had never considered +that feature of the case. In fact, he +had been so excited that he had not thought +logically of the circumstances surrounding the +theft.</p> +<p>“Well,” he said, “I reckon I need a hired +man to do my thinking for me. Why didn’t +that idea get into my thick head before?”</p> +<p>“Are you still certain that the necklace was +in the safe when you left the room?” asked Ned, +with a smile.</p> +<p>“Yes; I am dead sure of that. Why,” +he added, “there must have been a man that I +did not see. Wonder why he didn’t give me a +clip on the head.”</p> +<p>“Someone will come here an’ steal you, some +day,” grinned Jimmie.</p> +<p>“I don’t doubt it,” replied Frank. “Now, +where do you think the other man was?” he +asked, turning to Ned.</p> +<p>Ned arose and went into the sleeping room, +from which opened a bathroom and a large +closet. There was a door opening into the sleeping +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +room from the corridor, the apartment being +of the same length, east and west, as the sitting +room. The closet opened from the sleeping +room, and also from the bathroom.</p> +<p>“What do you find here?” asked Frank, +following him into the closet and through into +the bathroom.</p> +<p>“The third man might have been hiding in +here,” Ned replied. “When were you in this +bathroom last?” he added, looking carefully +about the place.</p> +<p>“Not since early in the afternoon.”</p> +<p>“The suite was unoccupied all the afternoon?”</p> +<p>“Yes; I am rarely here in the afternoon.”</p> +<p>“What time did you come up here after +dinner?”</p> +<p>“It was probably eight o’clock, for Dad was +telling a rather interesting story at table, and we +sat a long time. Mother is away on a visit to +the Pacific coast.”</p> +<p>“And your father went to his room then?”</p> +<p>“Yes; he said he had some work to do.”</p> +<p>“His room, also, was unoccupied all the afternoon?”</p> +<p>“Yes; it must have been.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span></p> +<p>“Who is usually about the lower part of the +house during the afternoon?”</p> +<p>“No one when mother is away.”</p> +<p>“Do you know whether anything was taken +from your father’s room?”</p> +<p>“Why, I haven’t heard that feature of the +case discussed. We can soon find out by asking +him.”</p> +<p>“Gee!” cried Jimmie. “What would they +want to go an’ dope him for if there wasn’t something +in his room they wanted?”</p> +<p>“That is a very pertinent question,” Lieutenant +Gordon remarked. “It certainly seems +that the thieves came here for something besides +the emerald necklace.”</p> +<p>“Meaning the papers?” asked Ned, with a +laugh.</p> +<p>“Meaning the papers, of course,” was the +reply. “I am still of the opinion that the theft +of the necklace was only incidental.”</p> +<p>“It begins to look that way to me,” observed +Frank. “As Jimmie says, what would they +attack father for unless they wanted to search +his room?”</p> +<p>“You know about the papers?” asked the +lieutenant. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span></p> +<p>“Yes, indeed. They constituted the subject +of the interesting story Dad was telling me +at table to-night.”</p> +<p>“Did he tell you what they contained?” +asked Ned.</p> +<p>“He did not. He told me only what they +dealt with.”</p> +<p>“He believes there is a plot against the completion +of the Panama canal?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes; he is quite certain of it.”</p> +<p>“Did he mention the parties he suspected?”</p> +<p>“He refused to do so. I can’t understand +why he should refuse. Can you?”</p> +<p>“I think I can appreciate his position,” +replied Ned.</p> +<p>“Great Scott!” cried Frank. “Do you think +the agents of the men we are to grapple with in +the Canal Zone have been in this house to-night? +If so, it looks like they were looking us +up, instead of our being after them.”</p> +<p>“Where is this man Pedro?” asked Ned, not +answering the question.</p> +<p>“He was in the study when I left, a few +moments ago.”</p> +<p>“Then we will go down there. I want to ask +him a few questions.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span></p> +<p>At the foot of the staircase, they heard the +telephone ringing, and Frank went into the +closet. When he came out again he seemed +excited and unnerved.</p> +<p>“I guess there’s something more than the +necklace at stake to-night,” he said, “for Dad’s +rooms in the newspaper building have been ransacked. +I guess we won’t have to go down to +Gatun to lock horns with the men who are in +this plot against Uncle Sam. If the Gatun dam +was in New York, they might have blown it up +to-night, for all that has been done to thwart +them.”</p> +<p>“Well, we’ve just got to work on the case,” +grinned Jimmie.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IV_THE_MAN_IN_THE_CLOSET' id='IV_THE_MAN_IN_THE_CLOSET'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<h3>THE MAN IN THE CLOSET.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“If you take my advice,” Ned said to Frank, +as they reached the study door, “you won’t say +anything to your father about the trouble at the +office until we have talked with him concerning +the raid on the house. He might rush off to the +newspaper building immediately, without answering +our questions about the visit to his +room.”</p> +<p>“That is just what he would do,” Frank +replied.</p> +<p>When the boys entered the study, closely +followed by Lieutenant Gordon and Jimmie, +they found three men in the room. One was +Mr. Shaw, lying on a couch at the front of the +apartment. One was Dr. Benson, who sat in +an easy chair at his side. The third was Pedro, +the servant mentioned by Frank as one of his +father’s favored attendants. He stood by the +couch as the boys stepped into the room, his +bold black eyes studying their faces impertinently +as they entered. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span></p> +<p>The man was not far from forty, tall, slender, +dusky of face—plainly in intellectual capacity +and breeding far above the menial position he +occupied in the house. Standing in repose, his +figure was erect and well balanced, like that of a +man trained to military service.</p> +<p>But even as he stood subserviently by the +couch of his employer, his slender hands at his +sides, there seemed to be something of the alertness +of a wild beast in his physical attitude of +suppression. Somehow, he gave Ned the impression +of one about to spring forth upon an +enemy.</p> +<p>After the presentations were made, it was +with the greatest difficulty that Lieutenant +Gordon restrained himself from at once taking +up the topic he had discussed with Mr. Shaw so +unsatisfactorily that afternoon—the subject of +the plot against the Gatun dam. What did the +editor know? What did he suspect concerning +the raid on his home? Did he believe that the +plotters had opened their defense right there +in the city of New York?</p> +<p>However, he curbed his hasty impulse, knowing +that the information he sought was not to be +obtained in that way. Mr. Shaw was looking +upon the matter entirely from the standpoint +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +of an enterprising journalist, and would be cautious +about giving out his own discoveries and +impressions.</p> +<p>“Are you still suffering from the effects of +the chloroform?” asked the lieutenant, anxiously.</p> +<p>“I’m still a little weak,” was the reply, “and +still a little tippy at the stomach, but Benson +tells me that I shall be well again in an hour.”</p> +<p>“You were of course attacked without warning,” +the lieutenant continued, half hoping that +the editor would enter into a full and frank discussion +of the event.</p> +<p>“Entirely so,” was the reply. “I was sitting +at my desk when the door was opened and some +one entered. I thought it was Pedro, for I +had just rung for him, and did not look around. +Then I was seized from behind and a handkerchief +soaked with chloroform thrust into my +face.”</p> +<p>“You did not see your assailant?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Now for the cross-examination,” laughed +the editor. “I have heard something of Mr. +Nestor’s work in the secret service,” he added, +“and shall be glad to answer any of his questions. +Go ahead, my boy. No, to answer your +first question, I did not see my assailant, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +do not know whether there were two or only +one.”</p> +<p>“Did you notice the time?” asked Ned, +modestly.</p> +<p>“Yes, it was nine o’clock. The next I knew, +Pedro was lifting me onto the couch, and a maid +was lifting her voice to high heaven out in the +corridor. That, I have since learned, was at +ten o’clock, so, you see, the ruffians had an hour +to work in.”</p> +<p>“They must have mussed the room up quite +a lot in that time,” said the lieutenant, hoping to +bring the editor to the point in which he was +interested.</p> +<p>Mr. Shaw made no reply, but turned to Ned +with a smile.</p> +<p>“Go ahead, Ned,” Frank cried. “We all +want to know what ideas are brooding in that +clever brain of yours.”</p> +<p>“I would like to ask,” Ned began, modestly, +“if you can assign a reason for the attack upon +you.”</p> +<p>“Why, they came into the house after the +emerald necklace,” was the reply. “They +looked here for it first. That is all.”</p> +<p>“But it appears that they knew the necklace +to be in Frank’s safe,” urged Ned. “At least +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +it did not take them long to find it there after +the safe was unlocked and he was brought from +his room.”</p> +<p>“Oh, well, they probably looked here first,” +insisted the editor. “The manner in which they +rummaged the place while I was unconscious +shows that they searched for it here. The necklace +was the thing sought, of course.”</p> +<p>“Did they take anything from the room?” +asked Ned, and Lieutenant Gordon leaned forward, +anxiously awaiting the answer.</p> +<p>“Not a thing,” was the quiet reply. “At +least, I have missed nothing.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps the thing they sought was not +found,” suggested Gordon, no longer able to +keep the plot subject out of the conversation.</p> +<p>“I know what you mean, Lieutenant,” the +other replied, “and I may as well tell you now +that the papers to which you refer are not in the +house—were not here and never have been here. +They are perfectly safe, and we will drop them +from the case, if you please.”</p> +<p>“I am naturally anxious about them,” said +Gordon, “in the interest of the government, of +course, for I believe they hold the key to a mystery +I am asked to solve.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span></p> +<p>“You may be mistaken as to the contents of +the papers,” laughed Mr. Shaw. “Well,” he +added, “we will eliminate them from the matter +in hand. What next, Mr. Nestor? I have great +hope of your success in unraveling this mystery +of the necklace.”</p> +<p>“With your permission,” Ned replied, “and +in your presence, I would like to ask your man a +few questions.”</p> +<p>Pedro turned a pair of venomous eyes toward +the speaker for just an instant. Then he stood +respectfully looking at his master again. Ned +saw the movement, the quick hostility of the +glance, and felt surer of his ground than before.</p> +<p>“He will, I am sure, be happy to answer any +questions you may ask,” said Mr. Shaw.</p> +<p>Pedro nodded, half defiantly, as though he +felt humiliated by being placed at the service, +even a verbal one, of a boy, and Ned asked:</p> +<p>“When you saw the men at the head of the +staircase, what did you say to them?”</p> +<p>The answer came in perfect English, yet +there was a something in the voice which told as +plainly as words could have done that English +was not the native tongue of the speaker.</p> +<p>“I ordered them from the house,” he said.</p> +<p>“And then they attacked you?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span></p> +<p>“The mark of a hand is on my throat, sir.”</p> +<p>“How many men were there?”</p> +<p>“Two, sir, and they both piled on top of me.”</p> +<p>“There was no one else in the corridor?”</p> +<p>“No one.”</p> +<p>“They were armed, I presume?”</p> +<p>“I saw no weapons in their hands.”</p> +<p>“They might have killed you?”</p> +<p>“Only for the arrival of Master Shaw they +might have done so.”</p> +<p>“Can you describe these men?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“I don’t think I can, sir. I was too busy to +notice their faces or their clothes during the short +time I was with them.”</p> +<p>“Can you say whether one of them was tall +and slender, with very black hair, turning gray +in places?” asked Ned, fixing his eyes on those +of the servant.</p> +<p>Pedro looked back at his questioner for an +instant, and then his gaze fell to the floor.</p> +<p>“I can’t say,” he replied, slowly, while the +others, amazed at the character of the question, +turned to Ned for explanation.</p> +<p>“If the description I have given is recognized +by you as that of one of the men you met +in the corridor,” Ned went on, “can you tell me +whether his clothing was wet or dry?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span></p> +<p>There was dead silence in the room. There +had been nothing thus far in the case leading up +to this description, and those present looked at +Ned with wonder in their faces. To say the +least, the questions seemed irrelevant.</p> +<p>Pedro stood for a moment touching his dry +lips with the tip of his tongue, his fingers clasping +and unclasping, then his shoulders straightened +into firmer lines and he faced his questioner +with a smile of complacency.</p> +<p>“I don’t know what you mean,” he said.</p> +<p>“Perhaps I should have said damp clothing,” +Ned replied. “The man I have in mind—the +man who might have been one of your assailants—entered +the house just after the rainstorm, +which came on close after six o’clock. His +clothing was soaking wet when he came in, but +would not remain so for four hours.”</p> +<p>Pedro grasped the back of a chair which +stood near him and looked out of the window to +the lighted street in front of the house. While +he stood silent Mr. Shaw arose to a sitting position +on the couch and asked:</p> +<p>“Why the description, Mr. Nestor? Why the +positive statement about the time at least one of +the men entered the house?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span></p> +<p>Every eye in the room was now fixed on +Nestor’s face. Even Lieutenant Gordon seemed +inclined to think that some huge joke was being +pulled off.</p> +<p>“The man who came in at six,” Ned replied, +“came in out of the rain, and left marks showing +the height and breadth of his shoulders on a +wall against which he leaned. These marks +show a man tall and slender. He entered the +house dripping with water, moving about like a +street sprinkler and leaving signs of his presence +in the places he visited. He seems to be a person +of rather refined tastes, inclined to be neat +in personal appearance, for he went to Frank’s +bathroom to clean up. There he used the washbowl +and the toilet articles, leaving black hair +turning gray in the comb.”</p> +<p>“This is uncanny,” shouted Frank. “You +couldn’t have observed all this during the minute +you were in the bathroom,” he added.</p> +<p>Mr. Shaw considered the question gravely, +his eyes fixed on those of the boy.</p> +<p>“He sprinkled the closet floor, did he?” +he asked, presently.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; and stood back against the closet +wall, and used Frank’s comb and brush.”</p> +<p>“Did he come to this room, also?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span></p> +<p>“Yes, sir; the little round spots on the delicate +covering of this little table were made by +dripping water. You see, sir, he was in here +before the water dripped off his clothes in the +closet, probably soon after he entered the house.”</p> +<p>“But how did he get into the house? How +did he get into this locked room?”</p> +<p>“I should say that he was assisted by some +one belonging in the house,” was the quiet reply. +“After he left this room he mounted the staircase +and hid in Frank’s closet, evidently waiting +for you to return home, or for Frank to come. +Perhaps he hoped that one of you might bring +home the thing, or the things, he had been unable +to find in your rooms.”</p> +<p>“The papers concerning the Gatun plot, for +instance,” said the lieutenant.</p> +<p>The editor glanced at the officer with a slight +frown on his brow, but made no reply to the +remark. It was plain that he was unwilling to +take up that phase of the case.</p> +<p>“It is a wonder the fellow didn’t jimmy +Frank’s safe and get the emerald necklace, without +waiting so long for the safe to be opened,” +he said, in a moment.</p> +<p>Thus insisting on his previously expressed +opinion that the sole purpose of the thieves had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +been to secure the emerald necklace, further +disclaiming any belief that the alleged plot +against the government had figured in the matter +at all, the editor smiled provokingly at the +officer.</p> +<p>Nestor looked from the lieutenant to the +newspaper owner and smiled quietly.</p> +<p>“I wish I knew,” he said, “whether the papers +we hear so much about really reveal the +details of an alleged plot against the government.”</p> +<p>Mr. Shaw did not reply.</p> +<p>“If they do not,” continued the boy, “do +they connect some man, or some group of men, +with a plot which may be forming?”</p> +<p>The editor glanced approvingly at Ned, as if +rather pleased with his cleverness, but did not +speak.</p> +<p>“I have known newspaper men,” Ned went +on, “to make mistakes in such matters. However, +I have no doubt that you have good reasons +for the course you are taking,” he continued, +“and therefore I have no fault to find +with you.”</p> +<p>“You’re a fine fellow, Mr. Nestor,” the editor +exclaimed. “Some day, when you see the +matter in the right light, I’ll tell you all about it. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +I can’t do so now, for no end of trouble might +come from it.”</p> +<p>“Very well,” replied Ned. “There is one +more question I want to ask you. Will you +answer it?”</p> +<p>“If I can consistently do so, yes.”</p> +<p>“If the men who searched this house to-night +were after the necklace, and that alone, +why should they extend their operations to +your offices in the newspaper building?”</p> +<p>“Did they do that?” asked the editor calmly. +“Then I shall have to go down there and look +things over. Will you kindly accompany me?”</p> +<p>But the search at the offices was barren of +clues.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='V_AT_THE_GREAT_GATUN_DAM' id='V_AT_THE_GREAT_GATUN_DAM'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<h3>AT THE GREAT GATUN DAM.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Over there is the oldest country on this side +of the world,” said Peter Fenton, pointing over +the rail of the vessel and across the smooth +waters of the Caribbean sea. “We are now on +the famous Spanish Main,” he continued, “where +adventurers from the Windward Islands laid in +wait for the galleons of Spain. Just ahead, +rising out of the sea, is the Isthmus of Panama. +Down there to the left is the continent of South +America, where there were cathedrals and palaces +when Manhattan Island was still populated +by native Indians.”</p> +<p>The minds of the Boy Scouts were filled with +splendid dreams as they followed with their eyes +the directions indicated by the pointing hand. +It was all a fairyland to them. Peter talked for +some time on the causes which had brought the +scum of the seven seas to the Isthmus, and then +Ned Nestor interrupted the talk by inviting +them all to the stateroom he occupied in common +with Frank Shaw. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span></p> +<p>When all were seated on chairs and bunks +Ned opened the door and looked out on the +passage which ran along in front of the apartment. +When he turned back into the room +there was a humorous twinkle in his eyes.</p> +<p>“His Nobbs is in sight,” he said.</p> +<p>“The same party?” asked Frank.</p> +<p>“The same dusky gentleman who has followed +us since the night of the theft of the +emerald necklace,” Ned replied.</p> +<p>“He ought to receive a Carnegie medal for +always being on the spot,” Frank said.</p> +<p>“We ought to turn the hose on him,” Jimmie +corrected.</p> +<p>“We should feel lost without him,” laughed +George Tolford. “When I first saw him in the +newspaper building, while you were investigating +the chaos of papers in Mr. Shaw’s rooms,” +he went on, “I had a hunch that we shouldn’t +be able to lose him.”</p> +<p>“Well, we haven’t been able to lose him,” +Peter Fenton said. “He reminds me, the way +he floats about, of the ghost of some pirate who +sailed about the Spanish Main four hundred +years ago in a long, low, rakish craft adorned +with a black flag.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span></p> +<p>“I saw him in the newspaper building that +night,” Jimmie said, “an’ he looked glad because +we got no clues there.”</p> +<p>“Why didn’t Ned have him arrested in New +York?” asked Jack Bosworth.</p> +<p>“What for?” demanded Jimmie.</p> +<p>“For making a nuisance of himself. Then he +couldn’t have followed us on board the ship. +Also, he might have been able to get a little +sleep nights.”</p> +<p>“I reckon we have kept him going,” Frank +observed, with a laugh.</p> +<p>Ever since the night of the robbery the man +called “His Nobbs” for want of a better name +had kept Ned Nestor in sight most of the time. +He had followed him home after the profitless +visit to the newspaper office on the night of the +theft, had chased about after him while the details +of the trip to Panama were arranged the +next day, and had turned up on the ship after +she was under way.</p> +<p>The fellow did not seem to be overly anxious +to keep his watchfulness a secret. He acted +like any first cabin passenger on the ship. But, +somehow, he managed to keep Ned in view most +of the time. Now and then he was caught +watching the door of Ned’s stateroom. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +never spoke to the boy, and never even looked at +him when the two passed one another.</p> +<p>Taking advantage of this preference for +Ned’s company, the boys had put up all sorts +of jobs on the fellow, and some of their pranks +had kept him watching Ned’s odd moves all +night. It was a new and strange experience to +Ned, this being spied upon so openly, and he was +at a loss to account for the mental processes +which inspired the strange surveillance.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Ned presently, “let him watch +outside if he wants to. We came in here to talk +about something else. I have just been talking +with Lieutenant Gordon, and he says we are +to go into camp in the jungle not far from the +Gatun dam. He will stop at the Tivoli, at +Ancon, adjoining Panama. When we have +anything to communicate to him, one of us can +go down to Panama after supplies and leave word +at an office where one of the lieutenant’s associates +in the case will always be in waiting. We +are not to know the lieutenant if we meet him +in our soup.”</p> +<p>“We’ll be eaten alive out there in the jungle,” +protested Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Besides, it would be more natural for us to +go to Gatun for our supplies,” Peter Fenton said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span></p> +<p>“There are reasons why he wants us to remain +in the jungle near Gatun for a time,” Ned +replied, and the boys separated, Jimmie strolling +off in the wake of “His Nobbs,” “just to see if he +couldn’t make him cough up something,” as +he expressed it.</p> +<p>The mystery of the theft of the emerald necklace +was still unsolved, the man whose picture +Ned carried in his brain had not been found, +Pedro had been among the missing ever since +he had walked out of the Shaw residence on the +morning after the robbery. When the boys +landed at Colon the next morning the case upon +which they were engaged was still new ground +before them.</p> +<p>Frank Shaw continued to take the loss of +his emeralds very seriously, and at no time during +the trip to Colon had he failed to keep an +eye out for Pedro, whom he suspected of having +admitted the thief to the house.</p> +<p>“His name isn’t Pedro at all,” he said, as the +train sped out of the network of tracks behind +Colon, “but Pedrarias. That was the name of +the robber who succeeded Balboa as governor +of New Granada, the pirate who stood Balboa +up against a wall and shot him. Pedro, as I +call him for short, declares that he is a direct +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +descendant of that old stiff. He says the Spanish +blood in his veins is pure. Great Scott! if I +had such a pirate for an ancestor, I’d keep +mighty still about it.”</p> +<p>Peter Fenton was in his element now. As +the train moved away from Colon he pointed out +various points of interest, and supplied such +information about them as he had gleaned from +the maps and books he had consulted. The +ruins of the old French workings were soon in +sight, the locality where millions had been +squandered in graft. And there was Mount +Hope Cemetery, where thousands who had perished +from fever had been buried.</p> +<p>“The doctors have cleaned out the fever +now,” he said, “by cleaning out the mosquitoes—the +poison kind with the long name,” he added. +“The Canal Zone is about as healthy now as the +city of New York.”</p> +<p>Then came thickets where the trees were +tied together with vines and creepers, all in +gorgeous bloom. The great trees lifting their +heads out of the jungle reminded the boys of the +electric towers of New York, the twists of vines +resembling the mighty cables which convey light, +heat and power to the inhabitants of Manhattan. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span></p> +<p>As if in rivalry of the wealth of blossoms, +bright-plumaged birds darted about like butterflies +of unnatural growth. Now and then +they saw evil looking lizards, some of them a +yard in length, scuttling off through the marshes +or looking down from high limbs. There was a +swampy atmosphere over all the landscape.</p> +<p>Then, as the Boy Scouts looked, thinking of +the glory of a camp in the thicket—of a retired +nook on some dry knoll—the jungle disappeared +as if by magic, and the train was winding up +grassy hills. Beyond, higher up, the scattered +houses of a city of fair size came into view.</p> +<p>“That’s Gatun,” cried Fenton. “I’ve read +half a dozen descriptions of it lately. Great +town, that.”</p> +<p>“The houses look like boxes from here,” +Jimmie observed.</p> +<p>“Of course,” Peter replied, “they are all +two-story houses, square, with double balconies +all screened in. Might be Philadelphia, eh?”</p> +<p>There were smooth roads in front of the +houses, and there were yards where flowers were +growing, and where neatly dressed children were +playing. Jimmie turned from the homelike +scene to Frank. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span></p> +<p>“I thought there would be something new +down here,” he complained. “This is just like a +town up the Hudson.”</p> +<p>“Jimmie expected to find people living in +tents made out of animal skins,” laughed +George. “He thinks the natives eat folks alive.”</p> +<p>“You wait until you get out of the country,” +Frank said, “before you talk of cottages up the +Hudson. There will be something stirring before +we get off the Isthmus.”</p> +<p>“I hope so,” Jimmie replied. “There surely +will be if we camp back there in the jungle, +among the snakes and lizards.”</p> +<p>“Why not camp on the hills back there?” +asked Jack.</p> +<p>“We may soon camp anywhere we like,” +said Ned. “The Zone government understands +that we are a lot of kids out after specimens.”</p> +<p>“Specimens of what?” asked Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Tall, slender men with black hair turning +gray,” replied Frank.</p> +<p>“Quit your kiddin’,” grinned Jimmie.</p> +<p>The boys left the train at a modern depot, +passed through the train-shed, crossed a level +sward, and looked down into a mighty chasm.</p> +<p>“Great Scott!” cried Frank. “Is that the +bottom of the world?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span></p> +<p>He pointed below as he spoke.</p> +<p>“There seems to be a thin crust of rock between +the bottom and the other side of the +world,” laughed George. “See! There are +tunnels and pits down there. The men are still +digging. Look like ants, don’t they?”</p> +<p>It was a wonderful sight, and the Boy Scouts +gazed long at the scene of activity before turning +away toward the Gatun dam itself. This, Peter +Fenton explained, was one of the big cuts of the +canal, and ran from the marshy valley above +down through the rocky ridge which held the +rains in check and made a swamp of the upland.</p> +<p>Along the margins of the excavation ran +shining steel rails upon which were mounted +tapering structures of steel, from which cables +crossed the gorge, carrying great buckets of +concrete for the work below. Heavy walls were +growing out of the depths.</p> +<p>“The ships will come up out of the sea +through this cut,” Peter explained.</p> +<p>“Then they’ll climb the hill,” scorned Jimmie.</p> +<p>“They will stop down there,” said Peter, +“and the lock gates will be closed, and the water +will lift them to the level of the lake.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span></p> +<p>“I don’t see no lake,” observed the skeptical +Jimmie.</p> +<p>“The lake will lie where the low land is, over +there,” replied Peter, pointing. “The Gatun +dam will block the water and make a lake 85 +feet above sea level, covering one hundred and +sixty-four square miles of earth.”</p> +<p>“So the most of the canal will be lake?” +asked the boy.</p> +<p>“Quite a lot of it,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“And if any one should blow up the dam, +after it gets on its job, the ships would have to +climb a ladder if they got over to Panama,” he +exclaimed.</p> +<p>“Something like that,” Peter said.</p> +<p>“Where is the Gatun dam?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“It is going up over there,” Peter replied, +pointing out a low, broad ridge which appeared +to link two hills together. “That is what will +make the inland sea, and that is the lump of earth +we came here to look after.”</p> +<p>“It is a busy place night and day,” Ned said. +“See the electric towers and wires? Work never +stops.”</p> +<p>“Something like His Nobbs,” grinned Jimmie. +“I wonder if he has had any sleep since +he struck our trail?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span></p> +<p>“I haven’t seen him since we left the train,” +Jack said. “Perhaps he has delivered us over to +the Panama division of the Anti-Canal Benevolent +Society. In that case, we shall see no more +of him.”</p> +<p>After a time the boys strolled over to a neat +little hotel on the principal street of the town, +and there saw Lieutenant Gordon, who strolled +up to Ned, just as any two Americans meeting +there might have affiliated.</p> +<p>“Your camp in the jungle is ready for you,” +the officer said, as the two walked about the +lobby of the hotel. “You will find a movable +cottage there, all furnished, and a good cook. +Until further orders you are all to remain there.”</p> +<p>“Pretty quick work,” said Ned.</p> +<p>“The orders for the cottage camp were sent +over by wire before we left New York,” the lieutenant +replied. “You are at liberty to roam +about the works at will, only you ought to leave +some one at the cottage always.”</p> +<p>“As I understand it, we are boys looking for +adventure?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Exactly.”</p> +<p>“And an emerald necklace,” added the boy +with a laugh. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></p> +<p>“I have a notion that if you find Pedro you +will find the necklace, unless you find him too +late—after he has disposed of it.”</p> +<p>“That may be,” Ned replied, doubtingly, +“but we are not likely to run across Pedro over +here. Neither shall we see His Nobbs. They +have played their roles, and we shall have new +ones to contend with now.”</p> +<p>That night the boys took possession of the +cottage in the jungle, dancing and prancing +about it like wild Indians. It all seemed to +them to be too good to be true. Here they were, +at last, on the Canal Zone, and, in a way, in the +secret service of the government. It was late +when they retired, and no guard was set.</p> +<p>This Ned regretted, after the others were +asleep, and so lay awake a long time, watching. +Then, about midnight, he saw some one looking +in at the porch door.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VI_A_BOMB_AND_A_RUINED_TEMPLE' id='VI_A_BOMB_AND_A_RUINED_TEMPLE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<h3>A BOMB AND A RUINED TEMPLE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Ned lay perfectly still and the door was +closed again, with the figure still on the outside. +There were no lights inside the cottage, and it +was a fairly clear night, so the boy could see the +man standing on the porch, the wire screen in the +door robbing his figure of sharp outline.</p> +<p>The intruder appeared to be listening for +some sound within. Now and then he bent his +head forward toward the door, and once, when +Jimmie snorted out in his sleep, he darted a +hand toward his hip, as if reaching for a weapon.</p> +<p>“His Nobbs, or his substitute, has arrived,” +thought Ned.</p> +<p>After a moment the man left the porch, closing +the outer door carefully behind him. Ned +was out of bed in an instant, following on after +him. When he gained the porch, the intruder +was turning the corner of the house.</p> +<p>Fearful of being seen, Ned crouched in a dark +corner of the porch and waited. He could hear +the fellow moving about, but could not see him, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +as he kept away from the front of the cottage.</p> +<p>The situation did not change for five minutes. +The unwelcome visitor was still moving about +outside and Ned was waiting for some decisive +move to be made. The cottage did not rest on +the knoll itself, but was set up on blocks a foot or +more in height, and before long the boy heard +sounds which indicated that the man he was +watching was creeping in under the floor.</p> +<p>Waiting only long enough to make sure of +this, Ned left the porch and hid himself in the +jungle, which, on the south, came to within a few +feet of the wall. The fellow was indeed under +the house, as the boy knew by the sounds he +made. It was perfectly dark under there, so +his movements could not be observed.</p> +<p>In five minutes more the fellow backed out +and arose to his feet. Then Ned saw that he +held something in his right hand which looked +like a fuse. It seemed that it was the man’s +benevolent idea to deprive the jungle of the +society of the boys by blowing up their cottage.</p> +<p>Ned’s first impulse was to shoot the fellow +where he stood. He had no doubt that the +fellow had put enough explosive under the floor +to kill every person in it. That would be murder, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +and the boy’s impulse was to deal out to the +ruffian the fate of a murderer.</p> +<p>But he did not fire, for the intruder had not +yet lighted the fuse. He stood for a moment +with the end in his hand and then moved toward +that part of the jungle where Ned was concealed. +The boy moved cautiously aside, but even then, +as the man crouched down in the vines, he could +have touched him with a hand by crawling a +yard to the front.</p> +<p>Deliberately the fellow lighted a match and +applied it to the fuse. The end of the cord +brightened for an instant and then became black +again.</p> +<p>“It is wet.”</p> +<p>The words were whispered in English.</p> +<p>He struck another match, listened an instant +to make sure that the noise of the lighting had +not attracted attention inside the cottage, and +applied it to the fuse. The fuse burned swiftly, +and the boy heard the incendiary go crashing +through the tangle of vines and creepers, heading +toward the south.</p> +<p>Ned cut the fuse above the crawling coal and +stood for a moment listening to the man struggling +with the undergrowth. Then he hastened +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +into the cottage and laid a hand on Frank +Shaw’s shoulder.</p> +<p>“Get up,” he whispered. “The fireworks +have begun.”</p> +<p>Frank sat up in his bunk and rubbed his +eyes sleepily.</p> +<p>“What is it?” he asked. “Have you found +the necklace?”</p> +<p>“Dress, quick.”</p> +<p>“Wonder you wouldn’t let a fellow sleep,” +grumbled Frank.</p> +<p>While the boys were dressing there came a +snicker from Jimmie’s bed.</p> +<p>“Don’t start anythin’ you can’t stop,” they +heard the boy whisper.</p> +<p>“Want a midnight ramble among the +snakes?” asked Ned, drawing on a pair of rubber +boots which came up to his thighs.</p> +<p>“You bet I do,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“Then get up and dress, and put on your +high boots, for there are crawling things in the +jungle.”</p> +<p>Leaving the boys dressing, Ned hastened +outside and listened. The man who had attempted +the destruction of the cottage was still +moving through the thicket. It seemed to Ned +that an army could have made no more noise +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +than he made. In a moment he was joined by +Frank and Jimmie.</p> +<p>In as few words as possible Ned explained +the situation to his amazed chums.</p> +<p>“What you goin’ to do?” Jimmie asked.</p> +<p>“I want to follow that fellow to his principal,” +was the reply. “I want to know who set +him at such cowardly work.”</p> +<p>“It won’t be difficult to follow him,” Frank +said. “He makes a noise like a circus parade.”</p> +<p>“One of you must stay here and watch the +cottage,” Ned said, then. “When the explosion +does not come, he may circle back here to +see what has happened. The other may go with +me.”</p> +<p>Both boys insisted on accompanying Ned, +but it was finally decided that it would be better +policy to leave Frank at the cottage.</p> +<p>“You’ll have to make haste,” Frank said, +regretfully, “for the sounds he is making are +becoming fainter. What are you going to do +with that fuse?” he added, as Ned drew on the +line and hauled about half a foot of gas pipe from +under the house.</p> +<p>“It will do no harm to take it with me,” +Ned replied. “It is not very heavy to carry, +and it may be of use.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span></p> +<p>“I hope you’ll blow that chap up with it,” +exclaimed Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Be careful that you don’t blow yourself up +with it,” warned Frank.</p> +<p>“There are no cigarette smokers in the party, +and so there is no danger,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“I’ll be here listening when the explosion +comes,” grinned Frank.</p> +<p>The sounds out in the jungle were now growing +fainter. The man was either finding the +way easier or he was getting some distance away.</p> +<p>“Come on,” Jimmie urged. “He’ll get away +from us.”</p> +<p>“If you make as much noise as he does,” +Frank said, “he’ll stop and shoot you before +you get anywhere near him.”</p> +<p>It was no part of Ned’s intention, however, +to follow the intruder through the jungle. He +was now waiting to make sure of the general +direction the fellow was taking. He listened +some moments longer, until the sounds grew +very faint indeed, and then took the path which +led from the cottage to a fairly well-made road +ending five miles away at one of the streets of +Gatun.</p> +<p>“You’re gettin’ the wrong steer,” Jimmie +said, as they moved along. “You’ll have to go +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +around the world if you catch him by going this +way.”</p> +<p>“The fellow is making for the hills,” explained +Ned, “and we may be able to catch him +as he comes out of the jungle.”</p> +<p>The boys made good speed along the cleared +lane until they came to a rolling, grassy hill, one +of many leading up to the summit. Then they +turned off to the east, still keeping their pace +but taking precautions against being seen, as the +night was clearer now than before, and a moon +looked down from the sky.</p> +<p>Finally Ned paused in a little valley on a +gentle slope.</p> +<p>It was one of the wonderful nights rarely +experienced save under the equator, or very close +to the middle girdle of the globe. The luxuriant +growths of the jungle seemed to be breathing +in long, steady pulsations, so uniform was +the lifting and falling of the night breeze.</p> +<p>Now and then the call of a night bird or the +cry of a wild animal in the thickets came through +the heavy air. From the distance came the +clamor of the greatest work the world has ever +undertaken. The thud and creaking of machinery +mingled with the primitive noises of the +forest. And far away over the cut flared the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +white light of the great electric globes which +lighted the workers on their tasks.</p> +<p>As the boys looked forth from their depression +in the side of the slope, two men came +around the rise of the hill and stood at the edge +of the jungle, not more than half a dozen yards +away. Almost at the same instant it became +apparent that some one was floundering about in +the thicket immediately in front of them.</p> +<p>A low whistle cut the air, and then the creepers +parted and a man’s head and shoulders appeared. +Ned and Jimmie crouched lower in +their dent in the grassy hill.</p> +<p>The man emerged from the thicket and stood +with the others, tearing clinging vines and leaves +from his clothing as he did so.</p> +<p>“What is wrong?” a voice asked. “There +has been no explosion.”</p> +<p>“The fuse was wet,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“Then why didn’t you go back and fix it?” +demanded the first speaker. “The sooner the +job is done the better.”</p> +<p>“I heard some one stirring in the jungle,” +was the reply.</p> +<p>“A nice man to be given such a task,” roared +another voice. “You must go back.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span></p> +<p>“You’ve landed the plotters, all right,” +whispered Jimmie. “I’ll bet there’s plenty more +bombs like the one you have, waiting to be +tucked under the Gatun dam. Gee! I’d like to +take a shot at them gazabos.”</p> +<p>Still standing in the moonlight, only a short +distance from the listening boys, the three men +argued in low tones for a moment. It was clear +that the man who had placed the bomb was refusing +to obey the orders given by the others.</p> +<p>“I’m not in love with the job, anyway,” the +fellow snarled, “and you may do it yourselves +if you want it done to-night.”</p> +<p>The others did not appear to relish the murderous +job they were urging the speaker to undertake, +and in a few moments the party moved +around the base of the hill and then struck for +the higher ground by way of a gully which cut +between two elevations.</p> +<p>When the boys, mounting the breast of the +hill and crouching at the summit, saw the men +again, two were making for the cloud of light +which lay over the workings while the other was +following the crest of the hill toward the east.</p> +<p>Presently the two swung down into a valley, +and then twin lights like those of a great touring +car showed over a rise. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></p> +<p>“What do you think of that?” asked Jimmie. +“There must be a good road there.”</p> +<p>The car came on a few yards after the lamp +showed, and the two men clambered aboard. +In five minutes the motor car was speeding +toward Gatun.</p> +<p>“Two for the city and one for the tall timber,” +Jimmie snickered, as the car moved out of +view. “There’s the solitary individual watching +them from the summit.”</p> +<p>As the boy spoke the man who had laid the +bomb so unsuccessfully faced away to the east +and disappeared down the slope. It was not +difficult to keep track of him, although the +necessity for concealment was imperative, and +the fellow proceeded at a swift pace for an hour.</p> +<p>At the end of that time he was in a lonely section +of country, where rounded knolls were surrounded +by the dense growth of the jungle. In +spite of the wildness of the spot, however, Ned +saw that civilization had at some distant time +made its mark there. Here and there low, +broken walls of brick lifted from the grass, and +the vegetation was not quite so luxuriant. In +numerous places, as they advanced, the boys +saw that the ground had once been leveled off +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +as if to make way for a building, the ruins of +which were still to be seen.</p> +<p>“One of the ruined cities of the Isthmus,” +Jimmie whispered. “If Peter could see this he +would know all about it.”</p> +<p>“It wasn’t a very large city,” laughed Ned.</p> +<p>“There’s the ruins of a temple over there,” +insisted the boy. “There’s a wall standing yet. +And there’s the man we want going into it.”</p> +<p>As the boy spoke the man they were following +disappeared behind the wall. Before he +could be restrained Jimmie wiggled forward to +the foot of the ruin. Nestor saw him peering +around the end of the line of brick and hastened +forward.</p> +<p>The man they had followed was nowhere in +sight when Ned turned the angle, and Jimmie lay +on the ground in the shadows, kicking up his +heels.</p> +<p>“He went down through the earth,” the +boy giggled, regardless of the danger of the +situation. “He went right down through the +ground. Say, but he’s a corker, to get out of +sight like that.”</p> +<p>Ned caught the lad by the arm, to silence +him, and listened. A steady click-click came +from the ground beneath their feet. The sounds +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +came continuously, almost with the regularity +of the ticking of a clock.</p> +<p>“Where was he when he disappeared?” +asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Over there in the corner,” was the reply. +“He walked up to the wall and stepped out of +sight. What’s that queer smell?” he added, +sniffing the air.</p> +<p>“There must be a fire down there in the vaults +of the old temple,” replied Ned. “They must +have a fire, for the smoke is coming out of a +crevice at the top of that wall, and they are +working on metal.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jimmie, “an’ I’ll bet they’re +makin’ more bombs—bombs for the dam.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VII_WORKING_ON_NED_S_THEORY' id='VII_WORKING_ON_NED_S_THEORY'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<h3>WORKING ON NED’S THEORY.</h3> +</div> + +<p>At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the +screened porch facing west, watching and waiting +for the return of Nestor and Jimmie. It had +been a long night for him, but he had kept his +vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all +the rest they could get.</p> +<p>Many times between midnight and morning +the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the +semblance of human voices, and then he had +crept out from the screens to listen intently for +some indication of the approach of his friends. +But they had not come, and now he was anxious +to set out in search of them.</p> +<p>While he stood there with his brain filled +with forebodings of evil, he heard a step in the +cottage, and then Jack Bosworth stood by his +side, bright and exuberant of spirit after his long +sleep. He stood silent for a moment, looking +out into the wonderful jungle and then turned to +Frank. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span></p> +<p>“Great country,” he exclaimed, sweeping a +hand toward the gorgeous thickets.</p> +<p>“A dangerous country,” Frank said.</p> +<p>“And a country for an appetite,” cried Jack. +“I’ll get the boys up and we’ll have breakfast. +Why,” he added, turning back to the porch after +glancing over the row of bunks, “where’s Ned?”</p> +<p>“He went away at midnight,” was the reply, +“and hasn’t returned. I’m afraid something +serious has happened to him.”</p> +<p>“And you have been watching for him all +night?” asked Jack. “Why didn’t you waken +me? I reckon I’m entitled to a fair share of +what’s going on here, be it good or bad.”</p> +<p>Frank told the story of the night briefly +and Jack listened with a frown on his brow. +His fingers clenched at mention of the bomb +which had been placed under the floor of the +cottage.</p> +<p>“We’re spotted, of course,” he said, when +Frank concluded the story. “If we had only +tipped His Nobbs off the ship on the way over.”</p> +<p>“I suggested that to Ned,” Frank answered, +“but he only laughed at me. He declared the +fellow to be the missing link between himself +and the principals in the Gatun dam plot.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span></p> +<p>“What’s the answer?” demanded Jack, with +a puzzled air.</p> +<p>“Why, it is his theory that half of the criminals +of the world would escape punishment if +they could only learn to lie quiet until they were +looked up.”</p> +<p>“I see. His notion was that the plotters, +guided by His Nobbs, would visit us with hostile +intentions, and that they might leave a trail +back to their own camp.”</p> +<p>“That is about it.”</p> +<p>“Well, they seem to have looked us up all +right.”</p> +<p>The other boys now came tumbling out of +the cottage, shouting their greetings to Frank +and Jack and the golden morning, and clamoring +for breakfast. Five minutes later, when the +events of the night had been explained, their +healthy appetites had vanished. Even when +the cook began preparations for the morning +meal, filling the air with tantalizing odors of +cooking food, they sat in serious consultation +with no thought of breakfast in their minds.</p> +<p>“What ought we to do?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“Go and look him up,” suggested George +Tolford. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span></p> +<p>“He may have become lost in the jungle,” +Peter Fenton remarked. “Suppose we go out +into the jungle and fire our guns?”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid it is worse than that,” Glen +Howard remarked. “We ought to let Lieutenant +Gordon know about it.”</p> +<p>“I am afraid Ned wouldn’t like that,” +Frank said.</p> +<p>While the boys discussed ways and means a +dusky youth of perhaps twenty was seen approaching +the cottage on a run. His dress was +half American and half native, but his face was +wholly Spanish. He paused when he discovered +the boys on the porch and held out his hands, as +if to show that his mission was a peaceful one. +Frank motioned to him to approach and opened +the screened porch door for him to enter.</p> +<p>“Good-morning, gentlemen,” he said, in +excellent English. “I am from Lieutenant +Gordon.”</p> +<p>“Then I think you’re the fellow we are looking +for,” Jack said.</p> +<p>“He wants you to join him up at the Culebra +cut,” the youngster continued. “The two who +left the cottage last night are there waiting for +you.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span></p> +<p>“Glory be!” shouted Jack. “We were just +wondering what had become of them.”</p> +<p>“They wandered out to Gatun and came +upon the lieutenant,” said the messenger.</p> +<p>“In the night?” asked Peter, suspiciously.</p> +<p>“A little while before daybreak,” was the +ready reply.</p> +<p>“We’ll go and get ready for the journey,” +Frank said, but at the door he beckoned to Jack +and they walked away together.</p> +<p>“What do you think of him?” asked Frank.</p> +<p>“Why, he seems to be all right,” was the +reply. “At any rate he knows about the boys +going away in the night and not coming back.”</p> +<p>“The man they followed away would know +that, too,” Frank said.</p> +<p>Jack looked his friend in the face for a moment +and scratched his head.</p> +<p>“Say,” he asked, “do you think this is a +stall?”</p> +<p>“I don’t like the looks of the fellow,” was the +reply. “Besides, what would the boys be doing +up at the Culebra cut?”</p> +<p>“If you think it is crooked we won’t go,” +Jack observed.</p> +<p>“Another thing,” Frank went on, “we were +to have nothing to do with Lieutenant Gordon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +while on the Isthmus. We were to roam about +at our own sweet will and pick up what information +we could. So it doesn’t seem likely that he +would send for us all to meet him at the Culebra +cut. Does it, now?”</p> +<p>“No, it doesn’t look reasonable,” Jack admitted.</p> +<p>“You know what we were saying about Ned’s +theory?” Frank asked, in a moment.</p> +<p>“You mean our talk about criminals pointing +the way to their own destruction by unwise +activity in defensive methods? Of course I +remember it. If what we suspect is true, though, +Ned rather overplayed it in this case, and got +caught.”</p> +<p>“We don’t know yet whether he got caught +or not. We only know that he is unaccountably +missing. Well, what if we accept Ned’s theory +here and go with this messenger? If he is on the +square he’ll take us to Ned. If he is crooked +he’ll take us to people who know why Ned did +not return to the cottage.”</p> +<p>“It may be easier to get taken to the people +you speak of than to get away from them,” +Jack said, dubiously.</p> +<p>“I’m game to try it, anyway,” Frank continued, +“but I think we ought to leave one behind +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +at the cottage, for Ned may return, possibly, +though I doubt it. Anyway, it will do no +harm to leave some one here.”</p> +<p>“Suppose,” suggested Jack, “we don’t leave +any one at the cottage, but instruct one of the +boys to remain here when we go with this fellow +and then follow on immediately, sort of keep +track of where we are taken?”</p> +<p>“That’s a fine idea,” Frank replied. “I’ll +go with the messenger and take the boys with +me. You remain here and see where we go—that +is, you remain here when we leave and then +trail on after us, like a Sherlock Holmes.”</p> +<p>“I would rather go with you,” Jack replied, +“but I’ll do the sleuth act if you prefer to have +me. You’ll need a rescuer, all right,” he added, +“for Lieutenant Gordon never sent that chap +after us. Never in the world.”</p> +<p>The cook soon called the boys to breakfast, +but there was not much eaten, greatly to the +disgust of the cook. When they left the table +the messenger asked if they were ready to go.</p> +<p>“All ready,” cried Frank, but Jack threw +himself into a chair and took up a magazine, +watching the face of the messenger over the +pages as he did so. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span></p> +<p>“You are to give up the cottage,” the messenger +said, with a frown of disapproval. “No +one is to be left here.”</p> +<p>“It will be all right for me to remain here +until the others come,” Jack said, with a smile. +“I don’t feel like a walk this morning.”</p> +<p>“There is a motor car just over the hill.”</p> +<p>“No inducement,” laughed Jack. “I’m going +to remain here.”</p> +<p>The messenger said no more, though it was +plain that the arrangement did not please him. +In a few moments the boys were off, the messenger +leading the way and keeping up a running fire +of conversation.</p> +<p>“What do you think of that?” asked Jack of +the cook, as the party disappeared in the thicket.</p> +<p>“I don’t like it,” was the reply. “I overheard +what Frank told you about the disappearance +of Ned and Jimmie, and was anticipating +something of the kind.”</p> +<p>“Why didn’t you say something?”</p> +<p>“It was not for me to interfere,” was the +reply.</p> +<p>The cook, known as Tommy, was looked over +critically by Jack.</p> +<p>“I believe you’re all to the good,” he said. +“You wouldn’t be here if you wasn’t. Now, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +what do you say to exchanging clothes with me?”</p> +<p>“I have no objections, only I don’t exactly +see—”</p> +<p>“We’re just about the same size,” Jack went +on. “Same black hair and black eyes, same +ugly smooth face—glad you have no whiskers. +You’re tanned up a little, but I can put some +stain on my face. There you are. The cook +goes to Gatun and Culebra and Jack Bosworth +remains at the cottage. They won’t think of +molesting the cook.”</p> +<p>“I would rather go with you.”</p> +<p>“But some one ought to remain here,” urged +Jack.</p> +<p>Tommy thought over the proposition for a +moment and smiled.</p> +<p>“All right,” he said. “I’ll remain here, as +long as necessary,” he added.</p> +<p>The exchange of clothing was quickly made +and Jack managed to darken his face with a stain +made of crushed leaves which Tommy gathered +for him.</p> +<p>“Now, you’ll stay right here, won’t you?” +Jack asked, as he passed out of the doorway. +“Ned and Jimmie may return, you know.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I’ll stay right here,” the cook said +with a grin. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span></p> +<p>But as Jack entered the thicket he added:</p> +<p>“Until you get out of sight. Then it is me +for the Tivoli and Lieutenant Gordon. It looks +to me as if these babes in the woods had bitten +off more than they can chew.”</p> +<p>Whether his supposition was right or wrong, +the cottage was closed in five minutes, and Tommy, +wearing Jack’s clothing, was racing through +the path Ned had taken the night before, on his +way to Lieutenant Gordon.</p> +<p>His journey on foot, however, was destined +to be a short one, for at the turn of the path he +came upon a man loitering in the open space just +ahead.</p> +<p>“Wait a second,” the man exclaimed.</p> +<p>Tommy was not inclined to check his pace, +but a revolver in the hands of the fellow induced +him to do so.</p> +<p>“You are Jack Bosworth?”</p> +<p>Tommy hesitated. For an instant he thought +of declaring his identity and so getting away to +the Tivoli and Lieutenant Gordon. The man +in his path settled the problem for him.</p> +<p>“No use to deny it,” he said. “You are to +come with me.”</p> +<p>“Where?” asked Tommy. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span></p> +<p>“If you have any weapons give them to me,” +the other said, gruffly, paying no attention to +the question.</p> +<p>“All right,” Tommy said, handing out a +revolver. “It is a heavy thing to carry, anyway. +Where are you going to take me?”</p> +<p>“Straight ahead,” cried the captor, with a +frown. “Straight ahead. I’ll tell you when to +turn and when to stop.”</p> +<p>“You seem to have an accommodating disposition,” +laughed Tommy. “Why didn’t you +stop the cook, who went out a little while ago? +Perhaps he would have been glad of your company.”</p> +<p>“We are not interested in the cook,” came +the answer, and Tommy smiled as he thought +that at least one point of the ruse had met with +success.</p> +<p>“That cook will be fired for leaving the cottage,” +grinned Tommy, making the deception as +complete as possible.</p> +<p>In the meantime the motor car containing +the five boys and the messenger was speeding +on its way toward Gatun and the Culebra cut. +When Jack came out on the road the machine +was disappearing from sight, but he managed to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +keep track of it from the hilltops for a considerable +distance.</p> +<p>The messenger was full of talk, his evident +intention being to keep the boys interested. +In spite of the attention paid them, however, +Frank and Harry Stevens managed to hold a +conversation on the back seat.</p> +<p>“This is carrying out Ned’s theory with a +vengeance,” Harry remarked. “If we get +dumped into the big cut we’ll charge it up to +him.”</p> +<p>“The play opens with plenty of action in the +first scene,” grinned Frank.</p> +<p>“The adventure would look better to me if I +knew what had become of Ned and Jimmie,” +Harry said, despondently.</p> +<p>“If we keep up the appearance of being +pleased with the ride,” Frank said, “we may be +able to learn something of their whereabouts. +It is mystery to me how the plotters got hold +of Ned, if they did get hold of him.”</p> +<p>“You recall the talk in New York as to +whether the men who entered Mr. Shaw’s study +were in quest of the plot papers or the emerald +necklace?” asked Harry.</p> +<p>“Yes; and I’ve been studying over that problem +ever since.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span></p> +<p>“Well, I’ve been wondering, ever since we +started out on this rather risky trip with the +messenger, whether the people Ned encountered +last night, and the people we are likely to meet +to-day, are the people of the plot papers or the +people of the emerald necklace. What do you +think about it?”</p> +<p>“I fail to see why the necklace thieves should +bother. They’ve got the trinket they wanted, +haven’t they? It is the canal blowers we are +facing now.”</p> +<p>“You know Ned’s theory,” whispered Harry. +“Well, if the necklace thieves have brought the +bauble back to the Isthmus, they think we’re +hot after them, and so may strike at us before +we can get our guard up. See?”</p> +<p>“No, I don’t see,” replied Frank. “I’d +like to believe they brought the necklace over +here, though. Then I might stand a chance to +get it back. You’ll find that it is the men who +are plotting against the big dam that we are +mixing with.”</p> +<p>The motor car ran through Gatun without +stopping, and finally drew up at a rambling old +structure which seemed to have been deserted +ever since the days of Balboa. The messenger +explained that they were to wait there for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +lieutenant, and all entered the ancient ruin, the +boys looking carefully about as they stepped +through the doorway.</p> +<p>The room which first received them was long +and narrow, with walls showing both age and +neglect. They were met at the door by a tall +gentleman of military bearing and a dwarf whose +mischievous black eyes stared fixedly into their +faces.</p> +<p>“The lieutenant is late,” the military man +explained. “If one of you is Frank Shaw, however, +a portion of the business of the day may be +taken up before his arrival.”</p> +<p>Frank admitted his identity, and was invited +into a smaller room opening from the apartment +in which the others waited.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VIII_EXPLOSIVES_FOR_THE_GATUN_DAM' id='VIII_EXPLOSIVES_FOR_THE_GATUN_DAM'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<h3>EXPLOSIVES FOR THE GATUN DAM.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Ned and Jimmie listened for some moments +to the steady click-click of metal which came, +or appeared to come, from the ground directly +underneath their feet, and then Ned arose and +crept forward.</p> +<p>“Where you goin’?” whispered Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Down there.”</p> +<p>Ned pointed to the dark corner.</p> +<p>“You’d better come away,” warned the boy.</p> +<p>“We are here to investigate,” Ned replied, +almost impatiently.</p> +<p>“Then investigate with a bomb, or with a +cannon,” advised Jimmie.</p> +<p>“No time for that,” came the reply. “The +conditions which exist now may not exist in an +hour’s time. It is now or never.”</p> +<p>Moving forward, Ned saw a faint finger of +light cutting the shadows in the corner Jimmie +had pointed out. Jimmie saw it at the same +instant.</p> +<p>“I’ll bet they’ve got a blacksmith shop down +there,” he said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span></p> +<p>There was no opening in the great stone slabs +of the floor through which a man might make his +way—only the crevice through which the ray of +light came. Ned turned his attention to the +wall to the south.</p> +<p>Behind a luxuriant growth of vines he saw +another glimmer of light, and in a moment stood +looking down a narrow stairway, at the distant +end of which were numerous lines of red flame. +Jimmie, looking over Ned’s shoulder, uttered a +muffled exclamation.</p> +<p>“Looks like a door made out of red-hot bars,” +he said.</p> +<p>“It is a board door,” Ned whispered back, +“with wide cracks between the planks. There +is an intense red fire in the room beyond.”</p> +<p>Ned placed a foot on the top step of the stairway +and slowly and cautiously rested the weight +of his body upon it, to make certain that no trap +for the protection of the place had been set there. +The stone step was solid and bore his weight +firmly.</p> +<p>At the bottom of the stairway the boys +stopped and looked about. Straight ahead was +the cracked door, to the south was a solid wall, +to the north, under the stone pavement they had +crossed to gain the corner, was a dark room, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +door to which stood open. The room was close +and hot.</p> +<p>“How are your matches, Jimmie?” whispered +Ned.</p> +<p>“Got a pocketful,” was the reply. “Want +a light?”</p> +<p>“Not yet. We would better feel our way +into the room. Keep close to me and keep your +gun handy.”</p> +<p>The room was small, something like a vestibule +to a larger one which ran along parallel +with the one from which the light came. It was +very dark there, and more than once the boys +stumbled over obstructions on the floor, which +seemed to be of brick or stone. Once Ned +heard Jimmie laughing softly as he rolled on the +floor.</p> +<p>“I’m thinkin’ what the movin’ picture men +are missin’,” the boy said, as he moved forward +on his hands and knees.</p> +<p>“This would look rather amusing—on a +white canvas on the Bowery,” Ned said.</p> +<p>After reaching a wall, the stones of which felt +damp and oozy to the touch, Ned ventured to +light a match. The underground room was long +and narrow, with rock walls in which there was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +no opening except the one by way of which the +boys had entered.</p> +<p>Ned, by the flaring light of the match, +brushed away the mould which flourished in that +unwholesome place and seated himself on the +stone floor, his back against the wall. Jimmie, +seeking physical companionship, nestled close +to him.</p> +<p>“Gee,” the little fellow remarked, with a +snicker, “you thinkin’ of takin’ up a homestead +here?”</p> +<p>“I’m going to remain in this room until the +workers in the other chamber go away,” was the +reply. “I’ve taken a notion to look into that +apartment.”</p> +<p>“And if they don’t go away?”</p> +<p>“I’ll wait until they do. It is probable that +they do all their work at night.”</p> +<p>“Then you won’t have to wait long,” the boy +replied. “It was growing light in the east when +we came down here.”</p> +<p>Jimmie dropped off into a restless sleep after +a time, and Ned sat there waiting and listening, +just as Frank, a short time later, waited and +listened on the porch of the cottage in the jungle. +When the boy awoke it was with a start of anxiety. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></p> +<p>“The boys will think we’re dead,” he exclaimed.</p> +<p>“I hope they won’t try to follow us,” Ned +whispered.</p> +<p>“If they do,” the other said, “they’ll find +signs in twigs and stones all the way along. +The stone heaps point the way to this place, and +give the warning at the place where the stairs +begin.”</p> +<p>Reference was here made to Boy Scout +methods used in the forest. For instance, a +stone with a smaller one on top says:</p> +<p>“This is the trail.”</p> +<p>Place a stone to the right of this and the +meaning is:</p> +<p>“Turn to the right.”</p> +<p>One to the left means:</p> +<p>“Turn to the left.”</p> +<p>A smaller stone on top of the other two, with +none at the side, means: “Be careful.”</p> +<p>“I hope they will keep away,” Ned went on. +“It is a miracle, almost, that we got in here +without being discovered.”</p> +<p>“What you think you’ll find in there?” asked +Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Something concerning the plot,” was the +reply. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span></p> +<p>It seemed a long time before the work in the +chamber ceased, and Ned had plenty of time in +which to review the strange case he was interested +in. The transition from gay New York to +that weird apartment seemed almost like a whiff +of fancy. Then he recalled the painstaking surveillance +of the fellow called “His Nobbs” on the +way down, and smiled at the thought that the +plans he had made at first sight of the spy had +worked out remarkably well.</p> +<p>He had submitted gracefully to the surveillance, +knowing that in time the man who was +following him would track him to his camp on the +Isthmus. That was the very point. He would +not know where to look for the plotters, but they +would know where to look for him. He depended +on them to send a man to work him +mischief, and reckoned on being able to follow +that man back to his principals.</p> +<p>This they had done. The men who had employed +the spy on the ship had acted quickly and +had sent a bomb-thrower. Ned shuddered as +he thought of the risk he had taken that night +in going to bed without leaving a guard. He had +overlooked a point in the game there, for he had +not apprehended such prompt action on the part +of the men he had pitted himself against. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></p> +<p>However, the plan had miscarried because of +his waking at the critical moment, and here he +was, at the door of the men who had sent the man +about their murderous work. But were these +the principals? When he thought of the two +who had hastened off toward Gatun in a motor +car he did not believe that they were.</p> +<p>“I shall have to look in other places besides +subterranean chambers for the men in charge,” +he thought. “These fellows are merely tools.”</p> +<p>Presently the sharp click-click of metal came +no more through the heavy air of the room, and +Ned, awaking Jimmie, who had fallen asleep +again, moved into the small room from which the +doorway gave a view of the stairs. He could +see from this room that the sun was shining +brightly outside.</p> +<p>Ned had scarcely stationed himself in the +heavy shadows back of the doorway when four +men came down the passage and passed him. +He had no doubt that they were the workmen +going out for the day. Such work as they did +must needs be done in the night.</p> +<p>Two of the men were tall and slim, with +Spanish-looking faces, and two were short and +stout, with a heavy droop to their shoulders and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +broad faces almost entirely covered with whiskers.</p> +<p>“The original anarchists,” whispered Jimmie, +as the two short men passed.</p> +<p>After the disappearance of the workmen all +was still in the underground rooms. The door +to the work-chamber had been left open, and Ned +knew that one of two things was the solution to +this.</p> +<p>Either there were other men in the room, or +there were watchers on the outside. He ventured +out in the passage at the foot of the stairs +and looked up. A roughly-dressed man stood +half in view, his back to the watcher. When +Ned turned back he saw Jimmie disappearing +into the work-room. He called softly to him, +but the boy passed on through the doorway and +was lost to sight.</p> +<p>Annoyed at the unnecessary risk taken by +the boy, Ned stepped back into the room he had +just left and waited half expecting to hear a call +for assistance. He knew that he could be of +more assistance there than in the open doorway +to the room which the boy had entered. There +he would at least have the first shot if Jimmie was +pursued and made for the stairs. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span></p> +<p>While he waited almost holding his breath, +he grasped the bomb he had brought with him +from the cottage. If Jimmie should be killed in +there, the bomb should avenge his death. The +ruins of the temple and the work-shop of the +plotters should all ascend heavenward in one +grand explosion. After a time, however, his +fears were set at rest by the appearance of the +boy, who came up to the doorway with a grin on +his face.</p> +<p>“Nothin’ stirrin’ in there now,” he said. +“Come on.”</p> +<p>It seemed plain now that those interested in +the work which was going on underground were +depending on outside watchers to protect them. +The fire in a rude forge which stood at the +distant end of the chamber was dying out when +the boys reached it, and the place was only dimly +lighted.</p> +<p>On one side of the room was a pile of gas-pipe, +cut in six-inch lengths. In a corner, far +away from the fire, and half buried in the earth—a +great paving stone having been removed to +make way for the excavation—were tin vessels +tightly covered. After his experiences of the +night, Ned did not have to inspect the contents +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +of these tins. He knew very well that they +contained high explosives.</p> +<p>“There’s stuff enough here to blow up the +continent of South America,” Jimmie said, +pointing at the gas-pipe lengths and the tin +vessels.</p> +<p>“And they are getting the material in shape +to do the work,” Ned added.</p> +<p>“Yep,” Jimmie answered. “We’ve caught +’em with their workin’ clothes on. We’ve got +to the bottom of the plot.”</p> +<p>“You go too fast, son,” Ned replied. “We +haven’t got a single clue to the men higher up. +It is probable that we have discovered the plant +of the men who are planning to destroy Uncle +Sam’s big job, but the work we have undertaken +has only begun.”</p> +<p>“Why, catch these men,” said Jimmie, +“an’ you’ve got ’em.”</p> +<p>“Got these men, yes, but the chances are that +even they do not know the men who are at the +head of the conspiracy.”</p> +<p>“Some one is puttin’ money into it, anyway,” +the boy suggested.</p> +<p>“Yes, and we don’t even know the interests +which are doing it,” said Ned. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span></p> +<p>Ned now busied himself about the chamber, +having closed the door so that the light of his +matches would not show. There was, of course, +danger that the watcher might descend the stairs +and discover the closed door, but there was also +the chance that he might attribute the changed +situation to accident.</p> +<p>Presently Ned came upon a battered old +writing desk standing on the head of a large +barrel. The slanting top was locked down, but +the boy soon had it open. Its contents consisted +of two rolls of drawing paper.</p> +<p>Ned took them out, stirred the fire to a sudden +glow, and bent over the figures and lines on +the sheets. His face grew thoughtful as he +looked.</p> +<p>“What is it?” Jimmie asked.</p> +<p>Ned held out the rolls.</p> +<p>“This one,” he said, “is a drawing of the +Gatun dam, and this other is a crude sketch of +the basement of the <i>Daily Planet</i> building in +New York.”</p> +<p>“Gee!” cried the boy. “Are they goin’ to +blow that up, too?”</p> +<p>“They appear to be thinking of it,” was the +reply. “And there on the margin of the sheets, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +of each of the sheets, is a date line—Saturday, +April 15th. This is the 13th.”</p> +<p>“Is that the date set for the explosion?” +asked the boy, with wide-open eyes.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” was the reply, “but it seems +to me that we ought to get out of here and +communicate with Lieutenant Gordon, and also +with Mr. Shaw, in New York. The date marked +here may be the one set for action.”</p> +<p>They started at once for the door, Ned taking +the sheets with him and hoping to pass the guard +without being seen. As they moved forward, +however, they heard voices, and then a square +of light told them that the door which they had +left closed had been opened, and that three men +were entering.</p> +<p>“If they turn on the light now,” Jimmie whispered +in Ned’s ear, “there’ll be somethin’ doin’ +here.”</p> +<p>The newcomers did not light the flaring +torches with which the room was usually illuminated, +but, closing the door, sat down near the +forge.</p> +<p>“I think,” Ned whispered, drawing Jimmie +toward the door, “that the fate of the Gatun +dam and the <i>Daily Planet</i> building depends on +our getting out of here. Move carefully.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IX_A_FASTING_STUNT_IS_SUGGESTED' id='IX_A_FASTING_STUNT_IS_SUGGESTED'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<h3>A FASTING STUNT IS SUGGESTED.</h3> +</div> + +<p>While Ned and Jimmie were wondering how +they were to escape from the subterranean chamber, +Frank Shaw sat in the private room in the +old house on the road to the Culebra cut, facing +the gentleman of military carriage and wondering +what would be the next move in the complicated +game.</p> +<p>“How long have you known Lieutenant +Gordon?” the man asked. “I beg your pardon,” +he said, without giving the boy opportunity +to answer the question, “but I have not yet told +you who I am, and you can hardly be expected to +answer questions asked by an unknown person, +especially when so much is at stake. I am +Colonel Sharrow, of the United States army, +detailed on Canal Zone duty.”</p> +<p>The man’s manners were frank and engaging, +his personal appearance that of an officer in the +service, yet Frank did not trust him. He did +not believe that Lieutenant Gordon had sent for +the boys. He did not make answer to the question +asked concerning the lieutenant, and it was +asked again, in this way: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span></p> +<p>“Have you known Lieutenant Gordon long?”</p> +<p>“A very short time,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“You were with him in Mexico?”</p> +<p>“I met him in Mexico. I did not go there +with him, nor did I travel in his company, except +on the way out.”</p> +<p>“Do you think he is entirely loyal to the +government?” was the next question.</p> +<p>“I think he is,” was the short reply.</p> +<p>“I am glad to hear you say that,” Colonel +Sharrow continued. “I should be sorry to +change the good opinion I have formed of +Lieutenant Gordon.”</p> +<p>“It seems to me,” Frank said, indignantly, +“that you are inviting an adverse opinion concerning +him.”</p> +<p>“Not at all,” was the pleasant reply. “It +was my purpose, in making the remark I did, +to test your loyalty to my very good friend.”</p> +<p>There was a short silence in the room, during +which Frank could hear his friends moving +about excitedly in the adjoining apartment. +If they were conversing, they were doing so in +whispers, as no words could be heard.</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Gordon,” the Colonel said, “is +very much devoted to the service, and is especially +interested in the investigation upon which he is +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +now engaged. By the way, he seems to have a +very able assistant in the person of Ned Nestor.”</p> +<p>“Ned can help some,” Frank replied, delighted +at this appreciation of his chum.</p> +<p>Colonel Sharrow did not seem to be a bad +fellow, after all.</p> +<p>“I suppose Ned will be here with the lieutenant?” +Frank asked, then.</p> +<p>The Colonel hesitated, smiling more pleasantly +than ever.</p> +<p>“To tell you the truth,” he said, “the messenger +did not tell you the exact truth. Ned is +not with the lieutenant.”</p> +<p>“Then this is a trap,” exclaimed Frank, +rising to his feet.</p> +<p>The Colonel laughed heartily.</p> +<p>“You are an impetuous young fellow,” he +said.</p> +<p>“You will be telling me next,” the boy said, +“that we are not to meet the lieutenant here.”</p> +<p>“You are not to meet him here,” was the +calm reply.</p> +<p>Frank moved toward the door.</p> +<p>“Then I’ll be going,” he said.</p> +<p>“In a moment,” said the Colonel, stepping +forward. “Wait until you hear what I say, +and then you may pursue whatever course seems +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +good to you. You were in deadly danger, out +there in the cottage, and we thought best to get +you away. We knew, too, that you were too +loyal to leave the place in defiance of orders, +and so we used this ruse to bring you here, to the +protection of your friends. If Nestor had been +at the cottage we might have explained the situation +to him. What time did he leave?”</p> +<p>“Don’t you know what time he left, and why +he went?” demanded Frank, all his former suspicions +returning.</p> +<p>“We only know that he was not there at daybreak,” +was the reply, “and so we brought you +away. Why did he leave so suddenly?”</p> +<p>Frank looked the Colonel in the eyes unflinchingly, +determined to have the truth out of him, +and asked:</p> +<p>“And so you don’t know where he is now?”</p> +<p>The Colonel did not reply, and Frank knew +that there was no necessity for continuing the +conversation. He was satisfied that the Colonel +was one of the plotters, perhaps the leader, that +Ned’s departure from the cottage had not been +detected by the man he had followed into the +jungle, and that his friend, at least up to daybreak, +had not fallen into the hands of the +enemy. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span></p> +<p>He saw in an instant how the case stood. +The plotters, spying about the cottage at daybreak, +had noted the absence of Ned. Fearful +that he had departed on some errand which +might seriously affect their own interests, they +had resolved to bring the others away and learn +from them, if possible, where Ned had gone.</p> +<p>As the reader has doubtless suspected, this +was the exact truth. The plotters, at the time +the boys were taken from the cottage, did not +know where Ned was. He had not been seen +following the would-be murderer, nor had any +information from the bomb-boom disclosed his +presence there.</p> +<p>Colonel Sharrow had regarded the “pumping” +of the boy as certain of success, and was not +a little surprised when he failed to go into the +details of the incident which had taken Ned and +Jimmie away from the cottage. It had seemed +certain to him that the boy would hasten into an +excited account of the peril of the situation. He +did not know how the bomb had been discovered, +or how it had been taken from under the +floor of the cottage, but he knew that it had been +done.</p> +<p>He had depended upon Frank to tell him all +about it, and to explain where Ned had gone and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +why he had left the cottage in the night. He was +greatly worried over the disappearance of the +boy, for he did not know what had been discovered +regarding the attempted destruction of +the cottage and the consequent murder of the +boys. He did not know what steps Ned might +be taking to discover the author of the attempted +outrage of the previous night. Besides, he was +curious to know just how the destruction of the +cottage had been averted.</p> +<p>“We do not know where Ned is,” the Colonel +said, in reply to Frank’s question. “We thought +you might assist us in finding him.”</p> +<p>“How?” was the sharp demand.</p> +<p>“By telling us what took place at the cottage +last night, and where Ned went when he left—also +what time he left the cottage.”</p> +<p>“I thought so,” Frank said, when the case +had thus plainly been stated. “I had an idea +you wanted to know what steps are being taken +to bring you and your bomb-thrower to justice. +Well, I refuse to tell you anything about it.”</p> +<p>The Colonel was not yet ready to appear under +his true colors. He had one more issue to +discuss with the boy, and hoped to meet with +better success than he had in the other matter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p> +<p>“You don’t seem to understand the situation, +or to trust me,” he said. “You do not +appreciate the peril your friend may be in. If +you did, you would tell us all you know about +the incident. Now, there is another thing I wish +to discuss with you. You are the son of the +owner of the <i>Daily Planet</i>?”</p> +<p>Frank nodded.</p> +<p>“Have you communicated with your father +recently?”</p> +<p>“Not since our arrival on the Isthmus.”</p> +<p>“Then you have not heard from him since +your arrival here?”</p> +<p>“I have not.”</p> +<p>“And consequently do not know of the peril +he is in?”</p> +<p>Frank started and turned pale. He knew +that this information, like that concerning Ned +and the lieutenant, might be false, but he was +anxious just the same.</p> +<p>“What peril is he in?” he asked, and the +other smiled to think he had struck fire at last.</p> +<p>“Well, it seems that he is accumulating proof +against the men who are said to be planning to +destroy the big canal, over yonder, and is getting +on the wrong track. The men he is about to +accuse of complicity in the plot are justly indignant, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +and are preparing to dynamite his building +in case any copy concerning them is sent to the +composing room.”</p> +<p>“You seem to be conversant with the affairs +of these men,” Frank suggested, with a frown. +“Are you one of the men who sneaked into our +home and chloroformed father and stole my +necklace?”</p> +<p>“I heard something about that,” the Colonel +said, “and wondered at it. However, we are not +discussing past incidents. What I desire you to +do is to communicate with your father, in the +cipher you sometimes use in your correspondence, +and inform him of what I have just told +you. Say to him that he is mistaken in the +men, and that his building will be destroyed if he +attempts to publish the alleged facts he has on +hand.”</p> +<p>“I think,” Frank said, “that I can trust +his good judgment. He can take care of himself.”</p> +<p>“Then you refuse to send the message?”</p> +<p>“I certainly do.”</p> +<p>“You seem to be a fat, healthy sort of a boy,” +laughed the other, changing the subject, apparently, +with a suddenness which astonished the +boy. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span></p> +<p>“I have no cause to complain,” Frank said.</p> +<p>“How long do you think you can live without +food?” was the next question.</p> +<p>Frank saw the meaning of the fellow in his +angry eyes and dropped back into his chair. +The boys in the next room were now talking +excitedly, and some of the exclamations could +be heard.</p> +<p>“If you don’t open the door we’ll break it +down.”</p> +<p>That was Harry Stevens. The reply was too +faint to be heard.</p> +<p>“What are you doing to Frank, anyway?”</p> +<p>That was Harry Stevens’ voice again. The +question was immediately followed by a bang +on the door.</p> +<p>“Keep back,” a voice said. “This gun is +loaded.”</p> +<p>The situation was a serious one, and Frank +blamed himself for getting into such a trap. If +he had remained at the cottage, he thought, +there would have been no immediate danger to +his friends.</p> +<p>“Perhaps, after a week’s fast, you might +have strength enough left to write such a communication +to your father as I suggest?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span></p> +<p>The manner was unbearable, the tone insulting, +and Frank could hardly restrain himself +from attacking the fellow.</p> +<p>“In a week,” he said, his eyes flashing, “you +and your associates will be in some federal +prison.”</p> +<p>“You talk bravely,” said the other, “and I +observe that you are glancing about in search of +some way out of this, to you, disagreeable situation. +Spare your pains! Even if you could +vanquish me and my associate in the next room, +you could not leave the house. It is guarded +by a dozen picked men.”</p> +<p>“Is that as true as the other things you have +said?” asked the boy.</p> +<p>The Colonel laughed until his face turned +red and his sides shook.</p> +<p>“You are a bright boy,” he said. “It is +quite a pleasure to do business with you. A very +capable boy.”</p> +<p>He went to the door of the room and looked +out.</p> +<p>“Where are the men?” he asked.</p> +<p>The dwarf, who had been sitting on a rude +table near the door, swinging his short legs in the +air, looked up with a slight frown.</p> +<p>“I haven’t got ’em,” he said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span></p> +<p>“Well, see if you can find them.”</p> +<p>The dwarf, called Jumbo by those who knew +him, got off the table and pointed to a window.</p> +<p>“Use your eyes,” he said.</p> +<p>Three men stood there looking in. In the +road in front stood the automobile in which the +party had reached the house. On a hilltop perhaps +sixty rods away a little spurt of dust indicated +the approach of another motor car.</p> +<p>The Colonel beckoned to the men to enter. +As they stepped inside three more men entered +from a rear door. They were all dusky, hungry-looking +fellows, with snaky black hair and +shrinking black eyes. They were dressed in tattered +clothes, and carried revolvers in plain view.</p> +<p>“Quite an army,” Frank said.</p> +<p>“This old house,” the Colonel began, a sneer +on his thin lips, “is larger than you may think. +At the top of a wing which stretches back toward +the jungle there is a room where Spanish prisoners +were once confined. With your permission +I’ll escort you boys there, advising you, in the +meantime, to think the situation over carefully.”</p> +<p>The puff of dust on the distant hilltop grew +more pronounced, and the chug-chug of a swiftly +moving motor reached the ears of those in the +ancient structure.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='X_A_DELEGATION_OF_BOY_SCOUTS' id='X_A_DELEGATION_OF_BOY_SCOUTS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<h3>A DELEGATION OF BOY SCOUTS.</h3> +</div> + +<p>The three men who entered the subterranean +chamber where Ned and Jimmie were hidden did +not go to work at the forge, neither did they +illuminate the place with such poor means as +were at hand. Instead, they settled down in +sullen silence by the dying fire in the forge. +What little talk there was could not be understood +by the lads for the reason that it was conducted +in Spanish.</p> +<p>Ned was waiting in the hope that they would +soon take their departure, but they seemed to be +in no hurry to do so. Finally it was disclosed, +in a few words of broken English, that they were +waiting for some persons of importance to appear.</p> +<p>“If they don’t get a move on pretty soon,” +Jimmie whispered, “we’ll have to make a break +of some kind. If we don’t get out directly there +won’t be any newspaper building in the Shaw +family, and Uncle Sam won’t have any more +Gatun dam than a robin.”</p> +<p>“We must wait until the last moment,” Ned +replied. “The guards out there would shoot +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +us down before we could reach the head of the +stairs. We can’t rush them from below.”</p> +<p>It was a long and anxious wait there in the +underground room, especially as so much depended +on the boys getting out. They had no +idea what had happened to the boys left at the +cottage, or what was taking place in New York. +The only thing in their favor was that the workmen +did not light the torches which lay about. +Such an act would have led to their discovery +and precipitated a struggle at once.</p> +<p>“See if you can’t reach one of them bombs,” +Jimmie giggled, nudging Ned in the ribs. “I +want to eat it.”</p> +<p>“I have about reached that stage myself,” +Ned replied. “I never was so empty in my life. +We’ll have to do something before long.”</p> +<p>“Suppose I start an’ run?” suggested Jimmie.</p> +<p>“You’ll get a breakfast of lead if you do,” +Ned replied. “Sit still.”</p> +<p>Again the boys sat back in their corner to +wait, huddled together for the sake of companionship, +and wondering what had become of +their chums at the cottage.</p> +<p>“They ought to be here by this time,” Jimmie +complained, in a whisper. “I left plenty of +instructions regarding the route.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span></p> +<p>The little fellow did not, of course, know that +the boys were at that moment in the ancient +house near the Culebra cut, nor that an automobile +was speeding over a hill to the north of +the old structure—watched by his friends with +anxious interest.</p> +<p>“Something may have happened to them,” +Ned said. “It seems to me that this case is set +on automatic springs. The slightest move on +our part brings out a bang from the other side. +Our opponents are industrious chaps, and that’s +no fabrication. They keep going every minute +of the time.”</p> +<p>“And they’ve won every trick so far,” +grumbled Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Yes, but the game is not out yet,” Ned replied, +hopefully.</p> +<p>“I should think these gazabos would get tired +of waitin’ an’ go away,” Jimmie said, after +another long silence.</p> +<p>“They are taking turns sleeping,” Ned replied. +“I heard one of them snoring a few minutes +ago.”</p> +<p>Jimmie settled back again, rubbing his stomach +dolefully, and the place seemed to grow +darker before his eyes. When he awoke again +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +Ned was pulling at his arm, and there was a +great shouting and pounding at the door.</p> +<p>“Wake up and get your gun out,” Ned said. +“There’s going to be something started here in a +minute.”</p> +<p>“What is it?” demanded the boy, sleepily.</p> +<p>“The others have come,” Ned replied, “and +there’ll be lights in here directly.”</p> +<p>“I’m so wasted away with hunger,” Jimmie +said, “that they’ll have to shoot pretty straight +to hit me.”</p> +<p>One of the men by the forge now began stirring +the embers preparatory to lighting a torch, +and the others made for the door.</p> +<p>It looked as if there would be open battle in a +moment, but in that moment a shot came from +the outside, followed by a faint cheer.</p> +<p>The three men who had waited in the chamber +drew together, close to the sullen light of +the forge, the torches unlighted in their hands. +They seemed to be whispering together, and the +boys saw them turn their faces toward a corner +not far from the forge.</p> +<p>Two more shots came from outside, and then +a voice cried, in English:</p> +<p>“Open the door, you chumps.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></p> +<p>“That’s Jack Bosworth,” cried Jimmie, +bounding toward the entrance.</p> +<p>Ned followed the boy’s movement for an +instant, and then faced back toward the forge, +where the three workmen had stood. The last +one was just disappearing through an opening +in the wall, and, with a bound the boy was after +him. A heavy plank door snapped shut in his +face.</p> +<p>Then the front door was thrust open, and +Frank, and Jack, and Harry, and Glen, and +Peter dashed through, shouting at the top of +their voices. Jack even lifted up his chin and +howled “In the prison cell I sit.”</p> +<p>“Prison nothin’,” Jimmie exclaimed, indignantly. +“We was just goin’ out to find you +fellers.”</p> +<p>“That’s what the guard at the door said,” +cried Jack. “He told us that you were expected +out any minute.”</p> +<p>The lads danced about like mad creatures +for a moment, and then settled down to meet the +situation in which they found themselves.</p> +<p>“Where are the guards?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“If they are still going at the pace they set +out in,” laughed Frank, “they must be pretty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +near up to San Francisco by this time. I never +saw such running in my life.”</p> +<p>“Why didn’t you capture them?” asked +Jimmie.</p> +<p>“For the same reason you did not capture +the men who were inside,” laughed Frank.</p> +<p>“But we did capture ’em,” insisted Jimmie. +“We’ve got ’em locked up in a chamber that +opens from that corner.”</p> +<p>“Is that true?” asked Frank.</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Ned. “It is true that they +went into a chamber over there, but the door is +locked on the other side.”</p> +<p>“We’ll soon remedy that,” Jack observed, +and in a short time the boys were pounding away +at the plank door with a heavy sledge which had +evidently been used in cutting up the gas-pipe.</p> +<p>When the door was down a narrow passage +was revealed. This, followed by the boys, led +to an opening at the bottom of the knoll on which +the temple had been built. The men who had +operated the bomb factory had escaped, every +one of them, and Ned turned away in disgust at +the luck which seemed to pursue him.</p> +<p>“Every man of them got away,” he grumbled. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span></p> +<p>“What you kicking about?” demanded Jack, +pulling away at the pile of pipe which was evidently +the makings of a supply of bombs. “You +captured their artillery.”</p> +<p>“They can make more,” Ned replied.</p> +<p>“And the maps he found,” Jimmie cried. +“Maps showing how to blow up a Gatun dam +and a New York newspaper office. All marked +out. Just like lessons on blowing things up from +a correspondence school.”</p> +<p>Frank was all attention immediately. He +had heard something like that before that day, +and asked a score of questions in a breath.</p> +<p>When the story of the drawings was told the +boys gathered about Ned while he pointed out +the lines drawn in what purported to be a sketch +of the basement of the <i>Daily Planet</i> building. +Frank declared that the dots made in the drawing +were located exactly at steel and concrete +foundation points. The plan of destruction had +evidently been prepared by some one familiar +with the structure.</p> +<p>“It strikes me,” Frank said, after a moment’s +inspection of the drawings, “that we’d +better get out of here and reach a cable office. +One of the plotters was kind enough to tell me +what they were about to do, and this looks like +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +they mean to keep their word, for once in their +lives, at least.”</p> +<p>“We’d better be getting out of this, anyway,” +Jack put in, “for those chaps are sure to come +back and bring a gang with them. Suppose we +go back to the cottage and see what has been +doing there?”</p> +<p>“I thought you came from the cottage here,” +Ned said.</p> +<p>“No,” was the reply. “We left the road +leading from Gatun at the point where you two +left it last night.”</p> +<p>“I’ll bet you saw my signs in twigs,” Jimmie +said.</p> +<p>“We sure did,” was the reply, “and we found +your signs in stone out there on the stone pavement, +and Jack bunted one of the guards in the +head with the third rock.”</p> +<p>“But I don’t understand this,” Ned said. +“Where have you boys been this morning?”</p> +<p>“This morning,” declared Frank. “It is +most night now.”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you,” grinned Jack, “they went and +got taken prisoners by a martinet of a fellow +and a dwarf, and I had to go and get them out. +Say! But you wait a second, and I’ll produce +my modest assistant.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span></p> +<p>He stepped to the edge of the jungle and +whistled shrilly, and the next moment a slender +boy of perhaps fifteen stood by his side, gazing +at the group, now on the pavement of what had +at one time been the court of the temple, with +something of fear in his dark eyes. He was +dressed in clothes which were much too large for +him, and his manner indicated that he was not +at ease in the company of the well-dressed Boy +Scouts.</p> +<p>“This is Gastong,” Jack explained. “He’s +capable of doing a running stunt that would +make an express train look like it was hitched to +the scenery. Gastong,” he added, turning the +boy around so that he faced the others, “this +is the company of bold, bad men you’ve enlisted +in. What patrol did you say you belonged to?”</p> +<p>“The Owl, Philadelphia,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“Gee,” cried Jimmie. “Looks to me like +he was a piece of the Isthmus.”</p> +<p>“This,” explained Jack, with the voice and +manner of one standing on a box before a tent +and touting for a curiosity, “is Gastong, the boy +tramp of the Isthmus. If he had a place to +sleep he would run away from it before night. +If he went to bed with a dime in his pocket he’d +dream it was there and get up and spend it. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +If he was set to digging in a mine he’d chop his +way through and come out on the other side and +run away. If he was—”</p> +<p>Frank clapped a hand over the speaker’s +mouth and marched him away.</p> +<p>“We’ve got no time for stump speeches,” +he said. “The gazabos we drove off when we +arrived will come back with reinforcements, +and—and there you are.”</p> +<p>“I’m dying to know what has been happening,” +Ned said, with a laugh. “It looks to me +as if you boys had been in something of a mess +yourselves.”</p> +<p>“Time enough for that when we get back to +the cottage,” Jack said. “Come on, Gastong, +and we’ll lead the bunch to the festive board. +I hope the cook will be there. Say, but why +don’t you fellows compliment me on me fine +appearance in this menial rig?”</p> +<p>“You haven’t given us time to say a word,” +laughed Jimmie. “You look like the cook, +indeed, you do; and you make me hungry.”</p> +<p>“That is another story for the cottage,” +Jack said, and the boys hastened off toward the +camp which had proved such a source of danger +to them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span></p> +<p>When they came in sight of the place they +were astonished at seeing Lieutenant Gordon +and the cook sitting side by side on the screened +porch. The cook was still dressed in Jack’s +clothes, and the lieutenant, who had evidently +just arrived, was speaking rapidly, as if laboring +under great excitement.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XI_JACK_AND_HIS_FRIEND_GASTONG' id='XI_JACK_AND_HIS_FRIEND_GASTONG'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<h3>JACK AND HIS FRIEND GASTONG.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Lieutenant Gordon sprang to his feet when +he saw the boys emerging from the jungle, and +stood waiting, his hand on the porch door, while +they entered.</p> +<p>“You’ve given me a good scare,” he said.</p> +<p>“There’s been a scare comin’ to everybody +to-day,” grinned Jimmie, “even to the dagoes +in the bomb chamber.”</p> +<p>“The bomb chamber,” repeated the lieutenant. +“What have you youngsters been up +to? Where did you find a bomb room?”</p> +<p>“Back here in the cellar of a ruined temple,” +Jimmie started to explain, but the lieutenant +stopped him.</p> +<p>“Suppose we begin at the beginning,” he +suggested.</p> +<p>“That is the beginning,” Ned replied, “the +beginning of the story after we left the cottage +in the night.”</p> +<p>Then Ned related the story of the finding of +the ruined temple and what had taken place +there. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></p> +<p>“But how did you boys get to the temple?” +asked the lieutenant, then. “The last I heard +of you one of the plotters had you in tow, and +Jack was running off after you in the cook’s +clothing. Where did you boys connect with +each other?”</p> +<p>“Hold on!” Jack broke in. “Where did the +cook connect with you? I presume he is the boy +that brought you here?”</p> +<p>“Sure,” said the cook. “I had no intention +of remaining here. I knew about what would +happen to you boys, and so started on a run for a +’phone, the idea being to reach the lieutenant. +I was mistaken for Jack, and held up by a man +who must have been left to spy about the cottage, +but I got a chance to hand him one and +got to a ’phone. Since then the lieutenant has +melted a thousand miles of wire making inquiries +for you.”</p> +<p>“I’m glad we all got out before the lieutenant +got to us,” Jimmie cut in. “I guess this bunch +of Boy Scouts don’t need any United States +army to pry us out of our troubles. We almost +got here first,” he added, with a provoking grin.</p> +<p>“When you get done congratulating yourselves,” +laughed the lieutenant, “perhaps you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +will tell me how you boys got to the ruined +temple.”</p> +<p>“I cannot tell a lie,” cried Jack, “I did it. +While I was chasing myself along through the +dust kicked up by the choo-choo car the boys +rolled away in, I came upon a youth who held +me up in the middle of the road and asked how +I’d like to continue my run against time in an +airship. He was a cheeky looking chap, and +I felt like giving him a poke in the breather, +when he grinned and gave me the Boy Scout high +sign.”</p> +<p>“You never found a Boy Scout out here in +the jungle?” exclaimed Gordon.</p> +<p>“You bet I did,” Jack continued. “If you +don’t believe it, go back there to the cookerie. +He’s filling up on the beans I was expecting to +get myself. Call him my dear Gastong, and +he’ll come.”</p> +<p>“Cripes!” cried Jimmie, and he was away in +a second, attacking the great dish of pork and +beans which stood on the table in the cookroom.</p> +<p>“Gastong,” continued Jack, looking longingly +into the cook room, “was born on the +Isthmus, and knows all about conditions here, +but he’s too aristocratic to mix with the inhabitants +for any great length of time. He’s got the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +highfaluting blood all right, but he is shy of the +skads, so he protects his dignity and pride of race +by bumming his way over the world, like an +English milord with a ruined castle and an overdraft +at the bank. He learned to talk United +States in New York, and got to be a Boy Scout +in Philadelphia.”</p> +<p>“Details of pedigree and biography later,” +said Ned. “Did he have an airship?”</p> +<p>“He had the next best thing to it,” Jack +replied. “He had a motor car which he was +running for some gazabo over in Gatun. He was +out for his health when he saw the boys shooting +by in a car with a man he knew to be a crook, +and was about to follow on and see what was +doing when he saw me speeding up the right of +way, looking as if I was obliged to catch the +machine ahead.</p> +<p>“He left his car around the corner of the hill +and met me on foot, with about a dozen Boy +Scout signs on tap and a score of badges of honor +hidden away in his ragged clothes. He told me +what he thought of the man who was running +the car ahead, and I told him how he would be +patrol leader on the Golden Streets just because +he was a Boy Scout and was there at that time, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +so we got into his machine and followed the crook +in the lead.”</p> +<p>“What about the tramps?” laughed Frank.</p> +<p>“When we saw the boys go into that old +house, we knew there was something crooked +going on, and Gastong said to me that if I +wouldn’t give him away he would put me wise +to a bunch of hoboes that were camping out in +the jungle, too lazy to work, and just about ripe +for a scrap. So we rounded up the hoboes and +made a break for the old house.”</p> +<p>“That’s all,” cried Frank.</p> +<p>“And got there just in time to see Frank +and his friends going to the floor with a lot of +has-been wrestlers the man in charge of the house +had precipitated on them,” Jack went on.</p> +<p>“Where are the people who were in the +house?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Up in the air,” cried Frank. “Say, they +got out so fast that they melted a path all down +the hill to the motor car. We ought to have +fixed that so it wouldn’t run.”</p> +<p>“Where are the hoboes?” asked the lieutenant.</p> +<p>“Gone back to camp, wearied out with their +exertions,” laughed Jack. “They came to the +Isthmus to work on the canal, but found the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +climate didn’t agree with them, so they are +taking the rest cure. I was a find for them, all +right. They’ve got money enough to live on for +a month, and I’ve got to wire Dad for more +soap.”</p> +<p>“It is a pleasure to bump into a nice, bright +little boy like you,” grinned Jimmie, standing +in the doorway with a great slice of bread in his +hand. “Here you had an army big enough to +surround that old ruin, an’ yet you went an’ +let the fellers get away. An’ we’ve been blowed +up, an’ locked up, an’ chased in motor cars, an’ +gone without our eatin’s, an’ nothin’ doin’. +Up to date we’re about as useless on the Isthmus +as an elephant’s ear on an apple pie—big enough +to be in the way, but not good enough to become +part of the diversion.”</p> +<p>There was now a call from the cook, and +there was no further talk of the situation for the +next half hour. The lieutenant was fully as +active at the table as the others, and the newcomer, +Gastong, as Jack persisted in calling him, +seemed to forget that he had invaded the kitchen +half an hour before and paid his respects to a +pan of baked beans. After the meal a council +was called on the porch. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span></p> +<p>“You all understand,” Lieutenant Gordon +said, “that you cannot remain here without being +constantly on guard?”</p> +<p>“Of course,” Frank said.</p> +<p>“And you know that the men who have been +seen in connection with this plot will now disappear +from the game and new men take their +places?”</p> +<p>“That is the worst feature of the case,” Ned +said, thoughtfully. “My theory worked first +rate up to a certain point. I was put in communication +with some of the underlings in the +plot, just as I planned I should be, but they all +got away. The men who are at the head of this +conspiracy will not permit the fellows who have +appeared in one of the roles to appear again. +We haven’t gained a thing.”</p> +<p>“Except a more definite knowledge of the +purposes of the plotters,” suggested the lieutenant. +“We know now that it is the Gatun +dam that is threatened, and that the newspaper +building in New York will soon become a mass +of ruins unless some action is taken at once.”</p> +<p>“Also we know where they made their +bombs,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“But we don’t know where they will make +them in future,” said Frank. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span></p> +<p>“Well, what about staying here?” asked the +lieutenant.</p> +<p>“We are doubtless as safe here as anywhere,” +Jack suggested.</p> +<p>“Of course I want to stay here,” the irrepressible +Jimmie put in. “I haven’t got on +speakin’ terms with the scenery yet.”</p> +<p>“There may be another bomb under the +house this minute,” Frank said, starting up from +his chair. “The place has been alone all day.”</p> +<p>The boys swarmed out of the porch like a +colony of bees looking for a new home, and while +some crawled under the floor of the cottage, +others penetrated the jungle for some distance +in every direction. There were no suspicious +objects under the floor, and the jungle seemed +to present a peaceful attitude.</p> +<p>“What about having the old temple and the +deserted house watched for a time?” asked Jack, +as all returned to the porch.</p> +<p>“What do you think of that, Ned?” asked +the lieutenant.</p> +<p>“If they are watched at all,” was the reply, +“it is my idea that the work should be done very +secretly, and no arrests made there.”</p> +<p>“Say,” Glen Howard remarked, “there was +a dwarf in the house named Jumbo. He didn’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +seem to like the gang he was training with, and I +thought we might be able to get him to keep an +eye out for us.”</p> +<p>“I’ll go and see him,” Jimmie said.</p> +<p>“Yes, go walking right up to the front door +and knock, and say you would like to sell the +lady of the house a carpet sweeper, and you’ll +get a piece of lead in your anatomy,” Jack said.</p> +<p>“All right,” Jimmie grinned, “when I go to +call on Jumbo I’ll get an airship an’ drop down +out of the blue into the chimney. Say, you +fellers make me tired. Do you really want to +get this Jumbo person into the game?”</p> +<p>“It might not be a bad idea,” Ned replied.</p> +<p>“All right, then,” grinned Jimmie, “I’ll have +me private secretary look him up.”</p> +<p>“You might have him look up my emerald +necklace, while he is about it,” laughed Frank. +“I can’t afford to lose that.”</p> +<p>“As I have before remarked,” said the lieutenant, +“find Pedro and you’ll find the necklace.”</p> +<p>“Unless he’s soaked it,” Frank put in.</p> +<p>About dark Lieutenant Gordon arose to go +back to Ancon and Jimmie and Peter Fenton +moved down the little path with him.</p> +<p>“Here,” the lieutenant said. “You boys +mustn’t be seen with me. You are not supposed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +to be connected with the secret service in any +way.”</p> +<p>“No, I suppose not,” chuckled Jimmie. +“I suppose they come here an’ put bombs under +our cottage, an’ lug us off to deserted houses, an’ +all that, thinkin’ we’re down here in search of a +new kind of butterfly. If anybody should ask +you, the plotters know just as much about our +arrangement as we do.”</p> +<p>Ned, who had been following along behind +the others, broke into a laugh.</p> +<p>“The boy has the situation sized up correctly,” +he said.</p> +<p>“Then come along,” growled the lieutenant. +“Where are you going?”</p> +<p>“We’re going to have a look at the Culebra +cut,” was the reply. “You said we might ramble +about the Isthmus all we wanted to.”</p> +<p>“But why go with me, and at night?” asked +the officer.</p> +<p>“We want to see the work going on under +electricity,” Peter replied.</p> +<p>“Let them go,” advised Ned. “If they can’t +take care of themselves it is time we found it +out.”</p> +<p>The fact was that the boys had learned from +the cook that the lieutenant had come to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +vicinity of the cottage in an automobile, and +they thought this a fine chance to secure a ride +to the famous excavation. There was at least +another member of the party who seemed to +think just as they did, for when the machine +purred out into the rough road leading from +the path to Gatun the slight figure of Gastong +vaulted into the back seat with the boys and +motioned to them to remain quiet.</p> +<p>“What’s up?” whispered Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Perhaps he wouldn’t let me go,” suggested +the other.</p> +<p>“You’ve ducked an’ dodged so long that +you’re afraid of everybody,” returned Jimmie. +“I guess any of our friends can go where we can.”</p> +<p>Gastong, however, had not given the true +reason for wishing to keep his presence in the car +a secret from the lieutenant. The boy had been +so considerately treated by the Boy Scouts that +he was infatuated with them, and wished to serve +them in some important way.</p> +<p>Not having any steady occupation or place of +residence, the boy had been driven about alike +by the native authorities and the army officers +until he was, as Jimmie declared, afraid of any +one having authority. He had been treated as +an equal by the boys, and was determined to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +serve them. He had heard the talk of enlisting +the dwarf, Jumbo, in the cause represented by +the secret service men, and was now resolved to +return to the deserted house and look the little +fellow up.</p> +<p>Therefore, when the machine drew near to +the house which the lads had visited that +day under such unfavorable circumstances he +dropped out and was soon lost in the shadows +of the jungle.</p> +<p>“What do you think of that?” Jimmie demanded.</p> +<p>“I think he can do a better job there than +either of us could,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“Well, when we come back from the cut,” +Jimmie said, “I’m goin’ to drop off here an’ see +how the chump is gettin’ along.”</p> +<p>Looking back, they saw a light flare up in the +house, and then die out!</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XII_LOST_IN_THE_JUNGLE_AT_NIGHT' id='XII_LOST_IN_THE_JUNGLE_AT_NIGHT'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<h3>LOST IN THE JUNGLE AT NIGHT.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Just look at it!”</p> +<p>The lieutenant, after many warnings against +getting in the way, and against getting lost in +the jungle, had just left Peter and Jimmie, +and the boys stood at the verge of the great +Culebra cut, taking in the wonder and the force +of the marvelous scene.</p> +<p>Night and day, under the great white lights, +the work went forward, cutting a way for the +commerce of the world. Night and day the +human ants bored into the earth. Continuously +the blasting and scraping, the puffing and the +roaring, went on. Always the great steam shovels +were biting into the soil and the rock.</p> +<p>“That doesn’t look like the deep blue sea +down there, does it?” Peter went on, “yet the +largest vessels in the world will be sailing over +here in four years, sailing through this cut, and +over a forest beyond the rise there. It looks +big, doesn’t it? And it sounds big, too.”</p> +<p>From where the boys stood there seemed to +be a hopeless confusion of men and machines, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +but they knew that back of all the hurry, and +bustle, and noise, was a great machine, a wonderful +system, born in a human brain and reaching +its lines out to the smallest detail.</p> +<p>“When you sit on a fire-escape balcony, or in +a park,” Jimmie said, his mind going back to the +New York lounging places he knew best, “and +read about how many tons of earth have been +removed during the week, you don’t sense it, +do you? You’ve got to come down here and +catch Uncle Sam at his job.”</p> +<p>While the boys talked of the marvelous thing +before them a stranger of quiet mien stood +watching them from an elevation a few yards +away. He was a man of middle age, with brilliant +black eyes, long, like those of an Oriental, +and a figure almost boyish in its proportions. +He was neatly dressed in a dark suit of some soft, +expensive material, his linen was spotless, and a +diamond of great value and brilliancy glimmered +in his pure white tie.</p> +<p>He stood watching the boys for a moment +listening to their talk, and then approached +them, softly, deferentially, yet with an air of +frankness.</p> +<p>“It is a wonderful sight,” he said, as he came +to the edge of the cut where the lads stood. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +“In all the world’s life there has never been anything +like it.”</p> +<p>The boys turned and looked the man over +modestly, yet with sharp eyes. It is not to be +wondered at, after their experiences there, that +they were suspicious of all strangers. They both +at first rather liked the looks of the man.</p> +<p>“It is worth coming a long way to see,” +Peter observed.</p> +<p>“Yes,” was the reply, “it is wonderful, even +to those who are small cogs in the great machine, +and so it must seem almost supernatural in its +showing of strength to those who look upon it +for the first time.”</p> +<p>“You belong on the works?” asked Jimmie, +gazing at the man with a sort of awe, as one +might look at a man of mighty deeds.</p> +<p>“Yes, I have my part in the work,” was the +reply, “though it is only a modest part. I am +in the office of the engineer, and frequently come +out at night to note the progress of the big cut.”</p> +<p>“It must make a man feel a mile high, to be +part of a thing like this,” Jimmie said, sweeping +a hand over the scene. “It makes little old +New York look like thirty cents,” he added, +with a laugh.</p> +<p>“The work,” the stranger said, in a pleasant +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +tone, which gave no indication of foreign birth +“has progressed beyond the expectations of +the most enthusiastic advocate of the canal. +When we came here we found about seven miles +of waterway bored into the side of the Isthmus, +reaching, well, about up to the rising slope of +Gatun. Beyond this there were scratches in the +soil for about forty miles. There was a notch +nicked in the hills of Culebra—just a nick bearing +no resemblance to what you see before you at +this time.”</p> +<p>“That was over there where the hills rise +up like men watching the lights and listening +to the noise?” asked Jimmie, his imagination +thoroughly stirred by the scene.</p> +<p>“Yes, over there. It would have taken the +Frenchmen a century to dig down to the level +where those shovels are working, where those +tracks lie. I’m afraid it took the men they +brought here most of the time to bury the dead. +But, after all, they never got in touch with the +really big thing.”</p> +<p>“I guess that was the Chagres river,” Peter +said; “I’ve read something about that, about the +trouble it makes.”</p> +<p>“Yes, that was the river,” the stranger went +on, by this time pretty deep in the confidence +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +and admiration of the boys. “They found the +Chagres having everything its own way on the +uplands, over to the north, there. It ambled +along like a perfect lady in spots, then it twisted +its water into whirling ropes which pulled at the +banks and toppled cliffs into the current.”</p> +<p>“Freshets?” asked Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Exactly. When the engineers came they +found something worth while. They found a +dismal, soggy-looking ditch which could do +things in a single night. They found crumbling +and shaling cliffs which showed the bite of the +waters. Time and again they had to do their +work all over again. Then they decided to take +the Chagres by the neck and choke it into subjection.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to see some one choke a river,” +Jimmie laughed. “You try to choke a river and +you’ll find that the harder you clutch it the more +trouble it will make you.”</p> +<p>“But they not only choked the Chagres,” +the stranger said, with a captivating smile which +went far toward giving him the complete confidence +of the boys, “they put it in chains. If +you look on a detail map of the Isthmus, you +will see a white band stretching from Limon Bay +to La Boca, just below the hill of Ancon. That +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +is the line of the canal. Then, across this white +band, you will see a crooked line, a turning and +twisting line. That is the river, which seems to +change its mind about general direction every few +minutes. The engineers found this river in the +habit of getting up in the night and tearing their +work in pieces.”</p> +<p>“Why didn’t they cut a straight channel for +it?” asked Jimmie.</p> +<p>“That was tried, but finally the engineers +decided to stop trying to make the river behave +itself, as a river, and turned their attention to +squelching it. They are going to turn it into a +lake—the Lake of Gatun.”</p> +<p>“I’ve heard something about that,” Jimmie +said. “Go on and tell us more about it.”</p> +<p>The stranger smiled pleasantly, but there was +a sudden quickening of the flame in his brilliant +eyes which the boys did not notice.</p> +<p>“The upland portion of the Isthmus, the +plateau, as it would be called in Mexico, is fairly +level from Gatun to the Culebra hills. It might, +in fact, be called a shallow basin, with hills +shutting it in. Now do you see what the Gatun +dam is for?”</p> +<p>“Sure. To flood that basin and turn the +Chagres into a lake,” cried Jimmie. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span></p> +<p>“That is just what will be done. The Panama +canal will be a lake most of the way. The +locks will float the vessels up to the lake and +down to the canal again. The hills, and forests, +and farms of the basin will be under water.”</p> +<p>“And the mines,” Jimmie said, thinking of the +talk he had had with Peter concerning the emerald +mines. “The lake will flood them, too.”</p> +<p>“There are no mines there any more,” the +stranger said, lightly, but there was a quality in +his voice which almost asked a question instead +of making a statement of fact.</p> +<p>“I’ve been wondering if there wasn’t mines +down there,” Jimmie added, in a moment.</p> +<p>“What kind of mines?” asked the stranger.</p> +<p>Jimmie was about to say “Emerald mines,” +but Peter’s anxious face warned him to check the +words on his lips.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ve heard of all kinds of mines about +there,” he said, instead.</p> +<p>“The mines are farther south,” said the +stranger. “Are you boys with a party?” he +added, in a moment. “If not, I would like to +have you spend the night as my guests.”</p> +<p>“We’ve got a camp back here,” Peter said, +“and the others will be expecting us.”</p> +<p>“I see,” said the other. “You are the boys +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +who are here in search of specimens. I recall +something Lieutenant Gordon said about you. +But you are a long way from the cottage in the +jungle near Gatun.”</p> +<p>“When did you see Lieutenant Gordon last?” +asked Peter, suspiciously.</p> +<p>“I met him something over half an hour ago,” +was the reply, “on his way back to the Tivoli at +Ancon. You came here in his machine?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“Well, I’m going to Gatun to-night, and +you may ride with me.”</p> +<p>The stranger turned away, as if to get his +motor car, and Peter nudged Jimmie in the ribs +with his elbow.</p> +<p>“Now we’ve done it,” he whispered.</p> +<p>“Done what?”</p> +<p>“Got a man after us.”</p> +<p>“Do you think he is one of the men we came +here to look up?” asked Jimmie. “I’ve been +thinking he looks like a Jap. Perhaps he’s one +of the men at the bottom of that bomb business. +Well, we don’t have to go with him.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to see where he would take us,” +Peter whispered.</p> +<p>“Not for your uncle,” Jimmie replied. “It +is me for the jungle. This thing is gettin’ worse ’n’ a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +Bowery drama. The villain comes on in +every scene here. Say! Suppose we take a run +into the woods before he gets back?”</p> +<p>“I’m not in love with the jungle at night,” +Peter said. “Besides, I’d like to know what +this Jap has in mind.”</p> +<p>The chug-chug of the stranger’s motor was +now heard, and, without waiting for further discussion, +the boys ducked away into the jungle, +which crowded close on the cut at this point.</p> +<p>They heard the car stop at the point where +they had been standing, and heard a low exclamation +of impatience, indicative of disappointment, +from the lips of the driver, and then +crept farther into the tangle of vines.</p> +<p>Finally Peter stopped and faced toward +Gatun.</p> +<p>“We’d better be working toward home,” +he said. “This thicket is no place for a civilized +human being at night.”</p> +<p>Although there was a moon, and the sky +showed great constellations with which the boys +were unfamiliar, the jungle was dark and creepy. +Keeping the lights from the workings on their +left, the boys pushed their way through the +undergrowth for some distance without resting, +and then paused in a little glade and listened. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></p> +<p>“Gee,” cried Jimmie, after standing at attention +for a moment, “there’s some one following +us. We’d better dig in a little deeper.”</p> +<p>“It may be a wild animal,” said Peter, who, +while ready to face whatsoever peril might come +in the company of the man they were running +away from, was in mortal terror of the jungle.</p> +<p>“There are no man-eaters here,” Jimmie +replied, unwinding a snake-like creeper from his +neck and pushing on.</p> +<p>“I can feel snakes crawling up my legs now,” +complained Peter, with a shiver.</p> +<p>The noise in the rear came on about as fast +as they could move, and at last Jimmie sat down +on a fallen tree.</p> +<p>“He can hear us,” he said. “We might as +well be hiding with a brass band.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll keep quiet until he passes,” +Peter trembled out. “I’m afraid to go plunging +through here in the dark, anyway.”</p> +<p>Making as little noise as possible, the boys +crept into a particularly dense thicket and +crouched down. Almost as soon as they were +at rest the noise behind ceased. In five minutes +it began again, but the sounds grew fainter +and fainter and finally died out.</p> +<p>“He was followin’ us all right,” Jimmie said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +“Now we’ll dig in a little deeper, so as not to +come out anywhere near him, and then go back +to camp.”</p> +<p>They walked, or crept, rather, until they +were tired out and then looked about.</p> +<p>There were giant ceiba trees, with trunks as +smooth as if they had been polished by human +hands, tremendous cotton-trees, their branches +bowed down with air plants, palms, to which +clung clusters of wild nuts, thick, bulbous trees, +taller trees with buttressed roots, as if Nature +knew the strain that was to be placed upon them +and braced them up accordingly, trees with bark +like mirrors, and trees with six-inch spike growing +from the bark.</p> +<p>And through this thicket of trees ran creepers +resembling pythons, smaller vines which tore at +the boughs of the trees, and a mass of running +things on the ground which caught the foot and +seemed to crawl up toward the throat. By daylight +it would have been weird and beautiful. +At night it was uncanny and fearsome.</p> +<p>“We ought to be in sight of the lights by this +time,” Peter said, after they had crept on and +rested again and again.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jimmie, “but we ain’t. We’re +lost in the jungle, if you want to know.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIII_BOY_SCOUTS_TO_THE_RESCUE' id='XIII_BOY_SCOUTS_TO_THE_RESCUE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<h3>BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Ned Nestor and Frank Shaw sat on the porch, +that night, for a long time after the other boys +were asleep. It had been decided that Frank +should stand guard until midnight, but Ned +was far too anxious to attempt to sleep. The +absence of Jimmie and Peter worried him, and +he sat waiting for some sign of their approach +until very late.</p> +<p>“Frank,” he said, after a long silence, “there +has been some talk in this case about your father +having an interest in an emerald mine down +here. Have you any idea where that mine is?”</p> +<p>“Not the slightest,” was the reply. “All I +know about it is that it is a paying proposition, +and that foreigners are in the game with him.”</p> +<p>“You do not even know whether the mine is +situated in the Province of Panama?”</p> +<p>“I rather think it is.”</p> +<p>“I have heard talk,” Ned went on, “about +mines on the line of the canal. It may be that +this one is.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span></p> +<p>“I think it is not far from Colon,” was the +reply.</p> +<p>“Do you know who these foreigners are?”</p> +<p>“Japanese, I think.”</p> +<p>Ned was silent for a time, as if studying some +proposition over in his mind. The boys in the +cottage were stirring in their sleep, and a shrill-voiced +bird in the jungle was calling to its mate.</p> +<p>“What are you trying to get at?” Frank +asked.</p> +<p>“Has it ever occurred to you,” Ned replied, +“that your father acted rather strangely on the +night he was attacked in his house—the night +your emerald necklace was stolen and the office +building searched?”</p> +<p>“I have never thought of his attitude as +remarkable,” replied Frank, “but, come to think +the matter over from this distance, it does seem +that he did act queerly when asked to reveal +the nature of the information he had received. +Lieutenant Gordon was angry with him.”</p> +<p>“Yes; the lieutenant believed that the papers +would help him a lot if he could get hold of +them. He still thinks so.”</p> +<p>“I understand that he still, in his mind, accuses +father of disloyalty to his country,” said +Frank. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span></p> +<p>“It seems to me,” Ned continued, “that one +of two propositions is true. Either the papers +would be useless in revealing the plot, or they +deal with a situation which your father believes +himself capable of handling alone.”</p> +<p>“I wonder what he will think when he gets +the cable Lieutenant Gordon took up to Panama +for me?” asked Frank.</p> +<p>“What did you say in the message?”</p> +<p>“I told him to keep an army of men in the +basement of the newspaper building—to look +out for bombs all over the structure.”</p> +<p>“I am glad you were able to warn him,” Ned +said, “but I can’t help believing that he knew +something of the peril he was in before we left +New York. He was altogether too quiet that +night when his house and his office were searched. +He appeared to me to be planning a revenge both +effective and secret.”</p> +<p>“And he never made a row about Pedro leaving +him,” Frank said. “Why, he used to think +Pedro was the whole works.”</p> +<p>“You say the fellow’s name is not Pedro at +all, but Pedrarias?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Yes, that is what father says. I gave him +the name of Pedro for short. He is an offshoot +of the Spanish family that ruled the Isthmus +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +after Balboa was shot. He claims pure Castilian +blood, and all that. How he ever consented to +become a servant is more than I can make out.”</p> +<p>“Has it never occurred to you,” asked Ned, +“that he might have had an object, besides that +of salary, in acting the part of a menial?”</p> +<p>“I have thought, since the night of the robbery, +that he might have scented the necklace +from afar off and come there to get it.”</p> +<p>“Your father found him on the Isthmus?”</p> +<p>“Yes; on his latest trip.”</p> +<p>“He consulted with him, in a way, concerning +conditions here?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I think he did. Pedro is a very intelligent +man, and proud as the Son of the Morning. +He gave me his pedigree about the first +day of his service in the house.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps your father sought his advice +regarding the emerald business.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I think he did, now and then.”</p> +<p>“And Pedro was always ready to advise?”</p> +<p>“Oh, of course.”</p> +<p>“And your father grew to put some confidence +in his talk?”</p> +<p>“I presume so, for they talked together a +good deal. But I don’t see what you are getting +at.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span></p> +<p>“Do you know whether the two discussed +the location and opening up of new mines?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes. Father is always after new +mines.”</p> +<p>“Where is he looking for them?”</p> +<p>“On the Isthmus and all through the republic +of Colombia, I think.”</p> +<p>“And especially on the Isthmus?”</p> +<p>“I believe so.”</p> +<p>“And Pedro was active in looking up possible +workings?”</p> +<p>“Yes; he used to show father maps and plans, +at night, in the study, and they used to pore over +them for hours at a time. But what does that +amount to? Father took him to New York, I +have no doubt, because he thought he would be +useful in that way. The fellow knows every inch +of the Isthmus and South America. Now, let +me ask you a question. Do you think he stole +my emerald necklace?”</p> +<p>“No, frankly, I do not,” replied Ned.</p> +<p>“But you have a notion that he let the others +into the house?”</p> +<p>“Well, he might have done so.”</p> +<p>“He showed guilt when he ran away.”</p> +<p>“Of course. The fact is that if he did let the +thieves into the house he did not do so especially +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +to give them a chance to steal the necklace. At +least that is the way I look at it. And, again, +if he did admit them, he permitted them to do a +bungling job.”</p> +<p>“You mean that they didn’t get what they +wanted?”</p> +<p>“Exactly.”</p> +<p>“The papers concerning the plot?”</p> +<p>“Probably.”</p> +<p>“Well, how could they get them if they +weren’t in the house?”</p> +<p>“He should have located them before he +turned his confederates loose.”</p> +<p>“Then you really think Pedro was at the +bottom of all that?”</p> +<p>“I have not said so,” was the reply. “There +is no knowing whether he was or not.”</p> +<p>“I wish you wouldn’t be so secretive,” Frank +said. “You have a straight out and out theory +of that night’s work, and you won’t tell me what +it is.”</p> +<p>“I never form theories,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“What would Pedro want of the papers?” +Frank demanded. “Was he in the plot to blow +up the dam, or was he just paid to get them?”</p> +<p>“I can tell you more about that in a few days. +It is midnight, and I will relieve you. Go to bed.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span></p> +<p>“I shall sleep sounder after I hear from +father,” the boy said, passing into the cottage. +“He may be having troubles of his own in New +York,” he added, pausing at the door for a last +word.</p> +<p>Ned sat for a long time on the screened porch +with the splendor of the tropical night about him. +The jungle came nearly to the walls of the house +on all sides, save in front, where a little clearing +had been made, and the noises, the creature +and vine talk of the thickets, came to his ears like +low music.</p> +<p>He listened constantly for the footsteps of the +absent boys, but for a long time there was no +break in the lilt of the forest. Then—it must +have been two o’clock—he heard the quick beat +of running feet, and directly Gastong, as Jack +had fancifully named his new acquaintance, +came spurting into the cleared space.</p> +<p>He stopped running when he reached the +middle of the cutaway spot and, seeing Ned on +the porch, beckoned to him.</p> +<p>Ned was off the porch in an instant, standing +by the exhausted boy, who was now on the +ground, supporting his swaying figure with one +hand clutching the long grass.</p> +<p>“What is it,” asked Ned. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span></p> +<p>“Have you heard anything of the boys, the +two who went away in the car?” asked the other. +“Have they come back?”</p> +<p>“No,” replied Ned, filled with a sickening +sense of helplessness, “they have not returned. +Come inside the screen and speak low, so as not +to wake the others.”</p> +<p>Gastong rose slowly to his feet and walked +stumblingly to the porch. Once inside he +dropped into a chair.</p> +<p>“I have run a long distance,” he said, by way +of apology for his weakened condition. “I’m +all in.”</p> +<p>“What is it about the boys?” Ned demanded, +clutching the other by the arm.</p> +<p>“I stopped at the old house,” began Gastong, +but Ned cut him short.</p> +<p>“About the boys,” he said, shaking him +fiercely. “What about the boys?”</p> +<p>“They are either in the hands of your enemies +or lost in the jungle.”</p> +<p>The words were spoken shrinkingly, as if the +news conveyed might be of his own making.</p> +<p>“Where did you leave them?”</p> +<p>“I stopped at the old house,” began the other +again, “and remained there only a few minutes. +Then I went on toward the Culebra cut and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +came upon a friend who told me what had taken +place.”</p> +<p>“Well! Well! Well!”</p> +<p>“The boys stopped at the cut, this side of the +high point, and were there accosted by Gostel. +Oh, you don’t know Gostel?”</p> +<p>“No, no,” was the impatient reply. “Who +the dickens is Gostel?”</p> +<p>“He is a spy, a Jap who has been hanging +about the Isthmus ever since the beginning of +the work.”</p> +<p>Ned was thinking fast. This might mean +something tangible. He had never heard of +Gostel before.</p> +<p>“Well, what of Gostel?” he asked.</p> +<p>“He talked with the boys for a time and +invited them to become his guests for the night. +He referred them to Lieutenant Gordon. I got +it from my friend who heard all their talk.”</p> +<p>“And they went away with him?”</p> +<p>Ned’s voice was harsh and high, and the +boys in the cottage were heard moving about, +as if awakened by his voice.</p> +<p>“No, they didn’t go away with him. They +became suspicious of him, and when he went for +his car they ran away into the jungle. A mad +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +thing to do. A crazy thing for boys to do, for +strangers. There is death in the jungle.”</p> +<p>“And why didn’t you go in after them?” +asked Ned.</p> +<p>“What could I do alone?” asked the other, +with a little shiver of apprehension.</p> +<p>“If you know the country—”</p> +<p>Gastong interrupted with a gesture of impatience.</p> +<p>“Knowing the country couldn’t help me, not +with Gostel and his men trailing into the jungle +after the boys.”</p> +<p>There was a new fear creeping into Ned’s +heart, and he was beginning to realize that there +are perils more to be dreaded than the perils of +the jungles.</p> +<p>“How many went in?” asked Ned, in a moment.</p> +<p>“Oh, half a dozen—I don’t know. Some one +must go for help. Gostel will kill the boys. I +should think that after the experiences of the +afternoon—”</p> +<p>“I am ready to go this minute,” Ned said.</p> +<p>“Oh, but you must have torches, and guns, +and stand ready to fight against wild beasts as +well as against men. There are jaguars in +there, and boas—serpents ten yards in length. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +Natives have been killed by jaguars within the +month.”</p> +<p>“Jaguars rarely come as far north as this,” +Ned said, “and your serpents are not dangerous,” +but the other insisted that there were both +jaguars and boas in the jungle.</p> +<p>“This man Gostel may have gone to the +rescue of the boys,” suggested Ned.</p> +<p>Gastong laughed weakly.</p> +<p>“You don’t know him,” he said. “I tell +you he is a spy, a Japanese spy, watching every +inch of the canal as it is excavated. He is in the +pay of hostile interests, and will work you all a +mischief. He knew before you arrived that you +were coming.”</p> +<p>“How do you know that?” demanded Ned.</p> +<p>Gastong’s replies to the question were not +satisfactory, and so Ned gave over questioning +him. The sleeping boys were aroused and in +ten minutes, just as a faint tint of day came into +the east, they were away to the jungle—taking +the way to Gatun at first, as the thicket they +sought was far to the southeast of that city.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIV_THE_KILL_IN_THE_JUNGLE' id='XIV_THE_KILL_IN_THE_JUNGLE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<h3>THE KILL IN THE JUNGLE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was growing darker every minute in the +jungle, for there were now fleecy clouds in the +sky, and the moon was not always in sight. +Following Jimmie’s statement that they were +lost, the boys stood stock still in a dense thicket +and tried once more to get their bearings.</p> +<p>“We’ve got something figured out wrong,” +Peter said.</p> +<p>“I don’t see how we have,” Jimmie insisted. +“See here! That is the moon up there? What?”</p> +<p>“Looks like it.”</p> +<p>“Then it’s got lost,” Jimmie continued. +“Ever stand behind the scenes in a theatre and +hold a moon up on a stick?”</p> +<p>“Never did.”</p> +<p>“Well, I did, on the Bowery, once, and I got +so interested in what was goin’ on in front that +the moon set in the east. That’s what’s the +matter with this moon. Some—”</p> +<p>“There ain’t no supe holding up this moon on +a stick.”</p> +<p>“Then they’ve moved the Panama canal,” insisted +Jimmie. “If they hadn’t, we would have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +come to the cut a long time ago. That moon +is supposed to be in the south. It ought to be.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps a little west of south.”</p> +<p>“Well, we crossed over the ditch down here, +didn’t we, and struck into the jungle from the +west side of the Culebra cut?”</p> +<p>“Of course we did.”</p> +<p>“Then if we keep the moon in the south, on +our right, we’ll come back to the cut?”</p> +<p>“Sure. Anyway, we ought to.”</p> +<p>“Well, Old Top, we’ve been walkin’ for the +last two hours with the moon on our right, and +we haven’t got anywhere, have we? You don’t +see no lights ahead of us, do you?”</p> +<p>There were no signs of the big cut. The +great lights which blazed over the workings were +not to be seen. The noises of the digging, the +dynamiting, the pounding of the steam shovels, +the nervous tooting of the dirt trains, might have +been a thousand miles away.</p> +<p>“You’ve got to show me,” Peter said, after +studying over the matter for a moment. “That +moon isn’t on no stick on a Bowery stage. It +is there in the south, where it belongs, and if we +continue to keep it on our right we’ll come to the +canal in time. We are farther away than we +thought for.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span></p> +<p>They struggled on through the jungle for +another half hour, and then stopped while +Jimmie looked reproachfully at the moon.</p> +<p>“I’d like to know what kind of a country this +is, anyway,” he grumbled. “I never saw the +moon get off on a tear before.”</p> +<p>“Except when you had it on the end of a +stick,” said Peter, with a noise which was intended +for a laugh, but which sounded more like +a sigh of disgust.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ve got to stay here until morning,” +Jimmie said, presently, “and I’m so hungry that +I could eat a boa constrictor right now.”</p> +<p>“Quit!” cried Peter. “Don’t talk about +snakes, or you’ll bring them down on us.”</p> +<p>“That was coarse, wasn’t it?” observed +Jimmie. “Well, I’ll withdraw the remark.”</p> +<p>“If we stay here until morning,” Peter said, +dubiously, “how do we know the sun won’t +rise in the west?”</p> +<p>“All right,” Jimmie replied. “Guy me if +you want to, but you’ll find this is no joke before +we get through with it.”</p> +<p>“I know that now,” Peter replied. “I never +was so tired in my life, and I’d give a ten-dollar +note for a drink of cold water.”</p> +<p>The boys sat down on dry tree knuckles, buttressed +roots rising three feet from the soil, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +discussed the situation gravely. After a short +time Peter got up with a start and began prancing +about the little free space where they were.</p> +<p>“I’ve got it!” he cried. “We’re both +chumps.”</p> +<p>“They usually act that way when they’re +dyin’ of hunger an’ thirst,” Jimmie said, dolefully. +“Keep quiet, an’ you’ll feel better in a +short time.”</p> +<p>“But I know which way to go now,” Peter +insisted.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, I know. You’re goin’ to tell +which is north by the moss on the trees. Or +you’re goin’ to tell which way is northeast by the +way the breeze lays the bushes. Or you’re goin’ +to make a compass out of the dial of your watch. +I’ve read all about it. But we’re stuck, just the +same, not knowin’ the constellations.”</p> +<p>“Stuck—nothing,” cried Peter. “Look here. +Which way does the Panama canal run?”</p> +<p>“North and south, across the Isthmus, of +course.”</p> +<p>“There’s where you’re wrong! From Gatun +to Panama the line of the cut is more east and +west than north and south. Now revise your +opinion of the moon. At this time of night she +would be in the southwest.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span></p> +<p>“That would make a little difference,” admitted +Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Well, there you are. Take a line running +southeast and a couple of chumps going almost +southeast by keeping a southwest object to the +right, where will they land? That’s mixed, but +I guess you know what it means. Where would +a couple of chumps find the southeast line?”</p> +<p>“About next week at two o’clock,” cried +Jimmie. “Come on. We’ll start right now, an’ +get out of the jungle before daylight.”</p> +<p>In a few moments after taking a fresh start +the boys came to a place where a small body of +water made a clearing in the forest. The little +lake, or swamp, for it was little more than a well-filled +marsh, was of course walled about by trees +and climbing vines, but there was a lane to the +southwest which permitted the light of the moon +to fall upon the water.</p> +<p>The surface of the pool was well covered with +floating plants, and now and then, as the boys +looked through the undergrowth, a squirming +thing ducked under and out of sight. There +was something beautiful about the spot, and +yet it was uncanny, too.</p> +<p>“I wish that was all right for a drink,” +Jimmie observed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span></p> +<p>“It is all right for a drink—if you’re tired of +living,” Peter said. “Say,” he added, pointing, +“what do you think of that for a creeper, over +there? I’m sure I saw it climbing down off +that tree.”</p> +<p>Jimmie took one look and started away, +drawing Peter with him.</p> +<p>“It’s a python!” he exclaimed. “Come on.”</p> +<p>“There are no pythons in this country,” +Peter replied, pulling back and looking out over +the water again.</p> +<p>“It is a boa, then,” Jimmie cried. “Come +away. It is getting out of the tree!”</p> +<p>The boys did not move for a moment. They +seemed to be fascinated by what they saw. It +was a serpent at least ten yards in length—a +serpent showing many bright colors, a thick, +elongated head, a body at least ten inches in +diameter, and a blunt tail. As it moved down +the column of the tree it launched its head out +level in the air as if anticipating a feast of Boy +Scout. The shining head, the small, vicious +eyes, drew nearer to the faces of the watchers, +and it seemed as if the serpent was about to leap +across the pool.</p> +<p>Directly, however, the reptile threw its head +and the upper part of its body over a limb on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +a tree nearer to the boys and drew its whole +squirming body across.</p> +<p>“It is coming over here, all right,” whispered +Peter. “Can you hit it? A bullet landed +in that flat head might help some.”</p> +<p>“Of course I can hit it.”</p> +<p>Jimmie would not have admitted fright, but +his voice was a trifle shaky. It is no light thing +for a boy reared on the pavements of New York +to face a serpent in the midst of a tropical forest +at night.</p> +<p>“You shoot, then,” Peter said. “I’ll hold +my fire until we see what happens.”</p> +<p>Jimmie drew his revolver and waited for a +moment, as the head of the snake was now in the +shadow of the tree. When it came out again, +still creeping nearer to the boys, swaying, reaching +out for another tree which would have +brought it within striking distance, the boy took +careful aim and fired.</p> +<p>There was a puff of smoke, the smell of burning +powder, a great switching in the branches of +the tree. Peter seized Jimmie by the arm and +drew him back.</p> +<p>“If you didn’t hit him he’ll jump,” the boy said.</p> +<p>When the smoke which had discolored the +heavy air drifted away, they saw the serpent still +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +hanging from the limb, pushing his head out this +way and that and flashing a scarlet tongue at its +enemies.</p> +<p>“You hit him, all right,” Peter said. “Try +again.”</p> +<p>After the third shot the body of the serpent +hung down from the tree with only a stir of life. +It was evident that at least one of the bullets +had found the brain.</p> +<p>“It will hang there until it decays,” Peter +said. “That tail will never let go. Come on +away. It makes me sick.”</p> +<p>“There’s always two where there’s one,” +Jimmie said, “and we must move cautiously, for +there would be no release from the coils of a +snake like that.”</p> +<p>“I thought I heard something moving in +there a moment ago,” Peter said, pointing away +from the pool. “I’ll go in and see.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you stir,” advised Jimmie. “There’s +some one in there. I heard voices. We have +been followed all this long way, and the shooting +must have located us.”</p> +<p>This was a very natural conclusion, and the +boys crept behind the bole of a tree and waited +for what seemed to them a long time. Then +footsteps were heard, soft, stealthy steps, like +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +those of a man walking in padded stockings. +The great leaves of a huge plant with red blossoms +moved, and a pair of fierce eyes looked out.</p> +<p>“That’s a panther,” whispered Jimmie.</p> +<p>“A South American jaguar,” Peter corrected. +“They eat men when they get desperately +hungry.”</p> +<p>The great cat moved out from behind the +plant and stood in the shaft of moonlight. It +was a graceful beast, an alert, handsome creature +of the woods, but did not look in that way +to the boys just then.</p> +<p>In size it was nearly the equal of the full +grown tiger. The head was large, the body +thick yet supple, the limbs robust. In color it +was of a rich yellow, with black rings, in which +stood black dots, marking the sides.</p> +<p>The beast is known as the South American +tiger, and is by far the most powerful and dangerous +of tropic beasts of prey. It is swift +enough to capture horses on the open pampas +and strong enough to drag them away after +the kill. In some of the countries south of the +Isthmus the jaguar is a menace to the inhabitants, +and settlements have been deserted because +of them. It is rarely that one is found as far +north as the Isthmus. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span></p> +<p>While the boys watched the cat slipped out +one soft paw after the other and looked about, +as if awakened from sleep. Then it moved +toward the tree behind which the boys were +partly concealed.</p> +<p>“Now for it,” whispered Peter. “If we miss +it is all off with one of us.”</p> +<p>“He may not come here,” Jimmie said, +hopefully. “He was probably brought here by +the smell of blood. Say! Don’t you hear something +back of us? This cat’s mate may be there.”</p> +<p>And the cat’s mate was there. Not looking +in their direction, but sitting up like a house cat, +watching the swaying body of the serpent. Her +nose was pushed out a trifle, as if scenting supper +in the dangling horror.</p> +<p>“The mate is here, all right,” Peter said, in a +whisper. “We’re between the two of them. +What is the first one doing?”</p> +<p>“Coming on,” whispered Jimmie, “and I’ve +got only three shots in my gun.”</p> +<p>“That’s all you will have time to use if you +miss the first one,” Peter said.</p> +<p>“That’s right,” Jimmie returned.</p> +<p>“And we’ll have to shoot together,” Peter +went on.</p> +<p>“Is your hand steady?” asked Jimmie. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span></p> +<p>“As a rock,” was the reply. “Good-bye to +little old New York if it wasn’t. Funny notion +that a jaguar should be trying to eat a Wolf and +a Black Bear.”</p> +<p>“And a baby Wolf, too,” added Jimmie. +“My beast is coming on, bound to investigate +this tree. When he gets so close that he can +spring I’ll give the word, and we’ll shoot together.”</p> +<p>The cat approached slowly. At first it did +not seem to catch the scent of prey in the neighborhood +of the tree. It came on with cautious +steps, crouching low, as if ready to leap.</p> +<p>Then the female caught sight and scent of the +boys and uttered a low cry of warning which the +male appeared to understand, for in a second its +ears were laid down on its neck and the belly +touched the ground.</p> +<p>“When you shoot keep the lead going,” +advised Jimmy. “Now!”</p> +<p>Again, in that splendid tropical scene, there +was a puff of smoke, one, two, three, four. +Again the odor of burned powder attacked the +nostrils and clouded the heavy air. Again +there was a great floundering in the thicket.</p> +<p>The boys stood waiting for the snarling impact, +but none came.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XV_SIGNAL_FIRES_IN_THE_JUNGLE' id='XV_SIGNAL_FIRES_IN_THE_JUNGLE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<h3>SIGNAL FIRES IN THE JUNGLE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“I guess we got ’em,” Jimmie cried, as the +smoke drifted away.</p> +<p>“I got mine.”</p> +<p>Peter spoke proudly, just as if there had been +no fear of the result a moment before.</p> +<p>“Mine’s lying down to rest,” Jimmie went +on. “I’m goin’ up to feel his pulse.”</p> +<p>“If he gets a swipe at you, you’ll wish you +hadn’t been so curious about his old pulse,” +Peter observed.</p> +<p>But Jimmie did not at once go toward the +wounded beast. The great cat lifted its head, +gave a cry that echoed and re-echoed through +the forest, and sprang for the tree. The boy’s +revolver spoke again, and the long hours of practice +with the weapon in the shooting galleries +of New York told. The beast dropped to the +ground with a bullet in the brain, sent in exactly +between the eyes.</p> +<p>The female lifted her head at the cry and tried +to regain her feet, but was not strong enough to +do so. With a turn of her pretty head in the +direction of her mate, she fell back dead.</p> +<p>“It’s almost a shame,” Peter said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span></p> +<p>“You wouldn’t be so sorry for the cats if they +had got a claw into you,” Jimmie observed. +“Just one claw in the flesh and it would have +been all off.”</p> +<p>Peter turned away from the dead animals.</p> +<p>“Come on,” he said, “it seems like a slaughter +house here.”</p> +<p>“Wait,” Jimmie cried. “I want to swing +the cats up so they won’t be devoured by their +friends of the jungle. I want the skins for rugs. +Guess they will look pretty poor in our patrol +room. What?”</p> +<p>“I’ll come back with you in the daylight,” +Peter said, “if you’ll come away now.”</p> +<p>Leaving the glade where they had encountered +such dangers, the boys moved toward the +canal line, keeping the moon, now well toward +the horizon, at their back.</p> +<p>“If we had done this before,” Jimmie said, +as they forced their way through clusters of +clinging vines, “we would be at home in bed +now.”</p> +<p>“But we wouldn’t have had the jaguar rugs +coming to us,” answered Peter. “Glad I didn’t +think of it before.”</p> +<p>Presently they came to the top of a little +hill in the jungle and looked out over the country +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +ahead. There were no canal lights in the distance. +Afar off they could see a faint streak of +dawn.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe we’re going right, after all,” +Jimmie said.</p> +<p>“We must keep a little more to the left,” +Peter replied. “The line of the canal runs +almost southeast here, and we are going east. +We’ll strike it quicker if we turn to the north.”</p> +<p>“This ain’t much like the Great White Way +at daylight,” commented Jimmie, as a great +creeper settled about his neck, having been +pulled from a tree by his companion.</p> +<p>“I don’t see what we’re doing in here in the +night, anyway,” Peter observed. “We didn’t +come down here to get big game, but to prevent +enemies of the government getting gay and blowing +up the Gatun dam. Whew! They might +have blowed it up while we’ve been shooting +snakes and cats. Guess there’s one of the explosions +now.”</p> +<p>A rumbling came toward them from the east. +It was such a rumbling as one hears when great +masses of fireworks are set off at once. Such a +rumbling as one hears in war, when the rifles +are speaking along a line of infantry and cannons +are roaring out above their patter. The ground +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +shook, and birds, frightened, fled from tree +boughs with strange cries.</p> +<p>“Something has gone up,” Jimmie said. +“I wish we could see over the tops of that next +line of trees.”</p> +<p>“Sounds like the crack of doom,” Peter observed. +“I wish we could get out of the tall +timber and see what’s going on.”</p> +<p>“There’s a white light,” Jimmie cried, +excitedly. “That must be the workings.”</p> +<p>“That’s a cloud, just touched with dawn,” +Peter replied. “There’s no sight of the canal +yet. If we could only get out to the cut we’d +soon be home.”</p> +<p>“Home?” repeated Jimmie, in disgust, “we’re +more’n fifty miles from camp, the way the roads +run. If we can get a train at Culebra, we may +be able to get home by dark. You must remember +that we rode a long way with the lieutenant. +Culebra is almost to the Pacific. The locks are +there, or near there.”</p> +<p>“We can get a train, I guess,” Peter said, +sleepily. “I wonder if any of the boys are sitting +up for us?”</p> +<p>“You bet they’re out hunting for the two of +us,” Jimmie said. “It takes one half of our +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +party to keep the other half from getting killed,” +he added.</p> +<p>There were still no signs of the canal line. +The jungle was as dense as ever, and seemed +more desolate and uncanny than ever under the +growing light of day. As the sun arose and +looked down into the green pools vapors arose, +vapors unpleasant to the nostrils and bewildering +to the sight.</p> +<p>Presently the boys came to a little knoll from +which they could look a long way into the jungle +stretching around them. Below were slimy +thickets, tangles of creepers and vines which +seemed to be sentient, but no signs of the work +of man. It was now eight o’clock in the morning, +and the boys were worn out and hungry.</p> +<p>“If they’re out lookin’ for us,” Jimmie said, +“I’ll give ’em somethin’ to follow. Watch me.”</p> +<p>“But they won’t be anywhere around here,” +Peter said, as Jimmie began gathering dry twigs +and branches from the ground.</p> +<p>“They’ll begin where Lieutenant Gordon left +us,” insisted the boy. “Now you see if I don’t +wake some Boy Scout up. Here, you carry this +bunch of wood over to that other knoll.”</p> +<p>“All right,” Peter said. “Perhaps another +jaguar will see the signal and give us a call.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span></p> +<p>In a short time the boys had gathered two +great piles of dry leaves and branches lying +some fifty feet apart. Then a quantity of green +boughs were gathered and placed on top of the +dry fuel. When matches were touched to the +piles a dense smoke ascended far above the tops +of the trees. There were two straight columns +of it lifting into the sky above the jungle.</p> +<p>“There!” cried Jimmie wiping the sweat +from his face, for the morning was hot and the +work had been arduous, “if there is a Boy Scout +within ten thousand miles he’ll know what +those two columns of smoke mean.”</p> +<p>“Of course,” said Peter. “If he’s ever been +out camping.”</p> +<p>In the Indian signs adopted by the Boy +Scouts of America one column of smoke means:</p> +<p>“The camp is here.”</p> +<p>Two mean:</p> +<p>“Help! I am lost.”</p> +<p>Three mean:</p> +<p>“We have good news.”</p> +<p>Four mean:</p> +<p>“Come to council.”</p> +<p>When the dry wood burned away the boys +piled on more, keeping green leaves on top all the +time, to make the smudge. After the fires had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +burned for half an hour a signal came from the +thicket—a long, shrill whistle to attract attention, +and then a few bars of “The Star Spangled +Banner.”</p> +<p>“That’s a Boy Scout, all right,” Jimmie exclaimed, +“but it ain’t none of our bunch. They +wouldn’t wait to whistle. They’d jump right +in an’ tell us where to head in at. You bet they +would.”</p> +<p>In a moment a human hand, a slender, boyish +hand, appeared above a great squatty plant +at the foot of the knoll. The thumb and first +finger were extended opened out, the three +remaining fingers closed over the palm of the +hand.</p> +<p>“Whoop!” yelled Jimmie. “The sign of the +Silver Wolf.”</p> +<p>“Come on up,” cried Peter. “The appetite +is fine.”</p> +<p>Then a boyish figure arose from the shelter +of the plant and moved up the hill to where the +boys stood. He was apparently about fifteen +years of age, was dressed as a lad of his age might +appear on Broadway, and presented a fresh, +cheerful face, now wrinkled into smiles, to the +boys waiting with extended hands.</p> +<p>“I saw you signal,” he said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span></p> +<p>“Where are you from?” asked Jimmie, shaking +the extended hand warmly. “We’re from +the Black Bear and Wolf Patrols, New York, +and we don’t know any more about getting along +in the woods than a Houston street mucker.”</p> +<p>“I’m from the Black Bear Patrol of Chicago,” +the other replied, “and my name is Anthony +Chester, Tony for short. What you doing in +the Devil’s Hole?”</p> +<p>“Is this the Devil’s Hole?” asked Jimmie.</p> +<p>“That is what they call it.”</p> +<p>“The Devil seems to be having a good time +of it,” Peter said. “He’s had us on the hip all +night.”</p> +<p>“We were in camp, father and I, about half +way to the cut,” Tony said, “and heard your +shots a spell ago. What did you kill?”</p> +<p>Briefly the boys told the story of the night, +and then Peter asked:</p> +<p>“Why didn’t you answer the shots?”</p> +<p>“We were stalking jaguars,” was the reply, +“and did not want to lose our game. The woods +are full of them, for some reason, this spring.”</p> +<p>“Did you get them?”</p> +<p>“No; I guess the ones you got were the ones +we were after.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></p> +<p>“Then I’m glad we got them, for we’ll divide +the skins with you.”</p> +<p>“Then, a little while ago, I saw your smoke +signal and read it to Dad, and he told me to come +out and bring you to camp for breakfast.”</p> +<p>“What?”</p> +<p>“Breakfast?”</p> +<p>“Is it far?”</p> +<p>“Is it cooked?”</p> +<p>The boys fairly danced about their new acquaintance +as they asked questions and rubbed +their stomachs significantly.</p> +<p>“All cooked and all ready, plenty of it,” +was the reply.</p> +<p>“Where is the camp?” asked Peter, then.</p> +<p>“Oh, just a short distance from the Culebra +cut,” was the reply. “Dad came out here some +weeks ago with me and one servant, and we’re +living in a tent all fixed up with screens and +things. The jaguars aroused us early this morning, +so we got up to shoot them.”</p> +<p>“Is your father workin’ for the Canal people?” +asked Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Oh, no,” was the reply. “He takes a great +interest in the Culebra cut, and spends a good +deal of time out there, but he is not working for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +the government. He’s just loafing, and I’m +having the time of my life.”</p> +<p>“Does he go out there nights?” asked Jimmie.</p> +<p>“No; Sanee, the servant, is away nights, and +Dad stays with me.”</p> +<p>“Never mind all that now,” Peter put in. +“Let us go and see what they’ve got to eat. I +could devour one of the cats we killed.”</p> +<p>Young Chester led the way toward the camp +he had spoken of, the boys following, nearly +exhausted from the exertions of the night. It +had been arranged that they should return for +the skins of the two jaguars they had slain.</p> +<p>As they straggled along through the jungle, +Jimmie’s thoughts were busy over a problem +which had come to his mind during the talk +with the lad who had rescued them. Why was +Mr. Chester, of Chicago, encamped in the jungle, +at the edge, almost, of the Culebra cut, apparently +without other motive than curiosity?</p> +<p>Why did he spend most of his time during +daylight watching the work on the cut, and why +was his servant invariably away from the camp +at night? Were the men watching the work +there for some sinister purpose of their own? +Or was it merely a general interest in the big job +that brought them there? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span></p> +<p>The man who had accosted them the previous +evening had been watching the job, too. +Were these men spies, or were they in the service +of the government and watching for spies? It +seemed odd to the boy that every adventure into +which he stumbled had to do with the main +object of the trip to the Canal Zone. Or, at least +all the others had, and this meeting in the +jungle might follow in the train of the others.</p> +<p>He was wondering, too, about the explosion +they had heard early in the morning. At the +time of his leaving the cottage with Lieutenant +Gordon nothing had been decided on concerning +the store of explosives which had been discovered +in the underground chamber at the +ruined temple. He did not believe that Ned +would leave the deadly material there, to be used +at will by the conspirators, so he was wondering +now if the stuff had not been set off by his +friends.</p> +<p>After a hard walk of a mile or more the three +came out to a little clearing in the jungle and +saw a tent with screened openings. Standing in +front of the tent, his face turned toward the +approaching boys, was a man Jimmie had last +seen in the Shaw residence in New York City.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVI_A_MIGHTY_JAR_IN_THE_JUNGLE' id='XVI_A_MIGHTY_JAR_IN_THE_JUNGLE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<h3>A MIGHTY JAR IN THE JUNGLE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was half-past two in the morning when Ned +Nestor and his companions left the cottage in the +jungle. A few fleecy clouds were now drifting +over the sky, but, on the whole, the night was +fairly clear. It was some distance to Gatun, +where Ned hoped to secure a railroad motor for +the Culebra trip, so the boys moved along at a +swift pace.</p> +<p>However, the party was not destined to reach +Gatun as speedily as was anticipated. When +the boys came to the spot from which Ned and +Jimmie had struck off into the jungle, or into the +edge of it, rather, in pursuit of the man who had +placed the bomb, Jack called Ned’s attention to +two skulking figures moving up the swell of the +hill which the two boys had climbed the night +before.</p> +<p>“There are some of your friends—the bomb-makers,” +Jack said.</p> +<p>“Yes,” Ned replied, “they have been in advance +of us for some distance.”</p> +<p>“Watching the cottage, I presume,” Jack +suggested. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span></p> +<p>“More likely watching to see if we remained +at home or went abroad planning mischief for +them,” Ned replied.</p> +<p>“Then they’re next to us,” Jimmie broke in. +“I’d like to follow ’em up to the old temple an’ +blow ’em up.”</p> +<p>“I have an idea that something of the sort +may happen before morning,” Ned said. “I +had the idea that the fellows would remain away +from the bomb-room for a few days, believing +that we were watching it, but it seems that they +are back again. We mustn’t permit them to take +the stuff away.”</p> +<p>“Goin’ to blow it up to-night?” demanded +Jimmie, eagerly. “Gee, but that will make a +blow-up for your whiskers. Say! I’d like to +sell tickets of admission for this performance. +That would be poor, wouldn’t it?”</p> +<p>“It may not be necessary to blow it up,” Ned +observed. “If Lieutenant Gordon sent a couple +of secret service men back there, as arranged, the +fellows have not got into their bomb-chamber. +If the secret service men did not arrive, it is likely +that the plotters are moving the explosives away. +We’ll go and see, anyway.”</p> +<p>“I’ll run on ahead and see what’s doin’,” +Jimmie exclaimed, darting away. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span></p> +<p>Ned caught him by the collar and drew him +back, whereat the boy appeared to be very angry.</p> +<p>“You little dunce,” Ned said, “you’ll get a +bullet into your anatomy if you don’t be more +careful. Now, you boys go on down the road +toward Gatun,” he added, turning to the others, +“and make all the noise you want to. I’ll go up +to the old temple and see what is going on there. +One of you would better go with me—not close +up with me, but within seeing distance.”</p> +<p>“That’s me,” cried Jimmie. “I’ll stay near +enough to see what becomes of you, and go back +and tell the boys if they’re needed.”</p> +<p>This arrangement was finally decided on, and +Ned and Jimmie dropped into the jungle while +the others proceeded on the way to Gatun, making +plenty of noise as they walked. As they disappeared +the two men who had been seen just +before made their appearance at a point half way +up the hill.</p> +<p>They stood crouching in the moonlight for a +moment, pointing and chattering words which +reached the ears of the watchers only faintly, +and then turned toward the old temple. They +walked with less caution now, and it was plain +to the watchers that they believed that all the +boys had gone on to Gatun. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span></p> +<p>When Ned and Jimmie came within sight of +the old temple half a dozen shadowy forms were +seen moving about on the uneven pavements +which had at one time formed the floor of a +court. When the two Ned was following approached +they advanced to meet them.</p> +<p>A conversation lasting perhaps five minutes +followed the meeting, and then, leaving one man +on guard, the others passed through the doorway +under the vines and disappeared from view. The +man who had remained outside was evidently +the leader of the party, for the others had +listened when he talked and had obeyed his +orders, as indicated to Ned by gestures.</p> +<p>This man stood at the doorway behind the +vines for a moment after the others had gone +below and then seated himself on a crumbling +wall not far away.</p> +<p>“Why don’t you geezle him?” whispered +Jimmie, who was not staying back very far, much +to Ned’s amusement.</p> +<p>“I was thinking of that,” Ned replied. “I +shall have to circle around so as to get in on him +from behind.”</p> +<p>“You wait a second,” whispered the boy, +“and I’ll make him turn around so as to face the +other way.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span></p> +<p>Before Ned could offer any objections or +restrain the boy’s hand, Jimmie launched a stone +into the thicket on the other side. The watcher +sprang to his feet instantly, moved away a few +paces, and turned back.</p> +<p>“He’s goin’ to call the others,” Jimmie whispered.</p> +<p>The fellow approached the doorway as +Jimmie spoke, which was exactly what Ned did +not want. If the man would remain outside, +alone, it might be possible to capture him with +little risk. If he called his companions, there +would be no hope of taking him prisoner.</p> +<p>Ned motioned to Jimmie and the lad threw +another stone into the thicket, and again the +watcher moved in that direction. This time he +advanced to the edge of the thicket and bent +over to peer under the overhanging branches of +a tree.</p> +<p>Before he could regain an upright position, +or give a cry of warning because of the quick +steps he heard behind him, Ned was grappling +with him, his fingers closing about the muscular +throat. It was a desperate, although a silent, +struggle for a minute, and Ned might have been +disappointed in the result if Jimmie had not +bounced in on the two and terminated the battle +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +by sitting down on the head of the man Ned +had already thrown to the ground. As an additional +precaution against any noise calculated +to alarm the others, Jimmie held his gun close +to the captive’s nose.</p> +<p>“Nothin’ stirrin’ here,” he panted. “You +lie still.”</p> +<p>“What does this mean?”</p> +<p>The words were English and the voice was +certainly that of a man from one of the Eastern +states of the North American republic.</p> +<p>Ned drew a noose around the prisoner’s +wrists and tied his rather delicate hands together +firmly behind his back. Then he searched him +for weapons. A revolver was found in a hip +pocket, also a package of papers in a breast +pocket. The fellow cursed and swore like a +pirate when the papers were taken.</p> +<p>“This is highway robbery,” he finally calmed +down enough to say. “I am an official of the +Zone, and you shall suffer for this.”</p> +<p>“Gee,” said Jimmie, with a chuckle, “you +must have a contract to lift the canal an’ the +Gatun dam into the blue sky.”</p> +<p>The prisoner snarled at the lad a moment +and turned to Ned.</p> +<p>“Why are you doing this?” he asked. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span></p> +<p>“What are your men doing down there?” +Ned asked, ignoring the question.</p> +<p>“They are removing explosives, explosives +to be used in the work at Gatun.”</p> +<p>“Why is it stored here?”</p> +<p>“For safety.”</p> +<p>“Were your men storing this bomb,” taking +the clumsy exhibit from his pocket, “under my +cottage for safety?” Ned demanded.</p> +<p>“I don’t know anything about that,” was the +reply. “Return my papers.”</p> +<p>Instead of returning them, Ned took the +packet from his pocket and made a quick examination +so far as the light would permit, of the +half dozen letters it held.</p> +<p>The captive writhed about and cursed fluently +until Jimmie touched his forehead with +the muzzle of his gun and warned him against +“starting anything he couldn’t finish,” as the +boy expressed it.</p> +<p>“Now,” Ned said to Jimmie, restoring the +letters to his pocket, “you march this pirate off +toward the cottage while I scare the others out +of the bomb-room and blow it up.”</p> +<p>“Blow it up before they get out,” urged the +boy.</p> +<p>“I am no executioner,” Ned replied. “They +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +doubtless deserve to be put to death, but I’m +not the one to do it.”</p> +<p>“Wait,” said the captive, as Jimmie motioned +him away. “If you will give me a chance +to tell my side of the story those letters reveal, +I may be able to establish my innocence. I can +make it worth your while to listen to me,” he +added, significantly.</p> +<p>“Cripes, I smell money,” laughed Jimmie.</p> +<p>“Go on with the boy,” Ned replied. “If +you want to talk with me you may do so later.”</p> +<p>“What are you going to do with me?”</p> +<p>“Turn you over to the Zone government.”</p> +<p>The captive would have argued until his +friends came out and sized up the situation, and +Ned knew it, so he motioned Jimmie to march +the fellow away and set about the work he had +in hand. He took out the bomb he had brought +with him and estimated the length of time the +fuse would burn. It was, as has been said, a +very long fuse, and the boy was satisfied that he +could escape from the danger zone after firing it.</p> +<p>Then, seeing that Jimmie was out of view +with his prisoner, he brought out his gun and fired +two shots into the air. The result showed that +he had planned with judgment, for the men +working below came bounding out of the doorway +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +behind the vines and vanished in the +jungle, going in a direction opposite to that taken +by Jimmie.</p> +<p>The rapidity with which the workers in the +bomb-room disappeared astonished Ned until +he reflected that he might unconsciously have +given a signal agreed upon between the men and +the guard. At any rate, he finally concluded, +the men were not there to fight in defense of the +place if spied upon, but to seek cover at once, as +is the habit of those caught in the commission of +crime.</p> +<p>He had expected to drive them away by firing +from the jungle, but had not anticipated a victory +as easily won as this. When the workers +had disappeared Ned made his way to the underground +room. There he found torches burning, +and a fire in the forge. The place was littered +with gas-pipe cut into small lengths, and the +covers had been removed from the tins of explosives.</p> +<p>It was clear that the bomb-makers had been +at work there, and the boy wondered at their +nerve. He could account for their returning +to their employment there so soon after the +place had been visited by hostile interests only +on the ground that they believed the secret +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +service men and the boys were being held at bay +by others of the conspirators.</p> +<p>Wondering whether the boys who had gone +on toward Gatun were safe, he lighted the fuse +of the bomb and hastened up the stairs and out +into the jungle. A few yards from the broken +wall of the temple he met Jimmie, red of face and +laboring under great excitement. He turned +the boy back with a significant gesture toward +the temple, and the two worked their way +through the thickets for some moments without +finding time or breath for explanations.</p> +<p>When at last they stopped for breath they +found themselves about at the point where they +had parted from their chums. As they came into +the cleared space a flash lighted up the sky, +flames went flickering, seemingly, from horizon +to horizon, and lifted to the zenith. Then came +the awful thunder of the explosion. The ground +shook so that Jimmie went tumbling on his face. +After the first mighty explosion others came in +quick succession.</p> +<p>“That’s the little ones,” Jimmie cried, +rolling over in the knee-deep grass to clutch at +Ned’s knee. “Talk about your fourth of July.”</p> +<p>As he spoke a slab of stone weighing at least +twenty pounds came through the air with a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +vicious whizz and struck a tree close to where +the boy lay.</p> +<p>“If we don’t get out of here we’ll get our +blocks knocked off,” Jimmie said.</p> +<p>“The shower is over,” Ned replied. “What +were you running back for? If you had not met +me, if I had gone out another way, you might +have been right there when the explosion took +place.”</p> +<p>“Then I’d ’a’ been sailin’ around the moon +by now,” the boy grinned.</p> +<p>“Where is the captive?” demanded Ned.</p> +<p>“He went up in the air,” replied Jimmie. “I +had me eagle eyes on him one second, and the +next second he was gone. He didn’t shout, or +shoot, or run, or do a consarned thing. He +just leaked out. Where do you think he went?”</p> +<p>“I think,” Ned replied, “that you were looking +back to see the explosion and he dodged into +a thicket.”</p> +<p>“Well,” admitted Jimmie, “I did look back.”</p> +<p>Ned, rather disgusted at the carelessness of +the boy, walked on in silence until the two came +to the smooth slopes which led up to Gatun. +There they found the boys, waiting for them, +eager for the story of the explosion, and wondering +at their long delay.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVII_THE_WATCHER_IN_THE_THICKET' id='XVII_THE_WATCHER_IN_THE_THICKET'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +<h3>THE WATCHER IN THE THICKET.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Between Tabernilla and Gamboa, a distance +of about fifteen miles, the restless Chagres river, +in its old days of freedom, crossed the canal line +no less than fifteen times. At Gamboa the river +finds a break in the rough hills and winds off to +the northeast, past Las Cruces and off into more +hills and jungles.</p> +<p>Where the river turns the canal enters the +nine-mile cut through the Cordilleras, which form +the backbone of the continent. Here at the +Culebra cut, the greatest amount of excavation +for the waterway is being done. This cut ends +at Pedro Miguel locks, which will ease the ships +down into the Pacific ocean.</p> +<p>Where the river turns to the northeast, at +Gamboa, a wild and hilly country forms both +banks. The hillsides as well as the plateaux +are overgrown with dense vegetation. As in all +tropical lands, the fight for survival is fierce +and merciless. Trees are destroyed by great +creepers, great creepers are destroyed by smaller +growths, and every form of life, vegetable as well +as animal, has its enemy. Every living thing +springs up from the dead body of another. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span></p> +<p>Sheltered and half concealed from view in +this wild country between Gamboa and Las +Cruces, on the day the Boy Scouts set out in their +search for Jimmie and Peter, there stood a house +of stone which seemed as old as the volcanic formation +upon which it stood. It was said that the +structure had been there, even then looking old +and dismantled, when the French began their +operations on the Isthmus.</p> +<p>This house faced the valley of the Chagres +river, having its back against a hill, which was +one of the steps leading up to the top of the +Cordilleras. There was a great front entrance +way, and many windows, but the latter seemed +closed. Few signs of life were seen about the +place at five o’clock that afternoon.</p> +<p>From a front room in the second story the +sounds of voices came, and now and then a door +opened and closed and a footstep was heard +on the stairway. However, those who walked +about the place seemed either going or coming, +for the house gained no added population because +of the men who climbed the slope at the front +and, ignoring the main entrance, passed on to the +second floor by a secret staircase in the wall, +entrance to which seemed easy for them to find.</p> +<p>At the hour named three acquaintances of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +the reader occupied the front room on the second +floor of the stone house. They were Col. Van +Ellis, the military man Frank Shaw had talked +with in the old house near the Culebra cut, +Harvey Chester, the father of the boy Jimmie +and Peter had encountered in the jungle, and +Gostel, the man who had approached the two +boys the night before on the lip of the great +excavation.</p> +<p>In a rear apartment, a sort of lumber-room, +devoted now to wornout and broken furniture +and odds and ends of house furnishing goods, +was still another acquaintance—Ned Nestor. +The patrol leader had met the two lost boys at +Culebra, in the company of Harvey Chester and +his son, Tony, and had spent enough time with +the party to learn that Pedro, the ex-servant of +the Shaw home, had been seen at the Chester +camp, and that he had fled at the approach of +Jimmie and his chum.</p> +<p>The story of Gostel’s watching the cut at +night, probably assisted by Pedro, and Harvey +Chester standing guard, or seeming to do so, by +day, had interested Ned greatly. The presence +on the Isthmus of Pedro gave an extra kink to +the problem. The attempt to capture the two +boys, as previously told by Gastong, on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +previous night, and the unmistakable anxiety of +Chester to remain in their company, had led Ned +to believe that at last he was getting to some of +the people “high up” in the conspiracy against +the canal. Surely a man of the education and +evident wealth of Harvey Chester was not loitering +along the Culebra cut just for the excitement +there was in it. It was plain that he was there +for a purpose, and the arrival of a man Jimmie +declared to be Gostel had convinced Ned that +the heads of the plot were not far away.</p> +<p>Gostel had greeted the boys heartily, expressing +relief at the knowledge that they had +escaped in safety from the jungle, and Chester +had urged them all to accept of his continued +hospitality. Nothing had been said of Gostel’s +pursuit of the two boys, and Ned had reached +the conclusion that Gostel did not know that +his movements had been observed.</p> +<p>Anxious to see what Gostel really was up to, +Ned had instructed the boys to remain at a hotel +at Culebra or visit the Chester camp, just as +they saw fit, and had followed Gostel back to +Gamboa and out to the stone house, where he +had managed to hide himself in the room above +described without his presence on the premises +being suspected. One thing, however, Ned did +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +not know, and that was that Jimmie McGraw, +full of life and curious to know what was going +on, had trained on after him and was now watching +the house from a thicket on the hillside.</p> +<p>Ned had heard a good deal of talk since hiding +himself in the rear room, much of which was +of no account. Men who had delivered notes +and messages had come and gone. Col. Van +Ellis seemed to be doing a general business there. +Some of the men who came appeared to be canal +workmen, and these left what seemed to be +reports of some kind.</p> +<p>From a break in the wall Ned could hear all +that was said and see a great deal of what went +on in the front room. At five o’clock a tall, +dark, slender man whose black hair was turning +gray in places entered the front room by way of +the secret stairway in the side wall. He handed +some papers to Col. Van Ellis and seated himself +without being asked to do so.</p> +<p>“What, as a whole, are the indications?” +Van Ellis asked.</p> +<p>“Excellent,” was the short reply.</p> +<p>“And the latest prospect?” asked Chester.</p> +<p>“In the valley, near Bohio.”</p> +<p>“What have you found there?”</p> +<p>“Clay-slate, hornblende, emeralds.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span></p> +<p>“In large quantities?” asked Chester, anxiously.</p> +<p>“There is a fortune underground there,” +was the reply. “Green argillaceous rock means +something.”</p> +<p>There was silence for some moments, during +which Van Ellis pored over some drawings on +his desk, Chester walked the floor excitedly, +Gostel regarded the others with a sinister smile +on his face, and Itto, the recent arrival, sat +watching all the others as a cat watches a mouse.</p> +<p>“And this territory will be under the Lake +of Gatun?” Chester asked, presently.</p> +<p>“Yes, very deep under the Lake of Gatun,” +was Itto’s reply.</p> +<p>Again Van Ellis bent over the drawings, +tracing on one with the point of a pencil.</p> +<p>“There are millions here,” he said. “We +have only to stretch forth our hands and take +them.”</p> +<p>“The wealth of a world,” Itto observed.</p> +<p>The men talked together in Spanish for a +long time, and Ned tried hard to make something +of the discussion, but failed. He was convinced, +however, that Chester was being urged +and argued with by the others and was not +consenting to what they were proposing to him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span></p> +<p>In half an hour a man who looked fully as +Oriental in size, manner and dress as Itto stepped +inside the door and beckoned to that gentleman. +Asking permission to retire for a few moments, +Itto passed out of the door with the newcomer. +Instead of going on down the secret staircase, +however, the two opened a door at the end of +the little hall upon which the front room gave, +and appeared in the apartment where Ned was +hiding.</p> +<p>The boy, however, was not in view from the +place where they stood, and they had no reason +to suspect his presence there, so he remained +quiet and listened with all his ears to the low-voiced +conversation carried on between the two.</p> +<p>“And these are the latest?” Itto asked, referring +to papers in his hand.</p> +<p>“Yes, they are the last.”</p> +<p>“And the showing—”</p> +<p>The newcomer shrugged his shoulders.</p> +<p>“You see for yourself,” he said.</p> +<p>“Well,” Itto said, directly, “it does not +matter, does it?”</p> +<p>“Not in the least.”</p> +<p>“If the information does not leak out,” Itto +went on, “there will be no change in our plans. +We cannot afford to wait.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span></p> +<p>“For our country’s sake there must be no +delay.”</p> +<p>Ned was slowly piecing this talk with the one +which he had heard from the front room, and +the significance of it all was sending little shivers +down his back. He thought he understood at +last.</p> +<p>As the two men left the room Ned heard a +paper rustle on the floor, and at once made +search for it. It was a drawing, similar to the +one discovered in the bomb-room at the old temple, +and was a complete sketch of the Gatun +dam, the spillway, the locks—everything was +shown, with character of fills and suggestions +regarding the foundations. Here and there on +the drawing were little red spots.</p> +<p>The significance of the red marks brought a +date to Ned’s mind. The drawings found in the +bomb-room had borne a date, Saturday, April +15. If what he surmised was correct, he had +only a little more than twenty-four hours in +which to work. In the period of time thus given +him he might, without doubt, succeed in averting +the destruction of the big dam. But that +was not the point.</p> +<p>His business there was not only to protect the +Gatun dam but also to get to the core of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +conspiracy and bring the plotters to punishment. +The men who were plotting on the Isthmus were +also plotting in New York. An inkling of the +true state of affairs came to him, and he saw +that in order to accomplish what he had set out +to do his reach must be long enough to stretch +across the Atlantic and there grapple with the +subordinates in the treacherous plot.</p> +<p>Itto returned to the front room when the +newcomer left and again the talk and the arguments +went on, sometimes in Spanish, sometimes +in English. Mr. Chester seemed to be asking for +more time. Presently the date Ned had found +on the two drawings was mentioned.</p> +<p>“The time set was Saturday—to-morrow,” +Itto said, grimly.</p> +<p>“That was decided upon a long time ago,” +Van Ellis said.</p> +<p>“Before the New York complications arose,” +Chester argued. “We did not know at that +time what complications might result from the +defection of one of our number. It is injudicious +to go on now.”</p> +<p>“The date referred to was also set for action +in New York,” Itto said.</p> +<p>“Yes, but the thing is inadvisable now, for +Shaw has been warned.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span></p> +<p>It was plain to Ned that he would have to +get away from the old stone house and decide +upon some effective means of meeting this emergency. +He had work to do in New York as well +as in Gatun. The drawing found in the bomb-chamber +had told him that. Now this new information +emphasized the demand for instant +action.</p> +<p>There was no doubt in his mind that it was +the purpose of the plotters to blow up the great +dam on the next day, probably after nightfall. +As has been said, he could thwart the plans of +the traitors by communicating with the secret +service men under Lieutenant Gordon, but that +course would not be apt to bring about all the +desired results. He wanted to arrest every man +connected with the plot. Not only that; he +wanted proof to convict every one of them.</p> +<p>There seemed to the boy only one way in +which he could attain the results sought for. +He must catch the plotters “with the goods on,” +as the police say. He must catch them with +explosives in their hands under the shadow of +the dam! Ned knew that Harvey, Van Ellis, +Gostel, and Itto were deep in the treacherous +game, but he did not know how many others +were taking part in it. He suspected that men +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +high up in finance were back of the plot, and +wanted to get the whole group.</p> +<p>He thought he knew why Harvey, Van Ellis +and some of the others were in the plot. He was +quite certain that he did. But he was not +so certain of the motives of Itto, the Japanese. +They might never be revealed unless the game +was checked at the right moment.</p> +<p>There was an air of insincerity about the +Japanese which Ned did not like. It seemed to +the boy that he was leading the others on—or +trying to lead them on—in a sinister way. The +impression was in the lad’s mind from the moment +of his meeting Gostel that the two men, +Itto and Gostel, were in the plot for some purpose +of their own, a purpose which was not +the accumulation of money, and which did not +match the motives of the others.</p> +<p>About six o’clock Chester arose to his feet.</p> +<p>“I must go back to camp,” he said.</p> +<p>“But there is a meeting to-night,” Van Ellis +urged.</p> +<p>“An important one,” Gostel put in.</p> +<p>“And a midnight visit to the dam,” Itto said.</p> +<p>“I have a previous engagement at the camp,” +Harvey insisted. “We have guests from New +York, my son and myself.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span></p> +<p>“The secret service lads,” exclaimed Gostel, +scornfully. “Leave them to me to-night, and +you can then keep your engagement with us.”</p> +<p>“I have my doubts about their being connected +with the secret service,” Chester replied.</p> +<p>“We are positive,” Gostel said. “They +were followed from New York. We know the +plotting that has been going on between Gordon +and Nestor.”</p> +<p>Much more concerning the boys was said, +but Ned was too anxious to get away to pay full +attention to it. Another burden was now on his +mind. He must see that the boys were warned +and came to no harm.</p> +<p>He had left them with the understanding +that they might remain at the Culebra hotel or +return with Tony Chester to the cottage where +they had been taken when brought out of the +jungle. If they had returned to the camp, they +might already be in great danger.</p> +<p>Chester insisted on taking his departure, +and the others accompanied him to the foot of +the stairs in the wall, arguing with him every +foot of the way. Ned stood at the door of the +rear room when they returned, and while they +were getting settled in the front apartment he +slipped out and moved cautiously down the steps. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span></p> +<p>When he gained the grounds outside he +dodged into a thicket not ten feet away from the +exit and waited to make sure that no one was +moving about on the outside. He was anxious +to get away from the place without his presence +there being known. A struggle, even if he succeeded +in getting away, would put the plotters +on their guard.</p> +<p>In a few moments he realized that the +grounds were not so devoid of human life as he +had believed. He heard voices on the side toward +the hill, and a rustling in the thicket told +him that some one was stealthily moving there.</p> +<p>Knowing that it would be dark in a short +tune, Ned remained crouched low in the bushes, +hoping to escape detection in that way, but footsteps +came closer and closer to his hiding place, +and he sprang up just in time to see a lithe figure +hurtling toward him, the figure of a tall, slender +man with an Oriental cast of countenance.</p> +<p>Glad that there was only one, Ned braced +himself for the attack, which, however, did not +come. When within a yard of its object, the +lithe figure turned, staggered forward, uttered +a low cry of anger and surprise, and lay swathed +in a cluster of vines which had tripped and now +held him to the ground.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVIII_JIMMIE_RELEASES_A_PRISONER' id='XVIII_JIMMIE_RELEASES_A_PRISONER'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> +<h3>JIMMIE RELEASES A PRISONER.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Realizing that the man who had attacked +him, or attempted to, must not escape or be permitted +to utter a cry of warning, Ned sprang +forward and caught him by the throat. The +fallen man squirmed about in the thicket for a +moment and then feebly motioned for Ned to +remove the pressure from his neck.</p> +<p>Then the patrol leader saw that the fellow +had been lassoed, caught about the neck by a +running noose in a slender rope. This accounted +for his antics when first observed by the boy. +Puzzled beyond measure, Ned loosened the noose +so the captive would not die from lack of air.</p> +<p>The man sat up in the tangle of bushes, +pressing his hands to his neck and rocking to and +fro with pain. It was plain that the rope which +had caught him had been drawn by a merciless +hand. But whose hand was it? Ned was +greatly interested in that question.</p> +<p>“I have released the rope so as to give you +a little longer lease of life,” Ned said to the +prisoner, “but if you try to call out for help, or +to escape, you’ll be killed. Do you understand?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span></p> +<p>Ned shifted the noose to the man’s wrists, +which were fastened behind his back, and relieved +him of a revolver and a wicked-looking +knife. Then he asked:</p> +<p>“Were you watching me?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” was the short reply, in good English.</p> +<p>“You knew that I was in the house?”</p> +<p>“Yes. I saw you go in.”</p> +<p>“Do the others know that I was in there?” +asked Ned, then, anxiously.</p> +<p>If the others knew, then all his plans must be +revised.</p> +<p>“No,” came the reply. “I had had no +opportunity of telling them.”</p> +<p>“You were placed on guard here by the man +called Gostel?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Well, who was it that pulled you down? +There is something strange about that.”</p> +<p>“I saw no one,” replied the other, feeling of +his throat again.</p> +<p>“Were others watching here with you?”</p> +<p>The prisoner shook his head.</p> +<p>“Then who did it?” demanded Ned. “That +rope never dropped down from the clouds and +brought you up so cleverly. Why, man, you +would have had a knife into me in a second only +for the rope.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span></p> +<p>“I hoped to,” was the calm reply.</p> +<p>Then Ned heard a giggle in the thicket, and +in a moment the vines parted and Jimmie looked +out, a shrewd smile on his freckled face.</p> +<p>“Why didn’t you follow the line to the end?” +he asked, with a chuckle. “Then you would +have come to the life saver.”</p> +<p>“I was so rattled for a moment that I did not +think of that,” was the reply. “How did you +come to be here?”</p> +<p>“I followed you,” replied the boy.</p> +<p>“And you have been lying out there in the +thicket all the time I have been in the house?”</p> +<p>“Why, yes, of course.”</p> +<p>“Well, you did a good job,” Ned said, taking +the boy by the hand. “The cowboy stunt you +have been practicing so long came into good use +at last.”</p> +<p>It was now getting quite dark, and lights +showed in the house. From where the boys +stood they could not see the lighted front windows, +but only the reflections on the slope in +front of the structure.</p> +<p>“I knew it would prove handy in time,” +grinned Jimmie. “I caught this gazabo on the +fly, eh?”</p> +<p>“I can’t understand how you managed it, +in this thicket,” Ned said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span></p> +<p>“There’s a clear space there where he leaped +at you,” Jimmie said. “I saw him rising to +spring and dropped it over his head, like a bag +over a blind pig. What you goin’ to do with +him, now you’ve got him?”</p> +<p>Ned turned to the prisoner with a smile on +his face.</p> +<p>“What would you suggest?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Gee! You’ve got your nerve,” Jimmie +exclaimed. “Leave it to him an’ you’ll fill his +pocket with yellow ones an’ turn him loose to +carve you up.”</p> +<p>“If you release me,” the captive replied, +evidently taking the question in good faith, “I’ll +leave the country.”</p> +<p>“Is that on the square?” demanded Jimmie, +with a grin at Ned.</p> +<p>“There is a condition, however,” the man +added, “and that is that you make it appear that +I was killed in defending the house.”</p> +<p>“What’s the answer?” asked Jimmie, while +Ned stood by wondering if he had not struck a +lead of good luck at last.</p> +<p>“I’m sick of the game,” the prisoner replied. +“I’m not in it for money, anyway, and the other +motive is no longer of avail to me.”</p> +<p>“If you’ll tell me everything you know concerning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +this plot against the Gatun dam,” Ned +said, “I’ll release you after the case is ended.”</p> +<p>“Not a word,” replied the other, closing his +lips tightly, as if to shut back words seeking +utterance.</p> +<p>“Then we’ll have to find a little coop to put +you in,” Jimmie said. “I wish we had you back +at Culebra.”</p> +<p>While the temporary disposition of the prisoner +was being discussed, and while Ned was +questioning him as to the immediate movements +of the plotters and receiving no satisfactory +replies, the lights in the house were extinguished +and the men who had occupied the front room +were heard descending the stairs. In a moment +some one called out:</p> +<p>“Gaga.”</p> +<p>“Is that your name?” demanded Ned of the +prisoner.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Then answer him.”</p> +<p>Gaga did not respond at once, and the keen +point of a knife came in contact with his throat.</p> +<p>“Answer him.”</p> +<p>The call came again, farther away now.</p> +<p>“What shall I say?” asked the captive.</p> +<p>“Answer him as you would have answered if +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +nothing had happened to you here,” was the +reply.</p> +<p>The prisoner uttered a long, low cry, and the +boys waited with suspended breath. Even at +the peril of his life the fellow might warn the +others. Ned knew how loyal the people of his +nation are.</p> +<p>But the reply was not a warning, or a call for +help. The man who had called out the prisoner’s +name answered now with an “All right. +Remain about here.” Then the men moved +away in a body, taking the road to Gamboa.</p> +<p>“Are they coming back to-night?” asked +Ned.</p> +<p>“I can tell you nothing,” was the reply.</p> +<p>When the men who had left the house had +disappeared from sight Ned bade the captive rise +that he might be searched closely for weapons.</p> +<p>“Say,” Jimmie cried. “There’s your tall, +slender man with black hair turning gray in +places. Ever in New York, Mister?” he added.</p> +<p>The prisoner made no reply.</p> +<p>“You are enough like Itto to be his brother,” +Ned said. “Perhaps you won’t mind telling me +which one of you stole Frank Shaw’s necklace?”</p> +<p>The prisoner turned his back indignantly. +He was indeed a fair copy of the man called Itto, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +and his shoulders, narrow and high, might have +made the damp stains Ned had found on the +wall of the closet in the Shaw house in New York.</p> +<p>The stone house was now, seemingly, without +an occupant and the thickets about were +silent save for the noises of the night. A faint +clamor came from the canal, where workmen +were hewing away at the ribs of the Cordilleras, +now the slight jar of an explosion, now the +grinding of a steam shovel, now the nervous +shrieking of the trains pushing back and forth.</p> +<p>The electrics over the cut drew lines of silver +light on the tall trees and the foliage of the hills +farther away, but here there was only a faint +suggestion of illumination.</p> +<p>“Now you’ve got him,” Jimmie said, presently, +“what you goin’ to do with him? We +can’t get him to Culebra or Gatun without +bumpin’ into some fresh guy who would want +to take him away from us.”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid you’re right about that,” Ned +said. “We can’t afford to have him get away +and inform his companions that something of +their plot is known.”</p> +<p>“What would they do?”</p> +<p>“Make new plans, and we should have to +begin all over again. As the case rests now we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +stand a good chance of catching every one of the +conspirators.”</p> +<p>“And the chap that stole the emerald necklace?”</p> +<p>“Even the necklace may drift to the surface +in the eruption which is sure to take place in the +near future,” smiled Ned. “Now about Gaga,” +he continued. “Suppose you look around and +see if you can’t find a room in the old house which +would not be used to-night, even if the plotters +should come.”</p> +<p>Jimmie hustled away and soon returned with +the information that there was a room in the +rear of the house, on the first floor, which would +answer for a prison very well.</p> +<p>“But there ain’t no door to it,” he added, +“an’ the glass is all out of the window. Looks +like it had been deserted for a hundred years.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps we can rig up a door,” suggested +Ned.</p> +<p>“What’s the use?” asked Jimmie. “I’m +goin’ to stay right here with the captive until +the secret service men come an’ take him away.”</p> +<p>“But they will not come until the case is +ended,” urged Ned. “The knowledge that +Gaga is a prisoner—arrested by a spy who overheard +what was said in the house—” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span></p> +<p>“I wouldn’t call myself a spy,” Jimmie said, +indignantly.</p> +<p>“There is no dishonor in serving as a spy in +a good cause,” Ned replied. “As I was saying, +the mere knowledge of his arrest would disarrange +our plans as much as his escape would. +We would better make him secure here and leave +him to his own thoughts, it seems to me.”</p> +<p>“I would like to have him remain,” said +Gaga, much to the amazement of the boys.</p> +<p>“He can’t resist my winnin’ ways,” cried +Jimmie. “All right. I’ll stay if you will send +out about a ton of grub.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps the boys will object to bringing it.”</p> +<p>“Jack, or Frank, or any one of them,” Jimmie +exclaimed. “No trouble about that. Perhaps +it will take two to bring enough.”</p> +<p>The prisoner’s bonds were loosened so that +he would not feel them drawing into the flesh, +but still he was left securely tied up. The room +was not unpleasant, with the starlight shining in +through the dismantled doorway and the broken +window, and Jimmie planned to have a good rest +there during his watch.</p> +<p>The boy had been on his feet all the previous +night, wandering about the jungle, and had taken +only a short rest at the Chester camp. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +prisoner was so secured that it did not seem +possible for him to get away, even if left there +alone, so the lad rolled a dilapidated old easy +chair up to the window and lay back at his ease.</p> +<p>For a long time neither spoke, and then the +prisoner asked:</p> +<p>“When will I be taken to prison?”</p> +<p>“Search me!” Jimmie replied.</p> +<p>“I take it,” the captive continued, “that the +whole plot is discovered?”</p> +<p>“Bet your life!” Jimmie answered, drowsily.</p> +<p>“Then the United States government will +have to put up a couple of extra prisons,” was +the comment of the prisoner.</p> +<p>“What you doin’ it for?” demanded the boy.</p> +<p>The prisoner did not see fit to reply to this +leading question, and Jimmie put another, +equally pertinent:</p> +<p>“Who let you into the Shaw house that +night?”</p> +<p>“Why do you think I was in the Shaw +house?” asked the other. “Where is the Shaw +house?”</p> +<p>“You know where it is, all right,” Jimmie +said. “Who was it that let you in? That is +what I want to know. An’ who opened the door +for you to go out?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span></p> +<p>There was no reply, and Jimmie piled on +another question:</p> +<p>“Why did Pedro run away from Shaw’s and +why did he run away from Chester’s camp when +he saw me coming from the jungle?”</p> +<p>The prisoner gave a quick start, and something +like a groan came from his lips.</p> +<p>“Is Pedrarias, the man you call Pedro, here +on the Isthmus?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Sure he is. Didn’t he report to you after +he got here?”</p> +<p>“Living at the Chester camp, you say?”</p> +<p>“He was there this morning, but ran away +when he recognized me. I was at the Shaw +house in New York on the night of the robbery.”</p> +<p>The prisoner checked a Spanish oath and +struggled to rise to his feet, but fell back into his +chair because of his bonds.</p> +<p>“There is bad blood between this man and +myself,” he said, then. “If he saw me with +Chester to-day he will present himself here to-night. +If he comes and finds me a prisoner, +bound and at his mercy—if he comes here to-night, +and finds us in this room, and you are +unable to deal with him, will you cut my bonds?”</p> +<p>“And permit you to run away together and +give me the laugh?” said Jimmie. “You’re a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +modest kind of a fellow after all, and with nerve +to spare.”</p> +<p>“If you do this,” Gaga replied, “I promise +to return to you and submit to be bound again, +if I come out of the conflict alive.”</p> +<p>“Do you think Pedro would murder an unarmed +man, and a bound one, at that?”</p> +<p>“Yes, the hatred he has for me is so great +that he would take any advantage of me.”</p> +<p>Jimmie was getting the notion that there +was something tragic in the air, and was even +considering the proposition seriously when there +was a movement at the open doorway.</p> +<p>“If he comes here,” Gaga went on, “you +must either kill him yourself or let me. He +will spare neither of us.”</p> +<p>The boy was listening for a repetition of the +sound at the doorway, when a form lifted from +the crumbling threshold and stood peering in. +Gaga gave a cry of terror and the intruder drew +back for an instant.</p> +<p>The boy knew that the man whose figure he +had seen outlined against the star-sprinkled sky +was the man he had seen standing by the couch +of the owner of the <i>Daily Planet</i> on the night +of the robbery, the man he had seen later in the +Chester camp in the jungle. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span></p> +<p>“For the love of Heaven!” the prisoner +whispered.</p> +<p>The entreaty struck home to the heart of the +boy. He had always prided himself on his love +of fair play. He knew that he could not successfully +defend the doorless, windowless room +until the arrival of his friends, or the return of +the plotters. Pedro could hide in the thicket +and rain bullets upon himself and the prisoner +until both were killed.</p> +<p>He could not make his own escape and leave +the prisoner bound and at the mercy of his +enemy, nor could he shoot the intruder in cold +blood when he appeared in the doorway again. +He was only a boy, and his inherent love of a +square deal conquered.</p> +<p>While the movements at the door continued, +he slipped over to Gaga, ran his knife through +the cords which bound him, pointed to the +weapons which had been taken from him, and +crouched down in a corner of the room, his heart +beating like a trip-hammer.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIX_A_GUARDIAN_NEEDING_GUARDING' id='XIX_A_GUARDIAN_NEEDING_GUARDING'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> +<h3>A GUARDIAN NEEDING GUARDING.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Little realizing the danger in which Jimmie +had been left, Ned made what speed he could to +Gamboa and there looked about for some means +of reaching Culebra without delay. It seemed +important that he should reach the other members +of his party as soon as possible and send +one of the boys back to keep watch with Jimmie.</p> +<p>Besides, it was his intention to communicate +with Lieutenant Gordon immediately. He did +not expect the lieutenant to call out a squad of +secret service men and place the big dam under +guard. That, he reasoned, would defeat his +plans for rounding up the plotters. However, it +was his duty to report progress to the officer and +consult with him concerning future movements.</p> +<p>At Gamboa he found a telephone and called +the Tivoli at Ancon, but, to his disgust, Lieutenant +Gordon could not be found. He tried +the offices of several engineers and canal officials +with no better result. At last, exhibiting a +secret service badge which had been given him by +the lieutenant, he mounted an engine about to +leave for Culebra and was soon in that beautiful +city. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span></p> +<p>The boys were at the hotel where he had left +them, having declined the repeated offers of +hospitality by Mr. Chester, and Tony was with +them. A session was at once held in a private +room, and Jack Bosworth and Harry Stevens +jumped at the chance to load themselves with +provisions and travel back to the stone house +east of Gamboa. They were given the needed +directions and sent away with a note to an officer +of the railroad, who, it may be as well to state +here, landed them at Gamboa in quick time and +without asking any questions.</p> +<p>After the boys had taken their departure +Frank Shaw called Ned aside.</p> +<p>“There’s something doing here to-night,” he +said. “Mr. Chester came out of the parlor as +red as a lobster, about six o’clock, and I guess +he had a fight with a couple of Japs, Gostel +and another chap I’ve never seen before. They +parted courteously, but I could see that Tony’s +father was angry clear through. After he had +gone back to his camp, or started for it, the Japs +got a little crowd of gabbers about them and set +off down the road toward Colon. They seemed +mighty pleased over something, and I guess +they’re going to start something to-night.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span></p> +<p>“And the other man, this Col. Van Ellis. +Did he come here with Chester?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes; he was here, but I took good care +that he did not see me. I think he went away +with Chester. They were both very angry.”</p> +<p>“Angry at the Japanese?”</p> +<p>“Yes; anyway, they disagreed over something. +But while the two white men were +angry, the Japs seemed pleased. I’ll tell you +what I think, Ned. The Japs are up to something +the others do not like.”</p> +<p>Ned was beginning to see a great light. Once +before, since seeing Gostel, he had studied out +the problem of the sincerity of the man, and had +reached the conclusion that he was using Chester—perhaps +others—for some sinister purpose +of his own. Now he thought he saw the plot +in its true light. However, he did not communicate +his thoughts to the others. Had Gordon +been at hand he would have confided the story +to him. But Gordon was not at the Tivoli at +Ancon and no one seemed to know where he was, +so he was obliged to go ahead and exercise his +own best judgment.</p> +<p>“What’s doing to-night?” Glen Howard +asked, when Ned and Frank returned to the +room where the other boys were seated. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span></p> +<p>“We’re going to Gatun,” was the reply. +“We’re going on a special engine, and we’re to +leave the tracks in the outskirts and get down to +the dam.”</p> +<p>“Why, this is not the night,” Frank said, +surprised.</p> +<p>“The date on the drawings was that of to-morrow, +Saturday,” said Glen. “This is Friday. +Of course you know what you are doing, but +I wouldn’t take any chances on flushing the +game.”</p> +<p>“What is it all about?” demanded Tony +Chester. “There seems to be something in the +air to-night. Father went away in a grouch and +told me to remain with you boys, and Gastong +is wandering about the city in a half-distracted +manner. If you go to Gatun may I go with +you?”</p> +<p>Ned pondered a moment before replying. +There was in his mind the thought that this boy +might work a miracle for his father. He saw +one chance for saving Chester from the results +of his connection with the plotters, and resolved +to take it, risky to his plans though it was.</p> +<p>“No,” he said, in a moment, “you are to go +to your camp with a note for your father. After +you deliver the note, you are to come back here +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +and remain until you hear from me. If your +father comes with you, so much the better.”</p> +<p>“Will he tell me what is in the note—why he +comes back to the city?”</p> +<p>“I don’t think so,” was the reply. “If he +does come, tell him to remain close to a ’phone, +here, for I may want to talk with him.”</p> +<p>“I can’t understand what all this mystery is +about,” Tony exclaimed.</p> +<p>“When did you see Gastong last?” asked +Ned.</p> +<p>“Oh, about half an hour ago. He was in the +hotel then, flying around like a hen minus her +head. He asked for you, and said he’d be in +the buffet when you came.”</p> +<p>Ned lost no time in getting to the buffet, +where he found Gastong, sitting in conversation +with a trampish-looking fellow who seemed +to be somewhat under the influence of liquor. +He beckoned to Ned when he entered the room +and made room for him on the leather rest at his +side.</p> +<p>“This is Tommy, the cook,” he said, when +Ned was seated. “Your cook.”</p> +<p>“You ought to join the force,” laughed Ned. +“I never would have known you.”</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Gordon told me to keep watch +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +of you boys,” laughed Tommy, “but I reckon +you’re doing pretty well for yourselves.”</p> +<p>“You are a secret service man?” asked Ned, +satisfied now that Gordon had indeed thought it +necessary to keep them all under surveillance.</p> +<p>“Of course,” replied Tommy. “I’m not +much of a cook. I guess you found that out up +at the camp.”</p> +<p>“It was thoughtful of the lieutenant,” Ned +said, “but, as you say, we seem to be getting +on very well. Do you happen to know where +Gordon is at the present moment?”</p> +<p>“He was to meet me here,” was the reply, +“but has not shown up.”</p> +<p>“It is dollars to apples,” said Gastong, “that +the Japs have cornered him. He told me, on the +night you went after the bomb-man, that some +one was sleuthing him.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t know that you knew him,” Ned +said, wondering if every person he had come +upon since arriving on the Isthmus was in the +secret service.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Gastong, “Lieutenant Gordon +was on the squad here, you know, before he +went to Mexico, and I used to meet him now and +then.”</p> +<p>“And he told you, on the first night of our +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +arrival at camp, that we might need looking +after?”</p> +<p>“Well, he told me that it would do no harm +to let him know if I saw a mob of New York boys +wandering about the works,” laughed Gastong.</p> +<p>“So that is how you happened to be patrolling +the Culebra cut in a motor car on the day the +boys ran into Col. Van Ellis at the old house?”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Gastong, “Tommy, here, kept +me posted in a way, and I thought I might be +useful out that direction.”</p> +<p>“It was clever of the lieutenant,” laughed +Ned. “Suppose you now turn your attention to +him? He may need the help of the Boy Scouts +to get out of a hole himself.”</p> +<p>“I reckon you could help him, all right,” +Gastong replied, confidently, but still with a +look of anxiety on his face. “He has a heap of +confidence in you, Mr. Nestor, but he thought +best to take every precaution for your welfare. +That is the reason why he surrounded you, as far +as possible, with secret service people.”</p> +<p>Ned was more than amused at the statement, +for all the discoveries that had been made +had resulted from the activities of the boys and +himself. In fact, the only help Gordon’s chain +of secret service men had given his party was the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +thwarting of the plans of Van Ellis at the old +house.</p> +<p>This had been important, in a sense, as the +boys would otherwise have been held prisoners +there and so would not have been able to come +to the rescue of Ned and Jimmie at the old +temple. Still, Jack Bosworth had been in that +incident, and it was a question in the mind of +the patrol leader if the result would have been +the same without him. However, he gave the +lieutenant full credit for his cautious way of +going at the matter.</p> +<p>“The Japs, as you call them,” he said to Gastong +and Tommy, “have gone on toward Colon. +I’m going on after them, but it may be well for +you to remain here on the chance of meeting the +lieutenant. He may have plans of his own for +to-night.”</p> +<p>“I am sure he has,” said Tommy. “He has +been active all day, with half a dozen men going +and coming under his orders. He missed you +this afternoon.”</p> +<p>“I had a date to view the scenery up the +Chagres river,” laughed Ned.</p> +<p>The patrol leader went back to the room +where he had left Frank, George, Glen, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +Peter. Tony had left for his father’s camp and +George Tolford had gone with him.</p> +<p>“I would give considerable to know what +Chester and the Japs, as they are called, quarreled +about to-night,” he said, but of course the boys +could give him no information on the subject.</p> +<p>As a matter of fact, Ned thought he knew, +but the thing was so incomprehensible to him +that he doubted, for a time, his own reasoning. +It was now nine o’clock, and it seemed to him +that the time for action had come. Whether +he was right in his deductions or not, he could +not afford to ignore the plans he had made for +the night. He did not like the idea of accepting +responsibility for the important move he was +determined to make, but Lieutenant Gordon +was not to be found, and there was nothing for +him to do but to go ahead.</p> +<p>“Now, boys,” he said to his chums, “we are +going into a game to-night that may lead to +bloodshed. Again, it may prove a farce. I +have only my own judgment to go on, but the +matter is so serious that I’m going to take a +risk. I should prefer to have Lieutenant Gordon +with us, but that seems to be impossible. Get +your guns ready, and I’ll arrange for a railroad +motor car to take us to Gatun.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span></p> +<p>“I just believe Lieutenant Gordon is in +trouble,” Peter said. “He was in the hotel +this afternoon, just before they carried the sick +man out, but has not been seen since.”</p> +<p>Ned sprang to his feet, all excitement.</p> +<p>“When did they carry a sick man out?” he +asked.</p> +<p>“Oh, it must have been about five o’clock,” +was the reply. “He was plumb sick, too, for +they carried him out in a wheel-chair, with a +sheet over his face.”</p> +<p>“Who carried him out?”</p> +<p>“Why, the men from the hospital who were +sent for.”</p> +<p>“What floor?” demanded Ned, a thought he +did not care to put into words coming to his mind.</p> +<p>“Third floor,” replied Peter. “I stood out +there, looking around, when the chair was +brought down on the freight elevator.”</p> +<p>Greatly to the amazement of the boys Ned +darted away. In a minute he stood before the +clerk’s desk.</p> +<p>“Will you have a boy show me to Lieutenant +Gordon’s room?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Certainly,” was the reply, “but you won’t +find him in. There have been repeated inquiries, +for him this afternoon.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span></p> +<p>“Has any one been to his room?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Yes, but it is locked and the key is not here. +I was up on that floor about five o’clock, when +the hospital people took a man out of the room +next to his, and his door was locked then.”</p> +<p>Ned stood for a moment in deep thought, +hesitating, wondering if the clerk was a man to +be trusted in a great emergency.</p> +<p>“You look to me like a dependable man,” he +finally said to the clerk, “anyway, I’ve got to +take you into my confidence. Will you take +duplicate keys to the lieutenant’s room and the +room next to it and come with me?”</p> +<p>“Of course, if it is anything important,” +replied the clerk, “but you’ll have to give some +good reason before I can admit you to either +room.”</p> +<p>“Step in here,” Ned said, motioning toward +a little check room at the end of the counter. +“You saw the sick man carried out?” he asked, +as the clerk wonderingly stepped into the designated +room.</p> +<p>“Yes, I saw him taken out. He was a +stranger—took the room about noon through a +friend. I did not see him at all, that is, until +he was carried out, and then I did not see his +face.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span></p> +<p>“You are sure it was not Lieutenant Gordon +who was carried out?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Why, why, he wasn’t sick. He said nothing +to me of being ill.”</p> +<p>“But he has enemies on the Isthmus,” Ned +went on, “and is now at work on a very delicate +and dangerous job for the government. Suppose—”</p> +<p>The clerk waited to hear no more. He seized +the keys asked for and bounded toward the elevator, +taking Ned with him. When they entered +the lieutenant’s room they found it in great +disorder. There were many signs of a desperate +struggle. On the floor was a three-cornered slip +of paper which had evidently, judging from the +quality and thickness, been torn from a drawing +roll. The scrap showed only two irregular +lines, but Ned recognized them.</p> +<p>Lieutenant Gordon had taken into his possession +the crude map of the Gatun dam which +Ned had discovered in the old temple bomb-room. +The next room, the one from which the +alleged sick man had been taken, was also in +disorder, and the door which connected the two +apartments had been forced open. There was +a strong odor of chloroform in both rooms.</p> +<p>The clerk did not need to be told what had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +taken place. His face turned white as chalk +and his voice trembled as he asked:</p> +<p>“What is to be done? Think of the lieutenant +being carried off from this hotel in the daytime. +It will ruin us.”</p> +<p>“First,” Ned replied, “you must make up +your mind to keep what has been done a profound +secret. You may tell the proprietor if +you see fit to do so, but no one else must know.”</p> +<p>“But the secret service men must be told.”</p> +<p>“Not now,” Ned replied. “I have an idea +that I can restore the lieutenant to his friends +without any row being made over the matter.”</p> +<p>“But how? I don’t understand.”</p> +<p>“At least,” Ned urged, “wait until two o’clock +to-morrow morning. I am going out now on +an expedition which may reveal many things, +if I succeed. If I fail, why, then you must notify +the secret service men and look for me in +some of the pools about Gatun.”</p> +<p>The clerk finally consented to this arrangement, +and in ten minutes Ned and his chums +were speeding toward Gatun on a railroad motor +car.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XX_THE_SPOIL_OF_THE_LOCKS' id='XX_THE_SPOIL_OF_THE_LOCKS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> +<h3>THE SPOIL OF THE LOCKS.</h3> +</div> + +<p>At eleven o’clock that night the workmen +employed at the locks, the spillway, and the +barrier of the Gatun dam found that their lights +were not working satisfactorily and sent word +back to the electric department that something +was amiss.</p> +<p>The electric department sent word back to +the men in the excavations that the lights were +all right so far as they were concerned, that they +were doing their full duty efficiently, and that +the men with the shovels, the dynamite and the +dump cars might go chase themselves.</p> +<p>This expression of fact and permission did +not make it any lighter at the workings, but the +men kept on, in the intermittent showers of +illumination, and grumbled while they excavated +and piled in the concrete. At last, just before +midnight, the incandescence did not come back +to the globes, and the men gathered in groups +to discuss the matter and express heated opinions +of the efficiency of the men in charge of the +lighting plant. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span></p> +<p>The workmen moved about here and there +in the shadows and clambered like ants over the +great bulk of the dam. No one looked to see +that the men assembled in the workings all belonged +there. At midnight four men who did +not belong there entered the excavation which +leads from the bottom of the lower lock to the +sea-level channel into Limon Bay, which is a +child of the Caribbean Sea.</p> +<p>These four men moved about as if accustomed +to the situation, only now and then they +halted and whispered together. Other men, +workmen, were doing that, however, and so +these four passed on up to the foot of the spillway +without attracting attention.</p> +<p>Here they separated, one to the west, one to +the east, where the locks are, and one to a position +half way between the spillway and the west +side of the locks. The fourth man remained +near the foot of the spillway.</p> +<p>Due primarily to its size, Gatun dam has +received, perhaps, more attention in the United +States than is its due. There is nothing especially +difficult or complicated about this dam, +and many dams have been successfully built +in this country to withstand much larger pressures +and greater heads of water than the Gatun +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +dam without being given one-quarter of the +attention.</p> +<p>Gatun dam fills the opening between the +hills at Gatun through which the Chagres river +flows to the Caribbean Sea. It consists, if it +may be regarded in the light of a finished production, +of a water-tight center or core composed of +sand and clay mixed in proper proportion and +deposited hydraulically; that is by being pumped +in.</p> +<p>On each side a wall of rock confines this core. +The bulk of the dam rests on impermeable material +of sufficient supporting power. The locks +and spillway are considered a part of the dam.</p> +<p>The locks are built in an excavation at the +east end of the dam, in rock, and will lift vessels +from the Atlantic level to the level of the Lake +of Gatun. The spillway is a concrete-lined +opening cut through a hill of rock near the center +of the dam. When supplied with suitable gates, +it will regulate the level of the lake.</p> +<p>The dam proper is about 9,000 feet long over +all, measured on its crest, including locks and +spill way, but for only five hundred feet of this +great distance will it be subjected to great +pressure. During this space there is, or will be, +a weight of about eighty-five feet depth against +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +the barrier. For only about half its length will +the head of water on the dam be over fifty feet.</p> +<p>It will be seen from the above description +that the point of attack on the dam would naturally +be where the pressure is greatest, also at +the locks, which would make a mighty channel +for the flood of water, and which would be difficult +to repair. The spillway, too, if enlarged by +explosives, would make a nasty hole to build up.</p> +<p>Now another point which Ned had considered +when he looked over the crude drawings he had +discovered. Hard rock underlies the dam near +the surface of the ground except for about one-fifth +of its entire length. Here the rock dips +down to a minimum depth below sea-level of +from 195 feet in the depression east of the spillway +to 255 feet in that west of the spillway. +Here, of course, would be another point of +attack by one designing permanent mischief.</p> +<p>These depressions or valleys have been slowly +filled during past ages. Measured from sea-level +down, the first 80 feet consists of sand and +clay; the next 100 feet or so is stiff blue clay, +while the last 20 to 60 feet is a conglomerate, +composed of sand, shells and stone. It will be +readily seen that great damage might be done by +a raging torrent boring into the sand and clay +of the first strata. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span></p> +<p>Now, the outer walls of rock are 1,200 feet +apart, the interval being filled with spoil from the +canal and lock excavations. The south “toe,” +as it is called, has a height of 60 feet, while the +north or down-stream “toe” is 30 feet high. +Spoil from the excavations will be dumped outside +the “toes” until the dam is 2,000 feet in +width at the bottom. The top of the dam is, or +will be, 30 feet above water level and have a +width of 100 feet. The channel of the spillway is +300 feet wide.</p> +<p>Ned had figured it out that one attacking the +dam would naturally seek to enlarge the locks +and the spillway and also to burrow in under +the bulk of the dam where the sand and clay had +been washed in below sea-level by countless +years of flood and storm. The locks and spillway, +enlarged, would require years of active +work for repair; the sand and clay, if subjected +to high explosives, would cause the crest of the +dam to drop in on the north side and so enfeeble +the entire structure, requiring the gigantic +work of constructing new foundations.</p> +<p>Therefore, when Ned saw the four men moving +toward the spillway, saw them part and seek +the vulnerable points which have been described +above, he knew that the time he had been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +waiting for had come. The treacherous rascals +were there to do their wicked work that night—to +carry out plans long formed and well considered—and +they were opposed only by the +inexperienced patrol leader from New York and +his three chums, Frank Shaw, Glen Howard, +and Peter Fenton. It will be remembered that +Jimmie McGraw, Jack Bosworth, and Harry +Stevens were at the old stone house on the road +to Las Cruces from Gamboa, and that George +Tolford had accompanied Tony to the Chester +camp.</p> +<p>On reaching Gatun the boys had slipped out +of the lights of the station and descended immediately +to the bottom of the cut. They were +at once accosted by a foreman, but the explanation +Ned gave seemed more than sufficient, for +Dan Welch, the man in charge of a group of +workers on the locks, at once summoned his +assistant to the job and remained with the boys.</p> +<p>“I have heard about you, Ned Nestor,” +Welch said; “in fact, about half the men in the +workings at Gatun have heard of you.”</p> +<p>“I don’t understand how,” replied the +puzzled boy.</p> +<p>“Well, through that bomb business at the +cottage. You see, it leaked out. When the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +attempt to blow up the place was reported, +the men naturally asked what the dickens the +scamps wanted to blow up a crowd of sightseers +for, and then it came out that you came here +with Lieutenant Gordon, and that’s about all.”</p> +<p>It was at this time that the lights suspended +operation. Welch glanced about the busy scene +for an instant and sat down on a box which contained +tools.</p> +<p>“No use,” he said. “The electric men work +as they please. We’ll wait here and lose our +record. Did you say where Lieutenant Gordon +is to-night?”</p> +<p>“I did not, because I wasn’t asked,” was +the reply, “and because I don’t know where +he is.”</p> +<p>“He’s a good fellow, Gordon,” Welch exclaimed. +“I’d go far and fast to do him a favor. +I hope he’s coming out of this game all right.”</p> +<p>Then Ned sat down on the tool-box and told +Welch the story of the abduction of the lieutenant, +and also the story of what was going on +there that night, as he understood it. To say +that Welch was profoundly excited does not half +express the foreman’s state of mind as he listened.</p> +<p>“My God!” he cried, when Ned paused. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +“To think of the wickedness of the thing. To destroy +the work of years. To delay the completion +of the canal for a decade. What can we do? +In this darkness, the spoilers can work their will.”</p> +<p>“I think I know who they are,” Ned said. +“We must find them.”</p> +<p>“It is too bad that the lights should fail us +just at this time,” the foreman said.</p> +<p>“I have an idea that the plotters arranged +for that,” Ned said, then.</p> +<p>“But how?” demanded Welch. “The plants +are well guarded. You know, of course, that we +are all on the lookout for something of the kind? +We thought we had provided against any sudden +surprise. Where are we to look for them?”</p> +<p>Then Ned pointed out the probable points +of attack, and Welch sprang to his feet in a +fuming passion.</p> +<p>“The spillway and the locks,” he cried. +“And the point where the soft earth extends +under the dam! Come!”</p> +<p>“Bring four of your men who can be trusted,” +Ned advised, not leaving the box.</p> +<p>“Yes, and what then?”</p> +<p>“Send a man to the light station and have +tracers sent out, but instruct him not to have +the lights turned on until you give the signal.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span></p> +<p>“I understand,” the foreman said. “We’ll +catch them with the goods!”</p> +<p>Four men, workmen, were strolling along the +danger points within five minutes, and another +moved toward the electric switches which governed +that part of the illumination. Ned and +Welch remained near the spillway. The three +boys, after whispered instructions from Ned, +moved along the line passing word from man +to man.</p> +<p>It was a long and heart-breaking half hour, +seemingly double that time, that followed. The +man from the switches came back and whispered +to Welch, and at that moment a shrill bird-call +sounded in the darkness. This, in turn, was +followed by the report of a revolver, and then +the light leaped into the globes, making the +place, the entire length of the canal dam, the +spillway and the locks, as bright as day.</p> +<p>There came a half-hearted explosion from +the direction of the locks, followed by more shots. +Then everything was in confusion, and groups +of men gathered in four spots along the line. +There were more shots and then the three boys +rushed, panting, to the position Ned and the +foreman had taken.</p> +<p>“They’ve got them!” Frank cried. “They’ve +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +got every man of them—four Japs with lighted +fuses in their hands!”</p> +<p>“There must be more than four!” Welch +cried.</p> +<p>“I think not,” Ned replied. “This is hardly +a job for many men to work on! The four dare +not take others into their confidence. Come! +Suppose we gather them in?”</p> +<p>“How do you boys know they’ve got them +all?” demanded Welch. “The four men must +be some distance apart.”</p> +<p>“Not too far for a revolver to carry a signal!” +smiled Ned. “You probably noticed four groups +of shots? Well, the boys who have been acting +as messengers from man to man gave directions +as to the number of shots for each group!”</p> +<p>“I see!” said Welch. “You don’t need any +whiskers, boy, to do the brain work of a man. +Here comes the first batch!”</p> +<p>Itto and Gostel were the first ones brought +in. Itto was wounded fatally and Gostel was +bleeding from a wound in the side. The other +men were not injured. They stood in a little +group for a moment, and then Itto dropped to +the ground.</p> +<p>The reports of the men who had been sent +out to the danger points showed that each one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +of the four had been caught lighting a fuse, the +bombs having been set.</p> +<p>“We were forced to work before we were +ready,” Gostel said, defiantly. “Our government +discovered what was going on, and we +would have been arrested to-morrow. So we +were obliged to take the risk to-night. We were +working for the glory of the Emperor, but he +forbade it!”</p> +<p>“I did not believe the government of Japan +would descend to any such despicable work,” +Ned said. “You fellows are cranks! You would +have worked great harm to your Emperor if you +had succeeded. By the way,” he added, “what +did you do with Lieutenant Gordon?”</p> +<p>Gostel glared at his questioner, but Itto beckoned +Ned to his side.</p> +<p>“The old stone house on the road to Las +Cruces!” he whispered.</p> +<p>“Where is that?” asked Welch, who had +bent over the wounded man and heard the words.</p> +<p>“I know,” replied Ned. “One act of this +tragedy has already been pulled off there. Have +your men take these cranks to Gatun and get a +railroad motor. We must get to Gamboa without +loss of time. It is only a short distance from +there to the place he speaks of. If they took +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +Lieutenant Gordon there a prisoner, they are +likely to have had a warm reception, for three +of my chums are there!”</p> +<p>But it was not necessary for them to go to +the old stone house. At Gamboa they found +Lieutenant Gordon and the three boys. Jimmie +excitedly related the sensational occurrences at +the house.</p> +<p>“Jack and Harry came up,” he concluded, +“just as the two men, Pedro and Gaga, were +going together with knives. I was scared into +a trance! The boys covered them with guns an’ +we trussed ’em both. You never saw people more +surprised in your life. Then two men brought +in Lieutenant Gordon, all nicely tied up, and +went away, or started to go away. Well, they +wasn’t prepared for an attack from the bushes, +and we have four prisoners in a cell of a jail at +Gamboa, right over there!”</p> +<p>In an hour the boys were all back at Culebra, +with Lieutenant Gordon looking angry enough +to eat sinkers, as Jimmie said. The officer +though pleased at the general results, did not +like to admit that he had been captured by the +enemy and rescued by the Boy Scouts, the little +fellows he was guarding!</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXI_THE_TANGLE_STRAIGHTENED_OUT' id='XXI_THE_TANGLE_STRAIGHTENED_OUT'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> +<h3>THE TANGLE STRAIGHTENED OUT.</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was nearly daylight when the tired party +entered the lobby of the hotel at Culebra. The +eight men who had been captured were all under +strong guard, the bombs had been taken from +the dam, and the danger was over.</p> +<p>“Now,” Lieutenant Gordon said, “we’ll go +after the men higher up.”</p> +<p>He started back as he uttered the words, for +Mr. Shaw, Harvey Chester, Col. Van Ellis, George +Tolford, and Tony Chester came hastening +toward him.</p> +<p>“There are three of the men higher up!” the +lieutenant shouted. “I arrest you, gentlemen, +for treason!”</p> +<p>The three men drew back in surprise and Mr. +Shaw stepped forward.</p> +<p>“What does it mean?” he asked. “I sailed +from New York the day after the boys left, but +reached Culebra only to-night. When I came +here I found Mr. Chester and Mr. Van Ellis +waiting for news from Ned Nestor. What does +it mean?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span></p> +<p>“It means!” shouted Gordon, “that your +dupes are all under arrest, through the efforts of +Nestor, and that the Gatun dam is no longer in +danger. It also means that you three men are +under arrest! I suspected, that night in your +house in New York, Shaw, that you were trying +to lead me to a false trail.”</p> +<p>Mr. Shaw glanced indifferently at the officer +and motioned to a distinguished looking gentleman +who had been observing the scene from a +distance.</p> +<p>“This,” he said, “is Colonel Hill, your chief, +Gordon. He came on from New York with me. +Let him speak.”</p> +<p>“But the others are prisoners,” insisted +Gordon.</p> +<p>“I have an idea,” Mr. Shaw said, “that +Nestor knows more about the complications of +this case than any one else. Suppose we let him +sum it up?”</p> +<p>“I am sure he can do it!” growled Gordon.</p> +<p>Although it was now broad daylight, and all +were tired and in need of sleep, the party went +to a private parlor and Ned began the story of +the case, first having a short talk with Jimmie, +who had listened to a confession from Gaga. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span></p> +<p>“The plot against the Gatun dam,” he said, +“did not originate with the business men who +were looking for emeralds along the line of the +cut. When I first sized up the case it seemed to +me that the men interested in emeralds, including +Mr. Shaw, were willing to delay the completion +of the canal in order that they might have time +to develop mines believed to be fabulously rich +in emeralds.”</p> +<p>“That is the way it looked to me,” the lieutenant +said.</p> +<p>“I began work along that line,” continued +Ned, “for the news that Mr. Shaw was interested +in emerald mines, and his refusal to reveal the +contents of the papers he had secured, led me to +the opinion that he had been approached by his +partners with a proposition to destroy the Gatun +dam, that he had their proposals in writing, and +that he had refused to become a party to such +an outrage.”</p> +<p>“Then why didn’t he tell us who the men +were?” demanded Gordon.</p> +<p>“Because,” was the reply, “he did not think +his partners, Mr. Harvey Chester and Col. Van +Ellis, would go to the extremity proposed. He +thought they would change their minds when the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span> +enormity of the crime was set before them. In +fact, he suspected from the first that they were +being urged on by others having private ends to +gain by the destruction of the dam. Besides, +he thought himself capable of handling the situation +alone. Is that true, Mr. Shaw?”</p> +<p>“All true,” was the reply, “but I don’t see +how you found out what was in my mind,” he +added, with a laugh.</p> +<p>“It was all very clear to me, in time,” was +the reply. “Unless I am very much mistaken, +you, Mr. Shaw, fearful that the enemies of the +canal scheme might act too quickly, gave the +information to the government which led to +Lieutenant Gordon being put on the case. Is +that right?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” was the reply, “that is right, but +how—”</p> +<p>“All in good time,” Ned went on. “Now, +the fact that you had warned the officers of the +government became known to your associates in +the emerald business. That is, it became known +to the men who were drawing the associates +into this crime. It was then necessary for them +to get the papers they had given to you, the maps +and plans of the best points of attack. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span> +papers mentioned names, and would have convicted +every one of them of treason.”</p> +<p>“Where did you get a glimpse of the papers?” +asked Mr. Shaw.</p> +<p>“I have never seen them,” was the reply, +“but what took place shows what they contained. +When you left the Isthmus, Pedro, real name +Pedrarias, was induced by some of the conspirators +to go with you as your servant. His real +duty in your house was to steal the papers before +you turned them over to the government.”</p> +<p>“I had no intention of doing that,” the editor +said.</p> +<p>“But the conspirators did not know that,” +Ned went on. “Now, while Pedro went into your +employ for the purpose of stealing the papers +he also went for a purpose of his own. It was +his longing to possess the emerald necklace—which +had long been in his family—that induced +him to become a servant, though the large sum +of money the conspirators paid him was a consideration, +he being very poor.</p> +<p>“You all know what happened. Pedro did +not succeed in getting either the papers or the +necklace. He remained in the house until the +others became anxious and sent three men on to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +New York to accomplish what Pedro did not seem +capable of doing. One of these men was Gaga +and one was Itto.</p> +<p>“Working under instructions from his confederates, +Pedro let Gaga into the house about +six o’clock one rainy night. He remained inside +so long without reporting to those outside +that they demanded admittance, and Pedro was +obliged to let them in. This must have been +about nine o’clock. When Itto and the other +man entered, they went at their work roughly. +They assaulted Mr. Shaw and searched his rooms +which had already been searched by Gaga. +Then they went upstairs to search Frank’s room, +and Pedro tried to turn them back.</p> +<p>“He did not trust them, being afraid they +would secure the necklace. By the way, the +chances are that he did not know that Gaga was +still in the house. Well, when Pedro opposed +their passage and Frank ran out, the two fled, +finding the night-bolt off at the street door. +Then Gaga got the necklace and got out of the +house during the excitement.</p> +<p>“It may be well to say here that Pedro did +not leave the house to further conspire with +the canal plotters. When he found that Gaga +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span> +had indeed stolen the necklace he went after +him. He did not care where the others went, +or whether they secured the papers or not. It +was the second man, the one with Itto, who followed +us on board the boat and was named His +Nobbs by the boys.</p> +<p>“Pedro went back to Mr. Chester, who had +been prominent in locating him in the Shaw house, +and waited for a chance at Gaga. By this time +both Mr. Chester and Col. Van Ellis had decided +to turn the plotters over to the government and +take their chances on arrest, for of course the +arrested men would accuse them of being at the +head of the conspiracy.”</p> +<p>“Col. Van Ellis was going to lock us up and +see how long we could go without food!” Frank +exclaimed. “That doesn’t look much like the +work of a contrite heart!”</p> +<p>“You would not have been starved,” Van +Ellis replied, with a smile. “At that time our +friends, the Japs, were watching our every movement, +and Mr. Chester and myself agreed to let +them play their game a little longer in order that +they might be caught and punished.”</p> +<p>“What about the mysterious Jap men you +are talking about?” demanded Jack Bosworth. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span> +“I am anxious to know how they tangled these +three business men up in the game.”</p> +<p>“Is it true,” Ned asked of Mr. Shaw, “that +Gostel and Itto first proposed delaying the work +on the canal?”</p> +<p>“Yes; they first suggested it.”</p> +<p>“They told you of emerald mines under +there?”</p> +<p>“Certainly.”</p> +<p>“But they never took you to see the mines?”</p> +<p>“No; we took their word for it.”</p> +<p>“Well, they lied to you. There are no emerald +deposits under the line of the canal. Their +purpose was to get you involved in a scheme to +blow up the dam, believing that you, by your +influence, would be able to ward off suspicion +after the job had been accomplished.”</p> +<p>“But why?”</p> +<p>“Because they are cranks. They believed +they would be doing their Emperor a great favor +by destroying the canal. They were insane on +the subject. They believed that Japan could +never become mistress of the Pacific with the +canal in operation and the fleets of the world +passing through it.</p> +<p>“Well, they carried on the plotting, made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +their bombs, and fought us boys, as you all +know. Their plans were progressing satisfactorily, +for they did not know that Mr. Shaw, +Mr. Chester, and Col. Van Ellis would have +stopped them at the risk of their own lives, had +they been able to do so, until the Japanese government +got wind of what was on.</p> +<p>“Then these cranks were warned by the +Japanese officials to stop. Instead of doing so +they abducted Lieutenant Gordon and advanced +the date of the crime one night. The abduction +was cleverly planned and executed, but Mr. +Chester learned of it, and there was a row about +it. But there was no suspicion on the part of +Mr. Chester that the job was set for last night, +I take it. Is that true?” he asked, turning to +Mr. Chester.</p> +<p>“Yes, I was completely deceived, and only +that you boys were on guard the dam would +have been blown up!”</p> +<p>“I overheard their plans in the stone house,” +Ned continued. “Mr. Chester and Col. Van +Ellis went there to call the whole thing off, but +Gostel and Itto lied to them. I heard Gaga +admit to Itto that there were no emeralds under +the canal line. I found there another map of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span> +the dam, with marks where the bombs were to +be placed. Then, when I got back to Culebra +and found that Lieutenant Gordon had been +abducted, I knew that the job was set for that +night.”</p> +<p>“I was sorry you went without me,” Mr. +Chester said.</p> +<p>“I wanted you here when the end came,” +Ned replied, “and so sent for you. I wanted +you where you could not be accused of complicity +in the crime, for I knew that you were innocent. +Your only fault was in listening to the men at +all.”</p> +<p>“Yes, we should have listened to Mr. Shaw +instead of the Japs,” Mr. Chester admitted, +“but it has come out all right. The peril is over. +Now, what about the necklace?”</p> +<p>“Gaga carried it with him, lugged it about +on his person,” Ned said, “and Jimmie secured +it after his arrest at the stone house. Pedro +would not have been captured if he had not +followed Gaga there with the intention of murdering +him and securing the necklace. Yes, the +bauble is in Frank’s possession again!”</p> +<p>“And that closes the case,” laughed Mr. +Shaw, “and you boys may as well go back to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +New York with me. The reward for your work, +Mr. Nestor, will be large, and you may as well +take a rest. We will leave the prisoners in the +hands of the law.”</p> +<p>“Wait a moment!” said Col. Hill. “We are +in need of a herd of Boy Scouts, just like this +one, up in the Philippines. Will you go, boys?”</p> +<div class='ce'> +<p>THE END</p> +</div> + +<hr class='minor' /> + +<p>The lads were anxious to go, of course, and +the story of their adventures there will be told +in the next book of the series, entitled:</p> +<p>“Boy Scouts in the Philippines; or, the Key +to the Treaty Box.”</p> +<hr class='full' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>Motor Boat Boys Series</p> +<p>By <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Louis Arundel</span></p> +</div> + +<ol> +<li>The Motor Club’s Cruise Down the Mississippi; or The Dash for Dixie.</li> +<li>The Motor Club on the St. Lawrence River; or Adventures Among the Thousand Islands.</li> +<li>The Motor Club on the Great Lakes; or Exploring the Mystic Isle of Mackinac.</li> +<li>Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys; or The Struggle for the Leadership.</li> +<li>Motor Boat Boys Down the Coast; or Through Storm and Stress.</li> +<li>Motor Boat Boy’s River Chase; or Six Chums Afloat or Ashore.</li> +<li>Motor Boat Boys Down the Danube; or Four Chums Abroad.</li> +</ol> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>Motor Maid Series</p> +<p>By <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Katherine Stokes</span></p> +</div> + +<ol> +<li>Motor Maids’ School Days</li> +<li>Motor Maids by Palm and Pine</li> +<li>Motor Maids Across the Continent</li> +<li>Motor Maids by Rose, Shamrock and Thistle</li> +<li>Motor Maids in Fair Japan</li> +<li>Motor Maids at Sunrise Camp</li> +</ol> + +<div class='ce'> +<p><i>For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of 75c.</i></p> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY</p> +<p>701-733 S. DEARBORN STREET :: CHICAGO</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>Radio Boys Series</p> +</div> + +<ol> +<li>Radio Boys in the Secret Service; or, Cast Away on an Iceberg<br />FRANK HONEYWELL</li> +<li>Radio Boys on the Thousand Islands; or, The Yankee Canadian Wireless Trail<br />FRANK HONEYWELL</li> +<li>Radio Boys in the Flying Service; or, Held for Ransom by Mexican Bandits<br />J. W. DUFFIELD</li> +<li>Radio Boys Under the Sea; or, The Hunt for the Sunken Treasure<br />J. W. DUFFIELD</li> +<li>Radio Boys Cronies; or, Bill Brown’s Radio<br />WAYNE WHIPPLE</li> +<li>Radio Boys Loyalty; or, Bill Brown Listens In<br />WAYNE WHIPPLE</li> +</ol> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>Peggy Parson’s Series</p> +<p>By <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Annabel Sharp</span></p> +</div> + +<p>A popular and charming series of Girl’s books dealing in an interesting +and fascinating manner with the life and adventures of Girlhood so +dear to all Girls from eight to fourteen years of age. Printed from large +clear type on superior quality paper, multicolor jacket. Bound in cloth.</p> +<ol> +<li>Peggy Parson Hampton Freshman</li> +<li>Peggy Parson at Prep School</li> +</ol> + +<div class='ce'> +<p><i>For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of 75c.</i></p> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY</p> +<p>701-733 S. DEARBORN STREET :: CHICAGO</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>The Aeroplane Series</p> +<p>By <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>John Luther Langworthy</span></p> +</div> + +<ol> +<li>The Aeroplane Boys; or, The Young Pilots First Air Voyage</li> +<li>The Aeroplane Boys on the Wing; or, Aeroplane Chums in the Tropics</li> +<li>The Aeroplane Boys Among the Clouds; or, Young Aviators in a Wreck</li> +<li>The Aeroplane Boys’ Flights; or, A Hydroplane Round-up</li> +<li>The Aeroplane Boys on a Cattle Ranch</li> +</ol> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>The Girl Aviator Series</p> +<p>By <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Margaret Burnham</span></p> +</div> + +<p>Just the type of books that delight and fascinate the wide awake Girls +of the present day who are between the ages of eight and fourteen years. +The great author of these books regards them as the best products of +her pen. Printed from large clear type on a superior quality of paper; +attractive multicolor jacket wrapper around each book. Bound in cloth.</p> +<ol> +<li>The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship</li> +<li>The Girl Aviators on Golden Wings</li> +<li>The Girl Aviators’ Sky Cruise</li> +<li>The Girl Aviators’ Motor Butterfly</li> +</ol> + +<div class='ce'> +<p><i>For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of 75c.</i></p> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY</p> +<p>701-733 S. DEARBORN STREET :: CHICAGO</p> +</div> + +<!-- generated by ppgen.rb version: 2.25 --> +<!-- timestamp: Fri Sep 05 03:50:22 -0400 2008 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone, by G. 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