s-^ y~v* >r r^/'~V* = *VI TT^O 
 
 BOY SCOUTS 
 
 iia 
 
 IEUT. 
 
 PAYSON
 
 All the time the trail kept getting fresher. 
 (Page 266) (The Boy Scouts at the Panama Canal)
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 
 By LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 "The Boy Scouts of the Eagle Patrol," "The Boy Scouts 
 
 on the Range," "The Boy Scouts and the Army 
 
 Airship," "The Boy Scouts' Mountain Camp," 
 
 "The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," etc." 
 
 A. L. BURT COMPANY 
 Publishers New York 
 
 Printed In U. S. A.
 
 Copyright, 1913 
 
 BY 
 HURST & COMPANY 
 
 MADE IN U. S. A.
 
 STACK 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTEB 
 
 I. BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE . . . 5 
 
 II. AN ANGRY FARMER ... ., , ; ... . 16 
 
 III. ON A MISSION . . . ..... 27 
 
 IV. SOME UP-TO-DATE ADVERTISING . . 35 
 V. A BIG SURPRISE . . . . ; ., . 43 
 
 VI. BASEBALL .......... 53 
 
 VII. A TEST FOR THE EAGLES ., ... 66 
 
 VIII. SKILL vs. MUSCLE ...... 85 
 
 IX. FIRE! ...... . . ,. 91 
 
 X. A SCOUT HERO ...... 100 
 
 XI. THE FIRE TEST .... ... . 113 
 
 XII. IN PERIL OF His LIFE . -.. . . 122 
 
 XIII. THE ENEMY'S MOVE . ., , .. .131 
 
 XIV. A NOVEL PROPOSAL . . . . 148 
 XV. OFF FOR THE ISTHMUS . ,. . .156 
 
 XVI. SOMETHING ABOUT THE CANAL . .167 
 
 8
 
 t CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAG* 
 
 XVII. AT OLD PANAMA ....... 181 
 
 XVIII. BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY , . . 191 
 
 XIX. THE GATUN DAM ...,.. 200 
 
 XX. A DYNAMITE VOLCANO .... 209 
 
 XXI. "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" 217 
 
 XXII. THE BOYS MEET AN OLD ACQUAINT- 
 ANCE ........ 223 
 
 XXIII. ALONG THE CHAGRES ... . ,.. . . 232 
 
 XXIV. THE TRACKLESS JUNGLE . ... ,. . 241 
 
 XXV. A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS . ,. ,. 257 
 
 XXVI. THE RUINED CITY ....... 270 
 
 XXVII. "BE PREPARED" ,. ., ,.. ,., ,. . 284
 
 The Boy Scouts at the 
 Panama Canal 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE. 
 
 Farmer Hiram Applegate had just finished 
 breakfast. For this reason, perhaps, he felt 
 exceptionally good-humored. Even the news he 
 had read in his morning paper (of the day 
 before) to the effect that his pet abomination and 
 aversion, The Boy Scouts, had held a successful 
 and popular review in New York and received 
 personal commendation from the President failed 
 to shake his equanimity. 
 
 Outside the farmhouse the spring sun shone 
 bright and warm. The air was crisp, and odorous 
 with the scent of apple blossoms. Robins twit- 
 
 5
 
 * THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 tered cheerily, hens clucked and now and then a 
 blue bird flashed among the orchard trees. 
 
 As Hiram stepped out on his "vendetta," as he 
 called his verandah or, to use the old-fashioned 
 word and the better one, "porch" he was joined 
 by a rather heavy-set youth with small, shifty 
 eyes and a sallow skin which gave the impression 
 of languishing for soap and water. A suit of 
 loud pattern, new yellow boots with "nobby" toes, 
 and a gaudy necktie did not add to young Jared 
 Applegate's general appearance. 
 
 "Pop," he began, after a glance at the old 
 man's crabbed and wrinkled features, just then 
 aglow with self-satisfaction, "Pop, how about 
 that money I spoke about ?" 
 
 Old Applegate stared at his offspring from 
 under his heavy, iron-gray brows. 
 
 "A fine time to be askin' fer money!" he 
 snorted indignantly, "you just back frum 
 Panamy under a cloud, too, and yet you start 
 a pesterin' me fer money as ef it grew on 
 trees."
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL f 
 
 "What d'ye want it fer, hey?" he went on 
 after a pause. "More Bye Scut nonsense?" 
 
 Jared shook his head as if denying some dis- 
 creditable imputation. 
 
 "I've had nothing to do with the Boy Scouts 
 since the day I was kicked out of that is, since 
 I left the Black Wolf troop in New York." 
 
 "Dum glad of it, though you never tole me 
 what you quit for," muttered the old man. 
 
 "But to get back to that money," said Jared; 
 "as I told you when I got back from the Isthmus, 
 I need it. Need it bad, too, or I wouldn't ask 
 you." 
 
 "Makes no diff'rence. What d'ye want it fer, 
 hey ?" he repeated, coming back to his original 
 question. 
 
 Jared decided that there was nothing for it but 
 to tell the truth. 
 
 "To go over what I told you the other night 
 once more, I'm in debt. Debts I ran up on the 
 Isthmus," was the rejoinder. "A chap can't live 
 down there for nothing you know, and "
 
 8 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "By heck ! You got a dern good salary as Mr. 
 Mainwaring's sec'ty, didn't yer, an' a chance ter 
 learn engin-e-ring thrun in. You git fired fer 
 misbehavin' yerself an' then yer come down on 
 the old man fer money. I ain't goin' ter stand it, 
 I ain't, and that's flat!" 
 
 The old man knocked the ashes out of his half- 
 smoked pipe with unnecessary violence. Jared, 
 eying him askance, saw that his father was work- 
 ing himself up into what Jared termed " a tan- 
 trum." Taking another tack, he resumed. 
 
 "Sho, pop ! It ain't as if you weren't going to 
 get it back. And there'll be interest at six per 
 cent., too." 
 
 This was touching old Applegate on a tender 
 point. If rumor in and about Hampton spoke 
 correctly, the old man had made most of his large 
 fortune, not so much by farming, but by run- 
 ning, at ruinous rates, a sort of private bank. 
 
 "Wa'al," he said, his hard, rugged old face 
 softening the least bit, "uv course you've tole me 
 all that ; but what you h'aint tole me is, how yer
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 9 
 
 a goin' ter git ther money back, an' the 
 interest." 
 
 He looked cunningly at his son as he spoke. 
 Jared hesitated an instant before he replied. 
 Then he said boldly enough : 
 
 "I can't tell you just what the business enter- 
 prise is that I expect to go into shortly. I'm 
 I'm under a sort of promise not to, you see. But 
 if everything goes right, I'll be worth a good 
 round sum before long." 
 
 "Promises ain't security," retorted the old man 
 warily. "I Gee Whitakers ! Thar's that spotted 
 hawg out agin !" 
 
 Across the dusty road the animal in question 
 was passing as the farmer's eyes fell on it. In 
 the center of the track it paused and began root- 
 ing about, grunting contentedly at its liberty. 
 
 At the same moment a humming sound, almost 
 like the drone of a big bumble bee, came out of 
 the distance. As he heard the peculiar drone, a 
 quick glance of recognition flashed across old 
 Applegate's face.
 
 10 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "It's that pesky Mainwaring gal an' her 'lectric 
 auto !" he exploded vehemently. "That makes the 
 third time in ther last two weeks that Jake's bin 
 out when she come along. Ther fust time she 
 knocked him over, ther second time she knocked 
 him over, an' now " 
 
 A smart-looking little electric runabout, driven 
 by a pretty young girl in motoring costume, 
 whizzed round the corner. The ill-fated Jake 
 looked up from his rooting as the car came dash- 
 ing on. Possibly the recollection of those other 
 two narrow escapes was upon him. At any rate, 
 with a scared grunt and an angry squeal, he 
 whisked his stump of a curly tail in the air and 
 dashed for the picket fence in front of the Apple- 
 gate place. 
 
 But either Jake was too slow, or the electric 
 was too fast. Just as the girl gave the steering 
 wheel of the auto a quick twist to avoid the pig, 
 one of the forewheels struck the luckless Jake 
 "astern," as sailors would say. 
 
 With an agonized wail Jake sailed through the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 11 
 
 air a few feet and then, alighting on his feet, 
 galloped off unhurt but squealing as if he had 
 been mortally injured. 
 
 "Goodness," exclaimed the girl alarmedly, and 
 then, "gracious!" 
 
 The quick twist of the wheel had caused the 
 car to give a jump and a skid and land in the 
 ditch, where it came to a standstill. Farmer 
 Applegate, rage tinting his face the color of a 
 boiled beet, came storming down the path. 
 
 "This is the time I got yer, hey?" he shouted 
 at the alarmed occupant of the auto. "That 
 makes three times you run over Jake. You got 
 away them other times, but I got yer nailed now. 
 Kaint git yer car out uv ther ditch, hey ? Wa'al, 
 it'll stay thar till yer pay up." 
 
 "I'm I'm dreadfully sorry," stammered the 
 girl, "really I had no intention of hurting er 
 Jake. In fact, he doesn't seem to be hurt at all." 
 
 There appeared to be good reason for such a 
 supposition. Jake, at the moment, was engaged
 
 12 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 in combat over a pile of corn fodder with several 
 
 of his fellows. 
 
 "Humph ! Prob'ly hurt internal," grunted the 
 farmer. "Anyhow, it's time you bubblists was 
 taught a lesson." 
 
 "Oh, of course I'm willing to pay," cried the 
 girl, and out came a dainty hand-bag. "Er how 
 much will satisfy Jake's I mean your feel- 
 ings?" 
 
 The old farmer was quick to catch the note of 
 amusement in the girl's voice. 
 
 "You won't mend matters by bein' sassy," he 
 growled; "besides, your pop fired my boy down 
 on the Isthmus an' I ain't feelin' none too good 
 toward yer." 
 
 "I have nothing to do with my father's affairs," 
 said the girl coldly, noting out of the corner of 
 her eye Jared's figure slinking around the side of 
 the porch; "how much do you want to help me 
 get my car out of the ditch, for that's really what 
 it amounts to, you know ?"
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 13 
 
 Ignoring the quiet sarcasm in her voice, old 
 Applegate's face took on its crafty expression. 
 
 "Wa'al, it's three times now you've run over 
 Jake. Say five dollars each time, that ud be yer 
 fine for overspeedin', anyhow, that makes it 
 fifteen dollars." 
 
 "Fifteen dollars !" The girl's voice showed her 
 amazement at such a figure. 
 
 "It ort'er be twenty," snorted old Applegate; 
 "thar's ther injury to Jake's feelin's. You bang 
 over him at sixty mile an hour an' scare him 
 out'n all his fat an' six months' growth. Fifteen 
 dollars is cheap, an' you don't go till yer pay up, 
 neither." 
 
 "Why, it's simply extortion. I'll pay no such 
 sum. Send your bill to my father. He'll settle 
 it. And now help me out of this ditch, if you 
 please." 
 
 "Now, don't you git het up, miss. Thar's a 
 speed law on Long Island, an' by heck, you pay 
 er I'll hev yer up afore the justice. Lucindy !" he 
 raised his voice in a call for his wife; Jared had
 
 14 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 vanished. A slovenly-looking woman, wiping her 
 hands on a gingham apron, appeared on the 
 porch. 
 
 "Lucindy, how many miles an hour? Jake's 
 bin run over agin," he added suggestively. 
 
 "Wa'al," said Lucindy judicially, "it looked 
 like sixty ; but I reckin h'it warn't more'n twenty- 
 five." 
 
 "Humph!" snorted Applegate triumphantly, 
 "an' ther speed limit's fifteen." 
 
 "Why, I wasn't going more than ten miles!" 
 cried the girl, flushing with indignation. 
 
 "Huh! Tell that to ther justice. I'll git my 
 son to push yer machine out'n ther ditch an' then 
 I'll hop in aside yer an* we'll drive into town." 
 
 "You'll do no such thing! Why, the idea! 
 Take your hand off my car at once, or oh, dear ! 
 What shall I do ?" she broke off despairingly. 
 
 "You'll drive me inter town or pay fifteen dol- 
 lars, that's what you'll do," declared Farmer 
 Applegate stubbornly; "now then hullo, what 
 in ther name uv early pertaties is this a-comin' ?"
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 15 
 
 Around the same corner from which the auto 
 had appeared with such embarrassing results to 
 its pretty young driver came three well-built 
 lads. One of them was rather fat and his round, 
 good-natured face was streaming with perspira- 
 tion from the long "hike" on which they had 
 been. But his companions looked trained to the 
 minute, brown-faced, lithe-limbed, radiating 
 health and strength from their khaki-clad forms. 
 All three wore the same kind of uniform, gaiters, 
 knickerbockers, coats of military cut and broad- 
 brimmed campaign hats. In addition, each car- 
 ried a staff. 
 
 "Hullo, what's all this, Rob?" cried one of 
 them as they came into full view of the strange 
 scene, the ditched auto, the flushed, embarrassed 
 yet indignant girl, and the truculent farmer. 
 
 "Consarn it all, it's them pesky Boy Scouts 
 from Hampton," exclaimed Farmer Applegate 
 disgustedly, as, in answer to the girl's appealing 
 look, the three youths stepped up, their hands 
 lifted in the scout salute and their hats raised.
 
 16 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 AN ANGRY FARMER. 
 
 "Can we be of any assistance?" asked Rob 
 Blake of the girl, whose alarmed looks made it 
 evident that she was in an unpleasant situation. 
 He ignored the red- faced, angry farmer, but took 
 note out of the corner of his eye of Jared, who 
 was peeping out at them from behind a shed. 
 Apparently he had no wish to appear on the scene 
 while his late employer's daughter was there. 
 To himself he muttered : 
 
 "'It's that stuck-up Roy Blake, that butter- 
 firkin, Tubby Hopkins and that sissy, Merritt 
 Crawford. They're always butting in when 
 they're not wanted." 
 
 The girl turned gratefully to the newcomers. 
 Rob's firm voice and capable appearance made 
 her feel, as did no less her scrutiny of his com- 
 panions, that here were friends in need.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL IT 
 
 "Oh, thank you so much!" she cried. "I am 
 Lucy Mainwaring, and you, I'm sure, are Rob 
 Blake, leader of the Eagle Patrol. I've heard 
 lots about you from my brother Fred, who is 
 leader of the Black Wolf Patrol, First New York 
 Troop." 
 
 "Yes, I'm Rob Blake, this is Merritt Crawford, 
 my second in command, and this is Tub I mean 
 Robert Hopkins." 
 
 "I know all on yer," growled out old Apple- 
 gate, "an' I tell yer to keep out of this. Just 
 'cause yer a banker's son, young Blake, don't give 
 you no right ter come interferin' where yer not 
 wanted." 
 
 "Oh, but they are wanted!" cried the girl, 
 before Rob could say a word. "This man says 
 that I ran over one of his pigs. Why, it's absurd. 
 I only just bumped the animal, axid there he is 
 over there now fighting for his breakfast." r 
 
 Her eyes fairly bubbled merriment as Jake's 
 raucous squeals rose belligerently from the neigh- 
 borhood of the hog pens. Tubby spoke up.
 
 18 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "If he can eat, he's all right," announced the 
 stout youth with his customary solemnity. 
 
 "But I've grazed the wretched pig twice 
 before," cried the girl, "and Mr. Applegate wants 
 fifteen dollars or he won't help me out of this 
 ditch." 
 
 "That's right," confirmed the farmer, "fifteen 
 dollars er she goes afore the justice fer fer 
 running over Jake." 
 
 "But she didn't run over him," retorted Rob, 
 "and anyhow, fifteen dollars is an outrageous 
 price to ask for your real or fancied injuries." 
 
 "The hog's injuries," corrected the farmer. 
 
 "Same thing almost," whispered Merritt to 
 Tubby with a chuckle. 
 
 "Come on, boys/' said Rob, "let's help this 
 young lady out of the ditch." 
 
 The girl turned on the power and the three Boy 
 Scouts shoved with all their might at the rear of 
 the machine. It quivered, started, stopped, and 
 then fairly dashed up on to the road. So quickly 
 had it all been done that before the farmer could
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 19 
 
 make a move the runabout was on the thorough- 
 fare. 
 
 "Lucindy ! Lucindy, let Towser loose !" yelled 
 the old man as soon as he had recovered his 
 senses. 
 
 The woman ran off the porch and in a few 
 seconds a big, savage-looking bull dog came 
 bounding out, showing his red fangs and white 
 teeth. 
 
 The girl gave a little scream as the dog looked 
 tip at his master, apparently waiting an order to 
 rush at the boys. 
 
 "Go on!" Rob said to the girl in a quick, low 
 whisper, "we'll be all right." 
 
 "Oh, but I can't ! You've helped me " 
 
 "That was our duty as Scouts. Now turn on 
 your power and get away. We'll find a way to 
 deal with the old man, never fear." 
 
 Seeing that it was useless to remain, the girl 
 applied the power once more and the machine 
 shot out of sight.
 
 20 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Consarn you pesky brats," roared old Apple- 
 gate, fairly beside himself. 
 
 "Sic 'em, Towse !" he shouted the next instant. 
 
 Rob had been prepared for some such move as 
 this. As the dog, with a savage growl, sprang 
 forward, he brought his staff into play. There 
 was a flash of the implement, a quick twist, and 
 the astonished Towser found himself spinning 
 backward in the direction from which he had 
 advanced. 
 
 "Don't set that dog on us again," cried Rob, 
 in a clear, commanding voice, "if you do, he'll get 
 hurt." 
 
 "Consarn you!" bellowed the farmer again, 
 "air you aidin' and abettin' lawless acts ?" 
 
 "As far as that goes, your hog had no business 
 in the middle of the road," was the quiet rejoin- 
 der. 
 
 "I'll go to law about this," shouted the farmer 
 furiously, brandishing his knotted fist. But he 
 made no attempt to "sic" Towser on the boys 
 again. As for that redoubtable animal, he stood
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 21 
 
 by his master, his tail between his legs. To use 
 the vernacular, he appeared to be wondering 
 "what had struck him." 
 
 As there was nothing to be gained by remain- 
 ing, the three Boy Scouts started off anew on 
 the last stage of their "hike/' which had been one 
 of twenty-four miles started the day before to 
 visit a patrol in a distant town on the island. 
 They struck off briskly, as boys will when home 
 is almost in sight and appetites are keen. The 
 farmer, seeing that nothing was to be gained by 
 abusing them any further, contented himself by 
 calling them "young varmints" and turned back 
 toward his house. 
 
 The boys had not proceeded many paces when 
 -they heard behind them the quick "chug-chug" of 
 a motor cycle. Turning, they saw coming 
 toward them a youth of about Rob's age, 
 mounted on a red motor cycle which, from the 
 noise it made, appeared to be of high power. As 
 he drew alongside them they noticed that he, too, 
 was in Scout uniform, and that from the handle
 
 22 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 bars on his machine fluttered a flag with a black 
 wolf's head on it. The newcomer stopped his 
 machine, nimbly alighted and gave the Scout 
 salute, which the boys returned. 
 
 "My name is Fred Mainwaring of the Black 
 Wolf Patrol of the First New York Troop," he 
 announced, "have you seen anything of a young 
 lady driving an electric runabout ?" 
 
 The boys exchanged amused glances. Then 
 Rob recounted the scene in front of the farm- 
 house. He also introduced himself and his patrol 
 mates. Fred Mainwaring, a fine-looking, curly- 
 haired lad, appeared much diverted. 
 
 "That's just like sis," he exclaimed, "she's 
 always getting in trouble with that auto of hers ; 
 doing things she aut-n't to, so to speak. Excuse 
 the pun. It's a bad habit of mine. She went for a 
 spin this morning and wouldn't wait for me, so 
 now behold me in chase of her." 
 
 After some more chat, during which Fred 
 Mainwaring received a hearty invitation to visit 
 the quarters of the Eagle Patrol in Hampton, the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 23 
 
 boys parted, very well pleased with each other. 
 The young scouts of the Eagle Patrol already 
 knew much about the Mainwaring family, Mr. 
 Mainwaring having recently purchased an estate 
 just out of Hampton. The newcomer to the com- 
 munity was preceded by an almost world-wide 
 reputation, as a skillful engineer. Many of the 
 great problems in connection with Uncle Sam's 
 "Big Ditch" had been successfully solved by him, 
 and, although just now he was at home on a "fur- 
 lough," he was shortly to leave once more for the 
 Zone. 
 
 During the course of their brief chat Fred had 
 informed the boys that he and his sister were to 
 accompany their father on the return voyage, 
 Fred taking the position of secretary. 
 
 "He had another chap before he came up from 
 the tropics," he informed the boys. "I guess he 
 lives somewhere round here. Jared Applegate his 
 name was. Had to fire him, though, for some 
 sort of crooked work. I don't know just what it 
 was ; but it must have been something pretty bad.
 
 24 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 for dad got mighty angry when he told about it. 
 You see, in a way I feel responsible. Jared, who 
 was working as a stenographer and typewriter in 
 New York, belonged to my troop. I liked him 
 after a fashion, and got dad to make him his 
 secretary. It wasn't till after he'd left for 
 Panama that I accidentally found out that Jared, 
 who had been treasurer of the troop, had been 
 stealing small sums from time to time. 
 
 M I didn't notify dad for fear of worrying him ; 
 but of course Jared was dropped from the troop. 
 When dad got back from the Isthmus this time I 
 asked about Jared and found out that he had been 
 discharged. Just what for, I don't know. Dad 
 wouldn't tell me." 
 
 "We know something of Jared's reputation 
 about here," rejoined Rob. "It's none too good. 
 By the way, that's his father's place back there 
 where your sister had all the trouble." 
 
 "I knew that his home was somewhere near 
 Hampton," was the rejoinder. 
 
 This conversation took place on the roadside
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 25 
 
 not more than a few feet from a stone wall which 
 bounded the outlying fields of the Applegate 
 property. Behind this wall, if the four lads had 
 known it, was concealed a listener to whom all 
 their conversation was perfectly plain. Jared 
 had watched the boys meeting from the dooryard 
 and had crept cautiously along behind the stone 
 wall till he arrived at a spot opposite that at which 
 the group was chatting. "Listeners never hear 
 good of themselves," says the old saw. Jared 
 assuredly proved its truth that fine spring morn- 
 ing. 
 
 An evil look passed over his countenance as he 
 crouched behind the wall. His sallow face grew 
 a pasty yellow, with anger. His shifty eyes glit- 
 tered furiously as he heard his record discussed. 
 
 "So that's the game, is it?" he muttered to 
 himself, as the boys parted company, Fred Main- 
 waring shooting off like a red streak on his 
 machine. "Well, I guess that before long I'll have 
 my innings, and when I do I'll make it hot for all 
 of you, especially old man Mainwaring. I'll get
 
 26 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 even with him if it take? me a year ; but I don't 
 think it'll be that long." 
 
 He drew a letter from his pocket and glanced 
 over it in the manner of one already familiar with 
 a missive's contents, but who wishes, by a fresh 
 perusal, to satisfy himself once more. This is 
 what he read from the much-creased document : 
 
 "If you have what you claim we will talk busi- 
 ness with you. It will be made worth your while." 
 
 The letter bore no signature nor address. It 
 referred to a subject with which the writer, for 
 an excellent reason, would not have cared to have 
 his name linked. The "big ditch" project, the 
 greatest of the age, perhaps of all time, had, 
 inconceivable as it may seem, bitter and unscrupu- 
 lous enemies. The person who had written that 
 note to poor, sneaking Jared Applegate was one 
 of these.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 27 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 ON A MISSION. 
 
 While the three Boy Scouts are trudging back 
 toward Hampton, we will take the opportunity to 
 introduce them more fully to our readers who 
 may not have met them before. Rob Blake, the 
 son of the local banker in the seashore village of 
 Hampton, Long Island, had, some time before 
 the present story opens, founded the Eagle Patrol. 
 The early days of its existence formed the basis 
 of the first book of the series, for the lads flocked 
 eagerly to its standard, and the Patrol was soon 
 in a flourishing condition, with a well-equipped 
 room above the local bank building, a fine, up-to- 
 date structure. The adventures of the Patrol in 
 camp and Scout life in general were various and 
 exciting. The boys made some enemies, as was 
 natural, for many boys wished to belong to their 
 Patrol who could not be admitted ; but in the end,
 
 28 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 thanks mainly to their Scout training, all things 
 came out well for the Eagles. 
 
 In the second volume we found "The Boy 
 Scouts on the Range." In this book full details 
 of Scout principles as put into practice in a wild 
 and lawless country were related. The pursuit of 
 Silver Tip, the giant grizzly, popularly supposed 
 to bear a charmed life, was an interesting feature 
 of their experience in the West. Indians and 
 cattle rustlers made trouble for the boys and their 
 friends, but, although the boys were several times 
 placed in jeopardy and danger, they emerged with 
 credit from all their dilemmas. 
 
 Still following the lads' fortunes, we found 
 them in the third volume of the series, "The Boy 
 Scouts and the Army Airship," deeply interested 
 in the subject of aerial navigation. They man- 
 aged to give material aid in certain experiments 
 that the government carried on at a lonely house 
 on the sea coast near Hampton, and became in- 
 volved in some thrilling incidents which still 
 further put to the test their ability and clever- 
 ness.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 29 
 
 In "The Boy Scouts' Mountain Camp," the 
 scene shifted to the Adirondacks, whither the 
 boys went, primarily on a quiet camping trip. 
 But they became involved in an exciting search 
 for a long missing treasure, immured in an 
 ancient and almost inaccessible cave in the heart 
 of a wild region. How they won out against 
 apparently insurmountable obstacles makes excit- 
 ing and instructive reading. 
 
 "The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," the fifth 
 volume, related some surprising events that 
 occurred when the boys' aid was called into requi- 
 sition in connection with a new type of submarine 
 which foreign powers were doing their best to 
 appropriate, but which was intended for the 
 United States Government. Readers of that 
 volume will readily recall Rob's abduction and 
 marooning on a desert island and the pernicious 
 activities of a green motor boat which was used 
 by the agents of a foreign power. Rob's mar- 
 velous swim across a narrow inlet, through which 
 the tide boiled like a mill race, and the inter-
 
 50 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 change of Scout signals with astonishing results, 
 are only two of the incidents that go to show that 
 the Eagle Patrol was always to be relied upon 
 to do its duty and live up to the strict letter of 
 the inspiring motto, "Be Prepared." 
 
 For the next few days the lads of the Eagle 
 Patrol were busy indeed with preparations for 
 what was to them a very important piece of work. 
 This was nothing more nor less than the placard- 
 ing of the town with announcements that a team 
 made up of the Eagles would play the Hampton 
 nine in the first baseball game of the season, the 
 proceeds to be equally divided. The Boy Scouts' 
 half, of course, would go toward the general 
 patrol fund for the purchase of equipment and 
 so on. 
 
 Each of the lads had a duty to perform in this 
 connection. Hiram Nelson, whose father was in 
 the printing business, was to get up the posters, 
 which were to be printed on big, yellow sheets. 
 Andy Bowles, whose uncle conducted a livery
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 3t 
 
 stable, arranged for rigs to convey the young 
 bill-posters around the country; while Tubby 
 Hopkins, since the duty was partly of a culinary 
 nature, undertook to make the paste. This, 
 despite unkind remarks to the effect that, unable 
 to restrain his appetite, he might be tempted to 
 eat it! In this manner the different duties were 
 distributed and each member of the patrol took 
 an active part in the work. 
 
 Rather to Rob's surprise, and likewise to the 
 astonishment of the other lads, Jared Applegate's 
 name appeared as pitcher for the Hampton team. 
 But, after all, there was nothing so very astonish- 
 ing in this, for Jared, before he left for New 
 York, had been a clever pitcher on the Hampton 
 Academy team, which had beaten some of the 
 best ball players on Long Island. Sam Lamb, the 
 regular pitcher for the Hamptons, it was later 
 learned, had sprained his wrist in jumping on a 
 moving train, and Jared had eagerly volunteered 
 to take his place. He had made open boasts about
 
 32 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the town that he meant to "knock some of those 
 
 tin soldier kids higher than so many kites." 
 
 "Let him do his best," was all Rob had said, 
 when Andy Bowles, the diminutive bugler of the 
 Eagles, brought him this information. 
 
 When not engaged in preparations for "bill- 
 ing" the surrounding country, which occupied 
 almost all the time they could spare from their 
 studies, the Scouts practiced hard and faithfully. 
 They had a good team, but they had to admit 
 that the town boys, too, played very good ball. 
 As the day for the contest, a Saturday, drew 
 near, excitement began to run high. Jared never 
 spoke to any of the Scouts, all of whom, by this 
 time, knew of his disgrace while a member of the 
 Black Wolf Patrol. Possibly he did not wish to 
 run a chance of being snubbed; but be that as it 
 may, when he passed any of the uniformed 
 youngsters he kept his eyes on the ground. This 
 did not prevent him, however, from hanging 
 around when the Scouts were at practice and
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 33 
 
 making all sorts of contemptuous remarks con- 
 cerning their play. 
 
 The Saturday before the game, the lads started 
 out in different directions to put up their bills. 
 Those whose duties lay within easy distance of 
 Hampton went on foot ; but the others took rigs. 
 Among the latter were Rob, Merritt and Tubby 
 Hopkins. With them they carried a good thick 
 bundle of bills, plenty of paste and long-handled 
 brushes. It was a beautiful day and they were in 
 high spirits as they drove along the pleasant 
 country roads. 
 
 Their way took them by Farmer Applegate's 
 place. 
 
 "Let's plaster up a few on the old grouch's 
 barn," suggested Merritt with a laugh. 
 
 "No; I don't want to do that," declared Rob 
 positively, "although he isn't entitled to much 
 consideration. It was a shame the way he 
 treated Fred Mainwaring's sister." 
 
 "Such a pretty girl, too," chuckled Tubby, with 
 a mischievous look at Merritt. Rob intercepted
 
 34 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the glance and turned red, at which both his 
 companions teased him more than ever. Luckily 
 for Rob's peace of mind, however, at this juncture 
 something occurred to cause the current of 
 Tubby' s thoughts to flow in another direction. 
 
 Beyond the farm buildings a spotted pig was 
 nosing about contentedly in the middle of the 
 road. As his eyes lighted on the porker, Tubby 
 gave a shout of delight. 
 
 "We can use him," he cried delightedly. 
 
 "There you go again. Always thinking about 
 something to eat," snorted Merritt. 
 
 "Not this time," retorted Tubby indignantly; 
 "anyhow, I've never heard of your being absent 
 at meal times. But on this occasion it's alive and 
 in his proper person that Jake is going to be use- 
 ful to us." 
 
 "In what way?" asked Rob. 
 
 "As a living advertisement," chuckled the 
 stout youth, his round cheeks shaking as he eyed 
 the unsuspecting Jake.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 35 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SOME UP-TO-DATE ADVERTISING. 
 
 By the time the buggy drew up alongside Jake, 
 who was too engrossed in his rooting operations 
 to perceive it, or at any rate to bestow any atten- 
 tion upon it, Tubby had disclosed his plan to his 
 chums, who hailed it with shouts of delight. 
 From his pockets the fat boy produced an apple 
 and a bit of cake. Tubby never traveled far 
 without provisions. "Keeping in touch with his 
 base of supplies," he called it. 
 
 It spoke volumes for his enthusiastic belief in 
 the success of his plan that he was willing to 
 offer both of these to Jake as soon as he had 
 alighted from the buggy. Close behind him came 
 Rob and Merritt, the latter with the horse's 
 hitching rope in his hand. 
 
 "Come, pig! pig! pig! Nice Jake!" warbled 
 [Tubby in the most dulcet voice he could assume.
 
 36 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Jake looked up. His small eyes twinkled. 
 Unsuspectingly he sniffed the air as he perceived 
 a rosy apple temptingly held out toward him. 
 
 "It's a shame," laughed Rob, half contritely, "if 
 he hadn't caused a lot of trouble for a mighty nice 
 girl I wouldn't stand for it." 
 
 "Pig ! pig ! pig !" chortled Tubby persuasively. 
 
 "Unk! unk! unk!" grunted Jake, wiggling his 
 tail. 
 
 "Wonderful how they understand each other, 
 isn't it?" remarked Merritt with a grin. But 
 Tubby was too intent on what he had in hand to 
 resent the gross insult. 
 
 Closer and closer shuffled Jake, his greedy 
 little eyes on the apple. All at once he appeared 
 to make up his mind in a hurry. He made a dart 
 for the tempting bait. 
 
 "Now," yelled Tubby. 
 
 Quick as a flash, as soon as he heard the pre- 
 concerted signal, Merritt flung the looped hitch- 
 ing rope about the pig's neck. Jake gave a squeal
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 3T 
 
 and wriggled with might and main, but his ears 
 held the rope from slipping off. 
 
 "Give him the apple to keep him quiet," sug- 
 gested Merritt, as Jake squealed at the top of his 
 voice. 
 
 Tubby proffered the apple and instantly Jake 
 forgot his troubles in devouring it. In the mean- 
 time Tubby slipped to the wagon and selected 
 a poster or two and a brush full of paste. 
 Returning, amidst shouts of laughter from his 
 fellow conspirators, he plentifully "shampooed" 
 Jake with paste, and then slapped the gaudy 
 yellow bills on till it appeared as if the astute 
 Jake had enveloped himself in a bright orange 
 overcoat. 
 
 "Now cut him loose," ordered Rob, when 
 Tubby, with all the satisfaction of a true artist, 
 stepped back to view his completed work. 
 
 Merritt slipped the noose, and off down the 
 road toward the farm dashed the gaudily 
 decorated Jake, conveying the news to all who 
 might see that on Saturday, April , there would
 
 38 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 be a Grand Baseball Game at Hampton, Boy 
 Scouts of The Eagle Patrol vs. The Hampton 
 Town Nine. 
 
 As the boys, shouting and shaking with laugh- 
 ter, watched this truly original bit of advertising 
 gallop off down the road, the one touch needed 
 to complete the picture was filled in. From his 
 dooryard emerged the farmer. The first thing 
 his eyes lighted on was Jake. For one instant he 
 regarded the alarmed animal in wonderment. 
 Then, with a yell, he rushed into the house. 
 
 "Ma ! ma ! Lucindy !" he bellowed at the top of 
 his voice, "Jake's got the yaller fever, er the 
 jaunders, er suthin'. Come on quick ! He's comin* 
 down ther road like ther Empire State Express, 
 and as yaller as a bit of corn bread." 
 
 At this stage of the proceedings the boys, their 
 sides shaking with laughter, deemed it prudent 
 to emulate the Arabs of the poem and "silently 
 steal away." 
 
 Looking back as they drove off they could see 
 Lucindy and her spouse engaged in a mad chase
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 3S> 
 
 after the overcoated Jake. Even at that distance 
 the latter's piercing- cries reached their ears with 
 sharp distinctness and added to their merriment. 
 Rob alone seemed a bit remorseful at the huge 
 success of Tubby's novel advertising scheme. 
 
 "Applegate's a pretty old man, fellows," he 
 remarked, "and maybe we went a bit too far." 
 
 "Well, if his age runs in proportion to his 
 meanness, he'll outlive Methuselah," declared 
 Merritt positively. 
 
 The road they followed gradually led into a 
 by-track that joined the muin road they had left 
 with one that traversed the north side of the 
 island. It was sandy, and ett places along its 
 course high banks towered on each side of it. 
 At length they emerged from one of these sunken 
 lanes and found on their right an abandoned 
 farm. Quite close to the roadside stood a big, 
 rattletrap-looking barn. It had once been painted 
 red, but neglect and the weather had caused the 
 paint to shale, off in huge patches, leaving blotches
 
 SO THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 of bare wood that looked leprous with moss and 
 lichen. 
 
 "What do you say if we leave a few souvenirs 
 pasted up there?" said Merritt. 
 
 "Well, it wouldn't hurt the looks of the place, 
 anyhow," decided Rob. "I doubt if many people 
 come along this road anyway; but I guess we 
 might as well get busy." 
 
 "Well, you two fellows can do the work this 
 time," declared Tubby, stretching out luxuriously 
 in the rig. 
 
 "What are you going to do ?" 
 
 "I'm going to drive down the road and hitch 
 up in the shade of that tree and take a nap." 
 
 "That's pretty cool !" exclaimed Merritt. 
 
 "I know it is, at least it looks so," responded 
 Tubby. 
 
 "Seems to me it's up to you to do some work, 
 too," protested Merritt. 
 
 "As if I hadn't just done a big job in labeling 
 that pig," replied Tubby, yawning; "it's your 
 turn now."
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 41 
 
 Seeing that it was useless to try to turn Tubby 
 from his determination to rest, which, next to 
 eating, was his favorite occupation, Rob and 
 Merrit took up their brushes, paste and a roll of 
 bills and set out for the barn. Tubby watched 
 them languidly a minute and then drove off along 
 the sandy track while the other two clambered up 
 a bank. 
 
 From the road the barn had appeared quite 
 close ; but when they reached the top of the bank 
 they found that, actually, it stood back quite a 
 little distance beyond a strip of grass and weeds. 
 The boys waded through these almost knee-deep, 
 and finally reached the side of the old barn. They 
 set down their buckets and brushes and unrolled 
 some bills preparatory to pasting them up. 
 
 Suddenly Merritt raised a warning finger. 
 Rob instantly divined that his chum enjoined 
 silence. 
 
 "Hark!" was the word that Merritt's lips 
 framed rather than spoke. 
 
 Inside the barn some one was talking, several
 
 43 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 persons seemingly. After a minute the boys could 
 distinguish words above the low hum of the 
 speakers' voices. Suddenly they caught a name: 
 "Mainwaring." 
 
 "I guess maybe we might be interested in this/' 
 whispered Rob. 
 
 By a common impulse the two Boy Scouts 
 moved closer to the moldering wall of the old 
 barn.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 43 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 A BIG SURPRISE. 
 
 Time and weather had warped the boards of 
 the structure till fair-sized cracks gaped here and 
 there. The boys made for one of these, with the 
 object of peering into the place and getting a 
 glance at its occupants. At first they had 
 thought that these were nothing more than a 
 gang of tramps, but the name of the engineer, 
 spoken with a foreign accent, had aroused them 
 to a sense that, whoever was in the old barn, a 
 subject was being discussed that might be of 
 interest to their new friends. 
 
 Applying their eyes to two cracks in the tim- 
 bers, they saw that within the barn four persons 
 were seated. One of these they recognized 
 almost instantly as Jared Applegate. By his 
 side sat a youth of about his own age, flashily 
 dressed, with a general air of cheap smartness
 
 44 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 about him. The other two occupants of the place 
 were of a different type. One was heavily built 
 and dark in complexion, almost a light coffee 
 color, in fact. His swarthy face was clean shaven 
 and heavily jowled. Seated next to him on an 
 old hay press was a man as dark as he, but 
 more slender and dapper in appearance. Also he 
 was younger, not more than thirty, while his 
 companion was probably in the neighborhood of 
 fifty, although as powerful and vigorous, so far 
 as the boys could judge, as a man of half his 
 years. 
 
 "You say that you have duplicates of Main- 
 waring's plans, showing exactly the weakest 
 points of the great dam?" the elder man was 
 asking, just as the boys assumed positions of lis- 
 tening. 
 
 Jared nodded. He glanced at the more slen- 
 der of the two foreigners. 
 
 "I guess Mr. Estrada has told you all about 
 that," he said. 
 
 "Of course, my dear Alverado," the dapper
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 45 
 
 little man struck in, "you recollect that I spoke 
 to you of Sefior Applegate's visit to me at Wash- 
 ington." 
 
 Rob started. The name Estrada, coupled with 
 a mention of Washington, recalled to his mind 
 something that sent a thrill through him taken in 
 connection with the words of the man addressed 
 as Alverado. 
 
 Estrada, Jose Estrada ! That was the name 
 of the ambassador of a South American republic 
 that had several times been mentioned as being 
 opposed to Uncle Sam's plans on the Isthmus. 
 What if but not wishing to miss a word of what 
 followed, he gave over speculating and applied 
 himself to listening with all his might. Jared 
 gave a short, disagreeable laugh. 
 
 "You can just bet I got duplicates of all the 
 plans," he chuckled, "I had an idea that Main- 
 waring was going to fire me on account of well, 
 of something, and so I went to work and copied 
 off all of his private papers I could. You see, it 
 was common talk on the Isthmus that the place
 
 46 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 was alive with spies, and I figured out that any- 
 body who was interested enough to hire spies 
 must be mighty anxious to get at the real plans 
 of the canal, and willing to pay big for them, 
 too," he added with a greedy look on his face, 
 which for an instant gave him a strong likeness 
 to his father. 
 
 RobandMerritt exchanged glances. From even 
 the little that they had heard it was plain enough 
 what was going forward in the barn. There was 
 no doubt now that Jared was bargaining with 
 representatives of a foreign power that had good 
 reason to dislike Uncle Sam ; no question but that 
 Mr. Mainwaring's plans, or at least copies of 
 them, were in the hands of an unscrupulous young 
 rascal who was willing to sell them to the highest 
 bidder, without caring for what nefarious pur- 
 pose they were to be used. 
 
 The Boy Scouts' blood fairly boiled as they 
 heard. They had always known Jared to be weak, 
 unprincipled and dishonest, but that he would 
 descend to such rascality as this was almost
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 47 
 
 beyond belief. Merritt in his anger made a ges- 
 ture of shaking his fist. It was an unfortunate 
 move. A bit of board on which one of his feet 
 rested gave way with a sharp crack under the 
 sudden shifting of his weight. 
 
 Instantly the men in the barn were on the 
 alert. 
 
 "What was that?" cried Estrada sharply. 
 
 "Nothing. A rat, I guess; old barns like this 
 are full of them/' rejoined Jared, striving to 
 appear at ease, but glancing nervously about him. 
 
 "A rat, bah !" exclaimed Alverado, puffing out 
 his fat jowls till he looked like a huge puff adder. 
 "That was not a rat, amigo, that was a spy. This 
 barn is not as secret a meeting place as you led 
 us to believe." 
 
 "Come on, Merritt," whispered Rob, "grab up 
 everything and run for it. They'll be out here 
 in a minute." 
 
 Swiftly they gathered up their paste, brushes 
 and bills, and crouching low ran toward what had 
 been a smoke-house. Hardly had they darted
 
 48 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 within its dark and odorous interior when tHe 
 conspirators in the barn came rushing out, look- 
 ing in every direction. In Alverado's hand some- 
 thing glittered in the sunlight. The two Boy 
 Scouts peering out through a knot-hole had no 
 difficulty in recognizing the object, with an 
 unpleasant thrill, as an automatic revolver. 
 
 They now saw, too, something that they had 
 been unable to perceive from the back of the 
 barn. This was a big, red touring car drawn up 
 close to the antiquated structure. But they had 
 no time to waste in looking at the car. The move- 
 ments of the searching party engrossed their 
 attention too deeply. 
 
 "Scatter in every direction," they heard 
 Alverado order, "we must find out if anyone has 
 been here listening, or if our ears deceived us." 
 
 There was no doubt but that the search was to 
 be a thorough one. Even the chauffeur of the 
 car, which, the boys noticed in a quick, fleeting 
 glance, bore no number, joined in the search. They
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL '491 
 
 rushed about like a pack of bloodhounds in every 
 direction. 
 
 "This is getting pretty warm," whispered Rob; 
 "it's plain those chaps are thoroughly alarmed 
 and don't mean to leave a stone unturned to find 
 
 us." 
 
 "Oh, that unlucky board!" groaned Merritt 
 remorsefully. "I'm a fine specimen of a Scout to 
 make such a mistake as that, at such a critical 
 time, too." 
 
 "It was unfortunate; but accidents will hap- 
 pen," rejoined Rob quickly. "But it's no use 
 crying over spilt milk." 
 
 "What are we going to do ?" 
 
 "I'm trying to think." 
 
 "Perhaps there is a chance that they will over- 
 look us." 
 
 "No danger of that, I'm afraid. From what 
 little I saw of Mister Alverado he appears to be 
 a very painstaking gentleman." 
 
 "They're searching the house now." 
 
 "Yes, that will take them some time; but you
 
 HO THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 can depend on it that when they've finished they'll 
 search the outbuildings." 
 
 "Yes ; and they've left that chauffeur on guard 
 outside, too. Not a chance of our getting out of 
 here." 
 
 "Unless there's another door." 
 
 "Cracky! Maybe there is. Let's look. But 
 we've got to hurry up. Hark !" 
 
 "They're coming out of the house and point- 
 ing over here," cried Rob the next instant. 
 
 Both boys desperately sought to find some way 
 out of the old smoke-house other than by the door 
 by which they had entered. But no exit offered. 
 Suddenly Rob had an inspiration. The smoke- 
 house was roofed like an inverted V. The roof 
 was covered with shingles. Apparently they 
 were rotten, for in places the light came through. 
 One side of the roof faced toward the abandoned 
 farmhouse; the other faced back upon some 
 fields. Rob thrust his fist with some violence 
 against the shingles on the side of the smoke- 
 house roof that faced the fields. To his joy the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 51 
 
 shingles gave way almost like rotten cardboard. 
 
 "Hurrah ! We've found a way out," he cried 
 exultingly, although he was careful not to raise 
 his voice much above a whisper. He rapidly 
 enlarged the opening till it was big enough to 
 crawl through. Luckily the search party had 
 paused to examine a corn crib that lay between 
 the smoke-house and the farmhouse, so that the 
 boys had a few seconds' grace. 
 
 "Now then, through you go !" breathed Rob as 
 soon as he had pitched out the bills. 
 
 Merritt scrambled through with Rob close on 
 his heels. The apex of the roof, of course, 
 screened them from view of the party now 
 approaching the old smoke-house. It was a drop 
 of not more than three feet to the ground, for 
 the walls were low, and Rob had, of necessity, 
 punctured the roof near the eaves. 
 
 Ahead of them lay a meadow with a patch of 
 woods beyond. Rank brush and tall weeds inter- 
 vened. But they had to make a dash of some 
 hundred feet across an open space. Somehow,
 
 52 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 just how they never knew, they got across it and 
 plunged into the brush, making for the woods 
 beyond. 
 
 At the same instant Alverado and the others 
 entered the smoke-hoase.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 5S 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 BASEBAU,. 
 
 "Of course they guessed how we made our 
 escape, Rob." 
 
 Merritt spoke as the two lads lay crouched in 
 the thick brush far removed from harm's way. 
 
 "Naturally. The fresh breaks in the roof would 
 show them that. But, beyond that, they are none 
 the wiser as to our identity, of which I am heartily 
 glad." 
 
 "I can understand that. You don't like the 
 look of things." 
 
 "Merritt," Rob spoke very soberly, laying his 
 hand on the other's arm, "it looks to me as if 
 we've stumbled on a monumental plot against 
 Uncle Sam's canal. I don't know much of politics, 
 but I do know enough to realize that there is a 
 certain South American republic that thinks that 
 the Canal Zone was stolen from her by trickery
 
 54 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 and deceit. I'm sorry to say, too, that I've 
 heard that there are interests right here in the 
 States that agree with her people who think that 
 the opening of the canal will result in enormous 
 losses to freight, and who would like to see the 
 canal completion delayed at all costs." 
 
 "I see. You think that the two dark men 
 were representatives of that republic you men- 
 tioned." 
 
 "I know one of them was," snapped Rob; "he 
 is its representative at Washington." 
 
 "Wow! Say, Rob, this is a big thing we've 
 stumbled upon. We must bring it to the atten- 
 tion of the proper authorities." 
 
 "That's our duty as Scouts." 
 
 "Of course. But what steps do you propose to 
 take?" 
 
 "I don't just know yet. We must see Mr. 
 Mainwaring, of course, first. It will be for him 
 to decide. But horrors, Merritt! we've for- 
 gotten all about Tubby. He's asleep in the rig. 
 Look, Jared and his friends are piling into the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL BS 
 
 auto. If they go down that road they are sure to 
 discover him. They may do him some injury." 
 
 But the next instant both the anxious lads drew 
 a sigh of relief. Instead of taking the by-road, 
 the auto struck off across lots along a barely per- 
 ceptible and weed-grown track. In a few moments 
 it was out of sight and the coast was clear. Then, 
 and not till then, the two Boy Scouts set out to 
 rejoin Tubby. They found that rotund youth 
 blissfully sleeping, while the old nag cropped 
 grass at the roadside. They awakened their 
 stout comrade and soon took the lees of sleep out 
 of his eyes by relating all that had passed within 
 the last hour. Tubby heartily agreed that the 
 first thing to be done was to put Mr. Mainwaring- 
 on his guard. 
 
 Naturally there was no more thought of bill 
 posting, and filled with a sense of the duty that 
 lay before them the three Boy Scouts drove 
 rapidly back to Hampton. But there a disappoint- 
 ment awaited them. Mr. Mainwaring had been 
 called away on business. He had gone west and
 
 66 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 would not be back for a week or more. So for 
 the present the scene in the barn had to be 
 forgotten, while more immediate matters were 
 attended to. During the ensuing week nothing 
 was seen of Jared, but the Saturday afternoon of 
 the game found him "warming up" on the ball 
 field with the orange and black of the Hampton 
 team on his back. 
 
 Rob and Merritt fairly boiled over with indig- 
 nation as they watched him. But they decided 
 not to say anything to him that might put him 
 on his guard. 
 
 "We'll give him all the rope he wants," 
 declared Rob. Later he was bitterly to regret the 
 adoption of this policy. 
 
 The grounds began to fill up early. The game 
 aroused widespread interest in that section of 
 Long Island. As the local paper put it, "red-hot 
 ball" was looked for. Enthusiastic young ladies 
 were there by the score, waving flags from the 
 bunches on sale about the field by hawkers. The 
 grand-stand filled early. Rob's team-mates
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 57 
 
 noticed his eyes frequently straying in that 
 direction. 
 
 "Looking for Lucy Mainwaring," whispered 
 Tubby to Merritt with a grin on his round and 
 blooming countenance. 
 
 Finally the game was called and soon both 
 teams were on the field. Hiram, captain of the 
 Eagles, won the toss and chose to go to bat first. 
 The game was started. Nelson promptly struck 
 out. He could not help making a wry face as he 
 threw down the willow. 
 
 A broad grin was on Jared's face. He went 
 through all sorts of antics, as Andy Bowles came 
 to bat with a look of grim determination on his 
 face. 
 
 Jared was good; that was a fact which 
 admitted no blinking, as the Eagles had to 
 acknowledge. Andy was given first base on balls, 
 tried to steal second, was thrown out and retired 
 disgruntled to the bench. The Hampton rooters 
 began to give their war cry. The Eagle sup- 
 porters replied to it bravely. It was early in
 
 58 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the game to be making any predictions. Rob was 
 third batter. He struck out. Jared's delight was 
 ill-concealed. 
 
 "I'll shut 'em out," he bragged loudly, not 
 caring who heard. "I'll show the tin soldiers 
 some pitching." 
 
 The Eagle supporters had tc admit that things 
 did not look very roseate, but they consoled them- 
 selves by recollecting the fact that practically the 
 game had only begun. 
 
 Hampton now went to the bat. Merritt occu- 
 pied the pitcher's box. He had injured his arm 
 somewhat in practice, but it was agreed, after a 
 consultation, to put him up as first pitcher, hold- 
 ing Rob in reserve till they got the Hampton's 
 gait. Merritt showed wonderful form. In one, 
 two, three order he struck out Hampton's batters, 
 including Jared. 
 
 Great was the delight of the Eagles and their, 
 friends. 
 
 "Good boy, Merritt ! Good for you ! Kr-e-e- e- 
 ee-ee!" was heard on all sides as the Hamptons
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 59 
 
 came running out to take their positions in the 
 field. 
 
 Merritt felt a glow of pleasure as Rob con- 
 gratulated him. 
 
 "I hope I can keep it up/' was all he said. 
 
 "I hope so, too ; but I'd like to have a chance at 
 Jared," responded Rob. 
 
 The Eagles now came to the bat, Rob leading. 
 Rob was not only a good pitcher but a sure batter. 
 Whiz-z came Jared's ball. Rob met it and 
 promptly drove a humming liner into right field. 
 It was a safe base hit. 
 
 "Oh, you Eagles !" chanted the crowd ; those of 
 them who were not lined up for Hampton, that is. 
 
 Rob watched his chance and stole second, to 
 the huge delight of his team supporters. An ugly 
 look was on Jared's face. The next batter, Mer- 
 ritt, received first base on four balls. Cheers and 
 yells greeted this. Jared's countenance grew 
 blacker and blacker. He bit his lip impatiently. 
 
 Suddenly Rob played dangerously off second 
 base. The Hampton second baseman was close to
 
 80 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 him. It was a daring move. Jared saw it in a 
 flash. The catcher's signal came. He threw the 
 ball to the Hampton short stop on second base. 
 
 But Jared's chagrin at the way his pitching 
 was being "knocked about" unsteadied his aim. 
 He threw wild. The ball passed above the short 
 stop's outstretched finger tips. Rob darted off 
 for third base like a jack rabbit. 
 
 The right fielder got the ball and shot it to 
 third base, but, although the ball and Rob seemed 
 to arrive simultaneously, Rob was hugging the 
 bag contentedly in the nick of time. This was a 
 quick, stirring bit of play and brought yells from 
 the crowd, among whom criticisms of Jared were 
 freely expressed. He grew pale with rage and 
 chagrin. 
 
 Paul Perkins now came to bat. The dreamy 
 lad struck out. His apparent unconcern made the 
 crowd laugh. They laughed even more when 
 Tubby, having struck out also, calmly picked up 
 * bit of pie he had been munching when he came
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 61 
 
 to bat and marched to his seat contentedly chew- 
 ing it. 
 
 At this stage of the game two were out, Merritt 
 was on second and Rob on third. 
 
 Now came the turn of Ernest Thompson, a 
 big-eyed, serious-looking lad, one of the first 
 recruits to the Eagle standard and a first-class 
 scout. Jared was now on the broad grin. 
 Thompson looked easy. 
 
 "Look out, baby-face," chuckled Jared, poising 
 himself. 
 
 An in-curve shot from his hand. Ernest gazed 
 at it in an uninterested manner and allowed it to 
 goby. 
 
 "Strike one!" came the sonorous voice of the 
 umpire, who was Sim Giles, the postmaster. 
 
 "Oh-h-h-h-h !" yelled the crowd. 
 
 The next ball was of the same character. This 
 time Ernest struck at the ball. He missed and 
 the crowd yelled again. Jared began to regain 
 self-confidence. 
 
 "Strike two," was the cry.
 
 62 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 The third ball was high. 
 
 "Ball one," declared Sim. 
 
 Then came an out-curve. But it was too far 
 out. Jared was a rather ragged pitcher. 
 
 "Ball two," called Sim. 
 
 Suddenly Jared threw to third base. But, quick 
 as he was, he didn't catch Rob off. 
 
 "How's that?" yelled Higgins, the Hampton 
 third baseman, as he touched Rob. 
 
 The umpire merely waved his hand in what he 
 deemed a professional manner. 
 
 "A thousand years late," chuckled Rob to Hig- 
 gins. 
 
 Jared heard him and flashed him an ugly look. 
 Hatred gleamed in his eyes. Rob watched him 
 narrowly and again stole off third. 
 
 Bang! came a swift straight ball at the 
 dreamy Ernest. But he was not in "a trance," 
 as Jared had scornfully thought. Crack! went 
 a hot grounder to short stop. Merritt stood fast 
 at second, but Rob, like an arrow from a bow, 
 shot off for home. The short stop fired in the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 63 
 
 sphere to the catcher as quickly as he could. But 
 before the ball got there, Rob, his legs working 
 like pistons, had passed the home plate. 
 
 What a roar went up then ! Flags waved and 
 cheers resounded among the Eagle sympathizers. 
 
 As the cheering died away the catcher, Hollis 
 Powers, walked into the diamond to confer with 
 Jared, who showed by his passionate gestures 
 that he was mad clear through. 
 
 "Look out or they'll knock you out of the box," 
 yelled some one. 
 
 This did not tend to improve Jared's temper. 
 But, nevertheless, he struck out the next batter, 
 Simon Jeffords, which helped in part to restore 
 his balance. The Eagles then retired to the field. 
 
 "How do you feel, Merritt ?" was eagerly asked 
 by his comrades before he took the pitchers 
 box. 
 
 "All right, so far. You'll know soon enough 
 when my wing gets sore," was the reply. 
 
 Apparently Rob was not destined to pitch that 
 day. Merritt struck out the first two batters,
 
 4 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 fielded a hot liner and threw out Jared before he 
 got to first base. Jared was certainly piling up 
 his list of grievances against the Boy Scouts. To 
 add to his ill-feeling he had recognized Fred 
 Mainwaring, nodded to the latter and received 
 the cut direct. The fact that Lucy Mainwaring 
 was a witness to this snub did not improve 
 matters. 
 
 "Good boy, Merritt!" yelled the Eagle sup- 
 porters in a frenzy of delight. 
 
 The third inning commenced with the Eaglet 
 at the bat. But now Jared appeared to have on 
 his throwing clothes. The Scout batters couldn't 
 hammer his pitching at all. 
 
 In fact, all that occurred while they succeeded 
 each other at the bat was a monotonous succession 
 of calls from the umpire : 
 
 "Strike one. Strike two. You're out." 
 
 The Hampton villagers began to pluck up 
 heart. They gave Jared warm support and cheers 
 for his really excellent work and that of his team- 
 mates. To the somewhat blank astonishment of
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 65 
 
 the Eagles, they had not been able to find Jared's 
 pitching at all in this inning. It began to look as 
 if they were by no means to have things their 
 own way.
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 A TEST FOR THE EAGLES. 
 
 But Jared was to score still further. He came 
 to bat confidently at the end of the third inning. 
 With two of his side out and none on bases, he 
 knocked a beautiful homer into left field. It 
 was a really fine drive. The Hampton contingent 
 went wild. The faces of the Eagle supporters, 
 too, were cheerful, but anxious. As for Jared, he 
 beamed, and then as his eyes met Rob's, he gave 
 the latter a malevolent glance. 
 
 At the end of the third inning each side had 
 scored one run. The Eagles made no runs in the 
 following three innings, while Hampton scored 
 two, so that, when the seventh inning began, 
 things looked rather gloomy for the Scouts. The 
 score then stood three to one in favor of Hamp- 
 ton and the town players fairly swelled with 
 confidence.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 67 
 
 It was already painfully evident that, exercise 
 his will power as he would, Merritt's arm was 
 getting sore. He had put redoubled efforts into 
 his work but the score showed with how little suc- 
 cess. At the beginning of the seventh, he told 
 Captain Hiram that he thought the Hamptons 
 had "found" his pitching, but he consented to 
 stay in the box for one more inning. 
 
 The inning commenced with Merritt at the bat. 
 He was given first base on balls. Paul Perkins 
 made a base hit to left field. He got safely to 
 first with Merritt hugging second. Tubby Hop- 
 kins once more struck out with the same cheerful 
 grin on his round countenance. Hiram sent a 
 slow grounder to Jared and was promptly thrown 
 out at first, but Merritt reached third, and Paul 
 second, very nicely. 
 
 Rob Blake now came to the bat. Jared deter- 
 mined to strike him out if it were humanly pos- 
 sible. After a lot of posing which he thought 
 gave him quite a professional air, Jared delivered
 
 8 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the best ball in his repertoire, a swift and vicious 
 in-curve. It fairly hissed through the air. 
 
 Crack! 
 
 Rob's willow collided with the sphere and away 
 it sped far into right field. Merritt and Paul 
 scored amidst tremendous enthusiasm ; hats were 
 thrown in the air. Things once more looked rosy 
 for the Eagles. Rob was easily the favorite of 
 the moment. 
 
 As for Jared, his feelings were not enviable. 
 He felt that he would gladly have allowed the 
 others to score if he had only been able to shut 
 Rob out. He struck out the next batter, and then 
 Hampton went to bat. 
 
 Merritt's arm felt better and he went to the 
 box without the misgivings that had assailed him 
 earlier. But with the first ball he pitched he knew 
 that he had deluded himself. The batter hit a 
 fly to right field and was caught out. Merritt, 
 summoning every ounce of resolution he could 
 muster, struggled on right manfully. But it was 
 a hopeless cause. Base hits were made with
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 69 
 
 absurd ease. Jared was caught out on a fly. 
 Finally there were two out and two on bases. 
 
 Higgins came to bat and made a second home 
 run amidst yells of delight from the Scouts' 
 opponents. 
 
 It began to look like grim defeat for the Scoute. 
 The Hampton contingent was jubilant. Jared 
 danced mockingly about whenever he could catch 
 the eye of a Boy Scout. 
 
 The next Hampton batter struck an easy fly 
 to left field which was caught by Paul Perkins. 
 The Scouts now came to the bat, beginning the 
 eighth inning. The score was six to three in 
 Hampton's favor. Things looked black, but with 
 the true Scout spirit the lads of the Eagle put 
 the best face possible on matters. They noted 
 Jared' s leering face without a sign that they saw 
 his malignant triumph. 
 
 Jared struck out the first three Scout batters 
 with ridiculous ease. When the Hamptons came 
 to the bat, the Eagles made a change in pitchers. 
 It was Rob, cool, self-confident and determined,
 
 70 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 who occupied the box. This followed a consulta- 
 tion at which it was agreed that, splendidly as 
 Merritt had done, his arm had gone back on him. 
 
 As Hiram adjusted his catcher's mask and Rob 
 took his new position, things grew very quiet 
 It was palpable to all that the change of pitchers 
 denoted a crisis in the game for the Scouts. Rob 
 faced the first batter without indulging in any 
 of Jared Applegate's antics. Hiram signaled for 
 a swift one. He braced himself as he saw it 
 coming. He knew that Rob was a swift pitcher 
 with a mighty right. 
 
 "Strike one!" yelled the umpire a fraction of 
 a second later. 
 
 Jared, at the bat, looked angry and puzzled. 
 He wondered why they hadn't put Rob in the 
 box at first. He did not know that Rob, while a 
 splendid pitcher, "was not to be relied on through 
 a long game as was Merritt. Another thing he 
 didn't know was that Rob had determined with 
 a grim resolution to snatch victory from the jaws 
 of defeat, if possible. That's a feeling that will
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 71 
 
 carry any boy, or man either for that matter, a 
 long way. 
 
 Hiram signaled for another cannon-ball. It 
 was plain that those were just the kind of missiles 
 that were not at all to Jared's liking. 
 
 The ball shot from Rob's hand apparently with- 
 out effort. But it shot over the plate like a bullet. 
 
 "Strike two !" bellowed the umpire. 
 
 "Oh, you Rob !" yelled his friends. 
 
 "K-r-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee !" shrilled the Scouts. 
 
 But Rob took no notice; nor did he regard 
 Jared's look of hatred, oddly mixed with worry. 
 Rob's pitching bothered him. He wanted no more 
 off that plate. 
 
 But whi-z-z-z-z-z-z ! came another "cannon 
 ball" like a high powered projectile burning up 
 the atmosphere. Jared swung wildly an inch too 
 high. 
 
 "Striker's out !" came the call of Jared's doom 
 from the umpire. 
 
 It was a furiously angry youth that strode to 
 the bench.
 
 72 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Thought you were going to make ducks and 
 drakes out of him, Jared?" grinned one of his 
 fellow players. 
 
 "So I was. I was just trying him out/' grunted 
 Jared disgustedly. 
 
 The next two batters couldn't handle Rob's 
 pitching at all. The game began to look as if it 
 might be retrieved after all. 
 
 "Blake! Blake! Blake !" chanted the crowd as 
 Rob walked toward the batters' bench. 
 
 Merritt was first at bat for the Scouts in the 
 ninth inning. Jared began to pitch with as good 
 an imitation of Rob's speed as he could muster. 
 Merritt let the first ball sing past him. 
 
 "Ball one." 
 
 The second, also, went by in similar manner. 
 
 "Ball two!" sang out Sim in his high, nasal 
 voice. 
 
 Jared pulled himself together. He sent the 
 ball humming right over the home plate. Mer- 
 ritt swung at it and made a safe base hit to right 
 field. Then came Hiram. He struck out. Jared
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL TS 
 
 and the Hamptonites began to feel better. Jared 
 was still holding the Scouts down and they had a 
 safe margin of runs. 
 
 Paul Perkins struck out this time. Then came 
 Ernest Thompson, who dreamily submitted to 
 the same process. 
 
 Rob Blake now came to the bat. His exhibition 
 of pitching just previously earned him a round of 
 applause. Jared looked positively bilious. He 
 had actually been holding himself in reserve for 
 Rob. It was his intention to shut him right out. 
 Rob ignored Jared's first ball. 
 
 "Ball one!" was the cry. 
 
 "Ball two !" followed in rapid succession. Rob 
 smiled easily. Jared's dislike of the boy at the 
 bat was making him irritable and uneasy. 
 
 But he rallied his skill and threw what looked 
 like an easy pitch. Rob struck at it but fanned 
 the empty air. 
 
 Jared grinned, the Hamptonites yelled and the 
 umpire called : 
 
 "Strike one!"
 
 T4 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "All right for you, Mister Casey at the bat/' 
 snarled Jared, "watch out for this one." 
 
 It came like a flash, a tricky, wavy curve. 
 Rob swung with all his strength and missed ! 
 
 "Strike two!" 
 
 A groan went up from the Scout supporters. 
 Their chances of victory looked slim indeed now. 
 
 "Wake up ! You're in a trance !" scoffed Jared, 
 grinning at Rob. "Get out of the straw." 
 
 "The straw in the red barn !" suddenly flashed 
 Rob, in a low, but far-reaching voice. It was 
 pregnant with meaning and Jared turned white 
 as death. He fumbled the ball with trembling 
 fingers. 
 
 "W-w-what do you mean?" he managed to 
 gasp. 
 
 "Play ball!" yelled the crowd impatiently. 
 
 Jared, his fright still on him, pitched. He made 
 a wild fling. Rob trotted to first base. Merritt 
 boomeranged to second. 
 
 Simon Jeffords got his base on balls, advancing 
 Rob to second and Merritt to third. Everybody
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 7* 
 
 began to sit up and take renewed notice. A 
 home run now would add four to the Scout score. 
 Could they get it ? Jared had shown that he could 
 hold them down. Could he still keep up his gait ? 
 
 And now out strolled Tubby Hopkins. He 
 paused first to insert a huge chunk of chewing 
 gum in his capacious cheek and then, not noticing 
 in the least the laughter and joking that greeted 
 his appearance, he lounged to his place, his jaws 
 moving rhythmically. 
 
 "It's up to you, Tubby. Bring home the 
 bacon !" some one yelled. 
 
 "He's got the bacon with him," shouted some 
 other humorist. 
 
 Jared fixed his eyes quizzically on Tubby. 
 
 "Like a bottle of anti-fat, kid?" he sneered; 
 and then, "Oh, what I won't do to you ! How do 
 you like 'em ?" 
 
 Tubby stopped chewing an instant. His large 
 eyes opened wide as if he had just heard Jared's 
 voice. 
 
 "Oh, I like 'em Panama fashion, if you've got
 
 76 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 any of those about you to-day/' he said with a 
 cherubic smile. 
 
 Zang! came the ball. It was as swift as any 
 that Jared had yet thrown. He would have liked 
 to see it knock the disconcerting fat youth on the 
 head. But it did no such thing. With an agility 
 unsuspected except by those who knew him, 
 Tubby swung viciously at the spheroid. 
 
 "Bin-go !" yelled the rooters. 
 
 Off into left field a hot liner whizzed its way. 
 
 "Go on!" shrieked the Eagles and their sup- 
 porters, dancing up and down in excitement. 
 
 Off darted Merritt from third. He shot across 
 the home plate an instant later and scored amidst 
 loud cheering. Hot after him flashed Rob, with 
 Simon close behind. Excitement rose to a point 
 where it was almost unbearable. 
 
 Tubby had shot like a stone from a sling the 
 instant he made his hit. And now more like a 
 steam roller the fat youth cavorted over the bases 
 while the crowd went crazy. Pandemonium 
 reigned.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 77 
 
 "Home ! Home ! Home !" shrieked the raucous 
 crowd in a frenzy. 
 
 Boys hugged each other and the Scouts danced 
 up and down. 
 
 Tubby, with amazing speed, his short fat legs 
 working like piston rods, flashed by first, second 
 and third bases. The next instant a yell went up 
 that split the air. A rotund form sky-hooted 
 across the home plate and then, tripping up, went 
 rolling like a tub of butter into the arms of Rob 
 and his team-mates. Tubby had made one of 
 the most sensational plays ever seen on the 
 Hampton field, and foes as well as friends gen- 
 erously applauded the fat boy. But he paid no 
 attention to the plaudits. 
 
 "Great Scotland ! I've lost my gum," were his 
 first words on being helped to his feet. "Anybody 
 got a chew ?" 
 
 "A barrel full, if you want them!" yelled the 
 delighted Scouts, dancing about the boy who had 
 hit out a home run with bases full. 
 
 The next batter, Walter Lonsdale, struck out
 
 78 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Then the town team went to bat for its last 
 
 chance. The score now stood thus : 
 
 Eagles: seven. Hamptons: six 
 
 Rob resumed his place in the pitcher's box. 
 Higgins struck out. But Jared got his base on 
 balls. Maybe Rob was overconfident. Conners 
 came next. Two strikes had been called on him, 
 when Rob, like a flash, hurled the ball to first. 
 With neatness and expedition Jared was put out. 
 
 Incidentally, Conners had been so rattled by 
 Rob's pitching that, when the latter threw to first, 
 Conners frantically struck at an imaginary ball, 
 causing a roar of laughter. This disconcerted 
 him so badly that he missed the next ball and 
 struck out. 
 
 The Scouts had indeed snatched victory from 
 the jaws of defeat. The game was theirs but by 
 so narrow a margin that they hardly liked to 
 think about it. 
 
 In an instant the crowd broke all boundaries 
 and surged about the victorious Eagles.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 79 
 
 "Three cheers for Home-run Tubby!" yelled 
 somebody. 
 
 In a flash the fat youth was hoisted on half a 
 dozen shoulders. Then began a triumphal march 
 around the field to the music of Andy Bowles 5 
 bugle, which he had suddenly produced from 
 some mysterious hiding place. 
 
 "You see, I knew that I'd need it," he explained 
 afterward. 
 
 Rob, arm in arm with Merritt, brought up the 
 rear of the tumultuous riot of enthusiasts. Sud- 
 denly Rob's eye caught sight of a figure in the 
 uniform of the Hampton's players sneaking up 
 behind a corner of the grand-stand which it was 
 evident the crowd must pass in their march of 
 victory. It was Jared Applegate. With him was 
 the same young man the boys had seen in the 
 barn the week before, as well as two other youths 
 of bad character in the village, Hodge Berry and 
 Maxwell Ramsay. 
 
 "What mischief is Jared up to?" breathed Rob, 
 clutching Merritt's arm.
 
 80 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "I don't know, but he looks as sneaky as a 
 pole cat. Let's watch him." 
 
 The two scouts followed, at a slight distance, 
 the group of which Jared was the center. They 
 saw the boys that they were watching sneak in 
 behind the grand-stand, while Jared stooped and 
 picked up a heavy stone. As the crowd, with 
 Tubby's rubicund countenance shining above 
 their heads, came swinging around the corner on 
 their way off the ball field, Rob gave a sharp 
 exclamation and sprang forward. 
 
 Like a flash he gripped Jared's arm just as it 
 was about to launch the stone at Tubby's head. 
 
 "You you rascal!" he managed to exclaim, 
 forcing Jared's arm down with a firm wrist hold. 
 
 The next instant Hodge Berry and Max Ram- 
 say, both of whom had played in the Hampton 
 team, sprang at Rob furiously. 
 
 "You're going to get a licking you won't for- 
 get in a hurry," they cried. 
 
 The crowd had swung on, not noticing the 
 dramatic scene that was occurring so close to
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 81 
 
 them. Rob dropped Jared's wrist and turned to 
 face his opponents. 
 
 Something in his face made them halt an 
 instant, and in that brief space of time Merritt 
 was at his side. The strange youth who had said 
 nothing so far now started to speak, but Rob 
 checked him. 
 
 Utterly ignoring the others, he addressed him- 
 self to Jared. 
 
 "Well, what do you want?" he demanded. 
 
 "I want to get square with you," replied Jared 
 in a furious tone. He appeared almost beside 
 himself with rage. 
 
 "Humph! and so you've brought a bunch of 
 your amiable friends along to help you in case 
 it proved too big a job to tackle alone." 
 
 "See here," exclaimed the stranger, stepping 
 forward a pace, "I don't know who you are except 
 by name, but I'm not going to have you insult 
 me. Jared here is a chum of mine. I knew him 
 in New York " 
 
 "Sorry for you," flashed out Rob curtly.
 
 82 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "None of your lip," growled Max Ramsay 
 sullenly ; and yet, so electrical had the atmosphere 
 become, and so capable of handling himself did 
 the clean-living young scout look, that, uneven as 
 the odds were, no further hostile move was made. 
 
 "Jared said he had a bone to pick with you/' 
 went on the strange youth. "He told us he wanted 
 to have it out with you Scouts. He invited us 
 along. I'm not going to take any part in it, you 
 can be assured of that. There'll be fair play." 
 
 "Like stone throwing, for instance," retorted 
 Rob contemptuously. 
 
 "I guess you're scared," sneered Jared. 
 
 "Who says so?" 
 
 "I do. You act so. You're afraid of me." 
 
 Jared was quite quick enough to see that Rob 
 was unwilling to get into a fight. The leader of 
 the Eagle Patrol abhorred, above all things, to be 
 mixed up in a disgraceful set-to. But even Rob, 
 who had unusual self-control, was fast beginning 
 to lose patience. 
 
 "I don't know what harm I've ever done you,
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 83 
 
 Jared," he said quietly, "but if you feel so, why 
 I can't help it." 
 
 "I hate you, Rob Blake," exclaimed Jared 
 through his clenched teeth, "and I'm going to 
 polish you off once and for all, do you hear me ?" 
 
 "I'm not deaf. Let us pass, please," said Rob, 
 still with that same calm, unruffled manner. 
 
 "Not till you've given me satisfaction." 
 
 Jared interpreted Rob's manner amiss. He was 
 sure now that Rob would avoid a fistic discussion 
 at all hazards. He determined to show his friends 
 what a terrible person he was. 
 
 "Well, you heard what I said," repeated Jared, 
 thrusting out his jaw and stepping closer to the 
 unmoved Rob, "you've got to give me satisfac- 
 tion understand ?" 
 
 "Do you want me to fight you?" asked Rob, 
 without the flicker of an eye. 
 
 "Yes, I do," whipped out Jared boldly. 
 
 At the same instant, thinking to catch Rob ofl? 
 his guard, he aimed a vicious blow at the lad in 
 front of him. Rob merely stepped to one side.
 
 84 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Jared almost lost his balance as his fist encoun- 
 tered thin air, and just saved himself from taking 
 an ignominious tumble. 
 
 "So; you're a coward, eh?" cried Jared furi- 
 ously. 
 
 "Possibly that's your opinion," spoke Rob 
 calmly. "I don't like fighting, Jared, it's not gen- 
 tlemanly and it's not a Scout principle ; but if you 
 want fight, you're going to get it!" 
 
 "Good for you !" cried Merritt, who had stood 
 silent, well knowing Rob's ability to handle him- 
 self, for the Scouts had many friendly sparring 
 bouts with the gloves. The noble art of self- 
 defense was cultivated by all of them, but as a 
 means of self-defense and for the joy of the sport 
 only. 
 
 Rob whipped off his coat in a jiffy. Jared, with 
 a slight quiver of his lower lip, did the same. 
 Both boys stood ready to defend themselves, and, 
 while the shouts of the crowd bearing Tubby 
 aloft died away in the distance, the fight, into 
 which Rob had been unwillingly dragged, began.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 85 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 SKIU, VS. MUSCLE). 
 
 Jared was heavily built and strong, but his 
 science was nothing to boast of. Jared had never 
 had the application to build himself up physically. 
 Yet he was no mean opponent, as Rob saw. The 
 leader of the Eagles was not as heavily muscled 
 or as weighty as Jared, but he more than made 
 up for it in his cat-like quickness and ability to 
 spar. 
 
 The farmer's son saw this and realized that his 
 best opportunity to put a quietus on his hated 
 opponent was to land a heavy blow before Rob's 
 perfect training had a chance to assert itself. 
 He rushed in wildly, determined to battle his way 
 through Rob's defense and beat him down by 
 sheer weight and force. 
 
 But in this he had reckoned altogether without 
 his host. Rob cleverly dodged Jared's savage
 
 86 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 swings, and, watching his opportunity, countered 
 with amazing swiftness. None of the onlookers 
 saw the blow, but they heard the sharp crack of 
 Rob's knuckles on Jared's jaw. As for Jared, he 
 beheld a swimming galaxy of brilliant constella- 
 tions. 
 
 Rob saw that he was dazed for an instant and 
 dropped his hands to his side. 
 
 "We'll stop right here if you like, Jared," he 
 said. 
 
 "Not much you won't," shouted Jared, shaking 
 his head, "I've only begun." 
 
 "Well, don't keep on the way you're going," 
 laughed Merritt cheerfully. Jared's friends began 
 to look rather gloomy. In their hearts both Max 
 Ramsay and Hodge Berry felt heartily glad that 
 they hadn't tackled the Boy Scout. 
 
 Once more Jared rushed in on Rob. A second 
 later his nose stopped a solid blow straight from 
 the shoulder. It felt to Jared as if he had inad- 
 vertently collided with the rock of Gibraltar. 
 !" he yelled in spite of himself.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 87 
 
 Then, losing his head completely, he rushed at 
 Rob and seized him in a wrestling grip. Rob, 
 caught off his guard, lost his feet and the two 
 toppled to the ground, going at it in rough-and- 
 tumble fashion. 
 
 "Magnificent, but not war!" cried Merritt as 
 he danced about. 
 
 Over and over they rolled, Jared managing in 
 this style of battling to get in some heavy blows 
 that caused Rob to gasp. But in a short time 
 Rob had Jared fairly howling for mercy. 
 
 "Help!" he bawled out, "take him away, you 
 fellows ! He's not fighting fair." 
 
 v Don't be a cry baby," was all the consolation 
 he got from his friends. "Give it to him hard." 
 
 Thus counseled, Jared made one last effort to 
 triumph over Rob. He suddenly disengaged 
 himself and jumped to his feet. Rob was up as 
 quick as the other and met Jared's last rush 
 calmly. Jared, by this time, had lost his head 
 utterly. He waved his arms wildly in a whirl- 
 wind of blows that Rob contented himself by
 
 88 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 ducking and dodging. He had no wish to punish. 
 Jared any more severely. 
 
 Suddenly the battle came to an abrupt termina- 
 tion, and that through no effort of Rob's. It had 
 rained the week before, and back of the grand- 
 stand was a depression in which water had gath- 
 ered in sufficient quantity to form a small 
 pond. 
 
 His wild evolutions had brought Jared close 
 to the edge of this miniature lake. The ground 
 there was muddy and slippery, and, before he 
 knew what had happened, Jared' s feet slipped 
 from under him. He staggered, clutching at the 
 air to save himself; but although his friends 
 rushed forward to help him, they were too late. 
 With a mighty splash the luckless Jared toppled 
 backward into the pond. 
 
 He was helped out, a truly pitiable object ; but 
 even his friends could not help laughing at him. 
 Plastered with mud and streaming with water, 
 his enraged countenance excited nothing but 
 mirth. 
 
 "Come on," said Max Ramsay as soon as he
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 89 
 
 could for laughing, "we'll get you to the buggy, 
 Jared, and you can drive out home. Good thing 
 you won't have to go through the village." 
 
 "Shake hands, Jared," exclaimed Rob impul- 
 sively, for the moment forgetting what they had 
 overheard at the barn, in his sympathy for 
 Jared's plight. 
 
 He extended his hand, but Jared dashed it 
 furiously aside. 
 
 "I'll get even with you, you you tin soldier !" 
 he shouted, shaking with rage, and also with the 
 chill of his immersion. 
 
 "I'm sorry you feel that way about it," re- 
 joined Rob, as he turned aside and put on his 
 coat, which Merritt had held for him. 
 
 "Yes, and you'll be sorrier yet," snarled Jared, 
 as his friends walked him off toward the shed 
 where his buggy was tied. 
 
 Just then, from across lots, there came a 
 
 summons : 
 tt 
 
 Hey, Rob ! Where have you got to ?" 
 "I'm coming right along," was Rob's reply; 
 *Vait a second."
 
 50 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 He jammed on his cap and stepped out from 
 behind the grandstand. Running toward him 
 was Tubby, who had somehow escaped from his 
 admirers. 
 
 "What's up?" cried Rob, as he saw the lad's 
 flushed, excited face. 
 
 "Say, you know that note you left for Mr. 
 Mainwaring?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Well, he's just got back. He's over in that 
 auto yonder and asked me to find you as soon as 
 possible." 
 
 Tubby pointed to the road on the outskirts of 
 the village, where a big torpedo-bodied auto was 
 drawn up. In it was seated a man of past middle 
 age, with iron-gray hair and keen eyes, who was 
 watching the boys closely as they came toward 
 him. 
 
 As they drew nearer he got out of the car and 
 addressed the chauffeur. 
 
 "You needn't wait for me, Manning. I'll walk 
 home," he said-
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL Ml 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 FIRE;! 
 
 "A most remarkable story; but I happen to 
 know certain things that fit in with it in every 
 way. Boys, you have done me a great service 
 to-day." 
 
 Mr. Mainwaring paused as he spoke and looked 
 kindly and admiringly at the three Boy Scouts 
 who had unfolded to him the story of their 
 experiences at the old barn. The tale had been 
 told as they strolled along the road leading to 
 the engineer's home, on a hill outside Hampton. 
 
 It had occupied some time in the telling, and 
 dusk was drawing in so that, much against their 
 will, the boys were compelled to decline Mr. 
 Mainwaring's invitation to visit his library and 
 see some interesting drawings and data relating 
 to the Panama Canal. But they made an engage- 
 ment to come at some other time and hear from
 
 92 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the great engineer about some of the wonders 
 that had been accomplished in the magic land 
 lying nine degrees north of the equator a land 
 which, so far as the Canal Zone is concerned, 
 has been turned by Uncle Sam's canal commis- 
 sion into a land as healthful as any, if due 
 precautions are observed. 
 
 It was almost dark as the boys hastened on 
 their homeward way. There was a meeting 
 called in the Eagle rooms over the bank that 
 night, and they were all three in a hurry to get 
 home and change and eat supper. As they walked 
 along at a brisk pace, the conversation naturally 
 was chiefly concerned with the topic which they 
 had just been discussing with Mr. Mainwaring. 
 
 "I wonder what he'll do about it?" said Mer- 
 ritt. 
 
 "Well, as he said, it's a mighty delicate matter 
 as things are now," rejoined Rob. "To make a 
 hasty move might force the plotters to rush 
 things before any precaution could be taken 
 against them. Even to take Jared before the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 9$ 
 
 authorities might be premature, so Mr. Main- 
 waring said. I gathered, in fact, that he means 
 to let matters lie quiet for a time and watch every 
 move of those whom he suspects." 
 
 "They ought to clap the whole outfit in jail," 
 sputtered Tubby, "and give them nothing to 
 eat but bread and water." 
 
 "The last part of that remark would be a fear- 
 ful punishment to Tubby, all right," chuckled 
 Merritt, nudging Rob. 
 
 "What a lucky chap Fred Mainwaring is," said 
 Rob presently. "Just think, when his father goes 
 back to Panama he's to go, too. His dad says 
 that every American boy who can ought to see 
 the Big Ditch before the water is in it, and that, 
 even if Fred does miss some schooling, he will be 
 getting some education that can't be obtained 
 from books." 
 
 "That's the sort I'd like," sighed Tubby, who 
 was a notoriously unwilling worshipper at the 
 shrine of knowledge. 
 
 "How about a cook book?' Chuckled Merritt
 
 9* THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 mischievously, and then dodged aside just in 
 time to avoid a blow from Tubby's chubby fist. 
 
 Suddenly, behind them came the sound of 
 wheels and the staccato rattle of a horse's hoofs 
 tapping the road at a rapid trot. 
 
 "Out of the road, fellows, here comes a rig," 
 cried Rob. 
 
 So fast was it coming that they had hardly 
 time to step aside before the buggy, which held 
 two occupants, was beside them. The driver 
 pulled the horse up almost on its haunches and 
 hailed them as they stood in the dark shadow of 
 some big maples at the side of the road. 
 
 "Hey, you fellows ! Got the time ? We've got 
 to make that seven-thirty train out of Hampton 
 and my watch is broken." 
 
 Rob, and his companions, too, recognized the 
 voice instantly. 
 
 "It's just seven o'clock, Jared," said Rob, 
 "you'll have plenty of time." 
 
 "Confusion," muttered another voice in the 
 w rig, that of the strange young man who now
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 95 
 
 appeared to be Jared's shadow. "It's those Boy 
 Scouts." 
 
 Jared picked up his whip and aimed a vicious 
 slash into the darkness. It is not likely that he 
 had any hope of striking one of the lads he dis- 
 liked so much, but he intended it probably just 
 to show his hatred of them in a graphic manner. 
 The next instant the same whip cracked over the 
 flanks of his horse and the buggy dashed off 
 into the gathering gloom. 
 
 "Whew!" whistled Rob, "so Jared is going to 
 beat a retreat, eh ?" 
 
 "Looks like it. I saw a suit case strapped on 
 the back of that rig." 
 
 "We ought to stop him." 
 
 "How? By what right? What excuse could 
 we offer ?" 
 
 "That's so ; but just the same it looks as if he's 
 going to give Mr. Mainwaring the slip and join 
 those plotters some place." 
 
 "It certainly does," admitted Merritt. "*I
 
 S THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 guess we ought to call up Mr. Mainwaring and 
 ask him if there is anything we can do." 
 
 "That's a good idea, Merritt. At any rate, 
 having done that, we shall have performed our 
 duty." 
 
 Hardly had the words left his lips before there 
 came booming out on the night air a sound that 
 thrilled them all to the heart. Clear and loud, 
 with a note of clamorous terror, there came 
 winging toward them the clang of the fire alarm ! 
 Stroke after stroke struck with a heavy hammer 
 on the tire of an old locomotive wheel that was 
 the only alarm Hampton boasted. The wheel 
 hung outside the fire house of the Vigilant En- 
 gine Company Number One. There was no 
 Number Two. 
 
 "Gee whiz, fellows! The fire alarm!" cried 
 Tubby, pulling up short in the road. 
 
 They stood breathlessly listening, while out on 
 the dusk the clamorous notes of the steel tocsin 
 went clanging and jangling. A thrilling, soul- 
 stirring cry at any time, it was doubly so to these
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 97 
 
 lads, members of a body enlisted in the cause of 
 helping those who needed aid. 
 
 They were standing on the main street at a 
 point where the stores and business houses had 
 given place to residences surrounded by lawns 
 and trees. Out of the houses there came rushing 
 men and women and children, all in high excite- 
 ment. 
 
 "Fire," cried some of the men. 
 
 "Where ?" came back in a dozen voices. 
 
 But nobody knew accurately. Suddenly a man, 
 hatless and coatless, came sprinting up the street. 
 
 "It's the 'cademy!" he was yelling, "the 
 'cademy's on fire!" 
 
 "The Academy!" gasped Rob, aghast at the 
 thought that the private school which most of 
 the boys enrolled as Scouts attended was in 
 flames. 
 
 "It's up to us to do something and do it quick !" 
 he cried the next instant. "Merritt, run as quick 
 as you can to Andy's house. Tell him to sound
 
 98 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the Assembly. There's lots of work for the 
 
 Eagles to-night." 
 
 A boy that Merritt knew was hastening by on 
 a bicycle. 
 
 "Lend me your wheel for Scout duty, will 
 you?" asked Merritt breathlessly. 
 
 The boy eagerly assented. 
 
 "I guess they'll need all the help they can get," 
 he volunteered as Merritt sprinted off up the 
 street, "my pop has been on the 'phone and they 
 say it's a mighty bad blaze." 
 
 It seemed an eternity, but in reality it was only 
 a few minutes before Merritt reached Andy's 
 home. The little bugler was just rushing out as 
 Merritt dashed up. They almost collided. 
 
 "Sound the assembly !" panted Merritt. "The 
 Academy's on fire." 
 
 "Wow! Wait a second. I knew of the fire 
 and was going to get hold of Rob for instruc- 
 tions." 
 
 Andy darted back to the house. He was out 
 again in a flash and sounding the sharp, clear
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 99 
 
 notes of the assembly call. Then came another 
 urgent summons, the quick, imperative "fire 
 call." 
 
 "There go the firemen on the run," exclaimed 
 Andy, as several of the Vigilants dashed by the 
 house. "Come on, Mrritt; the others will all 
 beat it to the fire-house at top speed." 
 
 "Rob's already there, I guess," panted Merritt 
 as they ran side by side, balancing the bicycle. 
 As they proceeded, Boy Scouts came from some 
 of the houses and joined them. 
 
 "The Academy ! The Academy's on fire," they 
 shouted. 
 
 Against the darkening sky a red gush of flame 
 leaped up suddenly. 
 
 "Come on, fellows!" implored Merritt. "It's 
 going up like a pack of fire-works. We've got 
 to hustle if we want to be of any use."
 
 100 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A SCOUT HERO. 
 
 At the fire-house they found Rob and Tubby 
 helping to drag out the antiquated apparatus 
 which was the best that Hampton boasted. Glad 
 enough of the aid of the Boy Scouts, the firemen 
 greeted them warmly. They recalled a former 
 occasion when the khaki-clad lads had been of 
 signal service to them. 
 
 Accordingly, while some of the men hitched up 
 a pair of bony old nags to the engine, and others 
 got the fire lighted, the hose cart was rushed out 
 and the ropes unraveled. 
 
 "Fall in, boys," shouted Rob. 
 
 They obeyed his order with military prompti- 
 tude. The long rope was swiftly seized. Rob 
 was in front, as became the leader of the troop. 
 
 "All ready!" came the cry. 
 
 "Heave!" shouted Rob.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 101 
 
 Like one boy the Eagles bent to the work. Off 
 they scampered down the street, Andy's bugle 
 calling to clear the way. Men and women on 
 their way to the fire scattered to right and left 
 as the hose cart came lumbering along, drawn by 
 its willing young escort at almost as fast a gait 
 as horses could have dragged it. 
 
 "'Ray for the Boy Scouts," shrilled a small 
 boy. 
 
 The excited crowd took up the cry as the hose 
 cart went roaring by, speeding toward the sin- 
 ister glow on the sky ahead of them. 
 
 A throng rushed behind it, making believe to 
 aid greatly by pushing the lumbering vehicle. 
 
 Suddenly a terrible thought flashed across 
 Rob's mind. The house occupied by the janitor 
 of the school was undergoing extensive repairs 
 and he and his family had been given temporary 
 quarters in some rooms at the top of the school 
 building. 
 
 The sudden realization of this sent a thrill
 
 102 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 shooting through the boy. What if they were 
 
 caught in a fiery trap, unable to escape? 
 
 "Oh, I hope they are all right," Rob found 
 himself muttering half aloud as at the head of a 
 line of straining boys he galloped along. 
 
 "Hey! Here comes the ingine," went up a 
 sudden shout from the crowd behind. 
 
 Glancing back Rob saw the engine, the pride 
 of the Vigilants, coming careening down the 
 street. Its whistle wailed in a melancholy fashion 
 and from its stack there streamed sparks in 
 sufficient volume to render timid folks apprehen- 
 sive that another fire would be started. 
 
 "Pull out! Pull out!" cried Rob, as he saw it, 
 "here comes the engine." 
 
 But there was no need to tell his followers that. 
 Every boy in the village knew the old Vigilant 
 and had seen it go screeching and lurching to a 
 dozen fires. They rushed the hose cart up on the 
 sidewalk as the engine came swinging nearer. It 
 looked quite inspiring with its flaming stack, 
 hissing jets of steam and thunder of horses'
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 103 
 
 hoofs. The driver, Ed Blossom, was belaboring 
 his steeds furiously. 
 
 Suddenly, out into the middle of the road 
 darted a tiny little girl. In the excitement and 
 confusion no one noticed her at first. She stood 
 there apparently oblivious of the approach- 
 ing fire engine for one instant. Then, although 
 she saw her doom thundering down on her, she 
 still stood as helplessly as a tiny bird fascinated 
 by a glowing-eyed serpent. 
 
 "Out of the way! Run! Run!" shrieked a 
 dozen frenzied voices as several people perceived 
 the child's danger. 
 
 "Great Scotland! She'll be killed," cried Mer- 
 ritt. 
 
 The engine was almost opposite the hose cart 
 as the Scouts took in the scene, but with one 
 spring Merritt darted right in the path of the 
 heavy machine. It happened so quickly that no 
 one quite knew what had happened until they saw 
 a second figure in the path of the Juggernaut. 
 
 To snatch up the child was the work of an
 
 104 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 instant; but in that instant, as a groan from the 
 horror-stricken onlookers testified, it looked as if 
 Merritt's doom had been sealed. 
 
 Ed Blossom tugged frantically at his horses' 
 bits and swerved them a trifle as he saw what 
 was before him. As Merritt sprang backward 
 with the agility of an acrobat, clasping the child 
 in his arms, Ed succeeded in swinging just a 
 little more. The horses grazed Merritt as they 
 snorted and reared. 
 
 Suddenly there came a crash and a loud, tear- 
 ing, ripping sound and the rear of the fire-engine 
 was seen to collapse on one side. In pulling out 
 to avoid running down Merritt and the little girl, 
 Ed Blossom had quite forgotten, under the stress 
 of the moment, the trees that grew on each side 
 of the road. The hub of the rear wheel had 
 struck one of these and the wheel had been torn 
 off completely. If Ed had not been strapped to 
 his seat he would have been hurled to the road. 
 
 A half hysterical woman fell on Merritt's neck 
 and covered him with tearful thanks. Then she
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 105 
 
 snatched up the child and vanished in the crowd, 
 leaving the Boy Scout free and greatly relieved 
 that her gratitude was to be spared him just at 
 that time. 
 
 There was a quick hand-clasp from Rob, "Well 
 done, old man." And then they all turned toward 
 the wreck of the engine. Steam was hissing in 
 clouds from the crippled bit of apparatus. Mer- 
 ritt heard someone say that the pump had been 
 broken. He knew then that the engine was out 
 of commission for that night. 
 
 Men had already unhitched the plunging 
 horses and tied them to a tree. But it was soon 
 evident that the engine must lie where it was for 
 the present. 
 
 "Can't do nawthin' with her," decided the 
 foreman and Ed Blossom, after a necessarily 
 hurried examination, "but say," continued the 
 foreman, enthusiastically, as if the breakage of 
 the engine was only a secondary consideration, 
 "that rescue of the little gal was as plucky a 
 thing as I ever seen."
 
 106 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 And there was no one in that crowd who did 
 not agree with him. But there was no time to 
 linger by the engine. The thing to be done was 
 to push on to the fire. The crowd rushed along 
 and the foreman stopped to say to Rob aside: 
 
 "You boys must help us keep the crowd back 
 while we form a bucket line ; it's our only chance 
 to save the place now and a mighty slim one," 
 he added, as again a red tongue of flame slashed 
 the dark firmament like a scarlet scimitar. 
 
 "There goes the last of the old 'cademy !" cried 
 a man as he saw. "In an hour's time there won't 
 be a stick of it left." 
 
 Without the engine to pump a stream through 
 the pipes, the hose cart was useless and was aban- 
 doned where it rested. Under the foreman's 
 directions the Boy Scouts invaded houses and 
 borrowed and commandeered every bucket, pail 
 or can they could find. Everything that would 
 hold water was rushed to the scene. 
 
 There was a creek opposite the blazing Acad- 
 emy, and while the Boy Scouts held back the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 107 
 
 crowd the firemen formed a double line and 
 passed the filled utensils rapidly from hand to 
 hand. As fast as they were emptied they came 
 back again to be refilled by those at the creek end 
 of the line. With improvised staves, cut and 
 broken from shrubs, the boys held the crowd 
 back. The method was this: each lad held the 
 ends of two staves, the other ends of which 
 were grasped by his comrades on either side of 
 him. This formed a sort of fence and to the 
 credit of the Hampton citizens be it said they 
 had too much respect for the good work of the 
 Boy Scouts to try and press forward unduly. 
 
 The Boy Scouts were on duty now. Alert, 
 watchful, aching to be taking part in the active 
 scene before them, they schooled themselves into 
 doing their best in the by comparison hum- 
 drum task assigned to them. 
 
 The Academy, an aged brick building, was 
 wreathed in flames. From the cupola on top, 
 from which had sounded for so many years the 
 morning summons to study, was spouting vivid
 
 108 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 fire. They could see Dr. Ezekiel Jones, the head 
 of the school, and some of the other instructors 
 running about in the brilliantly lighted grounds 
 and saving armfuls of books and papers. The 
 fire appeared to be on the middle floors. At any 
 rate up to this time it had been possible for the 
 men bent on saving what they could to dart in 
 at the big front doors, reappearing with what 
 they had been able to salvage from the flames. 
 
 With the pitifully inadequate means at their 
 command, the firemen could do little more than 
 work like fiends at passing buckets. It was neces- 
 sary to be doing something, but even the stoutest 
 hearted and most hopeful of the onlookers knew 
 that the case was hopeless. 
 
 Suddenly there appeared, from no one knew 
 exactly where, a little pale-faced man with sandy 
 whiskers. He wore overalls and was hatless. 
 A woman, a white-faced woman, clung to his 
 arm desperately. 
 
 "No, Eben," she kept screaming, "not you, too! 
 Not you, too I"
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 109 
 
 "Let me go, Jane!" the pallid little man kept 
 shouting in reply. "It's our baby, we've got to 
 get him out !" 
 
 He made a struggle toward the blazing build- 
 ing, but the woman clung to him frenziedly. 
 Now a fireman rushed at him and added his 
 strength to the woman's. 
 
 "Great Scotland," gasped Merritt, who stood 
 next to Rob, "it's old Duffy, the janitor, and his 
 wife!" 
 
 "What is it?" cried Rob, without replying, as a 
 fireman hastened past him. "What's the 
 matter?" 
 
 "Her baby. She's left it in the 'cademy," came 
 the choking answer. The man, whose face was 
 white with helpless horror, hurried on to obey 
 some order, while a shudder of sympathy and 
 fear ran through the crowd. Now came more 
 details as men hastened back and forth. The 
 woman, thinking that her husband had the baby, 
 had rushed from the house at the first alarm. 
 For his part, old Duffy, the janitor, never dream-
 
 110 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 ing that the fire would gain such rapid headway, 
 had tried to fight it alone, thinking all the time 
 that his wife had the infant. The true situation 
 had just been discovered and the man was frantic 
 to get back into the place although he was a semi- 
 invalid, known to suffer with heart disease. 
 
 The flames were leaping up more savagely 
 every minute. For all the effect that the feeble 
 dribble supplied by the bucket brigade had, they 
 might as well have given up their efforts. 
 
 Rob felt his heart give a bound as he watched 
 the janitor and his wife kindly, but firmly, forced 
 back. 
 
 His pulses throbbed wildly. He gave one look 
 at the red inferno before him. Then, 
 
 "Here, spread your arms and take my place 
 in line," he snapped out suddenly to Merritt. 
 
 The next instant his lithe young figure darted 
 across the flame-lit open space in front of the 
 school. He knew the interior of the old building 
 like a book, and that would aid him in the task
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 111 
 
 he had steeled himself to perform. He rushed up 
 to the group about the shrieking woman. 
 
 "What room is your child in?" he cried, his 
 heart seeming to rise in his throat and choke 
 back the words. 
 
 "That one on the south corner," cried the 
 woman mechanically, staring at him with fright- 
 ened eyes. "See, the flames are getting nearer 
 to it ! Oh, my baby ! My baby !" 
 
 She gave a terrible scream and sank back. Had 
 they not caught her she would have fallen. When 
 she opened her eyes again there was a roar all 
 about her that was not the roar of the flames. 
 
 It was the tremendous, awestricken turmoil of 
 the crowd. They had seen a boyish figure dart 
 from the fainting woman's side, shake off a 
 dozen detaining hands, and then, wrapping his 
 coat about his head, dash by a back entrance 
 into the burning building. 
 
 As he flung open the door and vanished, a 
 great puff of smoke rolled out. The cry of awed 
 admiration for such bravery changed to a groan
 
 112 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 of despair, the terrible voice of massed human 
 beings seeing a lad go to his death. For, as the 
 flames crackled upward more relentlessly than 
 before, it did not seem within the bounds of pos- 
 sibility that anyone could enter the place and 
 emerge alive.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 113 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE FIRE TEST. 
 
 Touched with reckless bravery, foolhardiness 
 in fact, as Rob's act had appeared to be, yet ha 
 had not acted without taking due thought. As 
 always in emergencies, his mind worked with 
 great swiftness. He had no sooner made up his 
 mind that it was his duty, cost what it might, to 
 save that innocent little one's life, than he had 
 hit upon a plan. 
 
 If the child was lodged in the center of the 
 building, he knew full well that long before its 
 life must have been yielded up to the fire demon. 
 But if the quarters of the janitor were, as he 
 believed, in the south corner of the school, then 
 there was still a chance. The mother's words 
 had put him out of all doubt on this score and 
 Rob instantly determined to face the most daring 
 act of his life.
 
 114 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 The rooms at the south side of the building 
 had been used by the Academy boys as a gym- 
 nasium before their present quarters were built, 
 so that Rob was thoroughly familiar with the 
 stairways leading to them. So far as he could 
 see it would be possible, by using a side door^ 
 to dodge the flames shooting up the center of the 
 building. There was a winding stairway that 
 existed on this side of the structure quite in- 
 dependent of the main flight which, by this time, 
 must have fallen in. 
 
 With Rob, to arrive at a decision was to act 
 upon it. As we have seen, he had lost no time 
 in making for the doorway. He had, in fact, a 
 double reason for his haste. For one thing, every 
 second would count, and, for another, he realized 
 that to many in the crowd his act would appear 
 to border on madness, and that an attempt might 
 be made to hold him back. 
 
 "The boy's a fool !" yelled someone in the crowd 
 behind Merritt. 
 
 Quick as a flash Rob's chum faced around,
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 115 
 
 indignation shining in his eyes, which had, a 
 second before, been dimmed with tears. 
 
 "No, sir ; however Rob makes out, he's a hero," 
 he shot back, while a murmur of approbation ran 
 through the crowd. 
 
 "Keep your places, boys," he ordered the next 
 instant, for the Scouts, half wild with anxiety 
 and excitement, were beginning to waver and 
 allow the crowd to surge forward. Merritt's 
 words stiffened them. In a moment they were 
 recalled to a sense of that duty of which they had 
 just witnessed such a conspicuous example. 
 
 The instant Rob crossed the threshold of that 
 door he found himself surrounded by smoke. 
 But he bent low, and throwing his coat more 
 closely above his head, he crouched on all fours 
 so as to get below the level of the acrid fumes 
 that made his eyes smart cruelly. Suddenly he 
 stumbled over something, and as he saw in the 
 dim light what it was he gave a glad gasp. It 
 was a bucket of water, left on the stairway after 
 the regular Saturday scrubbing.
 
 116 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Rob was a Scout who knew, from careful study 
 of his Manual, just what to do in emergencies. 
 He recalled now that in case of being compelled 
 to enter a smoky, blazing building, it was recom- 
 mended to bind a wet cloth over mouth and nos- 
 trils in such a way as to act as a respirator. In- 
 stantly he saturated his handkerchief in the water 
 and bound it on his face in the manner advocated. 
 
 Then he began what was to prove a terrible 
 climb. The school was three stories in height, 
 the lower two floors containing study rooms and 
 offices and the top floor lumber rooms and the 
 apartments occupied temporarily by the janitor. 
 
 Breathing with more ease now that he had 
 bound up his face, Rob fought his way upward. 
 It was as murky as a pit, and it seemed that the 
 stairs were interminable. Suddenly he stumbled 
 and fell headlong. He had gained the first land- 
 ing. Through a door opening upon it jets of 
 flame, like serpents' tongues, were beginning to 
 shoot Rob staggered toward the door and 
 slammed it to. He knew that this was abso*
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 117 
 
 lutely necessary, for in the case of the stair- 
 case being in flames when it came time for him 
 to retrace his steps his retreat would be cut off. 
 
 But that was a thought he did not dare to 
 dwell upon. Steeling himself anew he pushed 
 stubbornly on to the next flight. 
 
 "It's lucky I know this place as well as I 
 do," he thought, as he gamely kept up the fight 
 against what appeared almost overwhelming 
 odds. 
 
 As he climbed higher it grew hotter. The 
 place was like the interior of a volcano. Beyond 
 the wall of the stairway Rob could hear the flames 
 roaring like the beat of the surf on a rocky coast. 
 It almost seemed as if the fire demon possessed 
 an articulate voice and was howling his rage 
 and defiance at the boy who had dared to face 
 his terrors. But, hot as it was growing, Rob 
 yet found some small grain of comfort in the 
 fact that the smoke was not so thick. 
 
 He breathed more freely even if his throat 
 was becoming dry as dust and whistled in an
 
 118 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 odd way as he climbed higher. At last he reached 
 
 the summit of the second flight. 
 
 He paused irresolutely on the landing. Several 
 iloors opened off it. Now that he was actually 
 there, Rob was confused for an instant. He 
 was not quite so sure of his bearings as he had 
 thought he would be. But the roar of the flames 
 below and about him warned him to lose not a 
 second of precious time in procrastination. 
 
 He plunged into the door nearest at hand. 
 Within he found himself in a room which was 
 evidently a dining room. Supper was ready 
 spread on the table. A lamp illumined the scene. 
 How odd it seemed to be gazing at this peaceful 
 domestic setting, while below and to one side of 
 him, devouring flames were roaring and leaping. 
 Save for a strong smell of smoke and a slight 
 bluish haze, the room might have been a thou- 
 sand miles away from the flaming building in 
 which it was located. 
 
 Suddenly, as the boy stood there looking swiftly
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 119 
 
 about him, there came a crash that shook the 
 whole place like an earthquake. 
 
 "A floor's fallen !" gasped Rob. "Pray heaven 
 it's not taken any part of that stairway with it !" 
 
 Brave as he was, the young scout turned pale 
 and actually shook for an instant like a leaf. 
 He knew full well that if that stairway, or any 
 part of it, was gone, he was doomed to die as 
 irrevocably as if a death sentence had been pro- 
 nounced upon him. All at once, from a room 
 opening off the dining room came a wailing cry. 
 
 "Muvver! Muvver, I'se fwightened!" 
 
 Rob's heart gave a quick bound and he gal- 
 vanized into instant action, a great contrast to 
 his temporary state of stupefaction ! 
 
 "All right, youngster. Don't cry, I'm coming," 
 he called out, plunging forward. 
 
 Inside the room was a small crib, with a child 
 about three years old lying on it clasping a doll 
 in her arms. 
 
 "Who's oo?" she demanded in some alarm, as
 
 120 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Rob, with his handkerchief tied over his face, 
 
 advanced. 
 
 "Me? Why why, I'm a fireman," exclaimed 
 Rob; and then, with an inspiration, "Let's play 
 that the place is on fire and I'm going to save 
 you." 
 
 The child clapped her hands and her eyes 
 shone. Rob picked her out of her crib and cac- 
 ried her tenderly out of the room. 
 
 "Now I'm going to cover your face just like 
 real firemen do," he said, as they emerged on 
 the landing and the hot breath of the furnace 
 below was spewed up at them. 
 
 "Is dat in de game," inquired the child doubt- 
 fully, "an' will oo cover dolly's, too?" 
 
 "Yes, it's all part of the game," Rob reassured 
 her. "Now then, there we are." 
 
 He enveloped the child in his coat which he 
 had already removed and started for the landing. 
 Suddenly he stopped, and from under the coat 
 came a muffled but inquisitive voice: 
 
 "Is 'oo cwyin', Mister Fireman?"
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 1S1 
 
 No, Rob was not crying; but he had just seen 
 something that made his breath come heavingly 
 and his heart almost stop beating. Below him he 
 could see a dull red glow, growing momentarily 
 brighter. No need was there for him to specu- 
 late on what that meant. 
 
 The stairway was on fire. His one means of 
 escape from the blazing building was cut off. 
 
 For an instant Rob's head swam dizzily. He 
 felt sick and shaky. Was he to die there in that 
 inferno of flames ? A cry was forced wildly from 
 his cracked lips. 
 
 "Not like this! Oh, not like this!" he begged, 
 raising his eyes upward.
 
 122 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 IN PERIL OF HIS UFE. 
 
 In the meantime, outside the building suspense 
 had reached almost the breaking- point. The 
 Scouts still stood steady and staunch, but their 
 faces were white and drawn. When the crash 
 that announced the falling floor came, a man, 
 wrought beyond the bearing point, cried out: 
 
 "There goes his last chance, poor kid!" 
 
 "Shut up, can't you," breathed a fierce, tense 
 voice in his ear the next instant. "Don't you see 
 his father and mother back there?" 
 
 It was only too true. Attracted by the excite- 
 ment, Rob's father and mother had driven to the 
 scene in their car. They reached it just in time 
 to hear of Rob's heroic act. Now, white-faced 
 and trembling, they sat hand in hand wretchedly 
 waiting for news. As time passed and the flames 
 rose higher without a sign of the daring lad,
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 123 
 
 their hearts almost ceased to beat. Seconds 
 seemed hours, minutes eternity. 
 
 Then suddenly came a fearful cry. On the 
 roof there had appeared the figure of Rob with 
 a bundle which the crowd readily guessed to be 
 the janitor's child clasped tightly in his arms. 
 The flames, leaping from the cupola, illumined 
 his form brightly and showed his pale, tense face. 
 Thwarted in his effort to descend by the stair- 
 way, Rob had managed to reach the roof through 
 a scuttle. 
 
 "He's done it ! Hurrah ! The boy's saved the 
 baby !" went up an ear-splitting cry from the un- 
 thinking in the crowd. 
 
 The others knew only too well that the reason 
 that Rob had appeared on the roof betokened 
 the terrible fact that his escape had been cut off. 
 He was making a last desperate stand, with the 
 flames drawing closer, and threatening to burst 
 through the roof at any moment. 
 
 Every eye in that crowd was fixed on the soli- 
 tary figure on the roof.
 
 124: THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Ladders! Get ladders," yelled the foreman, 
 hoping against hope that one could be found 
 tall enough to reach to that height. 
 
 Rob came forward to the cornice, and looked 
 over as if gauging the height. They saw him 
 shake his head. Then he looked behind him. 
 Alas, there, too, all hope of escape was cut off. 
 Between himself and an iron fire-escape at the 
 back of the building, tongues of flame were now 
 shooting through the roof. 
 
 "He's shouting something. Keep still, for 
 heaven's sake !" came Merritt's voice suddenly. 
 
 A death-like silence followed. Then above the 
 roar and crackle came a faint sound. It was Rob 
 calling out some commands. 
 
 "A rope ! shoot it up here," was all they could 
 distinguish. 
 
 Merritt darted forward and stood below the 
 walls. 
 
 ""Louder, Rob! Louder!" he besought. 
 
 "A rope! Bow arrow shoot it up!" came 
 Rob's voice, audible to few, but his chum Merritt
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 125 
 
 was the only one that understood. He was back 
 among the Scouts in a flash. He seized Paul 
 Perkins by the shoulder. 
 
 "Paul, your house is nearest. Run! Run as 
 you never ran before and get your archery bow 
 and lots of arrows." 
 
 Paul didn't stop to ask the meaning of this 
 strange command, but darted off at top speed, the 
 crowd opening for him. 
 
 "Ropes! Ropes and lots of string!" shouted 
 Merritt next, appealing to the throng. Those 
 who were closest realized that a plan to save 
 Rob although what it was they couldn't imagine 
 was to be tried. Neighbors of the Academy 
 ran off at once and in a few minutes the Scouts 
 were busy, under Merritt's directions, knotting 
 ropes together to form one long line. 
 
 When this had been done, Merritt measured 
 with his eye the height of the Academy walls. 
 Then he set them to work knotting light twine 
 together in as long a line as they could make.
 
 126 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 By this time Paul was back with the bow and 
 
 arrow that the Scouts used at archery practice. 
 
 "Give it here," ordered Merritt tersely if un- 
 grammatically. 
 
 What he was going to try was a repetition 
 of the trick that had rescued some of the Eagle 
 Patrol when they were imprisoned on the top 
 of Ruby Glow in the Adirondacks on their 
 memorable treasure hunt. 
 
 With a hand that was far from steady, Merritt 
 knotted the end of the light string to an arrow. 
 Then, placing the arrow in position, he drew the 
 bow. It was plain enough to the dullest-witted 
 now what he meant to do. His plan was to shoot 
 the arrow, with the string attached, up on the 
 roof where Rob could seize it. This done, it 
 would be possible for the latter if he had time 
 to haul up the rope, knot it to a chimney and 
 slide down. It was a daring, desperate plan, but 
 none other offered, and the fact that Rob had 
 suggested it showed that his nerve was not likely
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 
 
 to fail him in what might be aptly described as 
 a supreme test. 
 
 Amid a dead silence Merritt let the arrow 
 fly. It shot through the air, but instead of reach- 
 ing the roof it struck the wall and rebounded. A 
 cry went up from the watching crowd as it fell, 
 having failed to accomplish its purpose. If Rob's 
 face changed as he stood up there on the edge 
 of the fire-illumined roof, it was not visible to 
 those below him, keen as his disappointment must 
 have been. 
 
 But Merritt was almost sobbing as he picked 
 up the arrow and fitted it afresh for another 
 trial. As he drew the bow with every ounce of 
 strength he possessed, his lips moved in prayer 
 that his next effort might be successful. At 
 any moment now, the foreman of the fire-fighters 
 told him, the roof might collapse, carrying with 
 it the brave boy and his childish burden. 
 
 On the outskirts of the crowd, too, a white- 
 faced man and woman were imploring Divine 
 Providence to nerve Merritfs arm and aim. For
 
 128 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 one instant the bowstring* was drawn taut till 
 it seemed that the bow must snap under the 
 terrific pressure. 
 
 Then suddenly the string fell slack, the arrow 
 whizzed through the air and a mighty cheer split 
 the sky as it winged true and swift to the roof 
 top, falling almost at Rob's feet. Hand over hand 
 he drew in the string, and at last he had hauled 
 up enough rope to knot one end fast about some 
 ornamental stone work at a corner of the build- 
 ing. 
 
 While doing this he had laid the child down. 
 Now he was seen to pick her up again, and 
 holding her in his arms for an instant he ap- 
 peared to consider. To slide down that rope he 
 must have at least one arm free. How was he 
 going to do it? The crowd almost forebore to 
 breathe as they sensed what the boy on the roof 
 was puzzling over. 
 
 It was Rob's scout training that solved the 
 problem one of life and death for him as tht 
 same training is doing all over the world for
 
 The Arrow whizzed through the air * * * *, falling almost 
 at Rob's feet. Page 128.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 129 
 
 lads in every grade of life to-day. He was seen 
 to give the child some emphatic instructions and 
 then throw her over his left shoulder much as 
 he might have done with a bag of meal. In this 
 position the child's head hung down between his 
 shoulders. Her legs were across his chest. 
 
 Seizing the baby's left arm so that it came 
 over his right shoulder, Rob extended his left 
 hand between its knees and grasped the little 
 one's wrist firmly. In this position she was held 
 perfectly securely in what all Boy Scouts know 
 as "The Fireman's Lift," one of the most useful 
 accomplishments a Boy Scout can master. 
 
 This done, the most difficult, dangerous part 
 of Rob's task came. He had to slide down that 
 rope with his burden on his shoulder with only 
 his right arm and his legs to depend on for a 
 grip. But it had to be done. Without hesita- 
 tion he swung himself from the coping and 
 gripped the rope. 
 
 For one terrible instant he shot down for a 
 foot or so before he succeeded in checking his
 
 130 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 downward plunge. But his knees gripped the 
 rope and his right arm stood the strain, although 
 he felt as if it must snap. 
 
 How he reached the ground Rob never knew. 
 Those last terrible moments on the roof had come 
 rery near to breaking his nerve. He was con- 
 scious of a sudden flare of light and a crash as 
 his feet touched the ground. It crossed his mind 
 hazily that part of the roof must have fallen in 
 perhaps the part on which he had been standing. 
 Then came a rush of feet, shouts, cries, and arms 
 flung about him, and through it all Rob could 
 hear his mother's glad cry of relief after the 
 awful tension she had endured. He tried to say 
 something and failed, and then everything raced 
 round and round him at breakneck speed. 
 
 "He's fainting!" he was conscious that some- 
 body was shouting, and he could hear himself, 
 only it seemed like somebody else, saying : 
 
 "No, I'm all right," and then everything grew 
 blank to the Boy Scout who had won, through 
 "Being Prepared" for a great emergency.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 131 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 THE: ENEMY'S MOVE. 
 
 Rob Blake was sitting- on the porch of his home 
 in Hampton. In his hand was a book on Wood- 
 craft. But he was not just now devoting his 
 attention to the volume. Instead he let it hang 
 idly from one hand while he gazed up through 
 the maple tops and dreamed of many things. As 
 Rob himself would have put it, the "spring was 
 in his blood." More strongly than usual that 
 morning he felt the "red gods calling." 
 
 Suddenly two hands were thrown over his eyes 
 from behind and a voice cried: 
 
 "Surrender, you leader of the Eagles ! That's 
 one time you're caught napping." 
 
 "Tubby!" exclaimed Rob, springing up and 
 facing round. 
 
 "How in the world did you get in?" he asked
 
 132 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the next minute. "I never heard you coming, 
 and " 
 
 He broke off with a laugh as his eyes fell on 
 a big section of apple pie with one crescent-shaped 
 bite missing, that the fat boy was regarding affec- 
 tionately. 
 
 "Oh, I see. The back door, eh?" he inquired. 
 
 "Ye-es," drawled Tubby, "and I must say your 
 cook makes good pie and is inclined to look favor- 
 ably on a starving Scout." 
 
 "Starving! Why, it's not two hours since 
 breakfast!" 
 
 "Well, two hours is a long time sometimes," 
 mumbled Tubby, who had taken another bite 
 while Rob was speaking. 
 
 "What news from the Academy, Tubby?" 
 
 "Haven't you heard? They haven't been able 
 to find another building big enough to house the 
 scholars, so I guess it's a holiday till the begin- 
 ning of September for all of us," cried Tubby 
 with shining eyes. "Hullo, what's that? A 
 Latin grammar?"
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 
 
 He picked up a volume that lay on an ad- 
 joining chair. He regarded it attentively for a 
 few seconds and then flung it forth into the 
 garden where it landed in a rose bush. 
 
 "Let it lie there till September," he chuckled. 
 "Well, how are you anyhow, old fellow?" he 
 rattled on. "It's a week since the fire and you 
 ought to be feeling fit again." 
 
 "Never felt better in my life, although I waa 
 knocked out quite a bit; but you see I've had 
 very good care, and " 
 
 "Oh yes, Lucy Mainwaring has been to see you 
 once or twice, hasn't she?" and Tubby, with 
 an air of apparent abstraction, fell to studying a 
 white cloud that happened to be drifting by far 
 above them. Suddenly he faced about with a 
 mischievous laugh. 
 
 "You looked sort of pale when I came in, Rob," 
 he chuckled, "but you've got plenty of color now." 
 
 Rob, boy-like, looked embarrassed and changed 
 the subject rather abruptly.
 
 134 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Everything fixed for that meeting at head- 
 quarters to-night?" he asked. 
 
 A rather odd look passed over the fat boy's 
 face. 
 
 "Oh yes, it's all ready," he said with rather a 
 marked emphasis on the words. 
 
 "Good; you and Merritt must have worked 
 hard." 
 
 "We've all taken our part. The hall looks 
 bully. It'll be dandy to have you around again." 
 
 The meeting the boys referred to was the 
 regular weekly meeting of the patrol. But when 
 Rob reached the hall above the bank that night 
 he felt rather astonished to find that chairs and 
 stools had been arranged all over the spacious 
 hall, and that decorations consisting of the Stars 
 and Stripes and the Eagle Patrol flags were 
 strung everywhere. Off the main hall opened 
 the Scouts' gymnasium and general store room. 
 In this room Rob found his Scouts assembled. 
 They greeted him with a cheer as he appeared. 
 Rob began to feel uneasy. He hated anything
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 135 
 
 like that, but he took the congratulations that 
 were showered upon him in the spirit in which 
 they were offered. 
 
 When he found an opportunity he drew Merritt 
 aside. 
 
 "What are all the chairs arranged outside 
 for ?" he asked suspiciously. 
 
 "Oh, just so that the folks can see what we've 
 been doing with our time during the winter," 
 was the reply. "We've arranged some single 
 stick bouts and an exhibition drill and so on 
 you don't mind, do you?" 
 
 "No, it's a fine idea," declared Rob warmly. 
 "How soon will the company audience I mean 
 arrive ?" 
 
 "Guess they're beginning to come now," said 
 Merritt as the sound of feet tramping into the 
 hall became audible. 
 
 "Better send out Walter and Martin to act as 
 ushers, hadn't you?" 
 
 "Yes, I guess so," and Merritt hastened off
 
 136 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 to dispatch the two second class Scouts referred 
 to. 
 
 The hall filled rapidly. In the front rows Rob 
 could see his parents and beside them Commo- 
 dore Wingate, the scout master of the district, 
 and the parents of most of the boys. The other 
 chairs were filled with villagers and all at once 
 Rob's heart beat rather quicker down the aisle 
 came the Mainwaring party. They took the 
 three seats which had been apparently reserved 
 for them close to Rob's parents. 
 
 Little Andy Bowles, who arrived late, came 
 into the gym in a state of high excitement. 
 
 Like most of the other scouts he had come 
 in by the back stairway which led directly into 
 the gym. He came straight up to Rob. 
 
 "Say/' he exclaimed, after he had given the 
 scout salute and congratulated his leader, "say, 
 who do you think are hanging about outside ?" 
 
 "No idea," rejoined Rob. 
 
 "Why, Hodge Berry and Max Ramsay and 
 some of that bunch. They pretended not to
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 137 
 
 notice me, but I'm sure they're up to some mis- 
 chief. I could tell that by the way they sneaked 
 off when they saw me." 
 
 "I don't see what harm they can do us," re- 
 joined Rob, "although I don't doubt they'd like 
 to work off some mean trick. Run along and put 
 on your best uniform, Andy, you're late." 
 
 Everyone of note in Hampton was in the hall 
 by this time, and when Commodore Wingate 
 arose to make a preliminary address he was 
 warmly applauded. He dwelt at some length on 
 the new spirit that the Boy Scouts had brought 
 into Hampton, and explained that while some 
 misinformed persons appeared to think that the 
 scout movement was a warlike one, it was in 
 reality a great influence for peace. He reviewed 
 the work of the Eagles for the past year and 
 enumerated at some length the various services 
 they had done in the village. These included the 
 clearing up and beautifying of vacant lots, the 
 aiding of indigent or poor people, many little acts 
 of kindness and help, and the setting generally
 
 138 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 of a good example to the youth of the town and 
 neighborhood. 
 
 "But," he went on to say, after an impressive 
 pause, "it remained for the well-remembered 
 night of the Academy fire to bring into notice the 
 two most conspicuous acts of heroism the scouts 
 have yet performed. 
 
 "I doubt if the annals of the Boy Scouts of 
 any country show two more noble, self-sacrific- 
 ing acts than those performed on that night by 
 Leader Rob Blake of the Eagles," here such 
 loud applause broke out that the speaker was 
 compelled to pause for some minutes. When 
 quiet was restored he went on, "and Merritt 
 Crawford, his able lieutenant." More applause. 
 
 While this was going on Rob was shaking his 
 fist at Merritt indignantly. Modest as most true 
 heroes, he had, of course, already quietly received 
 the thanks of the janitor's wife and the man him- 
 self for his daring rescue and hoped that the 
 matter would end there. But this public ac- 
 knowledgment was too much for him. As for
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 139 
 
 Merritt, he was chuckling for a minute, but as 
 his own name was announced he turned a fiery 
 red and cried out in a voice that was audible to 
 the front rows: 
 
 "Commodore, I thought you were going to 
 leave me out!" 
 
 This caused a great laugh among those who 
 heard it, and Rob felt revenged. But the worst 
 ordeal for the two boys still was ahead of them. 
 Above the din of applause that greeted the close 
 of Mr. Wingate's speech, they heard that gentle- 
 man cry for silence. When quiet was restored 
 he turned around toward the gymnasium door 
 and cried: 
 
 "I now ask Rob Blake and Merritt Crawford 
 to come forward and receive a slight token of 
 esteem from their fellow townsmen." 
 
 "Go on!" cried the Scouts behind Rob and 
 Merritt, under cover of a vigorous salvo of hand- 
 clapping. 
 
 There was no use hanging back, and Rob and 
 Merritt, looking very ill at ease, stepped out
 
 140 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 before the crowd. If the applause had been 
 loud before it was terrific then. The hall fairly 
 shook under it. Timid folks glanced upward at 
 the roof to make sure it was not going to be 
 blown off by enthusiasm. But at last, from sheer 
 weariness, even the most vigorous applauders 
 ceased. Then came a cry in a stentorian voice, 
 traced to the foreman of the Fire Vigilants. 
 
 "Three cheers for Rob Blake and Merritt 
 Crawford!" 
 
 "Second the motion !" came a tempest of cries 
 from all parts of the hall. 
 
 Commodore Wingate drew from his coat tail 
 pockets two velvet boxes. He opened them and 
 in each there lay, glittering on a bed of purple 
 plush, two miniature firemen's helmets of solid 
 gold set with diamonds. On the back of each 
 was inscribed: "From a grateful community to 
 a Boy Scout hero." Then followed the date, the 
 name of the boy receiving the gift and the village 
 seal. Stepping forward the Scout Master pinned 
 to the breast of each lad the gleaming trophies
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 141 
 
 which would ever be among their proudest pos- 
 sessions. 
 
 In the fresh applause that followed there were 
 a few who did not join. These were Max Ram- 
 say, Hodge Berry and their cronies, all of whom 
 cordially disliked the Boy Scouts and hated to 
 see them the idols of the village. While the 
 applause was still sounding in lusty salvoes they 
 slipped out with mischievous looks on their faces. 
 Perhaps Andy Bowies' guess that they were up 
 to some prank designed to work harm to the Boy 
 Scouts was not so far from the mark. 
 
 To relate in detail all that took place that even- 
 ing would occupy too much space. Suffice it to 
 say that the drills and exercises went off with 
 a snap, and that some of the games played proved 
 full of laughter and merriment. As the audience 
 filed out, more than one former lukewarm citizen 
 was heard to remark that the Boy Scout organ- 
 ization was a "mighty fine thing for lads, and 
 that the Eagles in particular not only shone
 
 142 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 themselves, but reflected credit on their home 
 town/' 
 
 But with the departure of the crowd, all was 
 not over. For some time, the boys' gym buzzed 
 with chat and laughter. Naturally, Rob and 
 Merritt were the centers of attraction, and the 
 two gold, diamond-studded helmets were handed 
 about till it seemed that they must actually wear 
 out from constant handling! At last it was too 
 late to delay their departure for home any longer. 
 When the impromptu meeting did finally break 
 tip, however, every fellow belonging to the Eagles 
 felt deep down in his heart that their organiza- 
 tion, despite criticism and even open enmity, had 
 proved its right to exist, and, what was more, 
 had even proved its necessity in raising ideals 
 and standards among the lads of the community. 
 
 "We'll march out, fellows," declared Rob, "and 
 as each chap's home or corner is reached he can 
 fall out of the ranks." 
 
 "Good idea," was the cry, and then: 
 
 "Fall in! Fall in!" shouted Merritt.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 143 
 
 "Lights out," was the next order and the 
 pushing of the electric light switch plunged the 
 place into darkness. 
 
 "March !" and off they went, two by two, each 
 Scout marching as smartly as a trained veteran. 
 
 Outside, on the landing, it was very dark. The 
 blackness was made, so to speak, doubly black 
 by the fact that they had just been in a brilliantly 
 lighted room. 
 
 "Look out for the steps, boys ! They're steep !" 
 warned Rob, as his detachment of young Scouts 
 marched downward. 
 
 Hardly had he spoken when the two lads 
 marching in front, Hiram and Paul, gave a 
 stumble and a yell. The next instant they rolled 
 down the steep stairway to the street. Before 
 they could take advantage of the warning, three 
 more pairs, including Merritt, had likewise exe- 
 cuted a bob forward and gone toppling down the 
 staircase to the sidewalk. They all landed in a 
 heap. 
 
 "Look out there ! The steps have been soaped !"
 
 144 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Rob had just time to call out and save the rest 
 from disaster. 
 
 The light from a street lamp gave a feeble 
 gleam on the struggling group below. The rest 
 of the boys, huddled for a moment above, by 
 exercising great care, managed to get over the 
 well-soaped and slippery steps without coming to 
 grief. One of them was Andy Bowles. 
 
 "I just thought that Max Ramsay and Hodge 
 Berry and their bunch were up to some tricks 
 when I saw them round here, and I guess I was 
 right, too. How about it, Rob?" 
 
 "I'm inclined to think you were," responded 
 Rob. "How are you, fellows? All right?" he 
 asked as the downfallen Scouts picked themselves 
 up. 
 
 "All present and accounted for," declared 
 Merritt, as they all stood up, vigorously brush- 
 ing dust and dirt from their trig uniforms, "ex- 
 cept for a few bruises I guess we're all right." 
 
 "Hark!" cried Hiram suddenly, "what's that?" 
 
 From somewhere near by, possibly from some
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 145 
 
 bushes that grew further down the street came 
 the sound of suppressed giggling and cat-calls. 
 There was no doubt as to what excited the merri- 
 ment of the unseen scoffers, nor was there, in 
 fact, any difficulty in guessing their identity. 
 
 Rob hardly knew whether to laugh or be an- 
 gry. Others of the Patrol had no such hesitancy. 
 
 "It's that Max Ramsay crowd," shouted Tubby 
 angrily. "Come out here if you're not cowards." 
 
 A sound of scuffling and retreating footsteps 
 followed this challenge. 
 
 "There they go," shouted Hiram, "the sneaks !" 
 
 "Let's capture some of them and make them 
 pay dearly for those soapy stairs !" shouted PauL 
 
 "What about it, Rob?" asked Merritt anx- 
 iously. 
 
 But Rob shook his head. 
 
 "Let them go," he said. "None of us are hurt, 
 and if they are mean enough to find satisfaction 
 in such tricks, let them." 
 
 "Well, I'll take it out of them for this skinned
 
 146 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 ankle sooner or later," declared Tubby, hopping 
 about and nursing the injured member. 
 
 "Same here/' came from one or two of the 
 Scouts angrily. "They won't get away with any- 
 thing like that." 
 
 "Humph! I've just recollected," said Tubby 
 suddenly. "There's some rule or other that says 
 Scouts mustn't fight." 
 
 Rob was instantly appealed to by half a dozen 
 anxious voices owned by the victims of the soapy 
 stairs. 
 
 "Well," he said, "of course no Scout is sup- 
 posed to engage in fisticuffs except in actual self- 
 defense; but well I guess there's a limit." 
 
 "And it's been reached," muttered Tubby vin- 
 dictively. 
 
 "Fall in!" cried Rob. 
 
 "Humph ! I just fell down," grunted Tubby. 
 
 And then, without more discussion of the mean 
 trick that had been played them, the Scouts 
 marched off. After that glorious evening they 
 all felt that they could well afford to ignore such
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 147 
 
 contemptible pranks as those of Max Ramsay 
 and his crowd. 
 
 As for Rob and Merritt, proud as they felt 
 of the honor that had been paid them that night, 
 they somehow could not help valuing even more 
 highly the quiet thanks that had come to them 
 from full hearts before the public demonstration 
 had been thought of. It is a Scout's duty to do 
 his work without hope of reward, save that 
 which comes from a sense of work well done, 
 which, after all, is the best reward and the most 
 enduring that any boy, or man, either, for that 
 matter, can have.
 
 148 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A NOVEL PROPOSAL. 
 
 "Well, what do you think of my proposal?" 
 
 Mr. Mainwaring's eyes twinkled as he re- 
 garded the three lads seated opposite him in 
 the library of his home which he had called Ancon 
 Hill, possibly in remembrance of that other Ancon 
 Hill in the far off Canal Zone. 
 
 Tubby gulped; Merritt's eyes shone and his 
 face flushed excitedly, but he couldn't find words 
 just then. 
 
 "Well, Rob, what do you say to transplanting 
 the Boy Scouts, or part of them, down along the 
 big Ditch?" 
 
 "I I that is, we it's too big too glorious 
 to just realize it all at once, isn't it, fellows?" 
 stammered Rob. 
 
 "Pshaw! I thought the motto of your clan 
 was 'Be Prepared'. Now you ought to be just
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 149 
 
 as much prepared to accept my invitation to go 
 to Panama as you would be to cook a meal in a 
 given time or light a fire with one match." 
 
 Mr. Mainwaring regarded the young faces op- 
 posite him with a quizzical look. Then he spoke 
 again. 
 
 "I know just what you fellows are thinking," 
 he said. "You'd like to go, but " 
 
 "It's it's our folks, you see " Tubby 
 
 managed to sputter. The others nodded solemnly. 
 This proposal of Mr. Mainwaring's, that while 
 the Academy was closed they should go as his 
 guests to the Canal Zone and see the wonders of 
 that region, both natural and man-made, had 
 fairly taken them off their feet, as the saying is. 
 
 "We'll come to that part of it later," responded 
 Mr. Mainwaring. "I shouldn't be surprised," he 
 added with a twinkle in his eyes, "if it could all 
 be arranged satisfactorily. You see, I'm not 
 going to take you lads down there to idle. Far 
 from it. Idleness is the worst thing for boys 
 or men. I've work for you to do. As I told
 
 150 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 you, this young scamp Jared, who is really more 
 fool than knave, has skipped out for the Isthmus. 
 That I have found out as you know. With him 
 went Alverado and Estrada, the latter having 
 suddenly resigned his diplomatic post at Wash- 
 ington. A third party went also, who I more 
 than suspect is the keen-faced young man you 
 told me you had seen in Jared's company at the 
 barn, at the ball game, and also on the evening 
 Jared took his abrupt departure. 
 
 "Now, of course, they are on the qui vive on 
 the Isthmus for this precious outfit who, un- 
 doubtedly, mean mischief of some sort. Just 
 what it is I am not prepared to say, but I can 
 tell you that I have a shrewd suspicion. Now 
 you boys have plenty of pluck, resource and en- 
 terprise don't turn red, I'm not in the habit of 
 flattering anybody and I mean it. You are the 
 only people that I know of that have actually 
 seen Alverado and who would be able to pick 
 out this miserable, misled Jared."
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 151 
 
 "You want us to do detective work!" gasped 
 Tubby in an awe-struck tone. 
 
 Mr. Mainwaring laughed and threw up his 
 hands. 
 
 "Heaven save the mark! I suspect you of 
 reading dime novels, Master Tubby. No, there 
 is nothing Old-Sleuth-like about what I would 
 want you to do ; nothing very thrilling or exciting 
 about it. I'd simply want you to accompany me 
 and maybe point out the men you have seen 
 plotting together, for the benefit of the Isthmian 
 police ; so you see there is no danger, no glamour, 
 no promise of adventure about it; only a hum- 
 drum trip, but one that I am sure will prove 
 full of interest." 
 
 Had Mr. Mainwaring possessed a prophetic 
 eye he might not have spoken exactly as recorded 
 above. But not being blessed with such an organ 
 he, of course, had no means of knowing into 
 what danger and adventure the Boy Scouts were 
 destined to be thrust while on the Isthmus. 
 
 "Oh, but we'd like to go!" sighed Rob.
 
 152 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "It's like a beautiful dream," struck in Merritt 
 with a far-away look in his eyes. 
 
 "I suppose that there's plenty to eat down that 
 way?" asked Tubby rather suspiciously. 
 
 The tension was relieved by a hearty laugh 
 from them all. 
 
 "Well, I only asked, you know," remarked 
 Tubby in an injured tone. 
 
 "And now that that's all explained," said Mr. 
 Mainwaring, after the merriment had subsided, 
 "I may as well tell you that all your parents 
 know of my wish and are quite willing that you 
 should go, in spite of the fact that for some weeks 
 they will be deprived of your interesting society. 
 And " 
 
 But all discipline was at an end for the nonce. 
 The boys' spirits fairly broke bounds. They 
 leaped up, joined hands and danced round in a 
 circle. It was like some impossible, glorious 
 dream coming true; for each of them had long 
 cherished a desire to see Uncle Sam's wonderful
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 153 
 
 digging operations which, under the Stars and 
 Stripes, were to join two mighty oceans. 
 
 In the midst of the excitement the door opened 
 and in came Fred Mainwaring; but Lucy was 
 not with him, rather to the disappointment of one 
 of the Scouts. Fred, after the boys had all 
 shaken hands warmly and indulged in another 
 war dance, announced that his sister had had to 
 leave suddenly for the West the night before, 
 as her mother, who was stopping with relatives 
 there, had absolutely forbidden the project of 
 taking her along. 
 
 It was not till after they had taken their leave 
 and were walking with Fred down the drive lead- 
 ing to the road back to Hampton that Lucy's 
 brother seized an opportunity to draw Rob aside. 
 
 "What are you looking so glum about?" he 
 demanded with a twinkle in his eyes. 
 
 "Who? Me?" rejoined Rob indignantly, "I 
 never felt better in my life." 
 
 But his looks belied him. And, strange to say,
 
 154 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Rob's gloom dated from the moment that Fred 
 had announced Lucy's departure. 
 
 "Say, old fellow," laughed Fred merrily, "if 
 you don't remind me of the ostrich in the fable! 
 Here, here's her address, take it and be happy. 
 Bless you, my children," and without waiting for 
 an answer, Fred thrust a bit of paper into Rob's 
 hand and darted off with a merry: 
 
 "See you to-morrow. We'll have lots to talk 
 about." 
 
 Rob rejoined his companions, who had walked 
 on some distance ahead. His gloomy look had 
 vanished like snow in the spring. 
 
 "Isn't it great, glittering, glorious?" cried 
 Merritt as he came up. 
 
 "I simply can't believe it yet," cried Tubby. 
 "I'm afraid I'll wake up like I do some nights 
 when I'm dreaming about a banquet at which 
 I'm an honored guest." 
 
 " and I can always send postcards from 
 
 the Isthmus," breathed Rob, which remark did 
 not seem very germane to the conversation. His
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 155 
 
 companions looked at him in amazement for an 
 instant and then, comprehending, broke into a 
 roar of laughter, for which Rob chased them half 
 way back to Hampton, catching Tubby at last 
 and belaboring that stout youth till he roared for 
 mercy. 
 
 But the fat boy had his revenge. As soon as 
 he was released he sought a safe refuge and 
 then, holding his staff like a guitar, he rolled 
 his eyes upward in imitation of a troubadour, and 
 howled at the top of his voice : 
 
 "On a bee-yoot-i-ful night! 
 With a bee-yoot-i-ful gy-url !" 
 
 Rob didn't know whether to laugh or be angry.
 
 156 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 OFF FOR THE ISTHMUS. 
 
 The $S. Caribbean lay at her dock at the foot 
 of West Twenty-fifth Street, New York City, 
 with steam up in readiness for her departure for 
 Colon, which, as every boy knows, is the easterly 
 port of the Canal Zone and the terminus on that 
 side of the Isthmus of the Panama Railroad. 
 Everything appeared to be a perfect maze of con- 
 fusion. Derricks rattled, steam winches roared 
 and wagons clattered about the dock in every 
 direction. From the 'scape pipe of the big 
 steamer white wisps of steam were pouring, 
 while black smoke rolled from the squat, black 
 funnel. At the foremast flew the Blue Peter, 
 that blue flag with a square white center that, all 
 the world over, signifies "Sailing day." 
 
 Down Twenty- fourth Street, hurrying with all 
 their might, came three bovs whom, even had
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 157 
 
 they not worn their Scout uniforms, we should 
 have had no difficulty in recognizing as Rob, Mer- 
 ritt and Tubby. All were laden down with pack- 
 ages, things bought at the last moment. The 
 main part of their equipment was already on 
 board. As we know, their numerous camping 
 expeditions had provided for them so amply in 
 that way that it had hardly been necessary to 
 buy anything in that line. Tents, cooking out- 
 fits, and so on, they had long possessed. 
 
 But on board the ship, in the stateroom they 
 were all three to share, reposed their proudest 
 possessions: three blue-steel automatic revolvers 
 with their cartridge belts, etc., and three brand 
 new automatic rifles of heavy caliber. The lat- 
 ter had been the gift of Mr. .Mainwaring, while 
 the revolvers the boys had bought themselves on 
 his recommendation. It was quite likely, it 
 appeared, that they would explore some of the 
 upper reaches of the Chagres River, a region 
 infested by big snakes, jaguars and alligators, 
 and weapons were more or less of a necessity.
 
 158 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Good-byes had been said early that morning 
 when an admiring, if slightly envious, cohort of 
 Scouts, with the village band at their heads, had 
 escorted them to the train for New York. It 
 had been a period of glorious excitement up to 
 that time, but when the moment came to say the 
 last good-byes and they had waved and given the 
 Scout cry for the last time, the three lads felt 
 strangely sober. This supernatural depression 
 of spirits had endured till they reached New 
 York, where their last shopping excursion for 
 some time diverted their thoughts and drove 
 away the blues. So that it was a laughing, mer- 
 rily chatting trio that came at a brisk walk down 
 Twenty-fourth Street on its way to meet Mr. 
 Mainwaring and Fred at the steamer. All felt 
 that their departure for the tropics meant a new 
 epoch in their lives. As for their friends at 
 home, the Hampton local paper had devoted a 
 column to the lads' departure, calling them 
 "Hampton's Boy Scout Pioneers." 
 
 How much they wished that they could have
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAI4 159 
 
 brought all the Eagles with them to share their 
 anticipated experiences! But that was mani- 
 festly impossible, and so, as the next best thing, 
 Tubby carried a camera and an ample supply of 
 films with which to make all the pictures he could 
 to be shown to admiring audiences on their 
 return. 
 
 The water front opposite the sailing place of 
 the West India and South American ships is a 
 busy spot. Life boils over thereabouts and the 
 boys felt quite bewildered as they faced the broad 
 street packed with rumbling wagons and swear- 
 ing drivers and stevedores that lay between them 
 and the dock bearing in big white letters the 
 magic words : Panama Steamship Company. 
 
 They were just about to cross the street when 
 their attention was suddenly distracted by the 
 sound >f some sort of scuffle or argument going 
 on near at hand. Facing about they were not 
 long in discovering what the trouble was. Drawn 
 up against the curb was a small peddler's hand- 
 cart, covered with rosy apples piled high in tempt-.
 
 160 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 ing fashion. Behind it stood a kindly-looking 
 old woman who just at that moment appeared to 
 be very much flustered and excited. The cause 
 was soon apparent. 
 
 Above the quavering voice of the old woman 
 came a loud, blustering one that the boys were 
 swift to recognize. 
 
 "Max Ramsay ! What in the world is he doing 
 here?" 
 
 "And Hodge Berry is with him and two other 
 boys that look like city fellows," struck in Mer- 
 ritt. "What are they up to?" 
 
 "It's plain enough that they are plaguing that 
 poor old woman," exclaimed Rob, "and it 
 wouldn't surprise me if they had come down here 
 to see us off on the steamer and try to make 
 trouble of some kind. I heard they were staying 
 with Ramsay's cousins in the city till the school 
 was rebuilt." 
 
 "Well, it's a shame, anyhow," cried Merritt 
 indignantly. 
 
 He had just seen what the Hampton worthies
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 161 
 
 and their friends were up to. They had amused 
 themselves by plaguing the old woman till she 
 was half beside herself, and then, while she waa 
 berating one of them, the others would steal 
 some apples. 
 
 "Why, it's downright thievery," cried Rob. 
 
 "That's just what it is. Just what I'd expect 
 from such cads," cried Merritt, fully as angry. 
 
 "They look like good apples, too," commented 
 Tubby, regarding the fruit with the eye of an 
 expert in such matters. 
 
 "Well, if you aren't the limit," exclaimed Mer- 
 ritt, giving him a disgusted look. 
 
 "Haven't I got a right to give my opinion?" 1 
 asked the fat Scout demurely. 
 
 "Well, of all the mean skunks," cried Rob in- 
 dignantly, with a darkening brow. "See, the 
 poor old woman is lame. She's got a crutch there. 
 She can't get after them and that's why they are 
 so bold." 
 
 "Come on, and stop it," exclaimed Merritt
 
 162 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 impulsively, "I can't stand for anything like 
 that." 
 
 "Better get a policeman," suggested Tubby 
 prudently. 
 
 "I don't see one in sight," rejoined Rob; "I 
 guess it's up to us to stop it." 
 
 "Here's where I get even for that tumble I 
 took, Scout rules or no Scout rules," muttered 
 Tubby to himself as the three lads advanced. 
 
 Max Ramsay was contentedly munching a big 
 red apple as they approached. He was too much 
 engrossed with laughing at the anger of the old 
 woman and the mean pranks of his friends to no- 
 tice the trio of determined looking lads nearing 
 him. He had already swooped down on the stand 
 and was now trying to divert the old woman's 
 attention from the raids of his companions. 
 
 "Drop that apple, Max Ramsay!" 
 
 That was the first warning that Max had that 
 the three Scouts from Hampton were on the 
 scene. He and his companions had, as Rob 
 guessed, come down to the steamer to make
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 16S 
 
 trouble for the boys if they could. But on the 
 way they had stopped to divert themselves at 
 the old apple woman's expense. 
 
 Max turned a trifle pale for an instant, but 
 then he bethought himself of his companions 
 and grew defiant again. 
 
 "As if I'd drop it for you," he said sneeringly. 
 
 Rob's arm flashed out and seized Max's wrist. 
 The next instant the apple was flying across the 
 street. 
 
 "Ouch!" grunted Max, "what are you trying 
 to do? Break my arm? Hey, fellows!" 
 
 His companions, their attention thus drawn, 
 rallied to Max's support. But Rob, crimson with 
 just anger, never noticed them. Nothing made 
 the young Scout leader more angry than cruelty 
 or injustice to children, the old and feeble, or 
 dumb animals. His eyes fairly blazed now as he 
 faced Max, who looked mean and cringing 
 beside him. 
 
 "Now get out of this, you coward," he ex- 
 claimed, grabbing Max's shoulder and giving
 
 164 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 that worthy a good shove. "Be off and take your 
 friends with you. You ought to be ashamed of 
 yourselves, treating a poor old woman this way." 
 
 "Let's give 'em a good punching," muttered 
 Tubby belligerently. 
 
 "That's what I say," chimed in Merritt; but 
 Rob held back his two fire-eating chums. 
 
 "Oh, we're not scared of the whole bunch of 
 you namby-pamby sissies," cried Hodge Berry, 
 a hulking lad who, however, took good care to 
 keep out of reach of Rob's fists. He had once wit- 
 nessed what they could do and had no desire for 
 a personal experience. Now Max's two city 
 cousins chimed in. 
 
 "Why don't you give those toy soldiers a good 
 hiding?" said one. 
 
 "Yes; those Boy Scouts are too dern busy," 
 put in the other, a pale-faced, pimply lad of about 
 seventeen. 
 
 But despite these brave remarks, neither of 
 them made any effort to back up Max or Hodge 
 Berry.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 166 
 
 "All right for you. We'll fix you some time," 
 snarled Max. 
 
 "Why not do it now?" inquired Tubby. 
 "You're four to three, that's good odds." 
 
 "Oh, we could lick you if we wanted to. We'll 
 do it, too, when you get back from Panama, if 
 you ever do. I hope the 'gators eat you." 
 
 "Thank you," said Rob, laughing in spite of 
 himself; "and as for fighting you fellows, why 
 I don't much believe in it, but if you don't make 
 yourselves scarce, I'll give you rowdies a lesson 
 you won't forget." 
 
 " Yah-h-h-h-h !" was all that the apple raiders 
 could think of to say, but they faded away from 
 the scene in as dignified a manner as they could 
 muster. 
 
 The three Scouts then bought some apples 
 from the old woman, who poured out her thanks 
 so profusely that a small crowd began to gather 
 about her and listen. 
 
 "Come on, fellows," said Rob, "let's get out of 
 tills."
 
 166 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 They hurried away, followed by the old 
 woman's "Wurra wurras," and "God bless yez 
 fer foine byes now, even if ye do wear haythenish 
 clothes." 
 
 When they were out of earshot, Rob turned 
 his attention to his badge, which he was wearing 
 upside down. Like many other Scouts, he didn't 
 turn it the right way up till he had lived up to 
 the Scout rules of doing a daily kind deed. He 
 now turned his badge the right way and so 
 did his chums, who had adopted this rule also. 
 
 "I'd have felt better if I could have got a good 
 crack at those chaps, though," said Tubby 
 between bites at his apple. 
 
 Suddenly a steamer's whistle boomed out above 
 the dock-side uproar. 
 
 "Gee whiz, fellows, that's the 'all ashore* 
 whistle. We've got to hustle !" cried Rob. 
 
 The three Scouts broke into a run, each con- 
 gratulating himself that he could present him- 
 self before Mr. Mainwaring with an "upturned 
 badge."
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 167 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 SOMETHING ABOUT THE CANAI,. 
 
 "Suppose you tell us what you know about 
 Panama and the canal ?" remarked Tubby to Rob 
 as the three boys perched in the bow of the 
 Caribbean, three days out, watching the flying fish 
 as the vessel's prow sent them scattering like 
 coveys of birds from big patches of yellow gulf 
 weed. 
 
 "Yes, that's a good idea," supplemented Mer- 
 ritt. "I guess we won't get much time to study 
 books down there. Mr. Mainwaring said this. 
 morning that, after he had given the work a 
 preliminary look-over, he was going to hunt for 
 the source of that tributary of the Chagres that 
 he thinks is responsible for the big floods every 
 rainy season." 
 
 "Well, I don't suppose I know much more
 
 168 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 about it than you two fellows do," rejoined Rob 
 modestly, "but I've been reading up on it." 
 
 Here he looked at Tubby, who had done noth- 
 ing much on the steamer but consume three huge 
 meals a day, with "snacks" in between, and 
 amuse himself. One of these amusements had 
 been stuffing some of those odd-looking pills 
 known as "Pharaoh's Serpents" into the captain's 
 pipe. Almost every boy can guess what happened 
 when the glowing tobacco reached the "Ser- 
 pents" and big, wriggly, writhing things began 
 to climb out of the pipe bowl. 
 
 "Ach himmel, der sea serpent," yelled the 
 skipper, who was a German. 
 
 "Oh-h-h-h-h-h !" screamed a lot of ladies to 
 whom he happened to be talking. 
 
 It was just at this juncture that the captain 
 had caught sight of Tubby doubled up with 
 laughter behind a ventilator. He chased and 
 captured the fat youth, who then and there re- 
 ceived a spanking for which he got no sympathy, 
 even from his fellow Scouts. Except for spilling
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 169 
 
 "sneezing powder" in the main dining room at 
 dinner time and burning an old gentleman's bald 
 head by sun rays concentrated in a magnifying 
 glass, Tubby had done nothing out of the way 
 since. 
 
 "Fire away. Unload your knowledge," ordered 
 Merritt, luxuriously stretching out under the 
 awning. 
 
 "All right, here goes. To begin at the begin- 
 ning, of course you know that Panama was dis- 
 covered by Christopher Columbus in 1502." 
 
 "Ginger snaps !" interrupted Tubby. "Is there 
 anything, except Coney Island, that he didn't 
 discover ?" 
 
 "Shut up, can't you," cried Merritt indignantly. 
 "Go on, Rob, it's just the nature of the beast. 
 Never mind him." 
 
 "Well," resumed Rob, "Columbus discovered 
 the Chagres River and sailed up it. He called 
 the beautiful harbor by which he entered it Porto 
 Bello. Then came Balboa, who was the first to 
 cross the Isthmus and view the Pacific, It was
 
 170 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 about this time that a road was built across and 
 the city of Panama founded on the Pacific side. 
 It was from Panama that Pizarro set out to begin 
 his brutal campaign which ended in the practical 
 extinction of the Incas of Peru." 
 
 "Oh, cut out the history and let's get down to 
 the canal," muttered Tubby; "I hate history, 
 anyhow." 
 
 "It's my belief that you like nothing but eat- 
 ing," declared Merritt indignantly. 
 
 "And sleeping," put in Tubby without a smile. 
 
 "The road was fifty miles long and well paved 
 and provided with substantial bridges, some of 
 which are yet standing although the road is 
 almost impassable," went on Rob. "It was the 
 war between Mexico and Uncle Sam in 1846-47 
 that brought about a change. But in the mean- 
 time, I forgot to tell you that old Panama was 
 sacked by Captain Henry Morgan and his pirates 
 in 1671, great stores of gold taken and the 
 inhabitants put to the torture. The city was
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 171 
 
 never rebuilt, but its ruins still stand some miles 
 from the site of the present city." 
 
 "Well, what happened in the Mexican war?" 
 asked Tubby. 
 
 "I'm coming to that. At that time there were 
 not more than 9,000 miles of railroad in America, 
 and it was a hard matter to get as far west as 
 Chicago by rail. 
 
 "Between the East and the Pacific Coast lay 
 great prairies, practically unexplored. Indians 
 were thickly scattered over this region and very 
 hostile to the white man. The journey across 
 took months. The lack of a short route to the 
 Pacific coast set everybody to thinking. Then, 
 in 1849, came the great gold rush to California. 
 Hundreds of miners went by way of the Isthmus, 
 but there was no railroad and they got sick, and 
 many of them died on the way across. It became 
 clear that there must be a railroad and, at last, 
 in 1855, after unheard of difficulties had been 
 mastered, one was completed with American 
 capital.
 
 172 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "From the first it paid tremendously, in the 
 space of forty-seven years making $38,000,00x5 
 of clear profit for its projectors. But to build 
 that forty-eight miles of track had cost 2,000 
 recorded human lives, five years of labor, and 
 $8,000,000." 
 
 "First history, then a railroad year book, and 
 now, I suppose, we'll get down to the canal," 
 grunted Tubby. 
 
 "Yes, that's coming now," smiled Rob. "In 
 the first place, the idea of building a canal across 
 the narrow strip of land forming the Isthmus 
 had been a dream even of the early Spaniards. 
 Then a Scotchman founded a colony which was 
 to grow rich on the products of the Isthmus and 
 also dig a canal. Disease and failure soon put 
 an end to this enterprise. In fact, from the 
 earliest days Panama and the Isthmus have 
 always been known as one of the most unhealthy 
 spots on earth. As you may know, it is only nine 
 degrees north of the equator, and the rainy sea- 
 son lasts more than half the year. But nowa-
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 173 
 
 days, with modern medicine and modern hygienic 
 methods, it is quite safe, with reasonable care, 
 to penetrate the jungle. Mr. Mainwaring told 
 ie that," he added. 
 
 "Well, after various schemes had been gotten 
 up and had fallen through, a French company, 
 backed by the money of almost everyone in 
 France who could by hook or crook secure stock, 
 in 1882 turned the first shovelful of earth for a 
 canal. It was to have been a sea-level one, that 
 is, one without locks, and was projected and engi- 
 neered by Ferdinand De Lesseps, the aged 
 builder of the Suez canal. 
 
 "We know now that a sea-level canal would 
 not be feasible on the Isthmus. It would take too 
 long to build and cost a prohibitive sum, almost 
 double what a lock canal costs. For seven years 
 digging went on, with fearful loss of life among 
 the laborers and engineers from yellow fever. 
 Then, in 1899, it was discovered that almost half 
 of the $400,000,000 raised had been squandered 
 in mismanagement and waste, and by far the
 
 IL74 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 larger part had gone in what we should nowa- 
 days call 'graft'. An investigation was made. 
 Several of the promoters of the canal committed 
 suicide, and De Lesseps went mad and died in 
 an asylum. Such was the tragic history of the 
 French era ; but brighter days were to come. 
 
 "It was in 1898 when the Oregon made her 
 record run from San Francisco to join the At- 
 lantic fleet in the West Indies and fight the 
 Spaniards off Cuba, that Americans began to 
 think that a short cut was needed. With our 
 acquisition of the Philippines, a "door" between 
 the Pacific and Atlantic was declared to be almost 
 a necessity. There was much discussion at Wash- 
 ington, but finally in 1903 President Roosevelt 
 and Congress decided that if we could purchase 
 from the French all they had left at Panama and 
 could, in addition, buy a strip or "zone" across 
 the Isthmus for canal building purposes, it would 
 be fitting and right for the United States to take 
 up the work. 
 
 "After some dickering, the French company
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 175 
 
 took $40,000,000 for what they owned, and, in 
 1904, the Panama Republic, a newly created na- 
 tion, sold the United States for $10,000,000 a 
 strip of land ten miles wide and fifty miles long, 
 which strip of land is now known as the Canal 
 Zone. 
 
 "The first thing that the Americans did after 
 they took hold was to start a campaign against 
 disease. No canal could be dug while yellow 
 fever had to be reckoned with. Under the mas- 
 terly hand of Col. W. C. Gorgas, the Zone has 
 been cleaned up till disease is almost rarer than 
 in cities of the north. Mosquitoes have been 
 wiped out, streets paved, filth and garbage, which 
 used to lie and rot under the hot sun, all swept 
 away, and good comfortable houses put up for 
 workmen and their bosses. The men who stand 
 the climate best among the laborers are Jamaican 
 negroes. Hindus, Italians and Spaniards are also 
 employed for lighter work, but for 'making the 
 dirt fly' the Sambo is the real thing. 
 "Anything else you'd like to know?" 
 "Well, yes," said Merritt. "Just why is this
 
 176 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Chagres River such an important part of the 
 canal?" 
 
 "Well, it's this way, as I understand it," said 
 Rob. "In the first place, the canal is fifty miles 
 long, forty-one miles through the land and nine 
 miles of channel dredged out in the harbors of 
 Colon and Panama. From Colon to Bah Bohia 
 the route passes for twelve miles through low, 
 swampy ground not much above sea level. Then 
 it cuts into the hills and is practically a more or 
 less shallow ditch as far as a place called Mira- 
 flores, nine miles away. The highest point of 
 land that the canal must traverse is Gold Hill, at 
 the famous Culebra, where it is 662 feet above 
 the sea level. 
 
 "But right here occurs a 'saddle* through 
 which the canal must run. This, at its lowest 
 point, is 312 feet above sea level. Right here is 
 the notorious Culebra Cut, which is an immense 
 excavation nine miles long and, in places, more 
 than three hundred feet deep in solid rock, 
 think of that!
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 177 
 
 "Bad as Culebra has been as an obstacle, how- 
 ever, the Chagres River is worse. For 23 miles 
 the canal must follow the valley of this river and 
 cross and recross its bed. The Chagres is an 
 unruly stream. At times it is small, and then 
 again it swells to tremendous size, sweeping all 
 before it and causing great floods. To build the 
 canal the problem was to turn the Chagres into 
 a friend, instead of an enemy, and that, it is 
 believed, has been done in an unique way. 
 
 "You must now roughly picture a cross section 
 of the canal route as a flat-topped pyramid. 
 Suppose the top of the pyramid to be hollow and 
 that through that hollow flows the Chagres 
 River. Well, on one side of your cup or hollow 
 is the famous Gatun Dam, in the construction of 
 which 2,250,000 barrels of cement have been 
 used. Below the Gatun Dam is a 'flight/ just 
 like a succession of steps of locks. These will be 
 used to lower vessels from the 'cup' at the top 
 to the Atlantic level, or to raise them, as the 
 case may be.
 
 178 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "On the other end of the cup, on the Pacific 
 end that is, will be another flight of locks, the 
 Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks, which will 
 raise or lower vessels from and to the Pacific. 
 Is that clear? There's a big cup at the top of 
 our pyramid, and steps, or 'locks/ lead down 
 to the levels of the oceans on each side." 
 
 "Oh, it's as clear as mud," muttered Tubby, 
 "go on." 
 
 "Now, then, we get to the Chagres and the 
 part it plays," went on Rob serenely. "That 
 whole 'cup* at the top of our pyramid is actually 
 an artificial lake of vast size. As a matter of 
 fact, it will be 165 square miles in area. At 
 Gatun a great dam will hold it in, and at Pedro 
 Miguel the locks will perform the same office. 
 This lake is the valley of Chagres, and the 
 Chagres will be relied on to keep it filled. This 
 immense Gatun Lake, as it is called, is the 'key- 
 stone* of the canal. Any weakness in the Gatun 
 Dam would ruin the whole project. You can see, 
 of course, why this is so, because the water in
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 179 
 
 that Gatun Lake will be relied upon to fill the 
 locks which will raise vessels up or down. 
 
 "But suppose the Chagres River cuts up ugly, 
 as you said it does sometimes?" asked Merritt. 
 
 "Well," said Rob, "I heard Mr. Mainwaring 
 say that the great lake will be so big that a flood 
 would affect its level no more than a cup of water 
 poured into a bath tub. The river will merely 
 serve to keep the lake filled and supply the water 
 needed to work the locks." 
 
 "That's a very good description, Master Rob," 
 said a voice at their elbows. 
 
 They started and looked up, and there was Mr. 
 Mainwaring himself looking down at them. 
 
 "We have changed the Chagres from a dan- 
 gerous enemy into an excellent friend," he said, 
 "but, as Rob pointed out, the Gatun is unavoid- 
 ably the spot at which an enemy who wished to 
 harm us could do almost irretrievable damage 
 at the expenditure of a few dollars' worth of 
 dynamite, if," he paused for an instant, "if he 
 knew just where to place it."
 
 180 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Does anyone possess such knowledge?" asked 
 Rob. 
 
 "Yes, anyone possessing a duplicate of my 
 plans would know just how to set about dealing 
 the canal a fearful blow," was the slow response. 
 
 Rob's pulses beat fast and thick. He caught 
 his breath. Jared had such duplicate plans, and 
 was in the hands of men who could work on his 
 weak nature to give them up. He glanced up at 
 Mr. Mainwaring, expecting to see signs of 
 anxiety on his face. But the engineer was per- 
 fectly calm. 
 
 "After all that 'dry history/ as Tubby called 
 it," said he, with a smile, "let's go and play 
 shuffle board Fred is waiting for us."
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 181 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 AT OLD PANAMA. 
 
 The week following the conversation recorded 
 in the last chapter found the travelers located at 
 the Hotel Grand Central, in Panama City. 
 Colon, although the Americans have done much 
 to clean it up and make it more presentable than 
 in former days, does not hold much of interest. 
 Besides, Mr. Mainwaring's offices were at 
 Panama, which made his presence there a neces- 
 sity. 
 
 The boys had passed a busy time sight-seeing 
 in the old city. They had climbed the Cathedral 
 towers, gazing out over the glittering bay dotted 
 with small but beautiful islands, where the 
 wealthy Panamans spent the heated months. 
 They had explored nooks and corners and in- 
 spected the oldest church on the continent. 
 
 On the particular day on which this chapter
 
 182 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 opens they had planned an expedition to Old 
 Panama city, which lies about five miles from 
 the present town. Mr. Mainwaring was busy, 
 but Fred had obtained leave to accompany the 
 boys, his duties as his father's secretary not being 
 very onerous. They set out in high spirits 
 along the road leading to the ruins of the golden 
 city sacked by Morgan and his buccaneers. 
 
 The drive was made in an aged hack, and 
 hardly had the boys left the outskirts of the town 
 before they were exclaiming over the luxuriant 
 tropical vegetation and the odd sights that met 
 their eyes on every side. Once or twice they 
 crossed small streams, and laughed at the sight 
 of native women pounding clothes on rocks at 
 the water side with big, flat clubs. 
 
 "Heaven help the buttons!" cried Merritt. 
 "This must be a paradise for button manufac~ 
 turers." 
 
 "I guess they don't bother much with them, at 
 least not the natives that we've passed," chuckled 
 Fred.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 183 
 
 "Oh, look at that bunch of bananas!" cried 
 Tubby presently, as they passed by a clump of 
 green banana plants laden with fruit. "Let's 
 hop out and get some." 
 
 But the fruit was green and uneatable. 
 Bananas, as Tubby did not know, are picked and 
 shipped while green, and grow yellow and ripe 
 on the voyage north in the holds of the fruit 
 steamers, which are kept carefully at a uniform 
 temperature. 
 
 "It's odd that we've seen nothing of Jared or 
 his friends," remarked Rob, as, after the dis- 
 covery of Tubby's mistake, they drove on again. 
 "Has your dad notified the police?" 
 
 "Yes, indeed," rejoined Fred Mainwaring, 
 "but nothing has come of it as yet. Of course, 
 a careful lookout is being kept. Say, fellows," 
 he exclaimed in a cautious tone, "do you know 
 I believe that some plot is on foot to injure the 
 great Gatun Dam and delay the opening of the 
 canal ? At least, I'm pretty sure, from things I've 
 heard dad say, that such is the case."
 
 184 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "And you think, or rather he thinks, that Jared 
 is mixed up in it?" asked Tubby breathlessly. 
 
 "That's what. At least he is mixed up in it 
 to this extent, that he is supplying the plotters 
 with plans of the dam and so on in order that 
 they can strike their blow at the weakest part 
 of it." 
 
 "Gee whiz! I'd like to get my hands on that 
 Jared just once," exclaimed Merritt angrily. 
 "What a skunk he is." 
 
 "It's a pity we ever let him get away from 
 Hampton," muttered Merritt. "Of course, we 
 found out that he and the man with him bought 
 tickets for New York, but that was only a blind 
 clew at best." 
 
 "Well, we don't actually know that he is on 
 the Zone at all," struck in Rob ; "although all the 
 steamship offices were quizzed, we couldn't find 
 out that anybody answering Jared's description 
 had taken passage for the Isthmus." 
 
 "So far as that is concerned," remarked Fred, 
 "dad says that that proves nothing. He might
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 185 
 
 have shipped from San Francisco or New 
 Orleans, or even from some Canadian port for 
 some other destination, and then worked his way 
 up here on a sailing vessel or coasting steamer." 
 
 "And that's just about what he would have 
 done/' cried Rob. "Both Alverado and Estrada 
 have plenty of sympathizers in Bogota who 
 would help them in any plot against Uncle Sam. 
 But, after all, the whole thing may be a false 
 alarm." 
 
 "You wouldn't think so if you could have 
 heard what dad said at that meeting of the 
 Canal heads the other day," rejoined Fred. "Of 
 course I can't tell you what took place, although 
 I was present in my capacity as secretary; but 
 from what I heard a strict watch is to be kept 
 and the guards doubled." 
 
 "If Estrada and Alverado know the country 
 well, it's quite likely that they aren't in the city 
 at all," struck in Merritt. "The country outside 
 the actual Canal Zone is a trackless jungle. 
 They may be hiding up in there some place."
 
 186 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "That's quite likely, too," rejoined Fred. "I 
 heard dad saying something about that the other 
 day. By the way, we are going to start up the 
 Chagres day after to-morrow; won't that be 
 bully? That's my idea of sport, following up 
 a tropic river looking for a tributary." 
 
 "What's your dad going to do with the tribu- 
 tary when he finds it ?" asked the practical Tubby. 
 
 "That hasn't been settled yet," was the 
 rejoinder. "Of course, if it proves to be the 
 branch that feeds the Chagres and causes all the 
 trouble in flood time, it will be dammed or some- 
 thing so as to make it harmless." 
 
 "Say, don't talk so loud," whispered Rob in a 
 cautious tone, for the boys from their first low 
 tones had gradually drifted into louder talk, 
 "that driver is listening to every word we're 
 saying." 
 
 "Just like an inquisitive nigger," growled Fred 
 resentfully. 
 
 "He's not a nigger," declared Rob; "he looks 
 to me more like a Latin- American of some sort.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 1ST 
 
 He may be a fellow countryman of this Estrada. 
 In that case, I hope he didn't overhear anything." 
 
 "Well, you were talking as loud as any of us," 
 declared Tubby. 
 
 "Yes, that's so. I kind of wish I hadn't." 
 
 "Look!" cried Merritt suddenly. 
 
 He had good reason to exclaim. Ahead of 
 them, rising majestically above the brilliant-hued 
 tropical greenery, was a vast gray tower, square 
 and massive, and pierced with square windows. 
 At its summit it was overgrown with mosses, 
 lichens and many-hued flowers of gorgeous col- 
 oring. But for this, it might have seemed any- 
 thing but a ruin. 
 
 "The ruined tower of the old cathedral church 
 of St. Augustin !" cried Rob. 
 
 "And that's all that remains of the city from 
 which Morgan took so much plunder that it 
 required seventy-five mules and six hundred 
 prisoners to pack it across the Isthmus to Porto 
 Bello," chimed in Merritt, who, it will be seen
 
 188 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 from this remark, had been reading up on 
 Panama. 
 
 Leaving the rig behind them, the four lads 
 made their way to the foot of the tower. They 
 elected to push their way through a tangle of 
 brush instead of following the regular footpath. 
 As Tubby said, it seemed more like coming to a 
 ruin than by strolling up to it on a beaten track. 
 Their tough khaki uniforms resisted the thorns 
 and brambles valiantly, and they arrived at the 
 foot of the massive old tower out of breath but 
 undamaged, except for sundry scratches on their 
 hands. 
 
 They entered the old tower through a tumble- 
 down doorway. The walls, they noticed as they 
 passed through, were three feet or more thick, 
 which perhaps accounted for the sturdy piles 
 standing so long after the rest of the city had 
 vanished. Inside was a crumbled stairway of 
 stone up which the four Scouts were soon scram- 
 bling. They clambered to the very top and then 
 Rob and Fred drew from their pockets two pen-
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 189 
 
 nants. One bore the "totem" of the Eagles; the 
 other was emblazoned with the Patrol emblem of 
 the Black Wolves. 
 
 "I thought of this just before we left," said 
 Rob, as he drew out the Eagle flag; "I guess 
 we're the first Boy Scouts on the Isthmus and 
 so we'll be the first to unfurl our totems above 
 old Panama." 
 
 "But how are you going to make the flag 
 fast?" asked Tubby. 
 
 "See that prickly branch growing right out 
 from the edge of the tower? I guess I'll make 
 mine fast to that," said Rob, "it'll be as good as 
 a flag pole." 
 
 "Look out you don't slip," warned Merritt, as 
 Rob made his way over roughly piled stones that 
 had crumbled from the parapet and gained the 
 edge of the tower. At that point a staff-like 
 thorn bush raised one bare arm aloft. As Rob 
 had said, it did indeed make a regular flag pole. 
 
 Balancing himself carefully, the leader of the
 
 190 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Eagle Patrol reached out and peered over thd 
 edge. 
 
 "Wow, fellows, but it looks a long way to 
 the ground!" he exclaimed. "If I ever fell, I'd 
 land with a bump all right." 
 
 Clasping the flag in one hand, he leaned out 
 and laid hold of the upright branch. There was 
 a sudden cracking sound. The horrified Scouts, 
 who were watching Rob, saw him make a des- 
 perate grab at the wall to recover himself as the 
 branch snapped. 
 
 But Rob's effort came too late. 
 
 "He's gone!" yelled Tubby, turning as white 
 as a ghost as Rob, without a sound, plunged over 
 the parapet and out of sight. 
 
 His chums turned sick and faint. They dared 
 not go to the edge to gaze upon what they knew 
 must lie at the foot of the tower. They simply 
 stood like figures carved out of wood waiting for 
 the sound of Rob's crashing fall.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAIi 191 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY. 
 
 But no such sound came. Instead they heard 
 something that brought them instantly to the 
 alert. 
 
 "Hey, fellows ! Come quick !" 
 
 It was Rob's voice, coming up to them over the 
 edge of that dizzy height. 
 
 In three bounds, careless of the consequences 
 of a false step, they were on the parapet of the 
 tower where they had last seen Rob, as he 
 reached out for the treacherous "flag pole." 
 
 "Look, boys! Look! There he is! Hold on, 
 Rob, old fellow. Hold on, for heaven's sake," 
 cried Merritt. 
 
 Rob, his feet dug into the rough interstices of 
 the old ruinous wall, was clinging to a stoutly 
 rooted bush that had broken his fall and given 
 him one second in which to stay his awful plunge
 
 192 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 into space. But his position even now was bad 
 enough. 
 
 His face was as white as chalk, and the sweat 
 streamed down it in rivers as he gazed up at his 
 comrades above. He was fully thirty feet below 
 them, and they had no rope, no means of saving 
 him from his fearful position! In the very 
 nature of things his muscles, strong as they were, 
 were bound to give out before long. It was not 
 in flesh and blood to endure such a tension long; 
 and then But they dared not think of that. 
 
 It was a moment for quick action and nimble 
 wits. The shrub to which Rob was clinging 
 appeared to be firmly rooted. In fact, it must 
 have been, to have withstood the strain of his 
 crashing fall. Then, too, his toes were driven 
 home into a crack of the wall, relieving to some 
 extent the weight brought to bear on the shrub. 
 But this could not last indefinitely. 
 
 Suddenly Merritt noticed something. Just 
 above the place where Rob clung to the wall, a 
 hundred feet above the waving: banana fronds.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 193 
 
 was an opening. As he saw this a sudden idea 
 struck him. He thought he saw a way, a des- 
 perate way, it is true, but still a way to rescue 
 Rob from his perilous position. 
 
 'How long can you hold on, Rob?" he called 
 down. 
 
 "Not much longer I'm afraid," came back in 
 a voice that could hardly have been recognized 
 as Rob's, "can't you get a rope ?" 
 
 Merritt shook his head. He knew that a 
 search for such an article would take too much 
 precious time. 
 
 "No; but you hold on, old chap. Keep up a 
 good heart and we'll get you out of that, never 
 fear." 
 
 Turning to his companions he hastily explained 
 his plan. An instant later the three Scouts were 
 rushing down the crazy stone staircase headed 
 for the opening above Rob. As soon as they 
 reached it Merritt peered out. Rob was still 
 there, but he looked up appealingly at his chum. 
 Merritt knew what the look meant. Rob couldn't
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 hold on much longer, but dared not waste breatK 
 in speaking. 
 
 "Now, then, fellows," spoke Merritt, turning 
 to his chums, "what we're going to do is easy 
 enough if you keep cool; but if you get rattled 
 it may fail." 
 
 "We'll keep cool all right, Merritt," Fred as- 
 sured him, though his breath was coming fast. 
 
 As for Tubby, his countenance did not betray 
 the flicker of a muscle. Merritt knew he could 
 rely on the fat boy, but of Fred's more emotional 
 nature he had not been quite so sure. 
 
 Suddenly his eye caught sight of something 
 that would make his task easier. In the wall of 
 the opening was a big, rusty iron staple. What 
 its former use had been there was no means of 
 guessing; but Merritt regarded it with delight. 
 It made the daring thing he was about to attempt 
 a little more certain of success. 
 
 "Tubby, you just hook your belt through that 
 Staple," he ordered, "and then hang on to Fred's 
 feet for all you are worth. Fred, you lie down
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 196 
 
 right here, with your hands just at the edge, 
 that's right." 
 
 The boys obeyed Merritt's orders, but Tubby 
 looked at him with apprehension. 
 
 "You'll never do it," he quavered. 
 
 "Nonsense, of course I will, if you fellows 
 carry out your part. It's nothing more than wall 
 scaling, only we're doing it the other way round." 
 
 When all was ready Tubby was lying flat with 
 his belt hooked through the iron staple. He had 
 fast hold of Fred's ankles, while the latter's 
 hands came just to the edge of the opening. 
 Merritt was to form the last link in this human 
 chain that was to rescue Rob Blake, if such a 
 thing was possible. 
 
 Merritt had already seen that the bush to 
 which Rob clung was not more than four feet 
 below the opening. His daring plan was to lower 
 himself, with Fred clinging to his ankles, till 
 he could reach Rob's hands and help him up to 
 safety. 
 
 Without a word Merritt threw himself on his
 
 196 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 stomach, after taking off his coat and hat, and 
 wriggled to the edge. One look at Rob's upturned 
 face told him that he had no time to lose. Sec- 
 onds, yes, fractions of seconds, would count now. 
 
 "Catch hold, Fred!" 
 
 Fred gripped the daring Scout's ankles tightly. 
 
 "Now hang on like grim death." 
 
 Merritt clenched his teeth and slowly wriggled 
 his way over the edge. Hanging head down- 
 ward he extended his hands toward the shrub 
 where Rob was clinging. 
 
 "Hold on for your lives!" he shouted to those 
 above, and then to Rob : 
 
 "Let go with one hand and grab my right 
 wrist, Rob." 
 
 For an instant Rob hesitated. He dared not 
 let go. But again came Merritt's voice. This 
 time it was sharp and imperative. 
 
 "Let go and grab me !" 
 
 Rob's grip with his left was relaxed and he 
 seized Merritt's wrist, giving it a jerk that almost 
 pulled his arm out of the socket. For an instant
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAlj 197 
 
 'his heart was in his mouth. If the boys above 
 weren't strong enough to hold them, they would 
 both be dashed downward to the ground that 
 looked so fearfully far below. But both Tubby 
 and Fred were heavy youths, and then, too, the 
 belt that was looped through that accommodating 
 iron staple was an anchor in itself. 
 
 There was a slight give and a sag, but the 
 "human chain" held. 
 
 "Now the other hand," ordered Merritt, draw- 
 ing a breath of relief. 
 
 Rob obeyed instantly this time. But he was a 
 fairly heavy youth and it was a good thing that 
 he could take part of the weight off his rescuer's 
 arms by digging his toes into the cracks of the 
 ruinous tower. Otherwise this story might have 
 had a different ending. 
 
 "Now, Rob, use me as a ladder. Don't look 
 down for heaven's sake, but reach up and grab 
 my belt. Use the cracks in the wall like the rungs 
 of a ladder and clamber up."
 
 198 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Let me rest a minute. I'm winded and dizzy," 
 breathed Rob, whose nerve was badly shaken. 
 
 "Not a minute. Go on now !" 
 
 Merritt spoke sharply purposely. Rob rallied 
 and did as he was told. He seized Merritt's belt 
 as the other boy hung head downward, and, dig- 
 ging his toes into the cracks of the wall, he drew 
 himself up till he could, with his other hand, lay 
 hold of the edge of the opening. After this it was 
 an easy matter, thanks to the ruinous condition of 
 the wall which offered plenty of foothold, to 
 clamber to safety. Reaching it, Rob lay back 
 white and panting. 
 
 But in a few seconds he was able to help his 
 chums haul the courageous Merritt out of 
 danger. 
 
 It was some time before they felt able to leave 
 the ruined tower, such a bad shaking up had all 
 their nerves received; but at last a move was 
 made. Needless to say, the Scout totems were 
 not flung to the breeze that day. 
 
 "I don't see how we ever did it," exclaimed
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 199 
 
 Fred, as they reached the ground and Tubby 
 began taking pictures of the tower while the 
 others looked up at the spot where Rob had clung 
 in such dire peril. 
 
 "I guess 'being prepared/ having good, 
 healthy muscles and all that had a whole heap to 
 do with it," said Tubby, snapping his shutter; 
 "and now let's get a move on and get back to 
 dinner, or second breakfast, as they call it here. 
 I don't know how you fellows feel, but I'm one 
 aching void."
 
 200 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE GATUN DAM. 
 
 The scene changes to a day when the boys had 
 their first view of the mighty Gatun Dam, a work 
 that, as President Taft said, is "as solid as the 
 everlasting hills." Picture a vast valley hemmed 
 in by hills heavily timbered with tropical growth. 
 Across the valley floor the current of the muddy 
 Chagres slowly serpentines, with workmen's 
 huts clustered along its sides, and everywhere 
 preparations being made to hem it in, much as 
 the Liliputians set about harnessing Gulliver, a 
 giant to them. 
 
 The floor of the valley, once a trackless jungle 
 and destined within a short time from the 
 moment that the Boy Scouts gazed upon it to 
 become a mighty lake, was crisscrossed in every 
 direction by lines of railroad along which con- 
 tractors' engines were puffing and hauling long
 
 r 
 
 r' . ^ * 
 <( ^* 
 ( 
 
 r 
 
 The boys had their first view of the mighty Gatun Dam. 
 
 200.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 301 
 
 winding trains of dirt cars. In places, great 
 steam shovels were at work eating out whole hill- 
 sides, taking great mouthfuls at a time. 
 
 "Like Tubby eating pie," laughed Merritt, as 
 he watched one of them. 
 
 Across the valley floor, the huge dam, a veri- 
 table mountain of concrete, was rising. Busy 
 human ants swarmed everywhere and, at the spot 
 on which the boys stood, with Mr. Mainwaring 
 and some assistant engineers to explain things, 
 hundreds of black workmen were working like 
 beavers on the summit of the great wall. Where 
 they stood the wonderful dam was 100 feet wide, 
 just one-fourth the length of the steamer on 
 which they had come to the Isthmus. 
 
 At the base of the dam the width of the gigan- 
 tic structure is 1,900 feet, and its massive found- 
 ations go down into the earth for many feet more. 
 
 "Just think," exclaimed Rob, aglow with the 
 wonder of it all, "before long all this valley floor 
 will be a huge inland sea across which vessels can 
 push their way from Pedro Miguel to Gatun."
 
 202 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 The roar of an excavating machine drowned 
 his comrades' replies, but their looks showed how 
 deeply they were impressed. 
 
 "It makes you feel like a a fly speck," ex- 
 claimed Tubby, when the uproar ceased for an 
 instant. 
 
 Up along a line of rails glided a movable steam 
 shovel. On a side track a busy little locomotive 
 had already bunted a train of flat cars. There 
 was a loud clatter of chains ; two white spouts of 
 steam leaped high above the shelter which pro- 
 tected the steam shovel's engineer from the burn- 
 ing sun. Down swung the huge steel dipper. 
 Almost like a hungry human being, rather like 
 some famished giant, it swung its iron-toothed 
 jaws apart and bit deep into a bank which had to 
 be moved. In an instant its mouth was closed 
 again and the receptacle was full of rough, 
 broken material. Big rocks were among the 
 earth, but that made no difference to this devour- 
 ing leviathan.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 203 
 
 "Hi !" shouted a big shining negro man on the 
 flat car. 
 
 The big steam shovel gave a sharp scream of 
 warning, the steam spurted forth again from the 
 vent pipes and up swung the load. The long arm 
 slowly reached out above the flat car. A mighty 
 scampering of the negro loaders followed. 
 
 "Hi !" came the cry of the boss negro again. 
 
 The bottom of the dipper opened. There was 
 a roar of falling rock and earth and a flat car 
 was filled. Then the process was repeated till 
 the hillock that was to be removed melted away 
 like a plate of ice cream before a healthy boy. 
 
 Thus, amid shouting, seeming confusion, the 
 clanging and crash of metal, the scream of steam 
 whistles, shouted orders and the noise of steam 
 and the fog of smoke, the work went on, the 
 mighty job that Uncle Sam, contractor, is putting 
 through for the benefit of the civilized world. 
 
 Mr. Mainwaring told the boys that there is 
 keen rivalry among the steam-shovel men. 
 Prizes are given every month for the record
 
 '204 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 amount of dirt that flies. Each shovel is pushed 
 to the limit of its capacity. In an eight-hour day 
 one of the steam shovels excavated and loaded on 
 flat cars 3,500 cubic yards. This means about 
 1 60 carloads for the day, or a carload every three 
 minutes. 
 
 The boys noticed, too, that the negroes, 
 Italians and Spaniards toiled away at their tasks 
 without appearing to take much interest in their 
 work beyond keeping just hard enough at it to 
 avoid getting into trouble. But on the faces of 
 the "gold-men," as the engineers and American 
 officials are termed, was the stern determination 
 of men animated by a great purpose. Off duty, 
 the gold-men, so called because they are paid in 
 American gold and not in Panama coinage, are 
 a joking, jolly lot of men, who like to play tennis 
 and baseball, and indulge in all sorts of sports. 
 But on duty, clad in khaki and gaiters, with great 
 sun helmets to keep off the baleful rays of the 
 tropical sun, they are like changed men. 
 
 The expression the boys noticed on their faces
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 205 
 
 as they hurried about with blue prints or levels 
 and theodolites was set and stern. They seemed 
 to be, in a way, instruments of a great destiny. 
 Each bore himself as if he knew that the work in 
 hand required the best that was in him. 
 
 "It seems to me," said Mr. Mainwaring, "that 
 these great steam shovels and their crews, the 
 activity and all the purposeful bustle and hustle 
 down here, represent more fully than anything 
 that I have ever seen the determined, fearless 
 American spirit that has overridden what ap- 
 peared to be impossibilities, and is carrying the 
 Canal through to a triumphant completion. It's 
 a great thing for a boy to be able to say that he 
 has seen such a work, and it will be a still greater 
 thing if he takes to heart the lessons to be learned 
 here on every hand/' 
 
 Here he looked at Tubby who, not paying any 
 attention to this "preachifying," as he mentallj 
 termed it, was drinking the milk out of a cocoa- 
 nut. The fat boy had become very fond of the 
 cocoanut, which can be bought on the Isthmus
 
 206 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 for little or nothing. He had slung several 
 around his waist and at intervals, amidst the dust 
 and turmoil of the work on the great dam, he 
 refreshed himself by a copious draught of their 
 cool contents. 
 
 At the boys' feet, as they stood on the lofty 
 concrete battlement, lay the cut for the Gatun 
 locks, which will raise and lower vessels eighty- 
 five feet. There are no such locks anywhere in 
 the world. While the boys watched, a steady 
 Stream of concrete was being poured into giant 
 moulds for the locks, and rows of arc-light poles, 
 like gaunt trees, showed that under the glare of 
 electric lights the work was pushed forward even 
 at night. Not a minute of time was wasted all 
 through that vast system. They soon had become 
 aware of that. 
 
 While the boys stood there an erect, military- 
 looking man came up to Mr. Main war ing, who 
 greeted him with every appearance of respect. 
 The newcomer was tall, bore an air of authority, 
 and was dressed in a white military uniform.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 207 
 
 "Colonel," the boys heard Mr. Mainwaring 
 say, after a few minutes' grave conversation, "I 
 wish to introduce to you my son Fred and his 
 three chums, all, as you see, Boy Scouts." 
 
 Tubby hastened to chuck his empty cocoanut 
 shell off the top of the dam as he saw that a social 
 ceremony was going forward. The shell lit on 
 a negro's skull far below and bounded off with a 
 loud crack. 
 
 "Mah goodness, dem musquitoes is wusser dan 
 ebber to-day," the negro remarked to the man 
 shoveling at his side, which would have made 
 Tubby laugh if he had heard it. 
 
 After a few kind words to the chums, the 
 military-looking man passed on, stopping every 
 now and then to examine the work with every 
 appearance of minutest care. 
 
 "Wonder what kind of a boss he is?" remarked 
 Tubby nonchalantly after he had passed on. 
 "Steam shovel boss, concrete boss, dynamite boss, 
 engineering boss or surveying boss, there are 
 other kinds but I forget 'em."
 
 208 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Why, you chump," roared Fred, "don't you 
 know who that was ?" 
 
 "I didn't catch his name," rejoined Tubby. 
 
 "Well, that wasn't anybody more important 
 than Lieut-Col. George W. Goethals, chairman 
 of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and known 
 as the 'man who dug the ditch.' ' 
 
 "Oh-h-h-h-h-h!" mumbled Tubby, a great light 
 breaking upon him, "I guess I'll take another 
 cocoanut on that." 
 
 And the fat boy selected a fine specimen from 
 the several that adorned his belt like scalps hang- 
 ing round an Indian warrior.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 200 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 A DYNAMITE VOLCANO. 
 
 After a while, despite the thrilling novelty of 
 the scene and the significant interest it held for 
 the four American lads, the dust, the heat, the 
 noise and the confusion and bustle became weari- 
 some, and they began looking about, boy like, for 
 something new. 
 
 A white man in a duck uniform and pith hel- 
 met hastened by in company with a colored man 
 who looked different from any negro the boys 
 had yet seen. The man had straight black hair, 
 long and glossy. He wore a small sort of skull 
 cap and white clothes with odd velvet shoes not 
 unlike those affected by Chinese. 
 
 "Hullo, Raynor !" shouted Mr. Mainwaring to 
 the white man, as the pair hustled by along the 
 rampart-like heights of the big dam, "where are 
 you bound for?"
 
 $10 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 The dark man and his companion came to a 
 halt, the former standing in a respectful attitude 
 and saluting Mr. Mainwaring. 
 
 "We're going to shoot a test hole," was the 
 reply. 
 
 "Do you mind taking these lads along? As 
 you see, they are Boy Scouts, and anxious to see 
 all that they can." 
 
 "I'll be delighted to. I've a kid brother at 
 home whose letters are full of the doings of his 
 patrol. Come along, young men. I'll show you 
 something that will make your eyes open." 
 
 "I'll meet you here in time for dinner," said 
 Mr. Mainwaring. 
 
 "We'll be here," rejoined Tubby, whose eyes 
 had brightened at the mention of a meal. Al- 
 though he had devoured the milk and creamy 
 meat of two huge cocoanuts, the stout youth was 
 still ready for another chance at edibles. 
 
 Mr. Raynor hastened on, beckoning to the boys 
 to follow him.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 211 
 
 'What is a test hole ?" asked Rob, as the boys 
 trudged along the top of the dam beside him. 
 
 "It is a hole blown in the ground so that we 
 can tell what sort of foundation we are working 
 on," was the reply. 
 
 "Blown in the ground?" asked Tubby with 
 round inquiring eyes. 
 
 "Yes. Dynamited, perhaps I should have said. 
 Ram Chunda there," he motioned back at the 
 dark man who was trotting along behind, "is the 
 boss dynamiter. He's going to shoot the hole." 
 
 "Oh, he's a Hindoo?" exclaimed Rob as he 
 heard the name of the dark satellite. "We 
 thought he was a negro." 
 
 "Oh, no. We couldn't trust negroes with 
 dynamite. Almost all the dynamite men on the 
 canal are Hindoos. They are not fit for the 
 heavy work; but we find them reliable and trust- 
 worthy around explosives." 
 
 "What's that?" asked Merritt presently, indi- 
 cating a small hut painted a bright red. 
 
 "That's a dynamite hut. See, there are sev-
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 eral workmen waiting to have explosives served 
 out to them." 
 
 "Can anybody get the stuff who wants it?'* 
 asked Merritt. 
 
 "No, indeed. That would never do. They 
 have to bring an order signed by the boss on their 
 particular section." 
 
 Ram Chunda, however, appeared to have his 
 supply of explosives elsewhere for they did not 
 stop at the dynamite hut but passed on. 
 
 "How much dynamite is stored there?" asked 
 Rob, as they hurried along. 
 
 "Oh, enough to blow the whole dam up, I 
 guess," was the careless reply, to which the boys 
 did not attach much significance at the time, 
 although they were to recollect those words with 
 peculiar vividness later. 
 
 Before long they reached a place where ladders 
 were stretched from the ground to the top of 
 the dam. 
 
 "We'll go down these," announced Mr. Ray-
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 313 
 
 nor, halting. "Ram, you go first. You boys can 
 follow. All got steady heads, I hope ?" 
 
 "I think so," murmured Fred, with a vivid 
 recollection in his mind of the scene on the ruined 
 tower of St. Augustin, "two of us have, anyhow." 
 
 The engineer did not, of course, understand 
 the allusion nor, to the joy of Rob and Merritt, 
 did he ask any explanation. Neither boy liked to 
 recall those awful moments when they hung sus- 
 pended in mid-air between life and death. 
 
 The ladders were long and steep, but the 
 descent was made without incident. At the 
 base of the dam, however, was a steep sort of 
 embankment of loose sand and gravel. Tubby, 
 who was behind Ram Chunda, looked down and 
 saw this, which appeared to offer a secure "jump- 
 ing off" place. 
 
 With a whoop he jumped from the last ladder 
 while still several feet above the top of the bank. 
 His feet struck it with a scrunch. But the loose, 
 shaly stuff was treacherous. With an alarmed 
 the fat boy, the cocoanuts round his belt rat-
 
 214 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 tling like castanets, rolled down the bank, revolv- 
 ing like a barrel. 
 
 The others looked on in some alarm. Sud- 
 denly Tubby struck the bottom of the bank and 
 simultaneously there came a series of sounds like 
 a volley of musketry. 
 
 Pop ! pop ! pop ! pop ! 
 
 "Gracious, it's Tubby," cried Rob, tracing the 
 source of the sounds. 
 
 "Is he blowing up ?" demanded Fred Mainwar- 
 ing in genuine alarm. 
 
 "Sounds like it!" exclaimed Merritt apprehen- 
 sively. 
 
 The engineer and the Hindoo looked on in 
 amazement. The fat boy continued to pop loudly. 
 Suddenly, still popping spasmodically, he strug- 
 gled to his feet. What a sight he presented ! 
 
 He was covered from head to foot with a milky 
 fluid which was flowing down him and on which 
 the gravel had stuck and plastered him with 
 yellow mud. 
 
 "Tubby, are you hurt?" yelled Merritt.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 215 
 
 "Bob," shrilled Rob, for once, in his alarm, 
 giving Tubby his real first name, "what's the 
 trouble ? Are you injured ?" 
 
 "No, but those cocoanuts have blown up!" 
 shouted Tubby angrily. "One after another they 
 busted ! I thought I was in a battle for a minute." 
 
 "Well, you look as if you'd been through a 
 hard siege," declared Rob, who, now that his 
 apprehension was over, joined the others in a 
 hearty laugh and a scramble down the gravel 
 bank. 
 
 "What made 'em bust ?" demanded Tubby, rue- 
 fully, surveying his drenched uniform and brush- 
 ing himself off as best he could. 
 
 As soon as he could speak for laughing the 
 engineer explained. Cocoanuts in their natural 
 state are shielded by great masses of leaves which 
 keep their milky contents cool. Tubby, in his 
 greed, had girded himself about with the succu- 
 lent nuts and then spent a long morning in the 
 hot sun. This, combined with his activities, had 
 caused the milk to heat up and ferment.
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 If the fat boy had not taken his tumble down 
 the bank it is not likely that the nuts would have 
 exploded. But the fall was what proved too 
 much for the already fermented milk. Like so 
 much gunpowder it had expanded and blown the 
 "eyes," or thin parts, out of each cocoanut, spray- 
 ing the unfortunate Tubby with milk, and mak- 
 ing the sharp series of reports that had so alarmed 
 them. 
 
 Even Ram Chunda's immobile face bore the 
 trace of a smile at Tubby's disaster. In fact, the 
 boy got no sympathy from anyone. 
 
 "I'll pack no more cocoanuts with me," he was 
 heard to mutter, "they are as dangerous as 
 Anarchists' bombs and a whole lot messier. Gee, 
 my uniform's a sight!" 
 
 But as the unanimous verdict seemed to be 
 "Serves you right," Tubby had few remarks on 
 his disaster to offer for the public benefit.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 217 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" 
 
 Ram Chunda approached a small hut painted 
 red like the other dynamite shed, and came out 
 with his arms laden with what were apparently 
 cylindrical tin cans. He selected a number of 
 these, handling them with no more apparent care 
 than if they had been tins of tomatoes, instead 
 of charges of dynamite. 
 
 "T-t-t-tell him to be a little c-c-c-careful, won't 
 you?" begged Tubby. "That stuff would blow 
 up worse than cocoanuts if he dropped it." 
 
 "Yes, we'd never know what struck us," said 
 the engineer carelessly, "but don't worry about 
 Ram, he knows what he's doing." 
 
 He spoke with the indifference of one who 
 has handled high explosives for years, but the 
 boys' emotions were very different. They eyed
 
 818 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Ram Chunda askance as he stumbled occasionally 
 
 on a rock or hillock of earth. 
 
 In this manner they walked quite a distance 
 back from the dam to a point where no tracks 
 or workmen were visible. 
 
 "Right here is where, before long, we are 
 going to build a wing dam to strengthen the 
 main one," explained the engineer. 
 
 "Then what's the use of blowing it up?" asked 
 Tubby stolidly. The fat boy was, to tell the 
 truth, in a state of alarm over what was to come. 
 
 "Why, we want to see just what lies under- 
 neath before we start to dig a foundation, other- 
 wise it would be so much wasted labor," was the 
 response. 
 
 There were already several test holes drilled 
 in the ground, but the object of dynamiting was 
 to loosen up the soil beneath to ascertain if there 
 was any substratum of water. 
 
 "Ever see them shoot an oil well?" asked the 
 engineer, as he peered about looking for a suita- 
 ble hole to start out
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 219 
 
 The boys shook their heads. They had heard 
 of the operation but had never had an opportunity 
 to witness such a proceeding. 
 
 "Now is your chance then," said Mr. Raynor. 
 "Ram," calling to the Hindoo, "we try 'um this 
 fellow number one shot." 
 
 The Hindoo nodded and, carrying his armful 
 of explosives, hurried to his boss's side. 
 
 "Gee! This is only Number One," muttered 
 Tubby in an alarmed undertone. 
 
 "Don't be a scare-cat, Tubby," laughed Mer- 
 ritt, although his own heart was beating a bit 
 fast. 
 
 "Scare-cat nothing. I I guess I'll go home to 
 dinner. Once is quite enough to be blown up in 
 one morning," quoth the fat youth, "besides, I 
 promised my mother I wouldn't get into danger." 
 
 "I guess over-eating is the only danger you'll 
 be in," chortled Fred. 
 
 Tubby looked pained but said nothing. With 
 round eyes he began to watch the proceedings 
 of the Hindoo "dynamite man."
 
 220 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 The latter cautiously lowered into the hole 
 selected several of his tin cylinders. The rest 
 of the operation, as Mr. Raynor had explained, 
 would be similar to that of shooting an oil well. 
 That is to say, a heavy cylindrical iron weight 
 would be dropped on the explosive mass at the 
 bottom of the hole, causing it to detonate. 
 
 With as much care now as if he were handling 
 eggs, Ram lowered the final cylinder of dyna- 
 mite into the hole. Then he attached a long 
 string to the weight and gave a shout. 
 
 "Get back to a safe distance, boys," cried Mr. 
 Raynor, running toward them. 
 
 They needed no second warning, but beat a 
 rapid retreat toward the great concrete rampart 
 of the dam. 
 
 "I'd climb over to the other side if I had the 
 time," Tubby declared, feeling perhaps that he 
 would be safe enough behind that man-made cliff. 
 
 At last all was in readiness. Some laborers 
 near at hand, glad of any excuse to drop work, 
 laid down their shovels to see what would happen
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 221 
 
 when the "Go-devil," as they called it, was set 
 off. 
 
 Mr. Raynor gave a look behind him at Ram 
 who was crouching low at quite a distance from 
 the hole. 
 
 "All right!" he shouted. 
 
 Ram gave the string a jerk and dropped it. 
 Then he too started sprinting toward the boys. 
 
 "He's dropped it!" exclaimed Mr. Raynor. 
 "Watch it now!" 
 
 It seemed to the boys as if Ram, swiftly as 
 he ran, would never get to a place of safety. 
 Their hearts fairly stood in their mouths as they 
 watched him running like a greyhound. 
 
 Suddenly came a subdued roar. The earth 
 shook. The solid ground trembled as if it had 
 been a jelly. A second later, from the mouth of 
 the hole there shot a mighty column of earth, 
 stones and smoke. It was accompanied by a 
 screaming, whistling sound and then came the 
 detonation of a mighty roar. Up and up shot 
 the column as if it meant to pierce the blue sky.
 
 222 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 The workmen shouted and ran for places of 
 
 safety. 
 
 Suddenly Mr. Raynor, who had been watching 
 with hawk-like eyes, gave a sharp, commanding 
 cry: 
 
 "Run, boys! Run for your lives! After me!" 
 
 For an instant they hesitated. Why should 
 they run? There appeared to be no danger. At 
 the distance that they were from the spouting 
 column it did not appear possible that they would 
 be in jeopardy from it even when it collapsed and 
 came crashing to earth. 
 
 "What's the matter?" cried Rob. 
 
 "Don't stop to ask questions. Run! Run! 
 Run, I tell you !" roared the engineer.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 223 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE BOYS MEET AN OI,D ACQUAINTANCE. 
 
 The boys needed no further urging. Taking 
 to their heels they ran like so many scared jack- 
 rabbits after the engineer. Tubby, his fat, 
 stumpy legs working like piston rods, was in the 
 lead. 
 
 "I knew something was going to bust," he 
 yelled, as he sprinted along, "and it has !" 
 
 Suddenly Mr. Raynor, who was heading ap- 
 parently for a piled-up mass of rocks, stopped and 
 glanced back. 
 
 "Too late! Duck!" he shouted the next in- 
 stant. 
 
 Down flopped the boys, but as they threw 
 themselves face downward they felt as if they 
 were being lifted from the ground by a giant 
 hand and then slammed down again. It seemed
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 almost as if a heavy weight had been hurled 
 down on them. 
 
 Then came a terrific, blasting roar and blind- 
 ing flash as if a huge gun had been set off quite 
 close to them. 
 
 The fearful concussion and their lack of 
 knowledge of what was happening scared and 
 shocked them half out of their wits. Gravel and 
 small rocks fell about them. If it had not been 
 for their broad-brimmed Scout hats, which pro- 
 tected the back of their heads, they would have 
 been cut and bruised by the hail of debris. 
 
 "You can get up now," came Mr. Raynor's 
 voice presently, "but I don't mind saying that 
 that was about as narrow a squeak as I've ever 
 experienced." 
 
 "It sure was a test hole," muttered Tubby; "it 
 tested me all right and I don't want any more 
 of it." 
 
 "What on earth happened?" demanded Rob, 
 brushing dirt and dust from his uniform. 
 
 "That's what I'd like to know," said Fred.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 225 
 
 "I thought the world was coming to an end," 
 declared Merritt. 
 
 "Or a giant cocoanut was blowing up," mur- 
 mured Tubby. 
 
 At that moment Ram came running up. He 
 looked embarrassed and dabbed at a small cut 
 on his forehead with a handkerchief. 
 
 "Him hurte you?" he asked rather anxiously, 
 looking askance at Mr. Raynor. 
 
 "More good luck than thanks to you that we 
 were not all killed," declared the engineer angrily. 
 "What made you do it, you rascal?" 
 
 "Me very sorry. Ram forget," said the man 
 contritely. 
 
 But his repentance had no effect on the thor- 
 oughly angry engineer. He told the man that 
 he was too grossly careless to work on the dyna- 
 mite gang and ordered him to report at his office 
 that night and be assigned to some other work. 
 
 Tubby nodded sagely as he heard this. He was 
 confirmed, it seemed, in his opinion that the man
 
 828 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 had been careless and he felt like telling the 
 
 engineer so. But Rob asked a question. 
 
 "You haven't told us yet just what it was that 
 happened?" he said. 
 
 "Yes, what was it?" put in Fred. 
 
 "Oh, nothing to speak of but an explosion of 
 fifteen pounds of dynamite about as close to us as 
 I'd care to have such a thing happen," said the 
 engineer grimly. 
 
 "Gee whiz ! As bad as that !" exclaimed Mer- 
 ritt looking aghast. "Why we might all have 
 been " 
 
 "Hoisted sky-high. Oh, you don't need to tell 
 me that. That careless fellow Ram left one of his 
 cans of dynamite lying on the ground not far 
 from the test hole. I didn't notice it and he 
 didn't either, I guess, till he shot the well. Then 
 just as that column of stones and stuff was sky- 
 hooting up, I happened to see that can lying 
 there. It gave me a turn, I tell you. I figured 
 out what would happen if a rock ever hit and 
 we standing where we were."
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 227 
 
 "What would have happened?" asked Tubby 
 innocently, his eyes like two saucers. 
 
 "Happened ! Why we'd all have had through 
 tickets to Kingdom Come, that's what would have 
 happened." 
 
 "But you haven't told it all," exclaimed Rob, 
 who had just comprehended something. "Boys, 
 that weight that fell on us was Mr. Raynor's 
 body. He just shoved us in front of him and 
 shielded us with his own body. He saved our 
 lives." 
 
 "That's what I call being a real hero," cried 
 Fred. 
 
 "Three cheers and a tiger for Mr. Raynor!" 
 yelled Merritt. 
 
 "Pshaw! You drop that now!" protested the 
 engineer. "I just fell on you because I couldn't 
 help it, I reckon." 
 
 "We know better than that, don't we, fellows ?" 
 cried Rob. 
 
 "You bet we do," was the response given with 
 cleep conviction and unanimity.
 
 228 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Well, say no more about it," begged the en- 
 gineer. "I promised to take good care of you 
 and I was almost responsible for getting you 
 injured, so I guess we're quits." 
 
 As Mr. Raynor had to visit other parts of the 
 workings, and also to take samples of the earth 
 blown up by Ram's unlucky blast, the boys bade 
 him good-bye soon after. 
 
 "Well, so long," he said. "I hope you'll drop 
 in and see me some time if you are going to be 
 about here long. I may have something else 
 interesting to show you." 
 
 The boys said they would. Then up came 
 Ram Chunda, grinning like a monkey. 
 
 "Me velly solly," he said, "white sahib no be 
 mad. You come see me some time, eh?" 
 
 "Yes, we'll come and see you when you're in 
 your little casket or else get our lives insured 
 first, you you anarchist you !" sputtered Tubby. 
 
 The engineer had advised them not to climb 
 the ladders but to walk along the foot of the 
 dam till they reached a place where a flight of
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 229 
 
 steps had been moulded in the concrete. Accord- 
 ingly, after leaving him they trudged along at 
 the foot of the gigantic stone cliff, looking up 
 every now and then to marvel at its height and 
 massiveness. 
 
 They found plenty to look at and were in no 
 hurry. That is, none of them was in a hurry 
 but Tubby, who was keen to find out if it was 
 not time to go back to Mr. Mainwaring's bunga- 
 low for dinner. 
 
 It was hot work walking, and they paused fre- 
 quently. At length they came to a place where 
 a small tree at the foot of the dam afforded a 
 patch of shade. 
 
 "Let's sit down and rest a while," said Fred. 
 "I'm tuckered out." 
 
 "Wish this was a cocoanut tree," said Tubby 
 as they reclined in the grateful bit of shade. "I'd 
 climb it and get all you fellows something to 
 eat." 
 
 "Or blow us up," laughed Fred mischievously. 
 
 "Say, fellows," said Rob presently, "look up
 
 230 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 above us on the top of the dam. There's a big 
 
 concrete mixing machine up there." 
 
 "Hope they don't drop anything down on us/' 
 said Fred apprehensively. 
 
 "Not much danger of that, I just saw a man 
 peeking down at us. They would warn us if 
 we were in danger." 
 
 "I don't know, those niggers are none too 
 careful. Remember that fellow Ram; he came 
 pretty near ramming us," punned Fred. 
 
 "Look out!" yelled Merritt suddenly. 
 
 But he was too late. A bucket full of liquid 
 cement came spattering down on them, going all 
 over their uniforms and making them sad sights 
 indeed. Luckily the stuff was almost as thin 
 as water or they might have been injured. 
 
 Rob looked up and gave an indignant shout 
 A mocking face peered over the edge of the 
 parapet and grinned jeeringly at him. As he 
 saw this countenance Rob gave a violent start 
 and fairly staggered backward. 
 
 It was the face of Jared Applegate into whicK
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 231 
 
 fie had looked. It was his hand that had thrown 
 the bucket of liquid cement over them, ruining 
 their uniforms. 
 
 "Fellows !" shouted Rob in high excitement. 
 
 But Jarcd's face had vanished as swiftly as H 
 had appeared.
 
 t32 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 ALONG THE: CHAGRES. 
 
 "Well, did you ever ! ! Jared of all people !" 
 "What on earth is he doing here?" 
 "That's plain enough," was Rob's reply to the 
 last exclamation, which had proceeded from 
 Tubby following Rob's hasty recital of what he 
 had seen on the top of the dam. 
 
 "That's plain enough," he repeated. "Jared 
 is a pretty slick sort of article, or, at any rate, the 
 men with whom he is in league are cunning and 
 clever. What better place could Jared be, 
 watched as he is, than holding down a job as a 
 canal worker, bossing some small undertaking? 
 Who would ever dream of looking for him in such 
 a position?" 
 
 "That's so," agreed Fred, "and then, too, he 
 gets a chance to survey the ground thoroughly 
 and lay plans for whatever sort of deviltry that
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 233 
 
 gang is up to. Maybe Alverado and Estrada are 
 working on menial jobs, too, with the same end 
 in view." 
 
 "Quite likely," replied Rob, "and also that 
 mysterious chap we've seen with Jared on several 
 occasions. Anyhow, our duty now is plain 
 enough. We must make all haste back to Mr. 
 Mainwaring and report to him what we have 
 discovered." 
 
 "Let's get some of this mess cleaned off us 
 first," said the practical Merritt. "We look more 
 like drowned rats than Scouts, in our present 
 plight." 
 
 The boys set to work trying to remove the 
 traces of the ducking that had been given them 
 by the malignant Jared, who had undoubtedly 
 recognized them. Had they known that he was 
 actually on the lookout for them, they would 
 have been much astonished. Yet such was the 
 case, as will appear before long. 
 
 Luckily the mixture of cement that had been 
 doused over them was a very watery one, the
 
 234 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 rinsings of a cement bucket, in fact, so that in 
 a short time the hot sun had dried out most of 
 the traces of their adventure. 
 
 But Mr. Mainwaring greeted them with ex- 
 clamations of astonishment. 
 
 "What in the world have you lads been up to 
 now," he exclaimed half laughingly as they re- 
 joined him, "taking a swim with your uniforms 
 on?" 
 
 "Well, we did have an involuntary bath," ad- 
 mitted Rob, and he went on to tell just what had 
 happened. 
 
 "Jove!" exclaimed Mr. Mainwaring when he 
 had finished, "this is getting interesting, and 
 perhaps explains many annoying things that 
 have been happening about here recently. Der- 
 rick booms have collapsed without apparent cause 
 and an investigation has shown that acid has 
 been poured on the supporting ropes by some 
 malignantly disposed persons. Blasts have been 
 set off prematurely, narrowly avoiding injury, 
 and the work has been delayed by many such
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 235 
 
 tricks. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if your 
 friend Jared and the Latin Americans who are 
 interested in delaying the canal construction are 
 at the bottom of this. I'll dispatch men at once 
 to get hold of this chap Jared and we'll make 
 him confess all about it." 
 
 As he spoke there was a sudden crash behind 
 him as a workman, who had been standing close 
 to him and who must have overheard every word, 
 dropped a heavy bucket. They all faced round 
 and saw a man shuffling off rapidly. Something 
 familiar about him struck Rob, but for the life 
 of him he could not place the man. It was not 
 until later that he recalled where they had seen 
 him before. He was the man who had driven 
 them to the ruins of old Panama on that memora- 
 ble morning, and who must have heard some of 
 their talk. But what was he doing on the canal 
 work? Was he allied with the forces that were 
 trying to defeat the completion of the canal? 
 Had he told the plotters of what he had over-
 
 236 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 heard and warned them that vigilant retribution 
 
 was on their trail? 
 
 All these were questions that for the time had 
 to wait. Rob decided not to say anything just 
 then. After all he might have been mistaken. 
 In the nmntime the searchers sent out after 
 Jared reported that they could not find him. Un- 
 doubtedly after venting his malice on the boys 
 he had made off. Rob was not mistaken in his 
 identification of the cabman. The fellow was 
 allied with the plotters by close ties both of 
 nationality and sentiment. He had been set to 
 driving a hack in Panama so that he might carry 
 on his spy work without being suspected. It 
 was by chance that the boys had happened to 
 take his cab. But what he had overheard that 
 day had caused him to hasten to the dam and 
 inform his confederates, who, as Rob had 
 guessed, were constantly about there disguised 
 as workmen. 
 
 In that vast enterprise, employing thousands 
 of laborers, it was a simple enougfi matter for
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 237 
 
 any able bodied men to obtain employment, and 
 no questions were asked so long as the laborer 
 proved able to earn his pay. At dinner time Mr. 
 Mainwaring was unusually silent. There was no 
 question in his mind now but that there were 
 plotters mingled in among the workmen. That 
 night orders for extra vigilance in patroling the 
 dam were issued, and that night, also, Mr. Main- 
 waring announced that he intended to start the 
 next day on his search for the troublesome tribu- 
 tary of the Chagres River which it was his inten- 
 tion to devise a means to control. 
 
 As may be imagined, this was great news to 
 the boys, and they passed an all but sleepless 
 night in their room in Mr. Mainwaring'^ bunga- 
 low, which stood in a row of "gold-men's" houses, 
 among which it was the largest and best finished. 
 
 The boys' equipment had been brought up 
 from Panama with them and was, as usual, all 
 in readiness for instant transportation. These 
 Boy Scouts lived up to their "Be Prepared" 
 motto all the time, and to the finest detail. Whtt
 
 238 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 their camping equipment had been packed up on 
 the submarine island everything had been stowed 
 away with military precision so that they knew, 
 without going through a lot of troublesome over- 
 hauling, that everything, down to their small 
 pocket water filters, was in its right place. 
 
 A wagon transported their goods and chattels 
 to the landing place on the Chagres the next 
 morning, right after an early breakfast. Mr. 
 Raynor was to accompany his chief in the capac- 
 ity of assistant, and the surveying instruments 
 and other paraphernalia almost filled one of the 
 odd native canoes they were to use. Another 
 canoe held the camping outfits. But they were 
 not to paddle their way laboriously up the swiftly 
 flowing river. 
 
 To the delight of the boys a light draught 
 launch, fitted with powerful engines and a spidery 
 stern paddle wheel, was to do the towing while 
 they took it easy. This suited Tubby down to 
 the ground, and Rob's cup of satisfaction was 
 full to the brim when he learned that he and
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 239 
 
 Merritt were to alternate as engineers. As we 
 know, both boys were familiar with the manage- 
 ment of gasolene engines, and they gazed with 
 approval at the fourteen horse-power, twin- 
 cylinder engine of the Pathfinder, as the launch 
 was called. 
 
 Before they left, the chief of the Gatun 
 Guards, as the police that watched the big dam 
 Were called, reported to Mr. Mainwaring that 
 nothing suspicious had occurred during the night 
 and also that no trace could be found of the 
 men wanted. This was disappointing, but the 
 boys were so keyed up with the expectation of 
 the wonders that awaited them in the tropical 
 forests through which the Chagres wound its 
 way on its higher reaches, that they gave but 
 scant thought to Jared and the plotters. 
 
 At last all was in readiness ; Mr. Mainwaring, 
 who had the steering wheel, gave the signal to 
 start the engines. 
 
 Rob gave the big fly-wheel a twist against the 
 compression, while Merritt turned on the gaso-
 
 840 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 lene and set the spark. The engine gave a chug 
 and a snort and the big stern paddle wheel, which 
 gave the boat such an odd look but was neces- 
 sary for shoal water navigation, began to beat 
 the water. 
 
 The boys gave a shout and their patrol cries. 
 From the bow of the Pathfinder, as a compliment 
 to them, fluttered the pennants of the Eagles and 
 the Black Wolves, the same which it had been 
 designed to plant at old Panama. At the stern 
 waved Old Glory. Astern towed the two dug- 
 outs, loaded deep down with "duffle." 
 
 Thus started a trip that was to prove one of 
 the most adventurous that lads ever embarked 
 upon "by flood or field."
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 241 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 THE TRACKLESS JUNGLE. 
 
 As they slowly ascended the sluggish, though 
 powerful current of the muddy Chagres, Mr. 
 Raynor told them something about the object 
 of their expedition. In the foothills of the 
 Cordillero de Bando, a sort of backbone of moun- 
 tains extending throughout the length of the 
 Isthmus, many small rivers rise, some of which 
 feed the Chagres and contribute to its floods. 
 The largest of these, a stream known as the Rio 
 Chepalto, was, in the rainy season, quite a for- 
 midable torrent. Mr. Mainwaring's idea was to 
 construct a dam or dig some sort of a connecting 
 link which would divert the waters of the 
 Chepalto in flood time into one of the small rivers 
 that flowed seaward, thus further taming the 
 Chagres. 
 
 The Gatun valley was soon left behind and
 
 242 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the Chagres plunged into a steaming, luxuriant 
 forest. Between banks overgrown in wild pro- 
 fusion with every sort of tropical growth, its 
 chocolate colored current flowed silently along. 
 In places, muddy bayous led off from the main 
 stream and these, the boys were told, were the 
 haunts of crocodiles and alligators. 
 
 Everywhere amidst the luxuriant tangle on 
 the banks were vivid splashes of color, scarlet, 
 yellow, and blue. These were the flowers of a 
 score of varieties of tropic shrubs and flowering 
 bushes. They filled the air with a rank, sweet 
 smell that was almost overpowering. From the 
 tangle, too, there shot up majestic trees, from 
 whose branches drooped long lianas, or creepers, 
 some of them thick as a man's thigh. Here was 
 a clump of brilliantly green and feathery bamboo, 
 there shot up a grove of coco-bola trees, while 
 once in a while, but this rarely, there loomed in 
 sight a group of the kings of the tropical forests 
 a majestic gathering of towering mahogany 
 trees.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 243 
 
 There were also clumps of banana plants grow- 
 ing to a height of fifteen or twenty feet, with 
 immense broad leaves often six feet in length. 
 Curiously enough, the banana bunches appeared 
 to be hanging upside down. Beyond the fruit 
 extended a stem like a snake, ending in a big 
 blossom something like a red-brown water lily. 
 There were occasional clumps of cocoanut trees, 
 too, at which Tubby looked with a strange mix- 
 ture of awe and longing. 
 
 Occasionally, through all this brilliant jungle 
 gaily colored parrots or a flock of screaming 
 macaws would fly, alarmed by the chugging of 
 the launch. In some of the bayous, pelicans or 
 big blue herons stood like sentinels on one leg, 
 watching the progress of the invaders. But, 
 beautiful as it all was, the boys missed the songs 
 of the woodland birds in the north. Except for 
 the shrieking of the parrots and macaws, or the 
 occasional sullen splash of some unseen creature 
 plunging into the river, the vast forests that 
 reached for miles all about them were silent.
 
 244 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Suddenly the launch came to a stop with a soft 
 bump. The boys looked rather alarmed. Had 
 they collided with some huge creature that made 
 its home in the tepid waters of the Chagres? 
 They were soon relieved of any anxiety on that 
 score. 
 
 "Well, we're aground at last," remarked Mr. 
 Mainwaring in a matter-of-fact tone. 
 
 "You talk as if you had expected such a thing 
 to happen/' said Rob in some surprise. 
 
 "Yes indeed," rejoined the engineer, "in fact, 
 I'm astonished that it didn't happen before. The 
 river is full of sand banks, and sometimes it 
 is impossible to see the channel. I see you've 
 got the engine stopped already. You had better 
 reverse now and we'll soon get off again." 
 
 "I should think that it would be quicker to go 
 through the forests," remarked Rob, when with- 
 out much trouble they "got going" again. 
 
 "It would be almost twice as quick, but no- 
 body knows the paths but the Indians."
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 245 
 
 "Indians!" exclaimed Tubby. "Are there In- 
 dians here?" 
 
 He clutched his rifle with a determined look, 
 for of course the boys had brought their weapons 
 along. 
 
 "Yes indeed, plenty of them, but I guess we 
 won't see any. They are the San Bias tribe and 
 so small as to be almost pigmies." 
 
 "I know, I've seen pictures of them," cried Rob. 
 "They look something like Japs only they've got 
 big round heads and long, straight black hair." 
 
 "That's it," rejoined Mr. Mainwaring; "they're 
 harmless enough unless their particular territory 
 is invaded. No white man has ever penetrated 
 far into their country and come back to tell the 
 tale. But they say that back among the forests 
 and mountains to which they alone know the way 
 are deposits of emerald and gold of priceless 
 value." 
 
 "I should think somebody would form an ex- 
 pedition and raid the place," said Tubby in a 
 war-like manner.
 
 246 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "More easily said than done," Mr. Raynor 
 struck in ; "it's been tried, but fever and poisoned 
 arrows wiped out all but a few poor, half-crazed 
 wretches who struggled back to civilization more 
 dead than alive." 
 
 "Do they ever come down to this part of the 
 country?" asked Merritt. 
 
 "Only occasionally, when a hunting expedition 
 has led them far afield," rejoined Mr. Mainwar- 
 ing. "This Rio Chepalto that we are going to 
 try to diverge runs back into their country; 
 but where it joins the Chagres is not forbidden 
 ground. Their territory begins higher up." 
 
 Suddenly there came another soft bump. 
 
 "Aground again !" cried Rob, stopping the en- 
 gine. "Shall I reverse?" 
 
 "Yes; do so at once," was the order. 
 
 But this time the matter of getting off the sand 
 bank was not so simple. The two tow ropes 
 attached to the canoe became entangled in the 
 paddle wheel as the Pathfinder backed up, and 
 they came to a stop. An investigation showed
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 247 
 
 that it might take some time to get it free. Tubby 
 was prompt in asking permission to go into the 
 forest to see if he couldn't bring down some 
 game of some kind. 
 
 "You and Fred will have to go alone then," 
 said Mr. Mainwaring, "and don't go far from 
 the river. We'll recall you by three blasts on 
 the whistle. Rob and Merritt will be needed to 
 help us get untangled and to work the engine." 
 
 "Never mind, we'll bring back some game that 
 will make their eyes bulge," declared Tubby 
 valiantly. "Come on, Fred." 
 
 "Wait till I shove the landing plank ashore," 
 said Fred, catching hold of a plank that was 
 used for that purpose. The launch lay quite close 
 to the shore and the plank, which was ten feet 
 long, was of sufficient length to form a bridge. 
 
 "Never mind the plank," quoth Tubby, "I'll 
 just step on this old log here and " 
 
 "Look out, boy!" came a sharp cry from Mr. 
 Raynor. 
 
 But it was too late. Tubby had already stepped
 
 248 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 over the side of the launch. As his foot touched 
 the log a surprising thing happened. What had 
 seemed a balk of old rotten timber gave a leap 
 that threw Tubby into the water, and at the 
 same instant a vast pair of jaws, armed with 
 double rows of gleaming teeth, flashed wide open. 
 The alligator for that was what Tubby's "log" 
 was gave a menacing, hissing sound and a 
 flourish of its formidable tail. 
 
 The next instant a rifle cracked sharply. The 
 creature gave a roar as a bullet crashed down 
 its open throat. Rob, seeing Tubby's peril, had 
 snatched Fred's rifle from him and pumped a 
 bullet into the monster reptile where it would do 
 the most good. He pumped the repeating mechan- 
 ism and two more bullets drove into the 'gator 
 before it sank, crimsoning the muddy water. 
 They saw no more of it and Mr. Mainwaring de- 
 clared that Rob must have killed it. 
 
 Tubby, up to his waist in water, gasped as he 
 beheld his narrow escape and Rob's prompt ac- 
 tion.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 249 
 
 "Ge,e whiz! This is a funny country," he 
 mumbled, after he had been lectured for his 
 carelessness. "Cocoanuts explode and old rotten 
 logs turn into alligators." 
 
 On his promise to be careful and keep well 
 within call, Tubby was allowed to go on shore 
 with Fred and you may be sure he used the land- 
 ing plank this time. The two boys struck off 
 straight into the jungle and then kept a course 
 that lay parallel to the river bank. All at once 
 Tubby gave a violent exclamation and almost fell 
 over backward. A lizard, but a lizard almost as 
 big as himself, had run through the jungle right 
 in front of him. 
 
 "A Panama water-lizard," declared Fred, who 
 had put in more time studying the country from 
 books than had Tubby. "It's harmless." 
 
 "It doesn't look so," was Tubby's comment. 
 
 But a more thrilling encounter lay just ahead 
 of them. Hanging from a tree, and slowly sway- 
 ing to and fro, was what looked like a beautifully 
 marked liana or hanging creeper.
 
 250 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Oh, what a beauty," exclaimed Fred, stepping 
 forward, but the next instant he recoiled with a 
 yell of alarm. 
 
 The creeper had emitted a loud, angry hiss 
 and then they saw that it was no creeper at all, 
 but a brilliantly colored snake, at least fifteen 
 feet long, that was swinging from a limb around 
 which its tail was coiled. Tubby echoed Fred's 
 yell of alarm and the next instant both boys tool? 
 to their heels in mad flight. The serpent had 
 swiftly and silently begun writhing its way to 
 the ground. 
 
 "Run for your life !" cried Tubby wildly. "He's 
 after us." 
 
 Stumbling over creepers, falling headlong, and 
 then struggling to their feet again, and keeping 
 on with their mad rush, the two terrified boys 
 ran for their lives. Behind them came a thrash- 
 ing sound as the big snake made its way after 
 them. 
 
 In their alarm they lost all sense of direction 
 or distance. All they knew was that the big
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 251 
 
 reptile was pursuing them, and they raced along 
 without considering anything but escaping from 
 it. It never even occurred to them to open fire 
 on it with their rifles. 
 
 How far they ran they had no idea. All they 
 knew was that at last, when, from sheer exhaus- 
 tion they paused, there was no sound of pursuit. 
 The vast woods were silent. All at once they 
 had a fresh fright. This time from overhead. 
 There was a mighty commotion in the tree-tops 
 accompanied by shrill barks and cries. 
 
 "Gracious, what's coming now?" gasped 
 Tubby. "I wish we were back on the launch !" 
 
 But it was only a troop of white-faced, long- 
 tailed monkeys swinging by, traveling along the 
 tree-top high road at almost incredible speed. 
 They paused as they saw the boys standing there 
 below them. Gathering together they began to 
 chatter and make a terrible noise. 
 
 Then, making horrible grimaces and yelling 
 angrily, they broke off sticks and began to pelt 
 the two lads furiously with them. Suddenly
 
 252 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Tubby raised his rifle and fired at them. In- 
 stantly they made off, shrieking at the top of their 
 voices and swinging from limb to limb by means 
 of their long tails which they used as conveniently 
 as hands. 
 
 The monkeys gone with their bewildering 
 chatter, the boys began to look about them. 
 They were standing in a spot where the under- 
 growth was not so dense, but they could see that 
 they were in the depths of the forest. As they 
 looked around them the same thought clutched 
 uncomfortably hard at the heart of each. How 
 far had they come on their wild run to escape 
 the great serpent? Also, in what direction had 
 their retreat led them? Tubby was the first to 
 give these disquieting thoughts words. 
 
 "Where are we, Fred?" 
 
 "I I don't know. Haven't you got your com- 
 pass?" 
 
 "Yes, but I didn't take any bearings when we 
 left the river."
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 253 
 
 "Let's strike out and try to get back. At any 
 rate we'll hear the whistle before long." 
 
 "That's so. I forgot that. Better sit down 
 here and wait till we hear it, then. No use wan- 
 dering about, we might go in a wrong direction." 
 
 But had the boys known it, the launch whistle, 
 not a very powerful one, was at that very minute 
 blowing repeatedly for them. Their wild dash 
 to escape from the huge snake had carried them 
 far into the jungle. 
 
 They sat there for a long time, each busied 
 with his own thoughts. At last Tubby rose. 
 
 "It's funny we don't hear that whistle, Fred," 
 he said, "but I've been thinking that maybe we 
 ran further than we thought from that beast in 
 the tree. Now I'm pretty sure the river lies that 
 way," he pointed in a directly opposite direction. 
 "Let's strike out for it." 
 
 "All right," agreed Fred, whose face had 
 begun to assume an alarmed look. "S-s-s-s-say, 
 Tubby, you don't think we're lost, do you?"
 
 354 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Tubby was quick to note the quaver in Fred's 
 voice, and he bravely put on a careless air. 
 
 "Lost! Not a bit of it. Two Boy Scouts lost 
 in a bit of timber like this? Not much. Come 
 on, old chap, and we'll be laughing over our scare 
 within an hour's time." 
 
 But hour after hour went by and still the two 
 lads, now thoroughly scared, though neither had 
 yet admitted it, plunged along through the jungle. 
 At last when they reached a small open space, 
 Fred could stand it no longer. He sank down 
 on a fallen tree trunk and fairly gave way to his 
 fears. 
 
 "We're lost, Tubby," he moaned, "and it's no 
 use going any further. I can't, in fact I'm 
 dead tired out. What on earth shall we do ?" 
 
 The fat boy looked at his comrade "with alarmed 
 eyes. It was plain that Fred was on the verge 
 of a nervous collapse. Their position was bad 
 enough without that. And yet Tubby could find 
 no words to comfort his companion. What Fred 
 had said was the truth; they were lost in the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 255 
 
 trackless jungle, a terrifying situation indeed. 
 From time to time during their wanderings they 
 had fired their rifles, hoping to hear some re- 
 sponse, but none had come. 
 
 Tubby, however, had, whenever possible, 
 marked the trail either by barking or blazing a 
 tree with his knife in Indian fashion, or by leav- 
 ing grass and stone signs in a manner familiar 
 to all first-class Scouts. This was now the only 
 crumb of comfort he could offer to Fred. 
 
 "Cheer up. Maybe they'll pick up the trail," 
 he said as hopefully as he could. 
 
 "But if they don't, we gracious! Look 
 there!" 
 
 Facing the two lost boys was a party of squat r 
 copper-colored little men with big round heads 
 and straight black hair. They carried bows and 
 arrows and spears. Their clothes consisted of 
 old sacking, bits of cloth, anything in fact that 
 would partially cover them. They evidently 
 formed a hunting party, for some of them carried 
 wild pigs and one or two had a deer slung on
 
 56 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 a branch between them. They had crept up quite 
 
 silently and now regarded the interlopers intently. 
 
 For an instant the two white boys stood 
 stock-still, as if turned to stone. Then by a 
 natural impulse, they turned and started to run. 
 But a spear whizzed through the air after them, 
 transfixing itself quivering in a tree just above 
 their heads. 
 
 This brought them to a halt. Weapons they 
 had none, for when they paused they had laid 
 down their rifles and in their precipitate, startled 
 flight had forgotten to pick them up again. 
 
 Utterly unnerved by this added sheaf to their 
 bundle of misfortunes, the two Boy Scouts stood 
 facing the Indians who, they had no doubt, 
 formed a hunting or scouting party sent out by 
 the San Bias tribes that made their homes back 
 in the mysterious recesses of the mountains 
 where rose the headwaters of the Chepalta.
 
 For an instant the two white boys stooH stock-still, as It 
 turned to stone. Page 256.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL S7 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. 
 
 In the meantime Rob and Merritt, working 
 waist deep in the muddy shallows, had succeeded, 
 after some rather arduous work, in clearing the 
 stern wheel of its entangling rope. The line had 
 become twisted in and out of the shaft in such 
 a way that it was necessary in places to cut it 
 loose. 
 
 When this had been done, Mr. Mainwaring 
 decided that before blowing the whistle to sum- 
 mon back the young hunters they would give 
 the machinery a test. Accordingly, when the 
 canoes had been secured to the shore, Rob re- 
 versed the engine and started it up. 
 
 For a moment it whirled and chugged away, 
 straining to back the launch off the muddy shal- 
 lows in which she had grounded. The lightly 
 built craft trembled under the effort. The en-
 
 358 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 gine snorted and puffed as more power was ap- 
 plied. 
 
 "Hooray! We're afloat once more!" cried 
 Merritt triumphantly, as the launch was caught 
 in the current and swung free. But at the same 
 instant came an ominous cracking sound. The 
 engine raced wildly and then stopped as Rob 
 shut off the power. 
 
 "What's the matter now?" cried Mr. Raynor 
 apprehensively, as the launch began to drift 
 downstream in a helpless way. 
 
 "Wait a minute. I'll see," cried Rob, and then 
 the next instant, "The driving chain has 
 snapped !" 
 
 "Throw out the anchor before we drift any 
 more," cried Mr. Mainwaring. 
 
 This was done and then Rob set about making 
 an investigation. As he had declared, the driv- 
 ing chain, which drove the stern wheel just as a 
 bicycle sprocket is revolved, had parted in the 
 middle. Undoubtedly the strain that had been
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 269 
 
 placed on it when they were backing the launch 
 off had proved too much for its strength. 
 
 They regarded the accident with some dismay. 
 
 "Great Scotland! That means we are stuck," 
 exclaimed Merritt. 
 
 "Unquestionably, unless we can make some re- 
 pairs," admitted Mr. Mainwaring. 
 
 "Do you think you can fix it, Rob ?" asked Mr. 
 Raynor. 
 
 "I might manage to make a temporary link 
 out of wire," replied Rob, "but I'm afraid it 
 wouldn't hold long against the current." 
 
 "Isn't there a spare chain in the tool locker?" 
 asked Merritt. 
 
 Mr. Mainwaring shook his head. 
 
 "There's nothing for it but to turn back and 
 get a new link forged," he said. "Too bad !" 
 
 "It is indeed," agreed Rob. "Shall I make a 
 link out of steel wire? I guess that would be 
 strong enough to carry us down with the stream 
 if we go slowly. 
 
 "Yes, do so," was the reply. "Merritt, will
 
 260 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 you sound the return whistle for Bob Hopkin* 
 
 and Fred?" 
 
 Merritt pulled the cord connecting with the 
 compressed air whistle and tugged it lustily. 
 Then he paused and blew again, keeping this up 
 for some time. No reply had come; but as yet 
 they felt no anxiety. It was likely that the boys 
 would take some time in returning, and the possi- 
 bility of their being out of ear-shot of the whistle 
 did not occur to any of the party. 
 
 But when an hour had passed and then an- 
 other dragged its slow length away without 
 bringing any signs of the absentees, anxiety gave 
 place to alarm and alarm to genuine fear that 
 harm might have overtaken them. They looked 
 blankly at each other. For a time no one spoke. 
 
 Suddenly, from a great distance as it seemed, 
 there came the sound of a rifle shot. 
 
 Had they but known it, the sound was caused 
 by Tubby's shot at the band of monkeys. Al- 
 though ignorant of its cause, it made the dismayed 
 little party's spirits pick up a bit to hear at least
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 861 
 
 some sound of the two young hunters, even 
 though they knew that they must be some distance 
 off. 
 
 "Raynor," ordered Mr. Mainwaring, "I don't 
 know whether that shot was merely a signal that 
 they are coming, or a signal of distress. In any 
 event I am going ashore. Rob, you may come 
 with me if you like. Bring your rifle. Merritt, 
 you keep guard with Mr. Raynor." 
 
 The engineer merely nodded in answer to his 
 chief's orders. Merritt looked rather disap- 
 pointed. He would have liked to accompany the 
 searchers, but as he knew that was impossible 
 he put the best face possible on the matter and 
 helped Rob and Mr Mainwaring to get ashore 
 by means of the plank. 
 
 Almost instantly the jungle swallowed them 
 up. As they vanished from sight, Raynor sighed. 
 Merritt looking up saw that he looked distressed. 
 He ventured to ask him what was the matter. 
 
 "I don't just know why, my boy, but I've got 
 an idea that the lads are in trouble in the woods
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 yonder," he said. "I don't like the idea of that 
 distant shot." 
 
 "You you don't think that there are any In- 
 dians off in the forest, do you?" asked Merritt, 
 turning a shade paler. 
 
 "I don't think anything. I don't want to say 
 anything till I'm sure ; but we're not so far from 
 San Bias country that a wandering hunting 
 party might not happen along through the forest. 
 They have the jungle honeycombed with paths 
 known only to themselves." 
 
 "But supposing just supposing that the boys 
 did fall in with them, would the Indians do them 
 any harm?" 
 
 "Impossible to say, Merritt. This I do know, 
 however, that the Indians' minds have been 
 worked on by those who are opposed to the canal 
 until they have been taught to regard all white 
 men as their enemies. They have been told that 
 the making of the canal will flood out their hunt- 
 ing grounds and drive them into remoter parts
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 263 
 
 of the country. Naturally, they regard white 
 men with suspicion and hatred." 
 
 While this conversation was going on, Mr. 
 Mainwaring, whose face was sadly troubled, and 
 his young companion, had been pushing their way 
 through the jungle. Fortunately the trail of 
 Tubby and Fred was pretty well marked where 
 they had shoved their way through the under- 
 brush. Finally they came to the spot where the 
 two boys had met with the serpent. Rob ex- 
 amined the ground with the instinct of a true 
 scout and skillful trapper. Traces of a sudden 
 stoppage and a precipitate flight off into the 
 jungle were plainly visible. 
 
 But what had caused the boys to beat such 
 a rapid retreat was by no means so plain. 
 
 "Can you make out anything, Rob ?" asked Mr. 
 Mainwaring, after a pause. 
 
 "No, sir," said Rob perplexedly, "except that 
 something appears to have frightened them just 
 at this point. You can see by their footmarks in 
 this soft mud that they were running fast when
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 they made off. And see here, sir, where one of 
 them fell and scrambled up again, going on as 
 quickly as before." 
 
 "Jove, you can read all that in those tracks?" 
 
 "That's part of the Boy Scout training, sir," 
 rejoined Rob modestly. 
 
 "It's wonderful! Wonderful! But tell me, 
 can you see the signs of any wild beasts?" 
 
 "Not one. That's what makes it so mysteri- 
 ous. It is plain that something was after them 
 and yet there are no tracks." 
 
 "Well, we had better follow up the train they 
 have left through the jungle. That is our only 
 course, in fact." 
 
 On and on they pursued the trail, going slowly 
 of necessity. Here they would lose the trail for 
 a time and then again in a few minutes Rob's 
 cleverness as a Scout would pick it up again by 
 means of a broken blade of grass or a creeper 
 that had been brushed aside. Never had the 
 young leader's well-trained faculties been more
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 265 
 
 on the alert than now as he followed his chum's 
 trail through the trackless jungle. 
 
 And all the while poor Tubby and Fred were 
 wandering further and further from them. At 
 length they reached the open space where the 
 boys had paused a while and Tubby had shot at 
 the monkeys overhead. All at once Rob darted 
 forward. On the ground he had spied a brass 
 shell. They examined it and found that it tallied 
 with the caliber of Tubby 's rifle, but beyond this 
 there was no further clue. 
 
 Suddenly Rob gave a cry of delight. He 
 eagerly examined what appeared to Mr. Main- 
 waring to be nothing more than a clump of 
 pampas grass slightly bent over to the left. But 
 Rob's quick eye had caught sight of a band of 
 grass tied round its top just below the bend. To 
 an ordinary person's eye this would have meant 
 nothing. But to Rob, trained in scouting, it 
 meant that the two lads they were pursuing had 
 turned to the left. 
 
 On they went again, never flagging through
 
 266 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the hot noonday, but patiently picking up the 
 trail as they went along. Now a scratch on the 
 bark of a limb would show Rob the direction, 
 presently some trampled grass or flowers led him 
 on, again he would stumble on one of Tubby's 
 stone or grass signs. 
 
 All the time the trail kept getting fresher. 
 Their hopes rose high. 
 
 "We're catching up on them," cried Rob. "It's 
 slow but sure; we're catching up." 
 
 Presently they stood in the space under the 
 tall trees where Tubby and Fred had paused and 
 where the San Bias Indians had surprised them. 
 Rob, like a pointer dog, went rapidly hither and 
 thither, crouched low, looking for the tiny signs 
 which mean so little to an untrained and so much 
 to a carefully educated eye. 
 
 Suddenly he gave a sharp cry. It brought Mr. 
 Mainwaring to his side in an instant. 
 
 "Look, sir! Here in this soft earth! The 
 print of bare feet ! Very small bare feet ! What 
 does it mean?"
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 267 
 
 "Indians!" exclaimed Mr. Mainwaring, his 
 face working. "The trail ends here, Rob. Oh, 
 my poor boy ! My poor boy !" 
 
 And, quite overcome, Mr. Mainwaring sank 
 down on the same log on which, had he but 
 known it, his son Fred had collapsed but a short 
 time before. It was a long time that he sat 
 there with his head buried in his hands, and 
 when he raised his face Rob saw that it was 
 white and strangely drawn, but full of deter- 
 mination. 
 
 "What are we to do, sir?" demanded Rob. 
 "I'm afraid that, as you say, there is no doubt 
 they have been carried off; but luckily, I see no 
 signs of a struggle. Perhaps there is hope." 
 
 Mr. Mainwaring had said nothing and Rob had 
 not told him of his discovery of a spear that still 
 stuck in the tree into which it had darted quiver- 
 ing above Tubby's head. He could not find it 
 in his heart to increase Mr. Mainwaring's dis- 
 tress, and, agitated as he himself was, Rob had
 
 268 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 still thoughtfulness enough not to add to an- 
 other's burdens. 
 
 Presently he repeated his question. 
 
 "Have you any plan, sir ?" 
 
 Mr. Mainwaring sprang to his feet; his eyes 
 had a hard glint in them. 
 
 "Yes, I have a plan," he exclaimed, "the only 
 plan that can save them. We must return at 
 once, get a powerful force and ransack this 
 forest from end to end. Perhaps if the Indians 
 learn of this, and learn of it they will quick 
 enough, they will give the boys up." 
 
 Slowly, each busied with his own thougnts, 
 they made their way back toward the river. But 
 before they reached it, it began to grow dusk. 
 An uneasy wind sighed in the tops of the forest 
 trees. But for this a death-like stillness pre- 
 vailed. 
 
 "We must hurry. A storm is coming on," said 
 Mr. Mainwaring looking upward. 
 
 Before long they could catch the glint of the 
 river through the trees. But here a fresh sur-
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 
 
 prise awaited them. There lay the canoes, just 
 as they had left them; everything looked the 
 same, but of the launch there was not a sign! 
 
 They could hardly believe their eyes, but the 
 fact remained that the Pathfinder had vanished; 
 nor was there any trace of its two occupants. It 
 was at this moment that Rob noticed that the 
 river seemed to be flowing more swiftly and that 
 its level had risen.
 
 270 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE RUINED CITY. 
 
 It would have been worse than useless for 
 Tubby or Fred to have attempted flight, as the 
 stout youth had rightly conjectured. Resistance 
 would have been equally foolhardly. This would 
 have been so in any case, but any move against 
 the Indians was now rendered doubly dangerous 
 by the fact that two of the odd-looking little 
 natives had picked up the two rifles the boys had 
 so foolishly forgotten and were examining them 
 in a way that showed that they had knowledge 
 enough of the white man's weapons to use them, 
 should occasion offer. 
 
 After a vast deal of jabbering in their un- 
 known tongue, two of the Indians bound Tubby's 
 hands behind his back while the others stood 
 guard to protect their companions against any 
 sudden move. Then came Fred's turn. This
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 271 
 
 done, the boys were led across the open space to 
 a clump of trees from amidst which the Indians 
 had first appeared. 
 
 To Tubby's astonishment he saw that a nar- 
 row, but well beaten trail ran through the jungle 
 from this point. But in what direction it led he 
 was, of course, ignorant. He guessed, however, 
 that it must be one of the secret Indian paths to 
 which Mr. Raynor had referred. On either side 
 of the narrow trail the jungle grew up thick and 
 impenetrable. Two Indians walked in front, then 
 came the boys, behind marched the other In- 
 dians. 
 
 "W-w-w-w-what is going to become of us?" 
 quavered Fred as they moved along at a swift 
 though steady pace. 
 
 "I don't know. I guess we are bound for some 
 village or other back in the San Bias country. 
 It's a good sign though that they haven't offered 
 us any violence." 
 
 Fred could not but agree that this was so. 
 But little more talk was indulged in between the
 
 272 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 two captives. It was not a situation that adapted 
 itself to conversation. Hour after hour they 
 trudged along through the tropical forest until 
 at last they came upon something startling. 
 
 In front of them, as they rounded a curve in 
 the crooked trail, there suddenly rose up some- 
 thing that seemed menacingly to dispute their 
 further passage through the forest. 
 
 There, facing them, was a hideous monster 
 carved out of a white stone or marble, they could 
 not be sure which. The thing loomed ghastly 
 white against a background of dark trees. Spots 
 of rank moss grew on its glaring stone face. Its 
 stumpy hands were folded and tucked up on its 
 breast; its legs and feet, shaped like a water 
 creature's, were drawn up under its belly. But 
 it was the awful face with its sinister glare that 
 gave the boys a start that quivered through their 
 frames. As if in proof of its antiquity the statue 
 was broken in places and leaned slightly to one 
 side. Through the cracks in the white stone, 
 great, twisted, gnarled tree trunks, like serpents,
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 273 
 
 writhed in and out. Altogether it was as horrible 
 an object to come upon in the depths of a great 
 forest as the mind could conceive. Small wonder 
 the boys shuddered at it. The Indians, however, 
 did not appear to regard it with much awe. 
 
 "What an awful looking thing!" shuddered 
 Fred, who had turned pale. 
 
 "Pshaw ! It's only an old idol," Tubby scoffed, 
 assuming a bold air for Fred's comfort. "Lots 
 of 'em in this part of the world. Crackers! 
 Fred, I shouldn't wonder but what we are com- 
 ing to one of those ancient cities that have long 
 been supposed to exist in this part of the world. 
 I think Great Caesar ! Look there, will you ?" 
 
 A wilderness of ruins suddenly opened before 
 them as they topped a small rise. Everywhere 
 was a confusion of tumbled idols, pillars, blocks 
 of stone, heavy walls, flights of steps, some whole, 
 some tumbling with decay, others still upright. 
 Roots, branches and curling vines writhed in and 
 out of the scene of desolation like great snakes. 
 Here and there trees shot up from the empty
 
 J74 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 walls of roofless palaces. Their restless shadows 
 waved mournfully above the ruins. Further back 
 stood a building that surmounted a sort of plat- 
 form of white stone. It was reached by a flight 
 of steps on one side. On the other the walls 
 towered up steep and slippery. They would not 
 have afforded foothold to a fly. 
 
 The Indians marched the boys up the steps 
 leading to this dismal palace. From the top of 
 the platform they could see over the ruined city 
 in all directions. And off to one side was a 
 sight that made Tubby's heart beat more quickly. 
 He had caught the glint of a river, and on its 
 banks he had seen three canoes drawn up. If 
 only they could reach that stream they might 
 still escape. But such a prospect appeared to be 
 remote in the extreme. 
 
 They were marshaled into the chamber within 
 the watts they had noticed from below. It was 
 of massive but rude architecture and was roof- 
 less, but the walls sloped inward, making any idea 
 of climbing them out of the question. From
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 275 
 
 cracks in the walls grew tropic plants and creep- 
 ers. To the boys' surprise, once within this place, 
 their hands were untied. But this in itself was 
 a bad sign so far as hope of escape went. It 
 meant that the Indians knew there was no hope 
 of their captives getting away. 
 
 Two guards were set to watch them at the 
 door, and then the others left. The guards took 
 up their station at the door with their wicked- 
 looking spears all ready for instant action. 
 Tubby, with his ruling passion still strong and 
 as a matter of fact he was fearfully hungry and 
 faint after their long march eyed longingly 
 some red fruit that grew on one of the shrubs 
 clinging to the wall. He was about to pluck some 
 when Fred drew him back. 
 
 "Don't touch those, Tubby, they're not good 
 to eat," he exclaimed. "I recognize the leaf. 
 It's just like a deadly nightshade leaf at home. 
 I guess they are a giant variety of that poisonous 
 plant."
 
 276 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Phew! I'm glad I didn't touch 'em. Would 
 they kill you?" 
 
 "If you ate many. A few would only put you 
 to sleep. They contain a drug called bella-donna 
 which is a narcotic." 
 
 Just then one of the natives appeared with two 
 earthenware bowls full of half raw meat. The 
 boys were hungry or they could not have touched 
 the stuff. As it was, they ate all they could, but 
 left quite a quantity. As they ate their guards 
 eyed them in an odd way. It looked as if they 
 were hungry, too, and would have liked to eat. 
 
 The boys could see out through the door, and, 
 after eating all they could, they amused them- 
 selves by looking over the ruined city. They 
 could see smoke rising some distance off among 
 the trees, and guessed that the main camp of 
 the Indians was there. Probably, they guessed 
 and in this they were right the superstitious 
 Indians did not like to camp among the ruins of 
 the lost race, although they had no objection to 
 jailing their prisoners there.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 277 
 
 As it grew dusk, the sky clouded over. Thun- 
 der began to rumble in the distance and the wind 
 moaned in a most melancholy way among the 
 trees that overshadowed the ruins. Far off they 
 could hear the Indians shouting and singing in 
 a coarse, unmusical way. Seemingly they were 
 celebrating the success of their chase and capture 
 of the two white boys. 
 
 At any rate, they appeared to forget the two 
 guards utterly. It grew dark and the men still 
 sat there. They had lighted a small fire outside 
 the ruined temple, or whatever it had been, and 
 the glow of it revealed their still and silent 
 figures to the boy captives. One of them took 
 some kind of cake from his girdle presently and 
 took a bite of it. Then he offered it to his com- 
 panion who bit into it hungrily. It was plain 
 that the two Indians were getting hungry. 
 
 Tubby was about to try to conciliate them by 
 offering them what the boys had left in their 
 bowls, when he had a sudden inspiration. He 
 went to the wall and began picking some of the
 
 278 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 berries Fred had told him not to touch. Fred, 
 who had fallen into a fitful slumber, did not 
 notice him, and Tubby proceeded uninterruptedly 
 with what he was about. 
 
 It was about a quarter of an hour later and 
 the rumble of the approaching storm was grow- 
 ing nearer and nearer when Tubby arose and, 
 picking up the two bowls, approached the guards. 
 Instantly they sprang to their feet and presented 
 their spear blades at him. But Tubby, by signs, 
 explained that he and his companion had not 
 been able to eat all their rations and wanted to 
 give them the rest. 
 
 As Tubby's shrewd mind had guessed from 
 what he had seen, the two guards were famished. 
 They saw no harm in taking the meat from the 
 prisoner who was kind enough to offer it. They 
 grabbed the bowls and in a minute, as it appeared 
 to the astonished fat boy, they had emptied them. 
 Tubby regarded the two Indians admiringly. He 
 had never seen edibles disposed of so swiftly. 
 
 When they had eaten, the guards became stern 
 
 \
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 2Y9 
 
 again. They motioned Tubby back to the in- 
 terior of the ruinous structure. The stout boy 
 obeyed and sank down on the floor apparently 
 composing himself to sleep, but in reality he was 
 watching the two guards with intent eyes. Sud- 
 denly he gave a grunt of satisfaction. The 
 guards began to nod sleepily. One almost fell 
 over. He recovered himself, but in an instant 
 he was off to sleep again; as for his companion, 
 after an ineffectual effort to awaken his com- 
 rade, he too sank into a deep slumber, falling 
 across the threshold of the place. 
 
 Instantly Tubby was all activity. Quickly he 
 aroused Fred. 
 
 "Wake up! Quick! Don't ask questions. 
 Follow me." 
 
 "Why? What?" began Fred sleepily. 
 
 "Not a word. WeVe got to move quick. I 
 squeezed the juice of those berries you told me 
 about into the remains of our supper. The 
 guards ate it. They're fast asleep. It's up to
 
 280 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 us to cut and run for those canoes on the river 
 
 bank." 
 
 Fred was alert in an instant. As he rose softly 
 to his feet a vivid flash of lightning illumined 
 his face. Tubby saw that it was set and deter- 
 mined as became a Black Wolf Scout. He 
 gripped Fred's hand tightly. 
 
 "Whatever happens, keep your nerve," he en- 
 joined. 
 
 Then, hand in hand and on tiptoe, the two 
 boys crept toward the doorway. As they werfr 
 stepping over one of the sleeping guards Tubby, 
 by the glow of the fire, saw that a small bag 
 that the fellow had had tied at his waist had burst 
 as he fell headlong in his slumber, and that a 
 lot of odd-looking pebbles lay scattered about 
 near it. Yielding to he knew not what impulse, 
 he stooped and stuffed a handful of the rocks 
 into the pocket of his Scout coat. 
 
 It was work to bring the lads' hearts into their 
 mouths, this advance out upon the open plat- 
 form with the firelight on them to betray their
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 281 
 
 every movement. Far off they could catch the 
 glow of the Indians' campfire; but for all they 
 knew other guards might be about and at any 
 minute they expected to hear a spear or an arrow 
 whiz by them. But nothing of the sort hap- 
 pened. They reached the river bank in safety. 
 
 The lightning was now flashing incessantly. 
 By its gleam they saw the canoes, with their 
 paddles alongside, lying as they had last seen 
 them. Tubby advanced, and, catching hold of 
 one, turned it over. The next instant he gave a 
 terrified yell. As he had turned it, there had 
 leaped from under it, where he had evidently 
 been sleeping, an Indian armed with a spear. 
 
 Before he could cast it, Tubby ducked low 
 and rushed in on the man like a young bullock. 
 The little San Bias native went down in the mud 
 with a splash. Tubby wrested the spear from 
 him and sent it flying. As the Indian struggled 
 to his feet Fred gave him a blow on the mouth 
 that must have driven some of his teeth in, to 
 judge by the sound.
 
 282 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Quick!" ordered Tubby in a tense undertone, 
 "into the water with those other canoes now." 
 
 "But we only want one." 
 
 "We don't want 'em to chase us, do we?" ex- 
 claimed the fat boy sharply. "Over with 'em I 
 say." 
 
 Fred shoved the two dugouts off. In a jiffy 
 the current caught them and they went sailing out 
 of sight. At the same instant there came an- 
 other flash of lightning. It showed the river, 
 swollen and angry, racing furiously along. 
 
 "Can you handle a paddle, Fred?" asked 
 Tubby. 
 
 "Yes; I had a canoe on the Hudson," was the 
 reply. 
 
 "Well, this is going to beat any Hudson you 
 ever saw. There's a storm in the mountains 
 evidently, and the river is rising .very minute. 
 It can't be helped, though. Take a paddle and 
 shove off." 
 
 Luckily both boys knew something about 
 canoes or the start of that dugout would like-
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 283 
 
 wise have been its finish. But they saved it by 
 skillful, swift handling from a capsize. The 
 next instant they were in it, being hurled off at 
 a dizzy pace down the rushing current. Behind 
 them came yells and savage shouts. Their escape 
 had evidently been discovered, probably when a 
 change of guards was made. 
 
 "Whoop!" shouted Tubby back defiantly. 
 "We're off on the Chagres Limited, you shirtless 
 sons of iniquity; it'll take better men than you 
 to catch us now !" 
 
 The cranky canoe rocked wildly, and then shot 
 off into the darkness, hurtled along by the sweep- 
 ing current of an unknown river.
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 "BE PREPARED." 
 
 We must now go back to Mr. Raynor and 
 Merritt whom we left in the launch, a prey to 
 no very enviable thoughts. As the sound of 
 Rob's and Mr. Mainwaring's footsteps died away 
 in the forest, they fell to speculating on the fate 
 of their young comrades. All at once Merritt 
 turned to his companion with an exclamation. 
 
 "Isn't the river current flowing more swiftly?" 
 he asked. 
 
 Mr. Raynor gazed over the side at the muddy 
 stream. 
 
 "It surely is," he decided. "I shouldn't wonder 
 but there's a storm back in the mountains." 
 
 As the stream flowed more swiftly and with 
 greater volume Merritt looked with some anxiety 
 at their anchor rope. It was not a particularly 
 thick one and the stream was tugging frantically
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 285 
 
 at the launch. Suddenly, without the slightest 
 warning, there was a sharp snapping sound and 
 the rope parted. Before they had time to ex- 
 change a word, the launch was a hundred yards 
 down stream. It was almost impossible to turn 
 her about or direct her course, but accident ac- 
 complished for them what they had not been 
 able to do for themselves. The Pathfinder sud- 
 denly struck a sand bank, gave a giddy sort of 
 yaw and swung round, heading bow on down the 
 stream. 
 
 The next instant the current which was still 
 rising caught her and shot her off down stream 
 with her bow pointing in the right direction. 
 Mr. Raynor grabbed the spokes of the steering 
 wheel before the craft had a chance to smash 
 into the bank and Merritt set the engine slowly 
 going on reverse so as to check, as much as 
 possible, the furious speed. He had grave doubts 
 of the patched-up link holding, but he nursed it 
 along as carefully as he could. 
 
 It was not till they had gone some distance
 
 286 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 that either of them had a chance to speak, and 
 then naturally their first words were about those 
 they had left behind. What anxieties beset them 
 may be imagined. Two of their number were 
 lost ; the pair that had set out to find them would 
 return either with or without the castaways, but 
 in any case to find the launch gone. That it was 
 all as unavoidable as fate made no difference to 
 the seriousness of the situation. 
 
 The Pathfinder, handled with consummate 
 skill by Mr. Raynor, reached the Gatun settle- 
 ment that evening, and the news spread like 
 wildfire that the boys were lost and that Mr. 
 Mainwaring had been left, by force of circum- 
 stances, in the forest. Everyone there appre- 
 ciated the gravity of the situation. The river 
 was rising and it might be impossible to ascend 
 it for a week, even if then. 
 
 From the vivid flashes of lightning visible in 
 the far-off peaks it was clear that back in the 
 wild Cordillera the storm was raging savagely. 
 The water continued to rise. After supper Mr.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 287 
 
 Raynor, in charge during Mr. Mainwaring's ab- 
 sence, wrote out a telegram to Lieut. Col. Goethals 
 informing him of what had happened. Merritt, 
 who was aching for something to do, volunteered 
 to take it to the little telegraph office by the rail- 
 road track; f or the head official of the canal was 
 in Colon inspecting the work there, having left 
 the day before in his private car. 
 
 Mr. Raynor, perhaps seeing that Merritt 
 would feel better with some employment to take 
 his mind off his worry, readily consented. The 
 Boy Scout set out at once. As he went he looked 
 6ack at the distant peaks several times. The 
 lightning was playing a witches' dance above 
 them, and he thought with a pang of those near 
 and dear to him who might be wandering at that 
 very moment among them. 
 
 The operator at the Gatun station was a talka- 
 tive chap and he chatted to Merritt while he 
 waited for an open wire. He told him that he 
 had had a busy evening and grumbled quizzically
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 at his own good nature in trying to please other 
 people. 
 
 "Why, only half an hour ago," he said, "a chap, 
 a young American, I guess, was in here and bor- 
 rowed two of my batteries. Said he was ex- 
 perimenting. Well, I knew him by sight and 
 1 let him have 'em. What's the result? I've 
 had to charge two more and the line don't work 
 as good." 
 
 Merritt only half listened to the voluble 
 operator's relation of his troubles. But presently 
 he looked up languidly as the operator said 
 brusquely : 
 
 "Why, here's the chap coming back now. 
 Well, if he's after any more batteries he don't 
 get 'em." 
 
 A footfall sounded on the platform outside, the 
 door opened and in came a man at sight of whom 
 Merritt almost fell off his chair. It was the 
 young man that he had seen in the barn with 
 Jared and with whom the latter had driven to 
 the station the night of the fire in Hampton.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 289 
 
 Merritt was sitting back in a corner. For the 
 sake of coolness, there was only one lamp in the 
 place, a shaded one above the operator's table. 
 A pile of boxes stood close to Merritt and he 
 slipped in behind them. He had reasons of his 
 own for not wanting to be seen just then. 
 
 "No more batteries," began the operator trucu- 
 lently as the stranger came in. But the other 
 laughed. 
 
 "It's not batteries this time," he said with a 
 slightly foreign accent. "It's a telegram I want 
 to send." 
 
 "Oh, that's different. There's one ahead of 
 you, though." 
 
 "All right; there is no hurry. I'll write mine 
 out now." 
 
 The man sat down and rapidly wrote on a 
 sending blank. He handed it in. The operator 
 looked at it a minute and then handed it back. 
 
 "Sorry; I can't take it." 
 
 "Why not? I can pay you." 
 
 The man drew out a roll of bills.
 
 290 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "That's not it. Your message is in cipher and 
 we are not allowed to take such telegrams in the 
 zone." 
 
 "Whose orders?" 
 
 "Lieut. Col. Goethals and the U. S. Govern- 
 ment." 
 
 "Curse them both," ground out the strangef 
 angrily. The operator jumped to his feet. 
 
 "See here, friend," he said, "I'm an American 
 and I think Goethals is a mighty fine man, too. 
 See the point? There's the door. Now get! 
 I'm blamed sorry I lent you those batteries, but 
 I'd rather you didn't return them than come 
 back." 
 
 Without a word the man turned and half slunk 
 out of the door. As he passed close by Merritt, 
 the Boy Scout heard him mutter : 
 
 "Yes, and you and all Yankees will be sorrier 
 yet before morning." 
 
 Merritt looked around. There was an open 
 door behind him. Quick as a flash he slipped 
 through it and the next moment was following
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 291 
 
 the man through a clump of bananas that grew 
 on each side of the road. Dodging among the 
 broad leaves Merritt kept his quarry in sight and 
 stuck close to his heels. The man walked on 
 and then suddenly turned aside from the main 
 road that led back to the "gold-men's" quarters 
 and headed down into a sort of wild gully run- 
 ning to the river. 
 
 With Merritt close on his heels and blessing- 
 the shrubs that grew at the path-side, the man, 
 quite unconscious that anyone was on his tracks, 
 kept on. At length he came to a more or less 
 tumble-down hut not far from the river bank. 
 
 He paused here a minute and gave three low 
 whistles. In response out came an old negro. 
 
 "Dis funny time ob night to call ?" said the old 
 darky questioningly. 
 
 "This is a good time of night to call," said 
 the man with a peculiar emphasis. To Merritt 
 it sounded as if the words just spoken were a sort 
 of countersign. At any rate nothing more was
 
 292 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 said. The old negro admitted the stranger to 
 
 the hut and closed the door. 
 
 "Now what sort of work is on foot," muttered 
 Merritt to himself. "What mischief are those 
 rascals up to? It's all most mysterious. This 
 fellow whom weVe seen with Jared first borrows 
 electric batteries and then tries to send a cipher 
 message. I can't make it out." 
 
 He stood a moment irresolute as to what course 
 to pursue. Should he go back and tell Mr. 
 Raynor what he had discovered? But the next 
 minute he decided not to. After all he had no 
 proof; he would try to peep into the hut 
 and see what was going on. Cautiously he re- 
 connoitered, completely circling the hut. But 
 not a gleam of light was visible. 
 
 Bit by bit he crept closer, using the utmost 
 caution. At length he got close to the rear wall 
 and here, to his huge delight, he found a crack 
 through which he could peer at what was going 
 on within. What he saw made his heart leap. 
 Round a table were seated Estrada, Alverado, the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 293 
 
 strange man and Jared Applegate. Jared's face 
 was white and frightened but the others wore 
 a sort of deadly composure. In the background 
 stood the old darky who had opened the door. 
 On the table was a smoky kerosene lamp. 
 
 But on the table also were some objects that 
 puzzled Merritt. There was a brass lever, not 
 unlike a telegraph key, and by it an array of 
 batteries with wires leading from them. The 
 strange man was seated near the brass key, with 
 which he was toying carelessly, and yet with a 
 certain caution. 
 
 "Be careful/' Alverado was warning him, 
 "don't be premature, my dear Castro; in your 
 eagerness you have already broken two bat- 
 teries." 
 
 "Yes, but the accommodating station agent re- 
 placed them. Ha! ha! if he had known what 
 they were for! But he wouldn't handle cipher, 
 confound him!" 
 
 "That was the order of these hated Yankees. 
 Bnt after to-night we shall triumph over them.
 
 294 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 One touch of that key in the right direction 
 
 and " 
 
 Estrada, who was speaking, spread his hands 
 expressively. The others' eyes blazed; only 
 Jared cowered and looked badly frightened. 
 
 "Why can't you put it off till I get out of the 
 country?" he begged. 
 
 "So we would have, because of the service you 
 did us in showing us where to place the the little 
 matter you know of. But you have been well 
 rewarded. Why repine? As for putting it off, 
 what time like the present? Mainwaring is away 
 and those cursed little rats of spies, Boy Scouts, 
 as you call them, are with him. We are safe." 
 
 But Jared only cowered and quivered the more. 
 As for Alverado, who had uttered the words just 
 recorded, he lit a fresh cigarette and regarded the 
 whining youth with scorn. 
 
 Merritt's blood almost froze as he looked on 
 at this strange scene. He had a quick mind, and 
 from almost the first he had guessed what that 
 paraphernalia on the table meant, what the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 295 
 
 "patriots," as they doubtless called themselves, 
 were waiting for. But the Boy Scout did not 
 wait. He ran, as if on wings, from that hut in 
 the hollow, his pulses beating like snare drums 
 and a fearful doubt assailing his mind. 
 
 "Would he be too late?" That was the fear 
 that pounded at Merritt's brain as he raced along 
 for the "gold-men's" row of houses. At the 
 summit of the little hill, leading up from the 
 hollow of the hut, he stumbled over something, 
 something that entangled his foot. He leaned 
 to examine it and then gave an astonished cry. 
 The next moment he had whipped out his scout 
 knife and cut his foot loose of the encumbrance. 
 After that for some reason he went more slowly, 
 taut still he ran, ran to summon aid for Uncle 
 Sam against a gang of foul plotters. 
 
 ..... 
 
 Half an hour later the scene in the hut was 
 not much changed, but a tense silence had fallen 
 over its inmates. On every face was a strained, 
 anxious look, yet underlaid by an expression of
 
 296 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 exultation. Jared alone was missing. In an 
 agony of fear and remorse he had broken from 
 the hut a short time before. They had not tried 
 to check him. 
 
 "Ready ?" said Estrada, who held a watch. He 
 was deadly pale. 
 
 The strange young man by the table shoved 
 back a stray lock of black hair with long, thin 
 fingers. One hand trembled on that brass key 
 that Merritt had noticed. 
 
 "Let the invader ! the usurper ! the tyrant take 
 warning from to-night !" cried Alverado solemn- 
 ly in a declamatory tone. 
 
 Suddenly there came a crash outside. The 
 door was carried inward off its hinges. A crowd 
 of men, in the uniform of the Gatun police, burst 
 into the room. 
 
 "Seize that man !" cried Mr. Raynor, who was 
 in the lead. He pointed to the strange young 
 man whose fingers were already pressing the 
 key downward.
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 297 
 
 "Betrayed!" shrieked Alverado as a revolver 
 was knocked upward out of his hand. 
 
 The police, taking no chances after this, sprang 
 forward toward the man at the key with leveled 
 weapons. 
 
 "Surrender!" they called out. 
 
 "Not till I've blown Uncle Sam's work to 
 Kingdom Come !" cried the wretch with a hideous 
 laugh. 
 
 His fingers pressed the key. But no earth- 
 shaking explosion followed. The tons of dyna- 
 mite that had been cunningly concealed in a spill- 
 way half a mile off did not explode. The Gatun 
 Dam was not hoisted skyward and the work of 
 years ruined. 
 
 There was only a feeble "click," echoed by two 
 more as the handcuffs were snapped on Alverado 
 and Estrada. 
 
 Mr. Raynor fairly embraced Merritt and the 
 rest crowded round him. 
 
 "If it hadn't been for you, my boy, and your 
 presence of mind in guessing what that wire was
 
 298 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 you stumbled across and cutting it, the dam might 
 
 I 
 have been blown up in accordance with this 
 
 wretch's desires," he declared, and then, as the 
 miscreant, who had in vain tried to send the 
 fatal spark to the dynamite, was made a prisoner, 
 Mr. Raynor raised his voice: 
 
 "Three cheers for the Boy Scouts!" he cried, 
 "and in particular for Merritt Crawford of the 
 Eagles. Had it not been for his quick wits in 
 guessing that a plot was on foot when he saw 
 that wretch yonder at the Gatun station, this 
 might have been a black night for Uncle Sam 
 and the Panama Canal." 
 
 The cheers were given with right good will. 
 Soon afterward the prisoners, including the old 
 black man, were marched off to the lock-up main- 
 tained at Gatun for offenders on the canal work, 
 although, it is safe to say, it never before housed 
 such monsters as the would-be dynamiters of the 
 Gatun Dam. 
 
 "If only the rest were here and safe," said 
 Merritt to Mr. Raynor late that night, "I should
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 299 
 
 be perfectly happy. As it is I don't feel as if I 
 could rest till we are reunited." 
 
 It was the next day that the entire community, 
 already wild with excitement over the discovery 
 of the plot against the dam and the capture of 
 the chief conspirators, was treated to a fresh 
 thrill. Down the river, which had somewhat 
 subsided, came two canoes. In the first one were 
 Rob and Mr. Mainwaring. In the second sat 
 Tubby and Fred. How they had met is soon ex- 
 plained. 
 
 As Tubby had guessed, the river they had seen 
 from the ruins was the Chepalta. Its swift cur- 
 rent had carried them into the Chagres itself 
 and in course of time they came to the spot where 
 Mr. Mainwaring and Fred, sadly distressed and 
 worried over the loss of the launch, had decided 
 to spend the night. They had built a roaring fire 
 to keep off serpents or wild beasts, and Tubby 
 and Fred, as soon as they saw the blaze, had 
 made for it. In a few seconds a joyful reunion
 
 300 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 had taken place. As more sleep that night was 
 out of the question, they had waited till the first 
 flush of dawn and then emptied one of the pro- 
 vision canoes. In this Mr. Mainwaring and Rob 
 seated themselves and they all paddled back to 
 civilization. 
 
 Their amazement when they heard of what had 
 been taking place at Gatun during their absence 
 may be, to use a phrase hackneyed but apt, 
 "better imagined than described." There is no 
 space here to relate all that followed or to give 
 the details of the trial and sentencing of the 
 rascally plotters. It was found, for they con- 
 fessed in hope of immunity, that the plot was 
 far more widely organized than had been thought. 
 Dozens of laborers were implicated before the 
 end, and it was the number engaged that had 
 made it possible for them to elude the vigilance 
 of the Gatun Guards, secrete so much dynamite 
 and then connect it with wires to the lonely hut 
 in the hollow. As for the strange young man, 
 it was found that he had been a chemist specializ-
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 301 
 
 ing on explosives, who had thought to avenge 
 his country's fancied wrongs by enlisting with the 
 plotters. 
 
 Had it not been for Merritt, who received the 
 personal congratulations of Col. Goethals and 
 the Commission, there is little doubt but that the 
 great dam might have been damaged almost be- 
 yond hope of reconstruction. The boy bore his 
 honors modestly, as became a true Scout, and of 
 course the story did not get to the newspapers, so 
 that he was spared the embarrassment of being 
 interviewed and lionized. His comrades felt for 
 him nothing but pride and admiration. 
 
 Those pebbles that Tubby picked up proved to 
 be raw emeralds of great value and you may be 
 sure that each of his friends was presented with 
 one. The chums of Lucy Mainwaring, too, have 
 noticed that she now wears a brooch set with a 
 magnificent emerald, by which she seems to set 
 great store. Who gave it to her we will leave our 
 readers to guess. 
 
 Jared Applegate managed in some way to
 
 302 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 evade the drag-net set for him, and has not been 
 seen or heard of since the night he slipped out 
 of the hut overcome at the last minute by the 
 thought of the terrible crime he had committed. 
 
 I should like to linger with you in this fascinat- 
 ing old land with its new interests and tell you 
 how the ruined city in which Tubby and Fred 
 passed such an uncomfortable time was explored 
 and rare treasures of antiquity found. I should 
 also like to relate more of the adventures that 
 befell the chums among the "Gold-men" of the 
 Isthmus, but I must content myself with what has 
 been written and my readers with the prophecy 
 that the future will be able to recall no more noble 
 achievement than this that has been the subject 
 of our tale. 
 
 You are assured, however, that the Boy Scouts 
 returned to their studies and to the States better 
 citizens, better patriots and better Scouts for the 
 exciting times they spent on Uncle Sam's big 
 ditch the eighth wonder, and the greatest of the
 
 AT THE PANAMA CANAL 303 
 
 world. Let every American boy, who gets a 
 chance, see it. It will strengthen and cement his 
 love for the Stars and Stripes and for the U. S. 
 A., the country that put the gigantic enterprise 
 through in spite of almost overwhelming diffi- 
 culties. 
 
 And now the time has come to say good-bye to 
 the Boy Scouts. So wishing them well in every- 
 thing they undertake and hoping that they may 
 ever be "good scouts and true," the author bids 
 a reluctant adieu to them and to the readers who 
 have followed the "Eagles" through their many 
 adventures. 
 
 END
 
 SAVE THE tTRAPPERt 
 
 TF you have enjoyed reading about the 
 ^ adventures of the new friends you have 
 made in this book and would like to read 
 more clean, wholesome stories of their en- 
 tertaining experiences, turn to the book 
 jacket on the inside of it, a comprehensive 
 list of Hurt's fine series of carefully selected 
 books for young people has been placed for 
 your convenience. 
 
 Orders for these books, placed with your 
 bookstore or sent to the Publishers, 
 receive prompt attention.
 
 BOY SCOUT SERIES 
 
 By LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON 
 
 A lively, interesting series of stories of travel, life in camp, 
 hunting, hiking, sports and adventure. No boy should miss 
 these tales of self-reliance, resourcefulness and courage, in 
 which every enjoyment known to scout activity is accurately 
 depicted. 
 
 Attractively Bound in Cloth. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE EAGLE PATROL 
 
 A speed boat race and an old sea captain give the Eagle 
 Patrol a busy summer. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE RANGE 
 
 Rob Blake and his friends among the cowboys and Indians 
 in Arizona. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS AND THE ARMY AIRSHIP 
 
 The Hampton Academy boys discover a plot to steal Govern- 
 ment airplane plans. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS' MOUNTAIN CAMP 
 
 The Boy Scouts find a band of "Moonshiners," a lost cave 
 and a hidden fortune. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS FOR UNCLE SAM 
 
 The trial trip of a new submarine, a strange derelict and a 
 treasure hunt. 
 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE PANAMA CANAL 
 
 Hunting and exploring in the tangled forests of Panama. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN MEXICO 
 
 Searching for General Villa in War-torn Mexico. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS ON BELGIAN BATTLEFIELDS 
 
 Between the lines in Belgium, during the World War. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS WITH THE ALLIES IN 
 FRANCE 
 
 Raiding Uhlans, spies 1 and air-raids in War- wrecked France. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE PANAMA-PACIFIC 
 EXPOSITION 
 
 The adventures of four scouts at the Exposition in San 
 Francisco. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER SEALED ORDERS 
 
 The Boy Scouts' exciting experiences while searching for 
 stolen Government property. 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS' CAMPAIGN FOR 
 PREPAREDNESS 
 
 The Eagle Patrol on duty in a Government munition plant. 
 
 For Sale by All Booksellers, or Sent Postpaid on Receipt of Price 
 by the Publishers 
 
 A. L. BURT COMPANY 
 
 114-120 EAST 23d STREET NEW YORK
 
 The 
 
 Golden Boys 
 Series 
 
 BY L. P. WYMAN, PH.D. 
 
 Dean of Pennsylvania Military College. 
 
 A new series of instructive copyright stories for 
 boys of High School Age. 
 
 Handsome Cloth Binding. 
 PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH 
 
 POSTAGE lOc EXTRA 
 
 BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC 
 
 BOYS AT THE FORTRESS 
 BOYS IN THE MAINE WOODS 
 BOYS WITH THE LUMBER JACKS 
 BOYS RESCUED BY RADIO 
 BOYS ALONG THE RIVER ALLA- 
 
 BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP 
 BOYS ON THE RIVER DRIVE 
 BOYS SAVE THE CHAMBERLAIN 
 
 THE GOLDEN 
 CELL 
 
 THE GOLDEN 
 THE GOLDEN 
 THE GOLDEN 
 THE GOLDEN 
 
 THE GOLDEN 
 GASH 
 
 THE GOLDEN 
 THE GOLDEN 
 
 THE GOLDEN 
 DAM 
 
 THE GOLDEN BOYS ON THE TRAIL 
 
 For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the Publishers 
 
 A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
 
 The Boy Allies 
 
 (Registered In the United State* 
 Patent Office) 
 
 With the Army 
 
 BY CLAIR W. HAYES 
 
 For Boys 12 to 16 Years. 
 All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles 
 
 In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads 
 unable to leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the 
 soldiers of the Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. 
 Their experiences and escapes are many, and furnish plenty of 
 good, healthy action that eyery boy loves. 
 THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel. 
 THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days' 
 
 Battle Along the Marne. 
 THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash 
 
 Over the Carpathians. 
 THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; OP, Midst Shot and 
 
 Shell Along the Aisrve. 
 THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; OP, With the Italian 
 
 Army in the Alps. 
 THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; OP, The 
 
 Struggle to Save a Nation. 
 THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; OP, Courage and Bravery 
 
 Rewarded, 
 i THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; OP, Saving France from the 
 
 Enemy. 
 THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; OP, 
 
 Leading the American Troops to the Firing Line. 
 THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; OP, The 
 Fighting Canadians of Vlmy Ridge. 
 
 I THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; OP, OveP 
 the Top at Chateau Thierry. 
 THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing 
 Days of the Great World War. 
 
 For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the 
 Publishers 
 
 A. L. BURT COMPANY 
 
 114-120 EAST 23d STREET NEW YORK
 
 The Boy Allies 
 
 (Registered in the United States 
 Patent Office) 
 
 With the Navy 
 
 BY 
 ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE 
 
 For Boys 12 to 16 Years. 
 All Cloth Bound Copyright Title* 
 
 PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH 
 Postage lOc Extra 
 
 Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, 
 meet each other in an unusual way soon after the declaration 
 of war. Circumstances place them on board the British cruiser, 
 "The Sylph," and from there on, they share adventures with 
 the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake, the author. 
 Is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably tha 
 many exciting adventures of the two boys. 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Strik- 
 ing the First Blow at the German Fleet. 
 
 THE BOT ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or. Sweeping th 
 Enemy from the Sea. 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLTINO SQUADRON; or. The 
 Naval Raiders of the Great War. 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or. 
 
 The Last Shot of Submarine D-16. 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or. The Vanish inr 
 Submarine. 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Field* f 
 Ice to Aid the Czar. 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND; or, The Greatest Naval 
 Battle of History. 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS; or. Con- 
 voying the American Army Across the Atlantic. 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-38 ; or, Tha 
 Fall ot the Russian Empire. 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, 
 The Fall of the German Navy. 
 
 For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the Publishers 
 
 A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St, NEW YORK
 
 The 
 
 Radio Boys 
 Series 
 
 BY GERALD BRECKENRIDGE 
 
 A new series of copyright titles for 
 boys of all ages. 
 
 Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs 
 PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH 
 
 POSTAGE lOc EXTRA 
 
 THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER 
 THE RADIO BOYS ON SECRET SERVICE DUTY 
 THE RADIO BOYS WITH TH* 3 * REVENUE GUARDS 
 
 THE RADIO BOYS' SEARv*_ /OR THE INCA'S 
 TREASURE 
 
 THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA 
 EXPEDITION 
 
 THE RADIO BOYS IN DARKEST AFRICA 
 THE RADIO BOYS SEEK THE LOST ATLANTIS 
 THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE BORDER PATROL 
 THE RADIO BOYS AS SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE 
 
 For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the Publishers 
 
 A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
 
 9&lakwoodBoy3 
 on the * 
 toy S 
 
 
 The 
 
 Lakewood 
 Boys Series 
 
 By L. P. WYMAN, Ph. D. 
 
 A new series of copyright stories for boys of 
 High School Age by the Author of "The Golden 
 Boys Series." 
 
 Cloth Bound with Attractive Cover Designs. 
 
 PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH 
 
 POSTAGE lOc EXTRA 
 
 THE LAKEWOOD BOYS ON THE LAZY S 
 
 THE LAKEWOOD BOYS AND THE LOST 
 
 MINE 
 
 THE LAKEWOOD BOYS IN THE FROZEN 
 NORTH 
 
 THE LAKEWOOD BOYS AND THE POLO 
 PONIES 
 
 THE LAKEWOOD BOYS IN THE SOUTH SEA 
 ISLANDS 
 
 THE LAKEWOOD BOYS IN MONTANA 
 
 THE LAKEWOOD BOYS IN THE AFRICAN 
 JUNGLE 
 
 For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the Publishers 
 
 A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
 
 Border Boys 
 Series 
 
 By Fremont B. Deering 
 Mexican and Canadian Frontier Stories for Boys 
 
 12 to 16 Years. 
 
 PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH 
 
 POSTAGE lOc EXTRA 
 
 With Individual Jackets in Colors. 
 Cloth Bound 
 
 BORDER BOYS ON THE TRAIL 
 BORDER BOYS ACROSS THE FRONTIER 
 
 BORDER BOYS WITH THE MEXICAN 
 RANGERS 
 
 BORDER BOYS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS 
 BORDER BOYS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 
 
 BORDER BOYS ALONG THE ST. LAWRENCE 
 RIVER 
 
 For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the Publishers 
 
 A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St, NEW YORK
 
 THE RANGER 
 BOYS * 
 
 TO THE RESCUE 
 
 The 
 
 Ranger Boys 
 Series 
 
 BY CLAUDE H. LA BELLE 
 
 A new series of copyright titles for Boys 12 to Id 
 years telling of the adventures of three boys with 
 the Forest Rangers in the state of Maine. 
 
 Handsome Cloth Binding. 
 PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH 
 
 POSTAGE lOc EXTRA 
 
 THE RANGER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 THE RANGER BOYS FIND THE HERMIT 
 
 THE RANGER BOYS OUTWIT THE TIMBER 
 THIEVES 
 
 THE RANGER BOYS AND THEIR REWARD 
 
 Tor sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the Publisher* 
 
 A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St, NEW YORK
 
 FRANK 
 
 ARMSTRONG 
 SERIES 
 
 By MATTHEW M. COLTON 
 
 Six Exceptional Stories of College Life, Describ- 
 ing Athletics from Start to Finish. For Boys 10 to 
 15 Years. 
 
 PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH 
 
 POSTAGE lOc EXTRA 
 
 Cloth Bound 
 With Attractive Jackets in Colors. 
 
 FRANK ARMSTRONG'S VACATION 
 FRANK ARMSTRONG AT QUEENS 
 FRANK ARMSTRONG'S SECOND TERM 
 FRANK ARMSTRONG, DROP KICKER 
 
 FRANK ARMSTRONG, CAPTAIN OF THE 
 NINE 
 
 FRANK ARMSTRONG AT COLLEGE 
 
 For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the Publishers 
 
 A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YOR5
 
 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which it was borrowed.
 
 ilium minium 
 A 000 057 872 4