rd the Spaniard's stateroom. He was not in, but Blake put the
paper on a desk, with some others, and came out hastily.

"I wonder what that meant?" he thought to himself. "That must
have been his orders to come back to Brazil and make the pictures.
But if he goes at it that way--just to do the job and get away, he
won't have much success. And to think of going to make films of
European scenery when he isn't really capable of it."

"Well, some of these foreigners think they know it all when they
have only a smattering of it," mused Blake. "Though Alcando isn't
as bad that way as lots of others. Well, we've done our best with
him. And how unjust all our suspicions were--Joe's and mine. I
wonder what he really did think he was up to, anyhow?"

The next day Blake and Joe were busy making many important views
of the big dam, which held back the waters of the Chagres River,
creating Gatun Lake. The Spaniard, too, was busy with his
preparations for leaving. He was away from the boys nearly all
day, coming back to the boat, which they made their headquarters,
in the evening.

"Get any pictures?" asked Blake. "If you have we'll pack up your
reel and send it to New York with ours. Where's the little camera
and case?"

Mr. Alcando stopped short, as though struck.

"By Jove!" he cried. "I left it out at the dam. I was making some
views there, and used up all the film. Then I got to working on my
alarm clock, and forgot all about the camera and film case. I left
them out there, and my clock, too. I'll go right back and get
them!"

He turned to leave the cabin, but, as he did so, Captain Wiltsey
entered. He paid no attention to the Spaniard, but, addressing
Blake and Joe said:

"Boys, I have a little task for you. Have you any flash-light
powder?"

"Flash-light powder? Yes, we have some," Blake said. "But we can't
use it for moving pictures. It doesn't last long enough."

"Perhaps it will last long enough for what I want," the captain
said.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll go back and get the camera I was so
careless as to leave out," spoke Mr. Alcando.

"I'm glad he's gone," Captain Wiltsey said, as the cabin door
closed. "I'd rather tell this to just you boys. I've just had a
queer warning," he said.

"A warning?" repeated Joe.

"Yes, about Gatun Dam. There's a rumor that it is going to be
destroyed!"

CHAPTER XXIII

THE FLASHLIGHT

For an instant the moving picture boys could hardly grasp the
meaning