didn't know there was one in this stateroom."

"There isn't, either," said Joe, with a glance about. "But I
surely do hear something."

"Maybe it's your own watch working overtime."

"Mine doesn't tick as loud as that," and Blake pulled out his
timepiece. Even with it out of his pocket the beat of the balance
wheel could not be heard until one held it to his ear.

"But what is it?" asked Joe, curiously.

"It seems to come from Mr. Alcando's baggage," Blake said. "Yes,
it's in his berth," he went on, moving toward that side of the
stateroom. The nearer he advanced toward the sleeping place of the
Spaniard the louder became the ticking.

"He's got some sort of a clock in his bed," Blake went on. "He may
have one of those cheap watches, though it isn't like him to buy
that kind. Maybe he put it under his pillow and forgot to take it
out. Perhaps I'd better move it or he may not think it's there,
and toss it out on the floor."

But when he lifted the pillow no watch was to be seen.

"That's funny," said Blake, musingly. "I surely hear that ticking
in this berth; don't you?"

"Yes," assented Joe. "Maybe it's mixed up in the bedclothes."
Before Blake could interfere Joe had turned back the coverings,
and there, near the foot of the berth, between the sheets, was a
small brass-bound box, containing a number of metal projections.
It was from this box the ticking sound came.

"Why--why!" gasped Blake. "That--that box--"

"What about it?" asked Joe, wonderingly.

"That's the same box that was on his table the time we came in his
room at the hotel--when we smelled the cigar smoke. I wonder what
it is, and why he has it in his bed?"

CHAPTER X

THE SECRET CONFERENCE

Blake was silent a moment after making this portentous
announcement. Then he leaned forward, with the evident intention
of picking up the curious, ticking box.

"Look out!" cried Joe, grasping his chum's hand.

"What for?" Blake wanted to know.

"It might be loaded--go off, you know!"

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Blake. "It's probably only some sort of
foreign alarm clock, and he stuffed it in there so the ticking
wouldn't keep him awake. I've done the same thing when I didn't
want to get up. I used to chuck mine under the bed, or stuff it in
an old shoe. What's the matter with you, anyhow? You act scared,"
for Joe's face was actually white--that is as white as it could be
under the tan caused by his outdoor life.

"Well, I--I thought," s