he greatest respect, which we were at a loss to account for at
the time. We later found out that it was because we had been able to
cheat the inexorable 'devil,' supposed to rule the old city, of his
prey.

"We returned to camp by forced marches, and turned Bob over to the camp
physician. He recovered at last, all but his hand, which never regained
its power. The natives said it was the 'demon's curse,' and possibly
they were right.

"At the time nothing could have hired us to go back to the old ruins, but
lately I've had a sneaking desire to go back and finish exploring that
old temple. Perhaps I shall, some day, and likely as not the devil will
get me, this time. Who knows?"

Mr. Hartley ended his strange narrative with a smile, half serious, half
comical, and his listeners drew a long breath.

They voted it one of the most exciting tales they had ever heard, and
besieged the engineer with questions as to the location of the ruined
city. But Mr. Hartley only shook his head.

"No, no," he said, and, although he smiled, his tone was serious. "It
would be just like you madcaps to undertake a journey there, and I don't
want to be the cause of your death. If you don't mind, I'd rather not
tell you."

Although disappointed, the boys did not press the matter, and after a
little further discussion of the engineer's story, took their departure.

"Just the same," declared Bert, on their way home, "I'd like nothing
better than for us three to tackle that 'devil.' I have an idea we could
stand him on his head."

"I'd like to try it, anyway," declared Tom, and Dick declared himself as
feeling the same way.

They talked about little else that evening, and if, after they were
asleep, they were troubled by nightmares, the cause was not hard to
determine.

CHAPTER XII

WAH LEE'S BOSS

The next few days were crowded with incident. The city was filling up
with visitors, to be present at the ceremonies attending the opening of
the Canal. Many of these were celebrities known all over the world.
Soldiers, admirals, diplomats, men of affairs, brushed shoulders with
thousands less famous, but quite as interested in the great event so soon
to take place. The boys were constantly meeting someone whom they had
known in the "States"; and, in the renewal of old friendships and the
making of new ones, the time flew by as though on wings.

But, underneath all the hubbub and excitement, Bert was conscious of an