uneasy premonition. He tried to analyze it, and, when unsuccessful in
this, attempted to throw it off. Despite all his efforts, however, it
persisted. Call it clairvoyance, call it telepathy, he felt aware of
impending danger. Some "coming event" was casting "its shadow before."

Again and again the words of Allison recurred to him. Not that he
believed in them. Although they had stirred him at the time with a sense
of vague foreboding, he had dismissed them as the utterance of an
enthusiast, who felt a deep antipathy toward the Japanese, and magnified
the danger to be feared from them. Of course, it was absurd--that last
remark of his that at that very moment a Japanese fleet might be on its
way to attack the Pacific Slope. He laughed as he thought of it, but,
somehow, the laugh did not ring true.

Wah Lee had kept his word, and frequently called to see his friends. But
his serenity seemed to be disturbed. He appeared troubled and distrait.
At times, he acted as though he were about to tell them something, but
was himself in doubt as to the value of his information, and restrained
himself. His all-embracing smile was conspicuous by its absence.

"What's bothering the old chap, I wonder," ruminated Tom.

"Search me," laughed Dick. "Something on his conscience, maybe. Perhaps
he hasn't burned as many joss sticks before his particular idol as he
feels he ought, and the failure worries him."

"I'm going to get right down to brass tacks, the next time he comes,"
said Bert, "and get it out of him."

But the wily Celestial baffled all efforts to "pump" him, and the matter
passed from their minds.

Two days later, however, Wah Lee shuffled past Bert, as the latter was
sauntering down the main street of Colon, and, apparently by accident,
touched his arm in passing. Bert looked up, and, recognizing the
Chinaman, started to speak to him. But the latter only gave him a swift
glance from his almond eyes, and kept on, his face as stolid and
inscrutable as that of a graven image. In that fleeting look, however,
Bert's quick perception recognized that Wah Lee had some object in view,
and wanted to talk with him. With a heightened pulse, but still
retaining an indifferent air, he followed.

At the first turning, the Chinaman passed into a side street, Bert
keeping a little way in the rear. The houses grew more infrequent and
soon they came to the suburbs. Still on they went, until, at last, they
were in the