hat, he reasoned,
would defeat his plans for rounding up the plotters. However, it was his
duty to report progress to the officer and consult with him concerning
future movements.

At Gamboa he found a telephone and called the Tivoli at Ancon, but, to his
disgust, Lieutenant Gordon could not be found. He tried the offices of
several engineers and canal officials with no better result. At last,
exhibiting a secret service badge which had been given him by the
lieutenant, he mounted an engine about to leave for Culebra and was soon
in that beautiful city.

The boys were at the hotel where he had left them, having declined the
repeated offers of hospitality by Mr. Chester, and Tony was with them. A
session was at once held in a private room, and Jack Bosworth and Harry
Stevens jumped at the chance to load themselves with provisions and travel
back to the stone house east of Gamboa. They were given the needed
directions and sent away with a note to an officer of the railroad, who,
it may be as well to state here, landed them at Gamboa in quick time and
without asking any questions.

After the boys had taken their departure Frank Shaw called Ned aside.

"There's something doing here to-night," he said. "Mr. Chester came out of
the parlor as red as a lobster, about six o'clock, and I guess he had a
fight with a couple of Japs, Gostel and another chap I've never seen
before. They parted courteously, but I could see that Tony's father was
angry clear through. After he had gone back to his camp, or started for
it, the Japs got a little crowd of gabbers about them and set off down the
road toward Colon. They seemed mighty pleased over something, and I guess
they're going to start something to-night."

"And the other man, this Col. Van Ellis. Did he come here with Chester?"

"Oh, yes; he was here, but I took good care that he did not see me. I
think he went away with Chester. They were both very angry."

"Angry at the Japanese?"

"Yes; anyway, they disagreed over something. But while the two white men
were angry, the Japs seemed pleased. I'll tell you what I think, Ned. The
Japs are up to something the others do not like."

Ned was beginning to see a great light. Once before, since seeing Gostel,
he had studied out the problem of the sincerity of the man, and had
reached the conclusion that he was using Chester--perhaps others--for some
sinister purpose of his own. Now he thought he saw the plot in its true
light. Howeve