er."

"It is a busy place night and day," Ned said. "See the electric towers and
wires? Work never stops."

"Something like His Nobbs," grinned Jimmie. "I wonder if he has had any
sleep since he struck our trail?"

"I haven't seen him since we left the train," Jack said. "Perhaps he has
delivered us over to the Panama division of the Anti-Canal Benevolent
Society. In that case, we shall see no more of him."

After a time the boys strolled over to a neat little hotel on the
principal street of the town, and there saw Lieutenant Gordon, who
strolled up to Ned, just as any two Americans meeting there might have
affiliated.

"Your camp in the jungle is ready for you," the officer said, as the two
walked about the lobby of the hotel. "You will find a movable cottage
there, all furnished, and a good cook. Until further orders you are all to
remain there."

"Pretty quick work," said Ned.

"The orders for the cottage camp were sent over by wire before we left New
York," the lieutenant replied. "You are at liberty to roam about the works
at will, only you ought to leave some one at the cottage always."

"As I understand it, we are boys looking for adventure?" asked Ned.

"Exactly."

"And an emerald necklace," added the boy with a laugh.

"I have a notion that if you find Pedro you will find the necklace, unless
you find him too late--after he has disposed of it."

"That may be," Ned replied, doubtingly, "but we are not likely to run
across Pedro over here. Neither shall we see His Nobbs. They have played
their roles, and we shall have new ones to contend with now."

That night the boys took possession of the cottage in the jungle, dancing
and prancing about it like wild Indians. It all seemed to them to be too
good to be true. Here they were, at last, on the Canal Zone, and, in a
way, in the secret service of the government. It was late when they
retired, and no guard was set.

This Ned regretted, after the others were asleep, and so lay awake a long
time, watching. Then, about midnight, he saw some one looking in at the
porch door.

CHAPTER VI.

A BOMB AND A RUINED TEMPLE.

Ned lay perfectly still and the door was closed again, with the figure
still on the outside. There were no lights inside the cottage, and it was
a fairly clear night, so the boy could see the man standing on the porch,
the wire screen in the door robbing his figure of sharp outline.

The intruder appeared to be listening for so