o. Of course, Dalton might cable the full contents of the papers. If
the paper could fall only into Governor Terrero's hands it would be
well worth the cable tolls. But if such a cablegram were sent, openly,
to Terrero, or one of his representatives, it would have to go, first
of all, through the hands of the Government officials who have charge
of the cable."

"But couldn't Terrero fix that?" asked Halstead.

"No; Rio is out of his state, and beyond the sphere of his strongest
influence. Now, if I were to land in Rio Janeiro, I would be arrested
on a warrant issued by Terrero's judges, up in the state of Vahia, and
I would have to go to Vahia for trial. Undoubtedly Terrero's rascally
officers would shoot me on the way, and report that I had tried to
escape."

"Then what harm could it do to Terrero's chances for Dalton to send
him the cablegram direct?"

"Why, either the cable officials in Rio are very great rascals, or
else they are honest officials. If they are rascals, they might hold
the cablegram long enough to act for themselves on the information it
contained. On the other hand, if they are honest officials, then they
would undoubtedly notify the Government of such a stupendous piece of
news. The Government would then very likely take charge of my diamond
field itself, which would be wholly legal, for the Government already
owns many, if not the greater number, of the producing diamond fields
of that country. So, if the Government, acting on information from its
cable officials, took possession of the news and of the diamond field,
what good would the cablegram do Governor Terrero? No; you may be very
sure that Dalton won't send the contents of the papers by cablegram.
He undoubtedly has the strongest orders from Terrero against doing
that."

"I feel better, then," Tom admitted. "For the moment it came over me,
like a thunderbolt, that Dalton might nip all our work in the bud by
sending a cablegram. Still, couldn't he send it by code?"

"No; for only the ordinary codes can go through the Brazilian cable
offices, and the Government officers have the keys to all the codes
that are allowed. Rest easy, Halstead; Dalton won't attempt to use the
cable."

"Then, if he doesn't get aboard the 'Glide,' we'll beat him out to
Brazil--that's the surest thing in the world!" cried Tom, with as much
enthusiasm as though the great fortune at stake were his own.

They were still following in the wake of the "Glide." Once