Part 11 (2/2)

But now he and Blake and Joe were safely on a stea rather cool, for though it was only early Nove to make itself felt

”But we'll soon be where it's warh all the year around,”

said Joe to Blake, as they arranged their things in the staterooht,” said his chule, I hope, as the dose we had of it ent after the wild anilad of it,” responded Joe ”That was a little too le in Panao up on deck for a breath of air”

They had taken a stea but one stop, at San Juan, Porto Rico A number of tourists were aboard, and there were one or two ”personally conducted” parties, so the vessel was rather lively, with sopeople

In the days that followed Joe and Blake made the acquaintance of a number of persons, in whom they were more or less interested When it beca picture operators the interest in theet out his ca pictures of the shi+p's coht take the pictures on board the stea the positives, or projecting them after they were made

In the previous books of this series is described in detail thepictures are made, and to those volumes curious readers are referred

The process is an intricate one, though much simplified fro

On and on swept the _Gatun_, carrying our friends to the wonderland of that great ”ditch” which has become one of the marvels of the world Occasionally there were store, but there was only short discoer to reach the scene of operations, and after his first enthusias about the detailed and technical parts of ive him the benefit of their infor more suspicious about hiether in the stateroo on deck

”No, I can't say that I have I guess I did let ination run aith me But say, Joe, what sort of a watch have you that ticks so loudly?”

”Watch! That isn't my watch!” exclaimed his chu?”

They both stood at attention

”I do hear so like a clock,” admitted Joe ”But I don't see any I didn't know there was one in this stateroolance about ”But I surely do hear so overtime”

”Mine doesn't tick as loud as that,” and Blake pulled out his timepiece Even with it out of his pocket the beat of the balance wheel could not be heard until one held it to his ear

”But what is it?” asked Joe, curiously

”It seee,” Blake said ”Yes, it's in his berth,” he went on,toward that side of the stateroo place of the Spaniard the louder becaot some sort of a clock in his bed,” Blake went on ”He h it isn't like hiot to take it out Perhaps I'd better move it or he may not think it's there, and toss it out on the floor”

But when he lifted the pilloatch was to be seen

”That's funny,” said Blake,in this berth; don't you?”