Part 21 (1/2)

Their trip to Pedro Miguel was devoid of incident At those locks, instead of ”going up stairs” they went down, the level gradually falling so their boat came nearer to the surface of the Pacific A mile and a half farther on they would reach Miraflores

The tug had approached the central pier, to which it was tied, awaiting the services of the electrical locomotives, when back of then vessels to apply to h the Isth a little too close to me for comfort,”

Captain Watson observed as he watched the approaching vessel

Blake and Joe, ere standing near the commander at the pilot house, saw Mr Alcando co stea at the stern of the steamer, and the boys saw the Brazilian colors flutter in the wind At the saly to sooing!” suddenly yelled Captain Watson

Hardly had he shouted than the steamer veered quickly to one side, and then caainst the concrete side of the central pier

”We're being crushed!” yelled Blake

CHAPTER XVII

THE EMERGENCY DAM

The crashi+ng and splintering of wood, the grinding of one vessel against the other at the concrete pier, the shrill tooting of the whistles, and the confused shouts of the respective captains of the craft made a din out of which it seeet this on a fil a cal was now careened at such an angle that it was risky to cross the decks Besides Joewould be crushed and sunk

”Pull us out of here!” yelled Captain Watson to thelocomotives ”Pull us out!”

That see crushed between the Brazilian steamer and the wall But the order had coed in, and no power couldher to pieces, until the pressure of the big steae of the towing machines did not follow Captain Watson's orders

”Over this way!” cried Blake to his chu amid-shi+ps Joe was at the bow, and because that was narrower than the , it had not yet been subjected to the awful pressure

But there was no need of Joe or the others, including Captain Watson, changing their positions The Brazilian shi+p now began drawing away, aided by her own engines, and by the tow ropes extending from the other side of the lock wall The _Nama_, which had been partly lifted up in the air, as a vessel in the Arctic Ocean is lifted when two ice floes begin to squeeze her, now dropped down again, and began settling slowly in the water

”She's sinking!” cried Blake ”Our cameras--our films, Joe!”

”Yes, we must save them!” his chum shouted

”I'll help!” offered the Spaniard ”Are we really sinking?”

”Of course!” shouted Captain Watson ”How could anything else happen after being squeezed in that kind of a cider press? We'll go to the bottom sure!”

”Leave the boat!” yelled one of theto tow you out of the way, so when you sink you won't block the lock!”

”Let's get out our stuff!” Blake cried again, and realizing, but hardly understanding, as happening, the boys rushed below to save what they could

Fortunately it was the opening ofprocess, rather than any great hole stove in her, that had brought about the end of the _Naan to sink slowly at the pier, and there was ti to the boys and Mr Alcando

Hastily the cameras, the boxes of exposed and unexposed film, were hoisted out, and then when all had been saved that could be quickly put ashore, the tug was slowly towed out of the here it could sink and not be athe locks