Part 28 (2/2)
”I'll explain,” said Mr Wiltsey ”You have no doubt heard, as we all have down here, the stories of fear of an earthquake shock As I said, I think they're all bosh But of late there have been persistent rumors that a more serious menace is at hand And that is dynaotten down to a definite date, and it is said to-night is the time picked out for the destruction of the da to the rains, and if a breach were blown in the da loose of a destructive flood”
”But ould want to blow up the dam?” asked Blake
”Enemies of the United States,” was the captain's answer ”I don't knoho they are, nor why they should be our enemies, but you know several nations are jealous of Uncle Saic ay as the Panama Canal
”But we don't need to discuss all that now The point is that we are going to try to prevent this thing and ant you boys to help”
”With a flashlight?” asked Blake, wondering whether the captain depended on scaring those ould dare to plant a charge of dynaht, or, rather, with a series of the picture caraphic views of those ill try to destroy the daainst them Will you do it?”
”Of course ill!” cried Blake ”Only how can it be done? We don't knohere the atteht powder doesn't burn very long, you know”
”Yes, I know all that,” the captain answered ”And we have ood idea where the attempt will be uess at that
”But it will be soht, aluard to prevent it So, and you can do the rest--with your careed Blake
”It will be so the pictures of the wild anile,” Joe said ”We did soht, you reht the apparatus with us, though we haven't used it this trip Now let's get down to business But we'll need help in this, Joe I wonder where Alcando--?”
”You don't need him,” declared the captain
”Why not?” asked Joe ”He knows enough about the caner--a Spaniard,” objected the captain
”I see,” spoke Blake ”You don't want it to go any farther than can be helped”
”No,” agreed the captain
”But how did you and the other officials hear all this?” Joe wanted to know
”In a dozen different ways,” was the answer ”Ruot--n laborers Men with fancied, but not real grievances, have talked and ainst the United States Then, in a manner I cannot disclose, word came to us that the discontent had culht is the time set
”Just who they are ill try the desperate work I do not know
I fancy no one does But we may soon know if you boys can successfully work the cahts”
”And we'll do our part!” exclaimed Blake ”Tell us where to set the cameras”
”We can use that automatic camera, too; can't we?” asked Joe
”Yes, that will be the very thing!” cried Blake They had found, when le, as I have explained in the book of that title, that to be successful in so holes, where the beasts cahtly to slake their thirst