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Alcando welcomed the boys, but said nothing about the delay in opening his door, or about the visitor who must have slipped out hastily. The Spaniard was glad to see Blake and Joe, and glad to learn that they would soon start for Panama. "I have much to do, though, in what little time is left," he said, rapidly arranging some papers on his table.
Alcando, if you want to pick up any points, you can watch us. A little later we'll let you grind the crank yourself." I might explain, briefly, that moving pictures are taken not by pressing a switch, or a rubber bulb, such as that which works a camera shutter, but by the continuous action of a crank, or handle, attached to the camera.
We didn't know what it might be, and thought perhaps you had put your watch in the bed, and might have forgotten to take it out. We looked, and found this " "Ah, my new alarm clock!" exclaimed Mr. Alcando, and what seemed to be a look of relief passed over his face. He reached in among the bed clothes and picked up the curious brass-bound ticking box, with its many little metallic projections.
Though the Canal was practically finished, and open to some vessels, there was much that yet remained to be done upon it, and this work Blake and Joe, with Mr. Alcando to help them at the cameras, filmed each day. Reel after reel of the sensitive celluloid was exposed, packed in light-tight boxes and sent North for development and printing.
"And when I found I couldn't stop him, and knew we were headed for the broken bridge well, I wanted to jump out, but I didn't dare. And I guess you felt the same way," he said to Mr. Alcando. "Somewhat, I must confess," spoke the Spaniard, who, as I have said, used very good English, though with an odd accent, which I shall not attempt to reproduce.
"I could not help it," was the answer. "I did not receive it myself until a few minutes ago. It came by cable. So you are off?" "We are off!" answered Mr. Alcando. Then the other spoke in Spanish, and later on Blake, who undertook the study of that language so as to make himself understood in a few simple phrases knew what it was that the two men said. For the runner asked: "You will not fail us?"
"That's what I do mean," spoke Joe. "And if you haven't I have." "Have what?" "I've been watching Alcando since you and he came back, and I think he's decidedly queer." "Suspicious, you mean?" "I mean he acts as though something were going to happen." "Another landslide?" asked Blake with a laugh. "No chance of that here at Gatun Dam." "No, but something else could happen, I think."
So, once they had waved good-by to their friends and fellow-workers on the pier, they went to their stateroom to look after their luggage. The two boys and Mr. Alcando had a room ample for their needs, and, though it would accommodate four, they were assured that the fourth berth would not be occupied, so no stranger would intrude. When Blake and Joe went below Mr. Alcando did not follow.
He would have spoken too late had what happened been of greater magnitude. As it was Blake felt the earth slipping from beneath his feet, and jumped back instinctively. But there was no need. Beyond him another big slide had occurred, and between him and Mr. Alcando, and this last shift of the soil, was a ridge of rocks that held them to their places.
As Joe looked he saw a black, ugly snout, and back of it a glistening, black and knobby body, moving along after Blake, who was making frantic efforts to get out of the way. "I'm coming, Blake! I'm coming!" cried Joe, as he ran to the edge of the stream, with the intention of plunging in. "You will be too late," declared Mr. Alcando. "The alligator will have him before you reach him.
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