lena Bay concession. There's the California school
question and the alien land bill. Have you read of the mass meetings at
Tokio, and the passionate harangues against America? Wasn't that pretty
near an ultimatum that the Viscount Chenda put before the Washington
Government a little while ago? I tell you, gentlemen, that many a nation
has been plunged into bloody war for reasons less than these."

"But, after all," objected Tom, "if anything of the kind threatens, we'll
have time enough to see it coming, and get ready to meet it."

"Will we?" cried Allison. "Did the Russians have any warning, before the
Japanese smashed their fleet at Port Arthur? Do you know that for two
years past, her arsenals have been working night and day? With what
object? When Japan is ready, she will strike as the lightning strikes.
She may be ready now. Perhaps at this very moment, her fleet may be on
the way to San Francisco."

In his excitement, he half rose from his chair, and his voice rang out
like a clarion.

CHAPTER IX

THE TREACHEROUS BOG

Two days after their trip over the course of the Canal the three chums
decided to spend a long day on an exploring expedition after their own
heart. They resolved to go off early some fine morning on "their own
hook" and see and do what pleased them best. Accordingly, they made all
their plans, and, the night before the eventful day, laid in provisions
for a "bang up" lunch for three.

They procured an old alarm clock and set it to go off at four o'clock in
the morning. This done, they finished discussing every detail of the
trip, and as soon as their excitement would let them, fell into a sound
sleep.

It seemed to them that they had hardly laid their heads on the pillows
when they were awakened by the strident whirring of the little
sleep-killer, and sat up in bed yawning and rubbing their eyes.

"Good-night!" exclaimed Bert. "It isn't possible that it's really time
to get up. It seems to me that I haven't been asleep more than ten
minutes."

"Same here," yawned Dick. "I guess there must be something sleepy in
this air. No wonder the natives are lazy, if they feel every morning the
way I do now."

"Oh, what's the matter with you two lemons, anyway?" laughed Tom. "My
private opinion, publicly expressed, is that you're both just plumb lazy.
But there's nothing like that about me. Just see how lively I feel,"
and to prove his assertion he grasp ed a pillow in ea