the boys were off, the messenger leading
the way and keeping up a running fire of conversation.

"What do you think of that?" asked Jack of the cook, as the party
disappeared in the thicket.

"I don't like it," was the reply. "I overheard what Frank told you about
the disappearance of Ned and Jimmie, and was anticipating something of the
kind."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"It was not for me to interfere," was the reply.

The cook, known as Tommy, was looked over critically by Jack.

"I believe you're all to the good," he said. "You wouldn't be here if you
wasn't. Now, what do you say to exchanging clothes with me?"

"I have no objections, only I don't exactly see--"

"We're just about the same size," Jack went on. "Same black hair and black
eyes, same ugly smooth face--glad you have no whiskers. You're tanned up a
little, but I can put some stain on my face. There you are. The cook goes
to Gatun and Culebra and Jack Bosworth remains at the cottage. They won't
think of molesting the cook."

"I would rather go with you."

"But some one ought to remain here," urged Jack.

Tommy thought over the proposition for a moment and smiled.

"All right," he said. "I'll remain here, as long as necessary," he added.

The exchange of clothing was quickly made and Jack managed to darken his
face with a stain made of crushed leaves which Tommy gathered for him.

"Now, you'll stay right here, won't you?" Jack asked, as he passed out of
the doorway. "Ned and Jimmie may return, you know."

"Yes, I'll stay right here," the cook said with a grin.

But as Jack entered the thicket he added:

"Until you get out of sight. Then it is me for the Tivoli and Lieutenant
Gordon. It looks to me as if these babes in the woods had bitten off more
than they can chew."

Whether his supposition was right or wrong, the cottage was closed in five
minutes, and Tommy, wearing Jack's clothing, was racing through the path
Ned had taken the night before, on his way to Lieutenant Gordon.

His journey on foot, however, was destined to be a short one, for at the
turn of the path he came upon a man loitering in the open space just
ahead.

"Wait a second," the man exclaimed.

Tommy was not inclined to check his pace, but a revolver in the hands of
the fellow induced him to do so.

"You are Jack Bosworth?"

Tommy hesitated. For an instant he thought of declaring his identity and
so getting away to the Tivoli and Lieutenant Gordon. The m