yesterday from South America. They are members of the party of the
murdered president. To-day there will arrive and also be put in
hock the three gents whose names you have there. Now we have a
private inside hunch that the three already here have come up
particularly and specifically to prepare for the funeral of the
three who are arriving. Which is no hair off our brows, except
it's up to us to see they don't pull off any little stunts of that
kind on Zone territory."

At least this police business was starting well; if this was a
sample it would be a real job.

The train had stopped and we were climbing the steps of Balboa
police station; for without the co-operation of the "Admiral of
the Pacific Fleet" we could not reach Culebra Island.

"By the way, I suppose you're well armed?" asked the Lieutenant in
his high querulous voice, as we drank a last round of ice-water
preparatory to setting out again.

"Em--I've got a fountain pen," I replied. "I haven't been a
policeman twenty minutes yet, and I was appointed in a hurry."

"Fine!" cried "the Admiral" sarcastically, snatching open the door
of a closet beside the desk. "With a warm job like this on hand!
You know what these South Americans are--" with a wink at the
Lieutenant that was meant also for Castillo, who stood with his
felt hat on the back of his head and a far-away look in his eyes.

"Yah, mighty dangerous--around meal time," said the Corporal;