Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 41767-h.htm or 41767-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41767/41767-h/41767-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41767/41767-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See http://archive.org/details/heroofpanamatale00breriala THE HERO OF PANAMA A Tale of the Great Canal by CAPTAIN F. S. BRERETON Author of "Under the Chinese Dragon," "Tom Stapleton, the Boy Scout," "The Great Aeroplane," "Indian and Scout," &c. Illustrated by William Rainey, R.I. Blackie and Son Limited London Glasgow and Bombay 1912 [Illustration: JIM RESCUES PHINEAS BARTON] Contents CHAP. PAGE I. A POST OF RESPONSIBILITY 9 II. EN ROUTE FOR NEW YORK 23 III. JIM PARTINGTON SHOWS HIS METTLE 40 IV. RELATING TO PHINEAS BARTON 59 V. THE WAYS OF THE STEAM DIGGER 77 VI. A SHOT IN THE DARK 95 VII. THE LAIR OF THE ROBBERS 114 VIII. IN HOT PURSUIT 133 IX. JIM BECOMES A MECHANIC 152 X. RUNNING THE GAUNTLET 171 XI. BARELY ESCAPED 192 XII. AN AMERICAN UNDERTAKING 215 XIII. HUSTLE THE ORDER OF THE DAY 235 XIV. THE RUNAWAY SPOIL TRAIN 256 XV. JAIME DE OTEROS FORMS PLANS 276 XVI. THE MAJOR FORMS HIS PARTIES 297 XVII. ON THE TRACK OF MISCREANTS 317 XVIII. RESCUE BY MOONLIGHT 337 XIX. JIM MEETS WITH A SURPRISE 357 XX. SUCCESS TO THE PANAMA CANAL 375 Illustrations Page JIM RESCUES PHINEAS BARTON _Frontispiece_ 46 "STAND AWAY FROM THOSE BOATS" 32 JIM IN A TIGHT CORNER 118 WAITING FOR THE ENEMY 150 ATTACKED BY NATIVES 212 "JIM TUGGED WITH ALL HIS MIGHT" 262 THE RESCUE OF SADIE 338 "IT'S GEORGE, GEORGE COME BACK TO LIFE!" 358 THE HERO OF PANAMA [Illustration: The PANAMA CANAL] CHAPTER I A Post of Responsibility