CHAPTER XXI.
THE TANGLE STRAIGHTENED OUT.
It was nearly daylight when the tired party entered the lobby of the hotel at Culebra. The eight men who had been captured were all under strong guard, the bombs had been taken from the dam, and the danger was over.
“Now,” Lieutenant Gordon said, “we’ll go after the men higher up.”
He started back as he uttered the words, for Mr. Shaw, Harvey Chester, Col. Van Ellis, George Tolford, and Tony Chester came hastening toward him.
“There are three of the men higher up!” the lieutenant shouted. “I arrest you, gentlemen, for treason!”
The three men drew back in surprise and Mr. Shaw stepped forward.
“What does it mean?” he asked. “I sailed from New York the day after the boys left, but reached Culebra only to-night. When I came here I found Mr. Chester and Mr. Van Ellis waiting for news from Ned Nestor. What does it mean?”
“It means!” shouted Gordon, “that your dupes are all under arrest, through the efforts of Nestor, and that the Gatun dam is no longer in danger. It also means that you three men are under arrest! I suspected, that night in your house in New York, Shaw, that you were trying to lead me to a false trail.”
Mr. Shaw glanced indifferently at the officer and motioned to a distinguished looking gentleman who had been observing the scene from a distance.