"Search this man and see if he has the packet!"
A hand was thrust down Hungry's collar and the packet brought forth. With an inconsiderate jerk the soldier broke the string and handed the parcel to his officer. Hungry's consternation was complete.
"Pardon me, gentlemen," the officer apologized to Ned and his friends. "I think I shall have to examine the contents!"
Peering over the officer's shoulder as he unfolded the contents of the little package, Ned gave a shout of joy.
"Hurrah!" he cried, jumping about. "Hurrah! The Rat fooled himself! Those are not the plans of a fortification after all!"
"What?" incredulously gasped Jimmie, pressing forward.
"Not a bit of it!" declared Ned. "This is a plan of the harbor at Colon, showing the proposed breakwater and sea wall, with locations for the scows that carried away the dirt from the Panama Canal!"
"Then they would have no value to any other country?" asked Jack.
"Not the least, except perhaps after the canal is opened to general traffic they might be useful to a captain in bringing his ship up to the entrance. But other charts will be issued of far greater value."
Gladly the boys shook hands, overjoyed to think that the efforts of The Rat had failed to bring about international difficulties between their country and any other nation.