
    ,,*APT] ,,XXI

    ,,(F ,,= ,,PANAMA
  8,,WELL10 ,TOM1 X DOESN'T SEEM POSSI#2
DOES X1 OLD MAN80
  8,Y'RE "R1 ,N$--IN A WAY4 ,& YET1 AF
ALL ! H>D "W WE'VE D"O1 ALM ANY?+ IS
POSSI#40
  8,H>D "W6 ,WE8 ,OH1 P%AW6 ,Y'VE D"O
MO/ ( X1 ,TOM4 ,I ONLY HELP$ "H & "!40
  8,9DE$1 & Y DID M ?AN T4 ,IF X _HN'T
BE5 = Y1 ,MR4 ,DAMON & ,KOKU WE'D N"E H
GOTT5 (F Z SOON Z WE DID4 ,! GOV]N;T IS
! LIMIT = DO+ ?+S1 "S"TS40
  8,B.S MY "TTA#6 B ,I AGREE ) Y10 PUT 9
,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,B AT LA/ WE >E ON ! WAY1
9 SPITE ( DELAYS40
  ,? 3V]S,N TOOK PLACE ON BO>D "O (
,UNCLE ,SAM'S W>%IPS1 : ! ,PRESID5T _H
DESIGNAT$ 6TAKE ,TOM'S GIANT CANNON 6!
,PANAMA ,CANAL4
  ,! BIG GUN _H BE5 LA%$ 6! DECK (!
VESSEL1 & 0 WELL PROTECT$ F ! W1!R4 ,9 !
HOLD ! "PS (! 4APPE>+ C>RIAGE1 : ,TOM _H
AT LA/ SU3E$$ 9 HAV+ MADE1 7 SECURELY
/[$4 ,9 ANO!R "P (! W>%IP 7 ! BIG
PROJECTILES1 "S >RANG$ 6BE FIR$ Z SOLID
%OTS1 & O!RS )A BUR/+ *>GE4 ,"! 0 AL A
GD SUPPLY (! P[];L EXPLOSIVE1 & ,TOM _H
TAK5 EXTRAORD9>Y PRECAU;NS S T X CD N 2
TAMP]$ )4 ,KOKU _H BE5 DETAIL$ Z A SORT
( GU>D OV] X1 & 6RELIEVE HM 0 A
TRU/WOR?Y S]G1NT ( M>9ES4
  8,IF ANY"O TRIES 6DOPE T P[D] N[1 &
SPOIL MY TE/ AT ,PANAMA10 DCLD ,TOM1
8HE'LL WI% HE'D N"E TRI$ X40
  8,ESPECI,Y IF ,KOKU GETS HOLD ( HM10
A4$ ,N$1 GRIMLY4
  8,B ,I DON'T 2LIEVE "! IS ANY DANG]10
W5T ON ! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,I SPOKE AB :AT _H
HAPP5$1 &! ORDN.E BO>D TOOK EXTRA
PRECAU;NS 6SEE T N"O B M5 & (FIC]S :O CD
2 IMPLICITLY TRU/$ _H ANY?+ 6D ) ?
EXP$I;N40
  8,Y DON'T RE,Y 2LIEVE ANY?+ L TR1*]Y
WD 2 ATTEMPT$2 D Y1 ,TOM80
  8,I DON'T "K :AT 6SAY4 ,C]TA9LY ,I C'T
SEE :Y ANY"O 3NECT$ ) ,UNCLE ,SAM WD
WANT 6?R[ COLD WAT] ON A PLAN 6=TIFY !
CANAL1 EV5 IF AN \TSID] HAS 9V5T$ ! GUN
--,I M1N "S"O L MYF1 N 3NECT$ )! >MY OR
NAVY40
  8,IF X'S ANY?+ X'S J1L\SY10 DCLD ,N$1
8,T ,G5]AL ,WALL]--0
  8,"! Y G AG1 ,N$4 ,LET'S N TALK AB X4
,-E ON =W>D & SEE :AT PROGRESS WE >E
MAK+40
  ,X M/ N 2 SUPPOS$ T 6GET ! BIG GUN
ABO>D ! VESSEL1 >RANGE =A NEW SUPPLY (!
EXPLOSIVE1 &= _M (! GRT PROJECTILES1 _H
BE5 EASY "W4 ,X 0 A TASK T TAX$ ! SKILL
& /R5G? ( ,TOM & 8 FRS 6! UTMO/4
  ,"! _H BE5 WE>Y+ DELAYS1 ESPECI,Y 9 !
MATT] ( MAK+ ! 4APPE>+ C>RIAGE4 ,AT "TS
X SEEM$ Z IF ! REQUIR$ PROJECTILES WD
N"E 2 F9I%$4 ,! P[D]1 TOO1 GAVE TR\#1 =
"S"TS BAT*ES WD 2 TURN$ \ T 7 UTT]LY
WOR?.S4
  ,B ,TOM N"E GAVE UP1 EV5 :5 X SEEM$ T
"S (! FAILURES 7 PURPOSELY MADE4 ,N$
DCLD T "! 0 A 3SPIRACY AG/ 8 *UM1 B ,TOM
CD N SEE X T WAY4 ,X 0 DUE 6A -B9,N (
CIRCUM/.ES1 HE 9SI/$4
  ,B F9,Y ! GUN _H BE5 PUT ABO>D ! %IP1
HAV+ BE5 TRANSPORT$ F ! PROV+ GR.D 9 !
VALLEY1 & !Y 7 N[ EN R\TE 6,PANAMA4 ,"!
! GIANT CANNON 0 6BE SET UP1 & TRI$ AG4
,IF X CAME UP 6EXPECT,NS X 0 6BE F9,Y
ADOPT$ Z ! (FICIAL GUN =! PROTEC;N (!
BIG CANAL1 & ,TOM WD RCV A SUB/ANTIAL
REW>D4
  8,& ,I'M 3FID5T T X W MAKE GD10 SD !
"Y 9V5TOR 6HIS *UM1 Z !Y PAC$ ! DECK (!
VESSEL4 8,IN FACT1 ,I'M S SURE ,I H
PRACTIC,Y 5GAG$ ! ,UNIV]SAL ,/EEL ,-PANY
6HOLD XF 9 R1DI;S 6MAKE S"EAL M (!
GUNS40
  8,B SUPPOSE ,UNCLE ,SAM DECIDES AG/ !
CANNON ON ? SECOND TE/80

8,WELL1 !N ,I'VE LO/ \1 T'S ALL10 DCLD
  ,TOM1
PHILOSOPHIC,Y4 8,B ,I DON'T 2LIEVE !Y
  W40

  8,X C]TA9LY IS A GIANT CANNON10 REM>K$
,N$1 Z HE PAUS$ 6LOOK AT ! PRO/RATE
MON/]1 LA%$ 6! DECK1 ) XS WRAPP+S (
T>PAUL9S4 8,X LOOKS BI7] "H ?AN X DID :5
Y FIR$ ! %OT T SAV$ ! T[N1 ,TOM40
  8,YES1 ,I SUPPOSE X DOES1 03TRA/4 ,B
LET'S G D[N & SEE H[ ! P[D] & %ELLS >E
/&+ ! TRIP4 ,I TOLD ! CAPTA9 6H !M
SECURELY LA%$1 S IF WE /RUCK R\< W1!R1
&! VESSEL ROLL$1 !Y WDN'T C>RY AWAY40
  8,ESPECI,Y ! P[D]10 PUT 9 ,N$4 8,IF T
/>TS 6BANG+ >.D--WELL1 ,I'D R 2 "S":
ELSE40
  8,B.S MY RA9 GAUGE60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
8,PL1SE DON'T SAY S* ?+S4 ,Y MAKE ME
N]V\S4 ,Y'RE Z BAD Z T /EEL =EMAN40
  8,ALL "R1 ,I'LL 2 BETT]10 PROMIS$ ,N$1
)A LAU<4
  ,! TWO *UMS F.D T E PRECAU;N _H BE5
TAK5 9 REG>D 6! PROJECTILES & P[D]4
,KOKU 0 ON GU>D1 ! GIANT REG>D+ ! BOXES
( EXPLOSIVE )A CALM B DET]M9$ EYE4 ,X WD
N 2 WELL = ANY UNAU?ORIZ$ H& 6TAMP] )
!M4
  8,AM D]E ANYT'+ ,I K9 D FO' YO'-ALL1
,MASSA ,TOM80 9QUIR$ ,ERADICATE1 Z ! "Y
9V5TOR & ,N$ PREP>$ 6G ON DECK AG4 ,!
AG$ COLOR$ MAN _H 9SI/$ ON -+ Z A SORT (
P]SONAL BODYGU>D 6,TOM1 &! LATT] _H N !
HE>T 6REFUSE HM4 ,ERADICATE 0 DESP]ATELY
J1L\S (! GIANT4
  8,HUH60 ,ERADICATE _H SD1 8ANYBODY K9
SIT AN' LOOK AT A LOT OB DEM P[D] BOXES2
B ,8TA9'T "EYBODY :AT K9 WAIT ON ,MASSA
,TOM4 ,I K91 AN0' ,I'SE GW9E T' D X40 ,&
S HE _H4
  ,X 0 PLANN$ 6PROCE$ DIRECTLY 6,COLON1
! EA/]N T]M9US (! CANAL1 F ,NEW ,YORK1
/OPP+ AT ,SANTIAGO 6TRANSACT "S GOV]N;T
BUSI;S "!4 ,! BIG GUN 0 6BE M.T$ ON A
B>BETTE NE> ! ,GATUN LOCKS1 PO9T+ \
6SEA1 &! TRIAL %OTS WD 2 FIR$ OV] !
WAT]4
  ,EV5TU,Y ! GUN WD 2 S M.T$ Z 6SW+ 9 A
CIRCLE11 S Z 6-M& ! L& Z WELL Z ! WAT]2
&1 9 FACT1 IF ! GOV]N;T DECID$ 6ADOPT
,TOM'S GIANT CANNON Z ! (FICIAL
PROTECTIVE >M (! CANAL1 !Y WD ALL 2 S
M.T$4 ,=1 ( C\RSE1 X MI<T 2 POSSI# = L&
Z WELL Z SEA =CES 6ATTACK & TRY 6CAPTURE
! BIG DIT*4
  ,! F/ FEW "DS (! VOYAGE 7 PL1SANT 5\<4
,! W1!R 0 F9E1 & ,TOM 0 KEPT BUSY
EXPLA9+ 6_M (! (FIC]S ABO>D ! %IP !
PR9CIPLES ( 8 GUN1 P[D] & PROJECTILES4
,MEMB]S (! ORDN.E BO>D1 :O _H BE5
DETAIL$ 6WIT;S ! TE/1 7 AL M* 9T]E/$ Z
,TOM MODE/LY DESCRIB$ 8 "W ON ! GIANT
CANNON4
  ,AT ,SANTIAGO DE ,CUBA1 :5 ,TOM & ,N$
7 /&+ NE> ! GANGWAY1 WAT*+ ! (FIC]S
RETURN+ F %ORE L1VE1 =! %IP 0 6PROCE$
SOON1 AF A TWO "DS' /AY1 ! "Y 9V5TOR
/>T$ Z HE NOTIC$ A MILIT>Y MAN WALK+
ABO>D4
  8,LOOK1 ,N$60 HE EXCLAIM$1 9 A L[
VOICE4
  8,":80
  8,AT T MAN--AN (FIC] 9 CIVILIAN DRESS1
,I %D JUDGE--HAV5'T Y SE5 HM 2F80
  8,I H1 ,TOM4 ,N[1 ": 0 X8 ,I SEEM
6REMEMB] 8 FACE2 & YET HE WASN'T DRESS$
L ? ! LA/ "T ,I SAW HM40
  8,I GUESS N1 ,N$4 ,HE _H ON A UNI=M
!N40
  8,0J9KS6 ,I H X4 ,T ,G]MAN (FIC]--VON
,BR"UG]6 ,T'S HE60
  8,Y'RE "R1 ,N$4 ,& HE'S GOT 8 S]VANT )
HM1 ,I GUESS10 & ,TOM NO4$ T[>D A /OLID
,G]MAN :O 0 C>RY+ ! O!R'S SUITCASE4
  8,I WOND] :AT HE'S DO+ ABO>D "H80 W5T
ON \R H]O'S *UM4
  8,WE'LL SOON "K10 SPOKE ,TOM4 8,HE'S
SE5 U & IS NO4+4 ,WE MI<T Z WELL G MEET
HM40
  8,AH1 MY GD FR1 ,TOM ,SWIFT60 EXCLAIM$
,G5]AL VON ,BR"UG]1 G5I,Y1 Z HE GRASP$ !
H&S ( ,TOM & ,N$4 8,I AM GLAD 6SEE Y BO?
AG40 ,HE SEEM$ 6M1N X1 ?\< HE _H N BE5
ESPECI,Y CORDIAL 6!M AT ! F/ GUN TE/4
8,TAKE MY GRIP 2L10 HE SD 9 ,G]MAN 6!
MAN1 8&1 ,RUDOLPH1 F9D ,LIEUT5ANT ,BLAKE
& 9=M HM T ,I AM ON BO>D4 ,I H BE5 9VIT$
6G 6,PANAMA 0,LIEUT5ANT ,BLAKE10 HE A4$
6,TOM4 8,I H N"E SE5 ! BIG DIT* T Y
WOND];L ,AM]ICANS H S NE>LY F9I%$40
  8,X IS GO+ 6BE A BIG ?+10 SPOKE ,TOM4
8,I AM PR\D T MY GUN IS GO+ 6HELP
PROTECT X40
  8,AH1 S Y 7 SU3ESS;L1 !N80 & 8 VOICE
EXPRESS$ SURPRISE4 8,I _H N HE>D4 ,&!
BIG GUN2 IS HE "H80 ,?\< SP1K+ V GD
,5GLI%1 VON ,BR"UG] O3A.N,Y LAPS$ 96!
IDIOMS ( 8 ,"FL&4
  8,YES1 X'S ON BO>D10 SD ,TOM4 8,>E Y
GO+ 6,PANAMA =
ANY SPECIAL PURPOSE80
  ,N$ DCLD AFW T ! ,G]MAN />T$ Z ,TOM
ASK$ ? "Q1 B IF HE DID ! "Y 9V5TOR
SC>CELY NOTIC$ X4 ,9 AN 9/ANT1 H["E1 VON
,BR"UG] 0 -POS$ AG4
  8,I G B 6SEE ! BIG DIT* 2F ! WAT] IS
LET IN10 HE REPLI$4 8,& S9CE YR GUN IS
6H A TE/ ,I % 2 GLAD 6WIT;S T4 ,Y SEE1
,I AM -MIS.N$ 0MY ,KAIS] 6LE>N ALL T Y
,AM]ICANS W ALL[ ME 6IN REF];E 6YR WAYS
( DO+ ?+S--IN ! >MY1 ! NAVY & 9 !
PURSUIT ( P1CE4 ,AF ALL1 PREP>,N = W> IS
! BE/ M1NS ( SECUR+ P1CE4 ,YR (FIC]S H
BE5 M ?AN K9D & ,I H TAK5 ADVANTAGE (!
(F] 6G 6,PANAMA4 ,LIEUT5ANT ,BLAKE SD !
%IP WD /OP "H1 &1 Z ,I _H BUSI;S 9
,CUBA1 ,I CAME & WAIT$4 ,I AM DELI<T$
6SEE Y BO? AG40
  ,HE W5T 2L1 L1V+ ,TOM & ,N$ />+ AT "O
ANO!R4
  8,WELL1 :AT D Y ?9K ( X80 ASK$ ,N$4
  8,I DON'T SEE ANY?+ 6BE WORRI$ AB10
DCLD ,TOM4 8,X'S TRUE T A ,G]MAN ONCE
TRI$ 6MAKE TR\# = ME1 B ? VON ,BR"UG] IS
ALL "R1 Z F> Z ,I C LE>N4 ,HE HAS !
HI<E/ REF];ES1 & IS AN A3R$IT$
REPRES5TATIVE (! ,KAIS]4 ,Y >E TOO
SUSPICI\S1 ,N$1 J Z Y 7 9 ! CASE (
,G5]AL ,WALL]40
  8,MAYBE S40
  ,F ,SANTIAGO1 SW++ >.D ! ISL& (
,JAMAICA1 ! W>%IP TOOK H] WAY1 )! BIG
GUN1 6,COLON4 ,:5 HALF WAY ACR ! ,C>I21N
,SEA !Y 5C.T]$ R\< W1!R4
  ,! /ORM BROKE )\T ANY UNUSUAL
PRELIM9>IES1 B QKLY 9CR1S$ 6A HURRICANE1
& :5 NI<T FELL X SAW ! BIG %IP ROLL+ &
TOSS+ 9 A TEMPE/U\S SEA4 ,TORN 0 ANXI\S
AB 8 BIG GUN1 B ! CAPTA9 ASSUR$ HM T D\#
LA%+S WD MAKE X P]FECTLY SAFE4
  ,TOM & ,N$ _H SE5 LL (! ,G]MAN (FIC] T
"D1 NOR1 9 FACT1 S9CE HE CAME ABO>D4 ,HE
KEPT M* 9 ! QU>T]S (! O!R (FIC]S1 &!
REPORT 0 CURR5T T HE 0 A 8JOLLY GD
FELL[40
  ,R ANXI\S Z 6! \TCOME (! /ORM1 ,TOM
TURN$ 9 LATE T NI<T1 N EXPECT+ 6SLEEP
M*1 = "! 7 _M UNUSUAL NOISES4 ,B HE DID
DROP (F 96A DOZE1 ONLY 6BE AWAK5$ AB AN
H\R LAT] 0A -MO;N ON DECK4
  8,:AT'S UP1 ,N$80 HE CALL$ 6HIS *UM1
:O _H AN ADJO9+ /ATEROOM4
  8,I DON'T "K1 ,TOM4 ,"S?+ IS GO+ ON1
?\<4 ,HE> T ?UMP+ & P.D+60
  ,Z ,N$ SPOKE "! CAME A TREM5D\S NOISE
F ! DECK4
  8,0,JOVE60 YELL$ ,TOM1 JUMP+ F 8 B]?4
8,X'S MY BIG GUN6 ,X HAS TORN LOOSE F !
LA%+S & MAY ROLL OV]BO>D60














