The Hero of Panama: A Tale of the Great Canal

"The Hero of Panama: A Tale of the Great Canal" by F. S. Brereton is a story set in the early 1900s, following a young American named Jim Partington who faces difficult trials and finds himself working on the Panama Canal project. After a series of unfortunate events that include the death of his father, Jim, along with his sister Sadie, begins his journey by performing salvage work in the Caribbean, where they encounter both adventure and hardship. The narrative explores themes of courage and friendship as Jim, Sadie, Tom, and Ching Hu find themselves mixed up in a dangerous situation at sea. In an initial act of bravery, Jim dives into the ocean to rescue a passenger from a sinking ship. This heroic deed propels them to Panama and the canal construction, setting the stage for action and growth as they work to overcome adversity in a foreign land.