“No—­why should we?” inquired Joe with a smile.  “We won’t inform the postal authorities.  I guess it wasn’t so very important,” and he looked at Blake, who was reading the delayed letter.

“Whew!” finally whistled Joe’s chum.  “This is going some!”

“What’s up now?”

“Another surprise,” answered Blake.  “This day seems to be filled with ’em.”

“Is it about Panama?”

“You’ve guessed it.  Mr. Hadley wants us to go there and get a series of moving pictures.  Incidentally he mentions that he is sending to us a gentleman who wants to go with us, if we decide to go.  I presume he refers to you,” and Blake nodded in the direction of Mr. Alcando.

“Then you have confirmatory evidence of what my letter says?” asked the Spaniard, bowing politely.

“That’s what it amounts to,” Blake made answer.  “Though, of course, seeing that this is the first we’ve had Panama brought up to us, we don’t really know what to say about going there.”

“Hardly,” agreed Joe, at a look from his chum.

“And yet you may go; shall you not?” asked the Spaniard, quickly.  He seemed very eager for an answer.

“Oh, yes, we may—­it’s not altogether out of the question,” said Blake.  “We’ll have to think about it, though.”

“And if you do go, may I have the honor of accompanying you to the Isthmus?” Again he seemed very anxious.

“Well, of course, if Mr. Hadley wants you to go with us we’ll take you,” answered Joe slowly.  “We are employed by Mr. Hadley, as one of the owners of the Film Theatrical Company, and what he says generally goes.”

“Ah, but, gentlemen, I should not want you to take me under compulsion!” exclaimed the Spaniard, quickly.  “I would like to go—­as your friend!” and he threw out his hands in an impulsive, appealing gesture.  “As a friend!” he repeated.

“Well, I guess that could be arranged,” returned Blake with a smile, for he had taken a liking to the young man, though he did not altogether understand him.  “We’ll have to think it over.”

“Oh, of course.  I should not ask for a decision now,” said Mr. Alcando quickly.  “I shall return to my hotel in the village, and come out to see you when I may—­when you have made your decision.  I feel the need of a little rest—­after my narrow escape.  And that it should be you who saved my life—­you of all!”

Again the boys noted his peculiar manner.

“I guess we had better be getting back,” suggested Hank.  “Have to foot it to town, though,” he added regretfully, as he looked at the smashed carriage.  “I hope the boss doesn’t blame me for this,” and his voice was rueful.

“I shall take it upon myself to testify in your favor,” said the Spaniard with courtly grace.  “It was an unavoidable accident—­the breaking of the rein, and the maddened dash of the horse off the bridge.  That we did not follow was a miracle.  I shall certainly tell your employer—­as you say your boss,” and he smiled—­“I shall tell him you could not help it.”