"Yes, that's his line," said Joe. "Mr. Ringold attends to the
dramatic end of it. We have done work for both branches."

"So I was told," went on Mr. Alcando. "I asked to be assigned a
teacher, and offered to pay well for it. And Mr. Hadley at once
suggested that you two boys would be the very ones who could best
give me what I desired.

"He told me that you had just returned from the dangers of the
Mississippi flood section, and were up here resting. But I made so
bold upon myself to come here to entreat you to let me accompany
you to Panama."

Mr. Alcando came to a stop after his rather lengthy and excited
explanation.

"But Great Scott!" exclaimed Blake. "We don't know anything about
going to _Panama_. We haven't the least idea of going there, and
the first we've heard of it is the mention in this letter you
bring from Mr. Hadley."

"It sure is queer," said Joe. "I wonder if any of our mail--"

He was interrupted by the sound of rapid footsteps, and a
freckle-faced and red-haired boy, with a ragged straw hat, and no
shoes came running up.

"Say--say!" panted the urchin. "I'm glad I found you. Here's a
letter for you. Pa--pa--he's been carryin' it around in his
pocket, and when he changed his coat just now it dropped out. He