“That’s it, exactly!” exclaimed Mr. Ringold.

“You’ll find plenty down there to take pictures of,” said Mr. Hadley.  “We want scenes along the Canal.  Hire a vessel and take moving pictures as you go along in her.  Go through the Gatun locks, of course.  Scenes as your boat goes in them, and the waters rise, and then go down again, ought to make a corking picture!”

Mr. Hadley was growing enthusiastic.

“Get some jungle scenes to work in also,” he directed.  “In short, get scenes you think a visitor to the Panama Canal would be interested in seeing.  Some of the films will be a feature at the Panama Exposition in California, and we expect to make big money from them, so do your best.”

“We will!” promised Joe, and Blake nodded in acquiescence.

“You met the young Spaniard who had a letter of introduction to you; did you not?” asked Mr. Hadley, after a pause.

“Yes,” answered Blake.  “Met him under rather queer circumstances, too.  I guess we hinted at them in our letter.”

“A mere mention,” responded Mr. Hadley.  “I should be glad to hear the details.”  So Blake and Joe, in turn, told of the runaway.

“What do you think of him—­I mean Mr. Alcando?” asked the moving picture man.

“Why, he seems all right,” spoke Joe slowly, looking at Blake to give him a chance to say anything if he wanted to.  “I like him.”

“Glad to hear it!” exclaimed Mr. Hadley heartily.  “He came to us well recommended and, as I think I explained, our company is under obligations to concerns he and his friends are interested in, so we were glad to do him a favor.  He explained, did he not, that his company wished to show scenes along the line of their railroad, to attract prospective customers?”

“Yes, he told us that,” observed Joe.

“What’s the matter, Blake, haven’t you anything to say?” asked Mr. Hadley in a curious voice, turning to Joe’s chum.  “How does the Spaniard strike you?”

“Well, he seems all right,” was Blake’s slow answer.  “Only I think—­”

“Blake thinks he’s an international spy, I guess!” broke in Joe with a laugh.  “Tell him about the ‘big guns,’ Blake.”

“What’s that?” asked Mr. Hadley, quickly.

Whereupon Blake told of the wind-blown letter and his first suspicions.

“Oh, that’s all nonsense!” laughed Mr. Hadley.  “We have investigated his credentials, and find them all right.  Besides, what object would a South American spy have in finding out details of the defenses at Panama.  South America would work to preserve the Canal; not to destroy it.  If it were some European nation now, that would be a different story.  You don’t need to worry, Blake.”

“No, I suppose it is foolish.  But I’m glad to know you think Mr. Alcando all right.  If we’ve got to live in close companionship with him for several months, it’s a comfort to know he is all right.  Now when are we to start, how do we go, where shall we make our headquarters and so on?”