Part 8 (2/2)
”There isn't any necessity for such a rush as that,” Blake said, with a laugh ”We'll finish out our week's vacation, and then go to New York Our caot in the flood, and we'll have to stay in New York about a week to get things in shape So we'll probably start for the Canal in about teeks”
”That will suit me excellently I shall be all ready for you,”
said the Spaniard
”Then I'll write to Mr Hadley to expect us,” Blake added
The boys left Mr Alcando straightening out his papers, and started back through the town to the farm
”What made you act so funny, Blake, when you picked up that piece of paper?” asked Joe, when they had alighted from their motor cycle at the Baker homestead a little later
”Well, to tell you the truth, Joe, I was a bit suspicious”
”What about; that gun business?”
”Yes,” and Blake's voice was serious
”butterh ”You don't mean to say you think this fellow is an international spy; do you?
Trying to get secrets of the United States fortifications at the Canal?”
”Well, I don't know as I exactly believe _that_, Joe, and yet it was strange souns”
”Yes, ht”
”You mean he _tried_ to explain it”
”Oh, well, if you look at it that way, of course you'll be suspicious But I don't believe anything of the sort It was just a blunder of soe
”It's all nonsense to think he's a spy He came to Mr Hadley well recommended, and you canto do with hi”
”Oh, well, I don't exactly say he's a _spy_,” returned Blake, al”
”Yes, I think you are,” said Joe ”I like that chap, and I think we'll have fine ti sure,” Blake declared ”It isn't going to be easy to get good pictures of the big ditch And waiting for one of those Culebra Cut slides is going to be like ca on the trail of a volcano, I think You can't tell when it's going to happen”
”That's right,” agreed Joe with a laugh ”Well, we'll do the best we can, old , to finish out our vacation We won't get another this year, perhaps”
”Let's go down and see how they're coe, where the horse tried to juested Blake, and, a little later they were speeding in that direction
The final week of their stay in the country went by quickly enough, and though the boys appreciated their vacation in the quiet precincts of Central Falls, they were not altogether sorry when the time came to leave