"Oh, come now, not as bad as that!" cried Mr. Piper. "I am glad to see you boys, though," and really he seemed quite delighted. "What's on?" he asked. "Are you going with us to California? We're going to do a series of stunts there, I hear."
"Sorry, but we're not booked to go," said Blake. "I guess it's Panama and the Canal for us."
Mr. Piper seemed to undergo a quick and curious change. His face, that had been lighted by a genial smile, became dull and careworn. His manner lost its joyousness.
"That's too bad!" he exclaimed. "Panama! You're almost sure to be buried alive under one of the big Culebra slides, and we'll never see you again!"
CHAPTER VIII
OFF FOR PANAMA
There was a moment of silence following Mr. Piper's gloomy prediction, and then Miss Shay, with a laugh, cried out:
"Oh, what a shame! I'd keep still if I couldn't say anything nicer than that."
"Not very cheerful; is he?" spoke Joe.