The Sky Pilot's Great Chase; Or, Jack Ralston's Dead Stick Landing

by Ambrose Newcomb

  VIII

  THE TAKE-OFF

  Jack was sorry that, owing to their pulling out so soon, he would not beable to visit the hospital again as he had planned and upon mentioningthis fact to his companion, Perk shrugged his shoulders as he said:

  "That's a downright shame, I'd say, partner, fact is, I dependedon you to find out what Adrian's last name was--save me a wheeno' worriment if on'y I knowed it--somethin' that rhymed withBarnum--Bernard--Burling--Berwind--hang the luck, jest _why_ does thisol' short memory for names bob up to bother a feller when we're startin'off on a big spin an' may never see thet lady an' little Adrian again?Seems I'm jest goin' to speak the right word, an' then, shucks! itmisses connection like, an' leaves me a gropin' in the dark."

  Jack, being accustomed to his pal's queer ways, did not take much noticeof the new cause for worry that had gripped the stubborn one. He feltpretty certain he would see Perk sitting many times with a broodingexpression on his face and counting his fingers while checking off eachand every name he could conjure up that sounded like Barnum, etc., tofinally heave a tremendous sigh, shake his head and apparently try toget the troublesome puzzle out of his mind.

  It was all very sad but then one usually has to pay some sort of penaltybecause of having a poor memory for names.

  As for Jack, he gave the subject little thought partly because he hadmatters of much greater moment to take up his attention. Indeed, hewould have been considerably surprised could he have suspected how thatname for which Perk was grappling just through his stubbornness, wouldplay quite an important part in those adventures which they weredestined to run up against on the other side of the Canadian border.

  "Now let's forget everything that happened last night," he told his chumseriously, "and stick to our business which is connected with thebringing in of that fierce go-getter and all-round bad egg who slippedout of jail so mysteriously that the wardens are floundering in a bog upto this day. All of which proves he's no easy mark and that we'll haveto be on our toes if we expect to cage our bird."

  They were so well prepared for the sudden emergency call that littleremained to be done. The crate was serviced and could cover fullyfifteen hundred miles as the crow flies with the gas they had aboard.Then, too, as they figured on stopping over in Spokane possibly a day orso, there would be ample opportunity to refill their aluminum tanks tothe limit as well as lay in such other necessities as occurred to them.

  "We've got to remember," remarked cautious Jack as they were heading forthe flying field before two that afternoon, "that once we start acrossthe line, we'll have few chances to fill up with gas. They may happen tohave some gas at the post, or perhaps the Mounties could supply usbecause in these days of much flying it would be possible for a ship todrop down near by and be in need of fuel so badly the pilot would pay abig price to be supplied but I don't mean to bank on such a happening."

  "Huh! mebbe things have changed some since I served with the Mounties,"Perk went on to say; "for there wasn't such a thing as a gallon o' gaswithin fifty or a hundred miles o' the post at that time. Folks aregettin' air-minded ev'rywhere you go today an' it wouldn't surprise meto find they've got some sort o' a landin' place close at hand. Ain'tstaggered at anything nowadays, buddy."

  They lost no time in reaching the field and as it was a pleasant daythey found it an animated scene, with crates coming and going, visitorsas well as those connected with the field in some capacity helping tomake up a crowd with scores of spectators as a backing, rushing from onepoint to another.

  This thing was such an old story for both flyers they paid littleattention to the bustle that was going on but made straight for thehangar where their ship was quartered.

  Jack had kept his word and a man could be seen standing or moving aboutnear the squatty building. This was a guard in his employ, engaged bythe day, for an indefinite time. It might be a week or a day, dependingon the whim of the young and ardent sportsman, whom it was believedmeant to hunt big game somewhere within five hundred miles of Salt LakeCity.

  "Listen Perk," said Jack as they approached the hangar, "it might bejust as well for neither of us to say a word about making a quick run ofit until about to pull out when I'll pay our man double wages. Afterwhat happened here last night anything might come along to upset ourcalculations."

  "I'm on Jack--seems like you never do know what's what these days. Anymore light on who did that dirty, sneaky job last night, eh what?"

  "Nothing positive but I'm still of the opinion it must've been meant forus," replied Jack. "Everything points that way for we happened to changeour hangar with hardly anybody knowing about it. Then again I understoodMr. Gibbons dropped in along about nine and never a soul to meet him andhis pilot save the customary field hands. But then there's no use cryingover spilled milk--what's done can't be changed and it serves to warn usnever to trust to just mixing up our names. We've got to believe thereare just as smart wideawake chaps up against us as we ever claim to be.That'll be enough on the subject Perk, so let's forget it."

  "Anyway, luck's all in our favor, seems like," was the consolation Perkoffered himself, at the same time relapsing into silence.

  As quietly as possible, just as if they meant to take an ordinary spin,they got their bus out of the hangar. Jack had paid the rental for it inadvance, so there was nothing to worry them from that quarter, which wasjust as well for things somehow manage to fly around among the employeesand pilots connected with a base port and the news would soon becomecommon property that the young millionaire sportsman and his pilot wereat last on their way to some chosen hunting ground in search of big gamelike moose, grizzly bears or possibly Rocky Mountain big-horn sheep.

  As usual Jack gave the ship the once over, to make doubly certainnothing had been neglected. So far as he was able to tell it was inapple-pie condition and so well stocked that they could count on a twothousand mile flight unless baffled by storm or dense fog banks.

  The guard was given double pay and told that his services would not beneeded any further, since a sudden wire had changed their plans somewhatand they were pulling out for good. If he evinced any particularcuriosity concerning the goal they had in view, never a word spoken byeither of the flyers put him any the wiser. Not that Jack suspected hemight be in touch with some mysterious but vindictive enemy, but justkept mum on general principles.

  "All ready, partner!" sang out Perk in his usual happy fashion for italways pleased him beyond measure to be making a start on some new airvoyage and from what Jack had told him, Spokane was going to be only away station, with the vast unknown Northwest Territory beckoning them onto fresh activities and mayhap thrilling adventures to follow. No wonderthe chap whose nerves were always set for action felt joyful when themoment came to pull the gun and swing off.

  One last look around and aloft so as to stamp his approval on theconditions with which they were to be confronted, and Jack made themomentous start. The wonderful up-to-date amphibian began to move downthe slight decline with constantly augmented speed until, having reachedthe desired maximum the pilot lifted his craft and away they soared.

  Perk took a last backward look at the field that had become fairlyfamiliar to them by this time. There was a grin upon his freckled facethat told of the pleasure he felt at such an auspicious moment. A shipwas just coming into port, settling down for the last glide--just as aduck might set its wings, and throw its webbed feet forward on nearingthe surface of a lagoon on which it intended to alight.

  Perk rather imagined it was a belated air-mail boat, delayed by someaccident like a forced landing or unusual weather conditions. No matter,he waved a hand gaily in salute to the homecoming air-man and felt noill humor because there was no return wave, since the one whose hand wasat the stick must needs give his full attention to his work, or risk acrash.

  So they departed from the friendly Salt Lake City airport, with a fardistant goal in view.