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

by Ambrose Newcomb

  X

  IN A SNUG HARBOR

  It turned out to be rather a wet job, forcing the amphibian alongagainst the waves and the wind, constantly increasing in vigor and bothof them, as well as the girl, were more or less soaked before sufficientspeed could be attained to permit the boat to swing upward and take tothe air. Superior skill accomplished Jack's end at last and they leftthe agitated surface of the lake to ascend and head toward the shore.

  Of course there was no way of asking the questions Perk had on the tipof his tongue, since she could not possibly hear anything he might say,what with the clamor of motor exhaust and spinning propeller, togetherwith the shrill whistle of the wind amidst the struts.

  But then according to Perk's mind there was no need of hearing anyexplanation, for it was all so simple--the girl had foolishly venturedout farther than discretion warranted in such a frail craft then thesudden rising of wind and waves had alarmed her, and she must have pliedher paddle with such good will that suddenly it had snapped in themiddle where possibly a knot in the wood had proved to be its weakness,leaving her helpless far from land and with a storm gathering.

  No wonder the poor child was frightened--any man might have felt a chillpassing over him as he contemplated his slender chances of being saved.And strangest of all, it had been no rescuing boat from the shore thatarrived in time to take her aboard, but an airship dropping down fromthe clouds in the most miraculous way that could ever be imagined.

  It was now their bounden duty to get her ashore as quickly as possible,for probably her folks would have discovered that she was missing andfilled with fears, were at their wits end to figure how they coulddiscover her whereabouts and go to her assistance.

  Imagine their amazement when looking far out over the heaving watersthey discovered a sky-scraper zooming along, suddenly make downwardswoops and presently float upon the lake, for what object they couldonly surmise and feed their sinking hearts with wild hopes. Then to seethe airship again taking wing, and even head toward the land, must havefilled them with a wild enthusiasm. Jack knew very well what sort ofreception he and his chum would be apt to receive and was determined toavoid it if possible, even to the point of seeming unmannerly. He couldnot enjoy the thought of being made to pose in the role of a hero whenall they had done was of a most ordinary character.

  "See that crowd gathering on that little dock--she pointed to it, an'tried to let me know it was where she came from."

  Perk was calling in the pilot's ear as he himself thrust out his handand called Jack's attention to the excited little group ofgesticulating, waving people. The girl was once more making use of herdistress flag, but now her face was lighted up with enthusiasm ratherthan flooded with despair for she must begin to feel like somefairy-book maiden being brought safely back to her father's palace afterbeing torn from the castle of the odious ogre--that is about what hersensations must be, Jack was telling himself, if she had a spark ofromance in her makeup, which was very likely the case.

  Jack went about carrying out his plans by cutting off the engine andgliding down toward the water, comparatively smooth so close to theshore for the wind just then was coming off the land.

  They struck with a great splash and the impetus almost sufficed to carrythe amphibian to the outer edge of the miniature wharf, suitable onlyfor small boats. Eager hands were held out to the girl, already leaningfar over and in danger of falling overboard in her desire to reach herdear ones. But zealous Perk kept hold of her until she could be drawn upby many willing hands to be fairly smothered with a multitude of kisses,the women in particular showing their enthusiasm in this regard.

  "Push off!" Jack told his chum who was kneeling there, gazing at theriotous scene, his face decorated by one of his customary grins.

  So it happened that a minute or so afterwards, when the tattoo of theworking motor startled the group around the girl, to their astonishmentand dismay as well, they discovered the rescuing airship moving rapidlyaway. In vain did they hold out their hands and beckon as thoughactually pleading to the airmen to come ashore and accept their warmthanks for saving the life of the one so dear to their hearts. Both Jackand Perk smiled, but only shook their heads in the negative as theypassed further away from the little landing with its excited group.

  There was Perk sending kisses back with all his soul and Jack could seethat this was for the benefit of the little girl, who, pushing to thefront of the milling crowd was blowing kisses after them, as if in herheart she must let them know how grateful she felt for what they haddone.

  That was quite enough for Jack--the memory of the little deed wouldoften arise in his mind and make him all the more satisfied that he hadnot waited to listen to the applause of those good people who mustlikely enough always believe it was about the only case on record wheretwo gallant chaps who had actually done a creditable deed, refused to belionized because of their modesty.

  Perk was again paying some attention to the weather, for those blackclouds seemed to be gathering thicker than ever toward the southwest aidfrom the signs, it would not be difficult to prophesy the coming of afairly savage summer storm.

  "Going to be some buster, seems like to me, Boss," mentioned Perk with ahint in his voice as if he would be pleased to hear what his comradethought of the proposition and likewise what course they should pursuein order to escape as much of the coming turmoil as lay in their power.

  "Between you and me and the lamp-post, brother," Jack remarked a bitseriously, "I don't seem to hanker much about climbing in hopes ofgetting through all that black mess, it's got a venomous look to me asthough it might turn out to be one of those electrical twisters we'veheard about. I've half a mind to run in closer to the shore in hopes offinding some sort of a point heading out into the lake behind which wecould run and be sheltered from the worst of the blow. How about that,Perk?"

  "Sounds good to me, ol' hoss an' by the same token I kinder guess I justsighted the cape we want, a mile or so ahead there."

  He pointed as he spoke to what looked like a fairly sizable point thatjutted out from the shore and behind which they would undoubtedly find alagoon deep enough for their purpose.

  "Yes, I see what you mean and here we go licketty-split for thatheadland," Jack told him without loss of time.

  Indeed, the grumble of distant thunder had by now grown more like aroaring lion or a bull alligator in a swamp, challenging a rival todeadly combat.

  "The closer we get the better I like that cape," Perk was saying as hecontinued to stare through the glass, "it's pretty high land and oughtto shield us fairly well from any blow I'm glad to say, 'cause the wingso' the best ship ever built are kinder weak stuff and likely to beblowed away in a gale when held fast by an anchor or hawser."

  Jack was picking the proper spot on which to alight--of course thatwould be on the water, but then it would be an easy matter for them totaxi around the point and find a safe harbor if things were as theypictured them.

  This program was duly carried out without the slightest difficulty. Thefriendly tongue of high land proved all they could have hoped for andJack readily drove his boat around its tip, to bring up further on wherethe ground rose to its maximum height.

  "Looks okay to me, Perk," he called out as he stopped his motor.

  "Couldn't well be bettered I'd say, partner."

  "Then drop the mudhook, and see what kind of holding bottom you get,"Jack told his mate which Perk proceeded to do without loss of time.

  Thus they found themselves apparently sheltered in safety behind abarrier that should hold back the riotous winds as well as the wavesthat would soon be beating heavily against it. With the cabin forshelter they would not have anything to complain about, unless the stormshould turn into a regular cyclone and Jack could hardly conceive such athing possible away out there on the shore of Great Salt Lake, farremoved from the hurricane districts of the Mexican Gulf.