XIII
OVER THE MOUNTAIN TRAILS
This then was what the deeply interested Perk read as he sat there onthe isolated bench at the Spokane flying field and it can easily beunderstood the startling information he soaked in thrilled him to thecore:
"The Government agents have been informed of what they suspect will prove to be a gigantic conspiracy to smuggle liquor in immense quantities across the border from Canada into this territory, carried out in an original manner never before attempted and which has thus far met with unqualified success.
"This conspiracy, it is believed, has resulted in bringing many thousands of dollars worth of rum over the line, which has been distributed among the numerous cities of our northwestern country. Several rum rings have, from all accounts, been using pack trains, often well camouflaged, in order to avoid contact with customs officers who might be abroad watching for undesirables.
"These clever smugglers, it appears, adopted numerous devices to hide the long lines of plodding, liquor-laden animals and at times it is claimed they have even driven the mules over United States forestry service trails.
"So systematized are the wide-spread operations of the rum rings said to be that a 'traffic manager' has been employed to route the many pack trains from Canada to secluded places opposite the sparsely settled and mountainous Okanogan country in north central Washington.
"Further accounts say that the Pacific manager also watches the weather and when it snows sends white mules along the trails, the animals blending with the whiteness of the landscape. When the ground is bare--bay animals carry the liquor.
"An old time packer who knows how to use the 'diamond hitch' in strapping pouchlike containers onto the animals' backs it is claimed is employed to load the mules.
"Heavily armed guards accompany the liquor trains to prevent hijackers from stealing the packs. Whisky and wines are being transported over the winding trails, and upon arrival at the liquor depot all goods smuggled over the border are loaded into automobiles for transportation into many cities throughout the Northwest."
"Well, what do you think of that for a corking dodge?" asked Jack whenhe saw that his companion had gone through the entire clipping.
Perk shrugged his shoulders quaintly in a way that stood for a good manywords, but he only said:
"Gosh amighty! but don't it beat all how some men'll go to such heaps o'trouble jest to make a livin', taking all sorts o' chances to getplugged with hot lead or grabbed up and sent to the pen for a spell?"
"It's the day for reckless engineering," declared Jack soberly enough,"with a gold mine always just ahead of the risky scheme. I've heard ofsome queer games being tried out in connection with the smuggling racketbut up to now never had a whisper of anything like the mule pack-trainsteer."
"Huh! and do you reckon there's any truth in what this paper says or didit jest boil up in the brain o' one o' them reporters, eh Jack ol'hoss?"
"That's what's bothering Mr. Maxwell, it happens," returned the othercomposedly. "You see, he's responsible to Uncle Sam for keeping thingsin decent order up here in Oregon and Washington and if such rackets asthis can be put through right under his nose, it's bound to get him inbad with the Government. That accounts for him asking me to send himword if we chanced to learn anything worth while about these so-calledmule pack-trains, since it would be of some assistance in helping himstamp out the trick."
"Course then partner," went on the eager Perk, "you told the gent we'dbe on'y too glad to lend a helpin' hand 'cause to be sure he a'readyknows we're connected with the Secret Service an' runnin' in the sameclass as he does?"
"That's about the gist of what I told him, Perk and that if theopportunity came our way we'd even go to a lot of trouble so as to helphim out. To be sure there might be one chance in ten for us to pick upany worth-while clue but that's dependent on little Lady Luck, as I'veheard you say many a time when we were almost muzzled with uncertaintyand looking for a lead."
"I'm bound to say the further I get to figgerin' 'bout this queerracket, Jack, the more I like it. Think o' glimpsin' a long string o'mules up in them mountain passes, streamin' along jest like a desertcaravan across there in Africa. I've always wanted to lamp such apicture."
Evidently Perk was all keyed up to do everything in his power to lend ahelping hand to the Government representative in Spokane of whom Jackhad said so many nice things.
He soon settled down after they had lost all trace of the city in themining sector of the Northwest and proceeded first of all to carry outhis accustomed duties with regard to the ship and then when he had timeon his hands to begin using his glasses.
It was well worth the trivial effort it cost, that grand view of themountainous section of country over which they were passing. Here andthere Perk could spy little lakes of clear water nestling in secludedvalleys or basins and from his elevated position as observer, lookingvery much like gems in a bold setting.
"Like as not," Perk was telling himself as he looked longingly down on aparticularly lovely little sheltered sheet of water, "no white man hasever yanked a gay old trout out o' that lake up to this day! Gee whiz!what wouldn't I give to be settled down alongside that 'ere ponda'flippin' my gang o' flies out over that water an' playin' athree-pound speckled beaut! But no sech luck I kinder guess--not thistrip anyway."
They were soon drawing closer to where Jack told him the InternationalBoundary between the States and Canada lay. Of course they would not beapt to know just when they crossed over, since there would be nothing tomark the actual dividing line as happened in Europe where every countryis so jealous of the others that each road is guarded, with passportshaving to be shown and stamped.
His interest grew with their further advance for he could not helpremembering what Jack had said concerning those bold internationalsmugglers who were supposed to be continually crossing over from thenorth with their mule packs laden heavily with the forbidden beveragethat was in such great demand among certain circles of law-scoffers.
"Say, mebbe now," Perk told himself at one time--for he had the badhabit of communing with himself on occasion and even seemed to takeconsiderable pleasure in so doing--"I wouldn't be tickled some if on'y Ihappened to glimpse one of them caravans pullin' through a twistin'mountain trail like I c'n see right down yonder this very minute! An'wouldn't it gimme a heap o' pleasure to swoop down so's to drop a few o'them tear bombs like I did when we blew up the fightin' rum-smugglersand the hijackers that meant to take away their cargo the time we weredoin' our huntin' on the gulf coast o' Florida!"[3]
He laughed softly at the recollection of what must have been a prettystirring piece of action, to judge from what Perk was saying. Then heapplied himself with renewed energy to his task of watching that windingmountain trail that vanished again and again, only to bob up shortlyafterwards.
"Hugh! somethin' seems to tell me that 'ere must be a well traveledtrail an' leadin' down from the north in the bargain," Perk went on toremark as if deeply interested. "I cal'late one o' them 'ere pack muletrains might bob up along that path, if thar's any truth in the storiesgoin' around and keepin' Mister Robert Mills Maxwell awake nights. It'dbe a shame if we missed connections when I know Jack'd give a heap jestto set eyes on the show. Too bad that we'll be losin' all our chancesright soon when we strike off to the west. Can you tie it for keepin' apoor feller's nerves all on edge?"
A few minutes afterwards Perk might have been seen to suddenly becomerigid, centering his attention on a certain point ahead as thoughsomething had caught his strained vision that kept his eyes glued fast.
Jack, intent on his own thoughts and watching his dials with thefidelity of an air pilot who believed in the slogan of safety first, hadnot become aware of Perk's preoccupied condition so that it gave himsomething of a little thrill when he felt the other nudge him in theribs and remark w
ith his peculiar drawl:
"Hot ziggetty dog, partner! Did I hear you say _mules_?"
-----
Footnote 3:
See "Eagles of the Sky."
The Sky Pilot's Great Chase; Or, Jack Ralston's Dead Stick Landing Page 13