CHAPTER XIX
THE SCENT GROWS WARMER
It all seemed so simple, as Jack put it, that Perk felt everything wasbound to come their way eventually if not just then. All the same hissound common sense told him there was apt to be some pretty lively timesin store for them before the end they sought had been obtained.
He had the feeling of one who had been fed up on thrilling details andfigured on having a great volume of tragic possibilities to mull over inhis customary fashion--for all the world, as Jack often told him, like acow chewing her cud.
Realizing that Jack had now posted him thoroughly, Perk managed to curbhis curiosity besides, the chances were his pal would be likely to frownon anything approaching garrulity.
Several hours passed and most of this time they spent taking short napsin order to keep in condition for anything that might crop up. Then camethe dawn, to find Perk pawing over his haversack in which he had foodstowed away, with which he calculated to meet any "hold-over" that mightcome along.
That dawn was a wonderful one, especially for those unaccustomed to whatFlorida could offer in the way of sunrises. Even while the pair partookof their limited breakfast, they kept an eye on the amazingly delicateshades of color that marked the approach of the sun above the easternhorizon.
But they had work ahead and could not waste time by lingering over theearly morning meal. In order to lessen the chances of discovery it wouldbe necessary for them to conceal the ship from spying eyes and with hisformer effectual result in camouflage as a sample of how it could bestbe accomplished, Perk took it upon himself to repeat the operation.
They had aboard the amphibian a cleverly arranged collapsible canvasboat that could be launched in short order and was to be propelled bymeans of a short but serviceable paddle. While up in Canada with theMounties, Perk had become quite proficient in the use of a paddle andalso in balancing by sheer instinct while in a tipsy little canoe.
Accordingly he convinced his chum that since both of them could hardlyexpect to occupy the small shallop and carry any quantity of greens, itwas up to him, Perk, to put the job through in good shape. Jack could bechecking up his motor and taking a survey of the boat so as to makecertain it was in serviceable condition.
"Cause you know, partner," Perk went on solemnly, "when we _do_want to skip out it's bound to be in a hoppin' hurry an' there'd be notime to look her over then, by jiminy. Jest lie around an' take thingseasy-like--your work is a'goin to be mostly with the brain, while I'mthe lad to use the muscle."
Jack felt that since the canoe was so diminutive, Perk's logic wasunanswerable, so he agreed to the division of labor.
"Only, if it turns out that the job's a bigger one than you reckon on,buddy, you'll let me take a whirl at it," he suggested, to which theother simply grinned and nodded his head.
The work went on steadily and Perk eventually had every part of theamphibian covered with deceptive green stuff, well calculated tohoodwink any air pilot passing directly over the spot.
This accomplished, he was ready to call it a day and drop down close toJack for a resting spell. When they talked it was in low tones, almostbordering on whispers, for Jack took no chances of some enemy beingwithin gunshot range of their hideout, whose ears would be likely tocatch the sound of ordinary voices.
Jack, observing what his chum had accomplished, felt compelled to givethe artist his meed of commendation.
"You sure made a fine job of smothering things with all this stuff,Perk," he told him, which was music in the other's ears, since he wouldrather have Jack praise him than any one he knew. "No easy thing to hidethese stretched-out wings and the fuselage, too, as well as the shinyparts of the crate--motor, propeller, and such, but _you_ fixed itto beat the band."
"Can that sort o' talk, partner--it was a soft job an' anybody withsense could a'done it as good as yours truly. Goin' to be a sure enoughlong day, 'cordin' to my way o' lookin' at it."
"Oh! nothing like having a little patience," commented Jack calmly, forhe seldom showed signs of being in a hurry. "Men in our line of businessmust learn to just hang on and wait for the proper minute to strike thehook home in the fish's jaw."
"Yeah, an' then hang on some more, after they git the barb well hooked,with the game fish kickin' up an awful row," chuckled Perk. "Huh! don'tI know how impatience is my besettin' sin and ain't I always a'tryin' tocurb it? That's why I'm crazy to work in double harness with you,brother, 'cause you hold me in when I feel like spreadin' myselfbrashly. Guess I know when I'm well off. Time to take another spin indreamland, seems like," with which remark Perk assumed as easy aposition as the crowded cabin of the ship admitted, closed his eyes, andso far as Jack could tell from his regular breathing was asleep.
It was indeed a long morning for them both.
Came noon and they again proceeded to enjoy a snack, for appetites havea habit of growing rampant despite any lack of expenditure in the way ofmuscular activity.
"I was jest thinkin," Perk remarked as they chewed their dry food, moreas a duty than because they enjoyed it, "that we might be put on shortrations if we're held up on this here job any great length o' time."
Jack refused to be disturbed by such a possibility.
"Oh! I reckon there isn't much chance of _that_ happening," he saidin his usual optimistic manner. "If things get pretty bad we can make aforay on the pantry of the shack where our friend puts up when overhere. Knowing that he's fond of his grub, with oceans of the long greento lay in the best of supplies with, I rather think he keeps awell-stocked larder at all times. I don't figure on either of us beingstarved out while there's a flock of eatables close by," and from theway in which Perk licked his lips on hearing this said, it was plainlyevident he fully agreed with his pal.
After that wonderful sunrise, which even Perk had called glorious, thesky clouded up around noon and there were even signs to warn them thatrain might come along by nightfall. The visibility, too, became somewhatpoor which possibly was one reason that influenced Jack to make acertain decision which Perk heard later on with unbounded pleasure.
"It's getting on my nerves a bit, too, I must confess, Perk," was theway he started to state his case, "and since there would be small chanceof discovery, thanks to this muggy atmosphere, what's to hinder ourtaking a little stroll, keeping a wary eye out for stragglers?"
"I get you, partner," was the eager way Perk snapped him up on theproposition which exactly tallied with what he himself had been wishing."I calculate now it means we c'n move around an' get tabs on this herehideout o' the gent we're so much in love with, eh, what?"
"Wouldn't do any harm to learn the lay of the land," Jack told him,"especially since we mean to do most of our snooping under cover ofnight. So let's step out and take our little saunter. We know right wellin a general way that the shack must lie down the shore, by that pointjutting out a mile away. Let's hope we'll be able to run across somekind of trail by following which we'll fetch up as close as we want togo for the first time. Both of us must make a mental map of everythingwe see so as to feel sure of our ground when darkness comes."
"That's the ticket, partner, let's go!"
Perk lost no time in picking up the small hand machine-gun, that couldbe used much after the fashion of a long barreled German Lugerquick-firing pistol and when Jack looked dubiously at it his chumhastened to explain his reason for lugging such a weapon along.
"Huh! the weight don't count with such a husky as me, old hoss an' howdo we know what's goin' to happen before we gets back here? These guys,I take it, are quick on the trigger and if we got to fight we'd have abetter chance to pull out alive if we carried this little pill-box."
"Oh, well! have it your own way, brother," Jack told him, evidentlyimpressed with Perk's logic; and so they started forth.
Eagles of the Sky; Or, With Jack Ralston Along the Air Lanes Page 19