Eagles of the Sky; Or, With Jack Ralston Along the Air Lanes

by Ambrose Newcomb

  CHAPTER XXV

  PERK DEMANDS MORE WATER

  It was queer what chanced to be passing through the mind of Jack Ralstonwhile they were thus creeping toward the little well in the rear of thelonesome shack on the bank of Okeechobee. He had been reading a novelthat was supposed to cover the famous and successful attempt on the partof General Fred Funston to penetrate the mighty wilderness in the northof Luzon, the main island of the Philippine group and effect the captureof the native rebel chieftain, Aguinaldo who, with some of hisassociates, had taken refuge in a lonely cabin at a most inaccessiblepoint.

  So vividly had the author described the manner in which the soldier andhis companions crept up when making ready to seize their prey, that itwas still haunting the mind of the airman and somehow the conditionsjust then confronting himself and Perk seemed to be very similar. Heonly hoped they would prove to be just as successful in their mission asFunston was when he carried Aguinaldo back to Manila, and thus broke thebackbone of the native uprising against the authority of Uncle Sam.

  Perk was already reaching out toward the bucket he discovered perched onthe rocky border of the well. Jack could hear him give a chuckle ofsatisfaction on rinding it half full of water and felt himself a bittickled to see the way in which his chum proceeded to greedily fill upwith the precious liquid.

  Little Perk cared if the water chanced to be stale--he had no complaintcoming on that score as long as his parched throat and tongue came infor a good soaking and the choking sensation was immediately relieved.

  Perk must have suddenly remembered his lapse of manners, for in themidst of his drinking spree he stopped short and stepped back as thoughto invite his comrade to take his turn.

  This Jack showed no hesitation in doing, drinking long and withconsiderable ardor though he knew when to stop, which was what Perk didnot for no sooner had the other released his hold on the bucket thanPerk took another turn.

  In the end Jack was compelled to almost drag the other away from thewell possibly for fear he burst or else some one come out of the shackand discover them prowling there, unwelcome intruders on Oswald Kearns'privacy and a positive threat to his peace of mind.

  It was hardly a time and place for doing any talking, no matter howsubdued their voices. Jack kept hold of the other's arm and thus startedto steer him in the direction of the lighted window.

  Perk must have guessed what his pal had in mind for he made noresistance whatever, just allowed himself to be steered as his comradewished. Stooping down they crawled past, and then closer until theycould begin to glimpse the interior of the room where the light wasdispelling the darkness.

  The first thing that struck Jack was the fact that the place had beenfixed up with an eye to comfort--it looked almost luxurious with itseasy chairs and imported rugs that must have cost a considerable sum.Evidently Oswald Kearns had been too long accustomed to comfort to denyhimself such luxuries even when seeking seclusion in this out-of-the-wayretreat.

  Then Jack found himself looking upon the man who had for years been oneof the greatest mysteries the Treasury Department at Washington had everendeavored to trap, He was sitting in a big leather-covered easy-chair,smoking a cigar and busily engaged with a sheaf of important lookingpapers. From time to time he would refer to a volume that had theappearance of a ledger or account book and to which he seemed to attachgreat importance.

  How the sight sent a succession of thrills through the whole being ofthe Secret Service sleuth--here he found himself within arms length ofthe master crook who had laughed to scorn all previous efforts of theGovernment to take him with the goods on.

  Vainly had every possible attempt been made to catch him off his guard;he had proved himself to be too crafty for the best revenue officers putupon his track. And when failure after failure became the rule, the BigBoss had decided to change the policy they had hitherto followed and putan air pilot on the job as being able to go swiftly and easily whereothers had been so cleverly balked.

  Then Jack began to wonder where the other two men might be, for thus farhe had failed to discover either in the room of the lighted window.Could it be possible both of them had sailed away aboard thatLockheed-Vega ship, bent on some important mission which the Master hadentrusted to their care?

  He could not bring himself to believe this possible--that he againstwhom so many hostile hands were raised would be willing to stay all byhimself in such a lonesome place unless it seemed unavoidable. One orboth of those aids must be somewhere around.

  Just the same he could see no other room connected with the stonebuilding--it was always possible, however, that there might be anothershack--perhaps a crude palmetto-leaf hut, such as the poor whites in thebackwoods lived in, somewhere not far away that served them for ashelter when it rained or a bustling Norther came howling down from theregions of snow and ice and zero temperatures.

  Jack had about reached this conclusion when he discovered a figure,covered with a fancy Navajo blanket, on a cot in a corner of theplace--yes, there was a head on a sofa pillow such as would be more inplace over at the beautiful Miami estate than here in such a desolateregion.

  Somehow he quickly assumed this must be the shorter party--which wouldgo to prove the other fellow might have accompanied the pilot of thedeparted airship.

  When he had decided this to his entire satisfaction, Jack was able tofigure on certain matters. It undoubtedly meant that he and Perk wouldhave just two pitted against them in case things came to a showdown,making it an even fight with victory perching on the side that wasquickest at the draw.

  He seemed to remember every warning he had received in connection withnot under-rating this remarkable man, so greedy for excitement thatwealthy though he was, he would seek all manner of thrilling adventuresjust to have the laugh on the Government, especially the Secret Servicemen toward whom he was said to entertain a feeling of almost wolfishhatred.

  So too, did Jack take note of every object spread before his searchinggaze in the shack where Oswald Kearns seemed to be busying himself inthe pleasing occupation of making up his secret accounts.

  That book, as well as the sheaf of papers rather fascinated the watcheroutside the window--somehow Jack conceived the idea that there beforehim was spread all the incriminating evidence needful to bring theerratic career of this amazing man to an abrupt end--to put a stop tothe mammoth illegal operations he had so long conducted in secret and bywhich he had impudently flaunted all the powers in Washington, just asthough he had sent them a message worded, "Well, what are you going todo about it? Break up this fine game if you can."

  If only they were able to get him fast in the net before he could makeany attempt to destroy that book and those papers--Jack felt convinced agenerous Fortune had not allowed him to see such a prize only to snatchit out of his reach through fire or some similar means of destruction.

  But here was Perk pulling at his sleeve as though he had a communicationof the utmost importance to pass along. Accordingly, Jack, who himselfwas ready to effect a change of base so that speedy action might bedecided on, moved back from the window.

  "What is it, Perk?" he whispered, at which the other began to makesuggestive gestures toward his throat, and nod his head violently.

  "I c'n feel it comin' on again, partner--the ticklin' feelin' you know,an' I'm afraid I'll start acoughin' to beat the band--must have moredrink."

  It seemed nothing could be done until Perk's sensitive throat had beenproperly attended to, so once more they crept and trailed along untilthe vicinity of the well had been reached. Here Perk started to swill,as though his capacity for holding water had no limit. It was just atthis particular moment, when both of them were hanging over the wellcurb that a shaft of light suddenly enveloped them as the back door ofthe shack opened and the figure of the short man came in sight with anew tin or aluminum bucket in his hand as though his purpose was to geta supply of fresh water.