Trackers of the Fog Pack; Or, Jack Ralston Flying Blind

by Ambrose Newcomb

  CHAPTER VII

  READY FOR ANYTHING

  The following day was a busy one for the two pals. Each had a regularprogramme to follow, Jack having made out two lists of important thingsabsolutely essential to the carrying out of their plans.

  As usually happened he left to Perk the task of seeing that the ship wasfully supplied with all the fuel and oil she was capable of carrying offin making an ascent; some of which could be stored in the wings,purposely provided with stowage room for such occasions.

  Then when it came to taking aboard a stock of provisions, such as wouldnot require cooking, trust Perk for having a complete understanding asto these requirements--he possessed such a vast knowledge of what wasgood for a hungry man, not in a position to start a campfire, that whenhe put the last of their stock away aboard the plane it looked as ifthey might be getting ready to explore the Arctic regions, where nothingbut driftice was to be met, and no chance of having a fire either forcooking or comfort.

  Jack, meanwhile did his part, making carefully arranged plans, withalternate makeshifts such as could be taken up in case unsurmountableobstacles baffled them in the one chosen for the start--with Jack it wasalways part of his strategy to have several "strings to his bow," andnever if possible "put all his eggs in one basket."

  When wearied after all the tramping he had done in accumulating such avast pile of material, Perk dropped down into a chair alongside hischum--who was still doing the finishing touch to his programme--heheaved a sigh as of contentment--as a rule Perk was not a vigorouswalker, preferring to go by airplane, motorcar, or bus; perhaps even bystage if necessary, so that such unusual exercise told heavily on hismuscles.

  "Get through with your list, partner?" queried Jack, shoving aside hispapers, as though he too had had quite enough of work for one day.

  "Sure did, matey," came the satisfied reply; "we're done loaded up tothe limit, an' then some. Hope the ole gal don't fight shy o' liftin'sech a rummy cargo; but so far we aint never had her balk on us. Howyeou gittin' on with things, Jack?"

  "Making good progress," came the steady answer. "I've learned that we'veshouldered a whopping big job this time; and still things keep croppingup, that make it necessary to go back and change matters some. But I'llbe in fine shape by tomorrow noon, I figure."

  "Kinder reckon on makin' the jump then, air yeou, boss?" demanded Perk.

  Jack shook his head in the negative.

  "Better wait up until night-time, buddy," he explained. "An ounce ofprevention's always a heap better than a pound of cure, you remember. Wecan slip away a lot easier in the night, as we've proven more than a fewtimes in the past. Then besides, we'd like to profit by the latestweather report. If a wide storm threatened it would be good policy tohold back even for several days, rather than get caught in a hard blow;such things are said to be doubly tough amidst the mountain gorges andcanyons, with their cranky air currents, and a continual danger ofrunning smack into some high peak."

  "I leaves all that figgerin' to yeou, as usual, partner; when yeou givesthe word, that's goin' to be the right time for us to climb, an' notafore. Golly! but I'm as hungry as seven wolves all in one--hopes ashaow they got steak an' fried onions on the bill o' fare tonight, 'causemy innards air jest a yellin' fur a mess o' my fav'rite chow."

  "I can't say I'm in the same box, because being shut up for hours, andbadgering my poor brain with a hundred puzzling questions, isn'tcalculated to make a man ferociously hungry. You had outdoor exercise,and in consequence have built up a glorious appetite. Queer what somefellows _will_ do so as to cater to their thirst or hunger."

  "Naow whatever kin yeou mean by that same remark, Jack, ole boy?"

  They were on their way along the street at the time, keeping step asthey headed for the restaurant. Jack seemed agreeable so far asexplaining, for there was a little yarn back of his words, just as theastute Perk had suspected, knowing his chum as well as he did.

  "This story was told to me long years ago, but I never think of it thatI don't get a fresh laugh," Jack was saying, chuckling as he spoke. "Itseems a couple of artists who were fond of trout fishing were up inMaine, stopping at a small hotel, while waiting for their guides to showup.

  "They noticed at breakfast several mornings that another party, smalland dried up, but a fisherman to the tips of his fingers nevertheless,always ordered salt mackerel for his morning meal. This aroused theircuriosity, so one day, after having a good confab with him on theprospect of sport ahead on the trip they had planned to take, one of thepair had the audacity to refer to the singular liking for such a dishevinced by the other. He grinned and looked wise, as he went on to sayin reply, not taking the least offense over the matter as a personalone:

  "'Oh! I aint carin' so much for the fish, gents, an' gets fed up on thesame sometimes; but let me tell you, folks 'long 'bout ten o'clock everymornin' there comes the most delicious _thirst_ that pays up for myeating them salt fish.' Think of him punishing himself so regularly,just to create a tremendous yearning for his favorite tipple."

  Perk saw the point, and of course laughed quite vigorously.

  "Hot-diggetty-dig! boy, hope I aint jest as bad as that same gent," hepresently gurgled. "I c'n understand heow he felt though, an' she don'tseem so derned queer to me after all."

  Jack often managed to get off some such yarn when the necessity arosefor keeping the talkative Perk from "spilling the beans," as the latterhimself would have explained it--Perk was a rather simple minded fellow,taken in all, but a faithful and sincere chum, a ready worker, and asbrave as they make them, even if a bit incautious, often to recklessnessin his actions.

  It seemed as though there were more people dining that evening in theparticular little restaurant than ever before: but Joe had upturned twochairs at their favorite corner table, toward which Jack led the way; sothey were assured of comfort, even though late-comers were standing,awaiting their turn.

  Both of them always made it a point never to dress in any fashion suchas would be apt to give away the fact of their being airmen, or ashaving some connection with the following of aviators. This was donefrom a broad policy, founded on the fact that undoubtedly rumors oftheir calling might long ere this have posted criminal circles; and Jackfor one had no fancy about having gunmen dogging his steps, with murderin their hearts, because of the fact that this pair of "birds" had beenchiefly instrumental in sending some pal, or brother, to the "big house"for a long stay, or it might be to the chair to atone for his crimes.

  Jack always sat so he could look in careless fashion around the room.His manner was that of a social fellow, taking an inventory of thediners, as though wondering if he could single out some crony. There wasnothing of the "eagle eye that could look into a man's very soul, andread his hidden thoughts," as usually connected with the mystery story,or stage detective--not about Jack, or for that matter Perk either--sofar as outward appearances went they were only a couple of goodnaturedyoung men, smiling and agreeable, enjoying their meal, and chattingabout the latest stirring events of the day in the field of sports,possibly also interested in political matters, as would be natural.

  Perk always declared he felt as though he had put on a mask, when thusdebarred from "talking shop," with curious ears so close by; but herealized the necessity for such extreme caution, when they were alwayspitted against the desperadoes of the underworld in their daily work.

  "Somethin' o' a mob here tonight, partner?" suggested Perk, after theyhad been served by Joe, the waiter, and taken the edge off theirappetites; both having settled on the same aromatic dish, which Perk wassavagely attacking.

  "Looks that way, Perk; if this keeps on we'll have to find another placeto feed, when we strike San Diego again; since neither of us is partialto crowds. Remember the old frontiersman who complained that theneighborhood was getting too thickly settled for him and his folks,because a new family had started to build a log cabin less than _sevenmiles away_? People look at what makes a
crowd with differentviewpoints, we have to remember; what is flesh to one is just poison toanother man."

  "Huh! never heard tell o' that idear 'fore," confessed the interestedPerk; "but it rings like there might be somethin' in the same. Seeanybody yeou happens to know 'round here partner?"

  "Not one that I would be apt to speak to," Jack told him; "of course wesee some of them each night; but they've paid no attention to us, forwhich we're only too glad; doesn't pay to pick up chance acquaintancesat haphazard, when you happen to be engaged in a certain type ofbusiness. If you reckon you've attended to that vacuum downstairs wemight as well be moving out, and give some of the standup people achance at this table."

  "Let's get goin' then," agreed Perk, pushing back his chair; whichaction caused several groups of impatient waiting persons to starttoward the spot, so as to preempt the vacant table.

  "Show tonight, Jack?" queried the satisfied Perk, as they moved along.

  "I ought to get busy once more on my stuff, as my programme isn't at allcomplete; but just the same I don't want to overdo such brain fatiguingwork, and have to lay off a spell--nothing to be gained by such corruptpractices, I imagine. So, since I know you feel as if you'd like to seesomething, to take your mind off business for one night, decide on whereyou want to go, and we'll be off."

  "Course I'm not really dead set on seeing any picture," apologized Perk;"but chances are we aint agoin' to have another whiff o' a screen dramafor days and days; an' it'll fill in time, as well as freshenin' upyeour mind more'r less, buddy."

  What they saw and heard does not concern us in following up this, theirlatest exploit; but evidently Perk fully enjoyed the night'sentertainment, since he seemed to be in a jovial state of mind all theway back to their sleeping quarters.

  Their ship was quartered close to a well known aviation field, where airmail was coming and going at all hours of the day and night; as well asprivately owned planes of the very latest design, some of them wonderfulcraft in which daring adventurers could seek out the utmost parts of theearth, backed of course, by an abundance of necessary funds.

  They were not known under their real names to any of those who from timeto time they chanced to meet and chat with. It was generally understoodhowever, that Jack was the son of a wealthy family in the South--NewOrleans to be specific; and had come from Candler Field in Atlanta, withhis companion as assistant pilot. Moreover they were believed to bewaiting for certain things to transpire, after which they meant to takean extended jaunt down through South America, over the Andes, and thevast wilderness of the Amazon Valley, with its tributaries, engaged incollecting myriads of wonderful orchids, said to have their _habitat_ inthat torrid region.

  Thus no one had bothered them to any extent--at least not thus far;realizing that the young explorer expressed a dislike about creepinginto print, and having his plans broadcast, so that perhaps some rivalplant hunter might "slip one over" and beat him to the much prizedfield.

  They came and went, as they pleased in their boat, making sure never toleave the slightest evidence of their true calling lying around, whichwould be apt to "lift the lid," and give them away. When Perk that veryday was so busily engaged loading up, it was all in line with theirpretended objective; entering into the spirit of the great game of"pulling the wool over the eyes" of curious fellow aviators, Perk tookdelight in concocting an extravagant yarn, depicting some of thepossible adventures he anticipated running across down in the countriesof South America--Brazil, the Orinoco River forest lands, Peru, Chiliand the Argentine--enough to make them envy his good fortune, when toughLuck bound them in fetters along the line of their more prosaic jobs.

  Jack was indeed through with the last item on his lists by noon of thefollowing day; but adhered to his expressed policy of holding back theirlaunching until night came on. Perk, however, made a last visit to thehangar in which their beautiful ship lay quartered, to make doublycertain he had omitted absolutely nothing that could add to theircomfort--and safety.