Flying the Coast Skyways; Or, Jack Ralston's Swift Patrol

by Ambrose Newcomb

  CHAPTER XI

  WHERE WAR ONCE BROKE OUT

  Shortly afterwards the two adventurers found themselves looking down atas entrancing an air picture as it would be possible to conceive; withCharleston Harbor stretching out to its furtherest extent before them.

  "See that island over yonder, partner," said the admiring Perk, pointingas he spoke; "I kinder--reckons naow as haow that might be where oleFort Sumter stood, durin' the war 'tween the States--yeou knows weunsdaown hyah allers speaks o' that little flareup that way, 'stead o'callin' it the Civil War."

  "So I understood, Wally, and I'm glad to find out you're so well postedon such facts, as it strengthens your position considerably. When you'rein Dixie it's just as well to follow the crowd, and do as all trueSoutherners do."

  It was a charming morning, the air "salubrious," as Perk said more thanonce, and everything seemed favorable to the success of their greatundertaking--as far as they had gone, which was not anything to boastof.

  Perk had already pointed out the landing field they were aiming topatronize, and of course the pilot circled the stretch several times, ashe began to lose his altitude.

  There was but little wind, and that favorable for making a successfullanding. Then, too, a number of men had started to run toward the spotwhere indications pointed to their touching the ground, so they wouldnot lack for any assistance required.

  But Jack swung a trifle, and made contact shortly ahead of the foremostrunner; the gliding, bumping ship gradually came to a complete stop, andboth of them had hopped out of their cabin by the time several runners,breathing heavily from their exertions, reached the spot.

  Jack was as suave and smiling as ever, a faculty that always made him"hail fellow well met" with most people. He picked out a party bearingthe appearance of one in authority, and who, seeing his friendly nod,hastened up, holding out his hand with real Southern warmth.

  "Welcome to Charleston, suh," he observed as they clasped hands,evidently understanding that the new arrival was not familiar with theground, being apparently a stranger to the airport; which in itself wasnothing remarkable in these days of fast increasing aviation strides,with new people coming and going on the up-to-date airways almost everyday.

  "My name is Warrington, and I am from New York City, down here for theshore shooting. This is my pilot and guide, Wally Corkendall, fromBirmingham, Alabama. I wish to set my Fokker in a safe hangar for anindefinite space of time, for we shall have to make use of an amphibianduring our month of sport, as it will be necessary to make many anight's camp on the waters of your wonderful bays and rivers. Would youkindly put me in touch with the party who has charge of sucharrangements; I should expect to pay a week in advance and continue thesame during the time of my stay."

  That could be easily arranged, since it happened he himself was incharge of all such matters, the gentleman courteously informed his newguest; apparently sizing Jack up as a young man of wealth, willing topay the price, no matter how much it cost, in order to enjoy himself tothe utmost.

  So the ship was properly housed, and Jack took pains to observe a lockon the doors, for which one of two keys was handed to him later on,after he had stepped over to the office, and finished arrangements bypaying the sum agreed upon.

  "Anything we can do to help make your stay in our city pleasant, suh,you can depend on it we shall be only too delighted to do," said thegentleman, as the taxi which he had ordered came along, to take them tothe hotel he had recommended as a quiet restful place, with a genuineold-fashioned Southern table known far and wide by travelers, and nowbeing patronized by many air-minded tourists.

  Perk had carried himself most commendably; this was easily done since henever once opened his mouth to say a single word, only grinned amiablywhenever the courteous master of ceremonies said anything complimentary.

  They were speedily booming along toward the adjacent city, with curiousPerk bobbing his head this way and that, eager to see anything andeverything that came in sight.

  "Say, haow fine it seems to know yeou're onct again back in yeour nativeclime," Perk observed, talking rather loud, possibly for the chauffeurto catch, and then again because he was still a bit deaf, after so manyhours with the clamor of a running airship ding-donging in his ears muchof the time. "Talk 'bout yeour beautiful North, in my 'pinion it doanthold a candle to aour Sunny South, with its balmy air, the songs o' themockin'-birds, the merry laughter o' the niggers, an' a thousand otherthings yeou never do forgit."

  "Oh! you Dixie boys are all alike--nothing can ever wean you from yourlove for cotton fields, tobacco plantations, sugarcane brakes, and allsuch typical things of the South; but I like to hear you talk that way,Wally; it's in the blood, and can't be eradicated."

  "Yes suh, that's what I reckon it shore is," and Perk relapsed intosilence, possibly to ponder over that last word of Jack's, and try toget its true meaning.

  He was soon deeply interested in what he saw, for Charleston is full ofwonderful sights, to Northern eyes at least--fully on a par with quaintNew Orleans, and Mobile--the iron lattices fronting many old-fashionedhouses with double galleries--the churches that date back two hundredyears at least, with their burial grounds filled with dingy lookingstones and monuments, on which could be found chiseled numerous famousnames of families connected with the history of this typicalsub-tropical city--and occasional glimpses could be caught of thatwonderful bay which is Charleston's pride and boast.

  At the hotel they were speedily ensconced in a double room that boastedtwo beds--Jack usually looked to having things arranged that way whenfeasible, as Perk was a nervous sleeper, and apt to fling his arm acrossthe face of any one alongside. It also afforded them a splendid viewfrom the windows.

  "I shore do hope, partner, you're reckonin' on aour havin' some fodder'fore we tackle any business; 'case my tummy it's agrowlin' somethin'fierce; so I jest caint hold aout much longer an' feel peaceable--have aheart, buddy, fo' a guy what was born hungry, and gets thataway fivetimes every day."

  "That's all right, Perk," he was told, with a smile; "here are our bags,and we can fix up a bit, for I feel that a bath would do me a heap ofgood. Suppose we get busy, and by the time we look civilized again itwill be twelve, which you remember the clerk told us was when the doorsof the diningroom were thrown open."

  "Gee! I only hope I kin hold aout till then," lamented poor Perk; "whenI lamped the window display o' a boss restaurant while we come along Ihad a yen to jump aout, an' duck into the same, things looked sotantalizin' like."

  "I can understand that yearning of yours, brother; but the sooner we getbusy the quicker we'll be sitting down with our knees under a table, andordering a full dinner for two. Go to it then, while I take a warm dip."

  The agony ended eventually, and as it was then a quarter after twelvethey decided to go down to the lobby, and partake of the fare which hadbeen cracked up to them as especially fine, as well as indicative oftypical Southern cooking--Perk kept harping on that same string untilJack whispered to him he must not overdo the matter.

  Apparently they found everything to their liking, for they remained inthe diningroom almost a full hour; and when they came out Perk wasbreathing unusually hard, like a person who has done heroic duty in aneffort to show the hotel _chef_ he appreciated his culinary arts.

  "We'll take things easy in our room for a short while," Jack informedhis chum, as they ascended by means of the "lift" or elevator. "Alongabout halfpast two I'll call up my friend, and distant relative,Mr.--er, oh! yes, Mr. Casper Herriott, and make some arrangement forjoining him tonight at his home--I've always been a bit eager to see.just what sort of family my--er second cousin Casper might have, andthis will be an excellent opportunity to satisfy that--er _yen_, as youwould say."

  "Huh! jest so, suh, an' it shore pleases me to see how loyal yeou are toyeour illustrious fambly tree--second cousin is real good, I'd say, suh,mighty good connection."

  "Take it all seriously, partn
er, even when we're snug in our ownroom--such things need constant _practice_, and shouldn't be thrown offand on just as the occasion arises; such a habit breeds carelessness,you must know."

  "Jest so, suh, jest so; I takes the hint, okay," gurgled Perk.