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

by Ambrose Newcomb

  CHAPTER XXIII

  AT THE RENDEZVOUS

  The big amphibian, well loaded down, made a creditable take-off, andthey were soon mounting up toward cloudland. As on the previous occasionthere chanced to be a never ending flock of beautiful white fleecyclouds passing along, with the sun shining most of the time, since thebanks of vapor were "light-weight," as Perk poetically described them.

  Looking back Perk took his last view of Charleston, a bit regretfully,since the quaint aspects of the city, connected with oldtime buildings,and other agreeable sights, had somehow gripped his heart.

  Jack again soon headed off the coast, it being his intention, if theconditions were at all favorable, to drop down on the sea, and floatthere, waiting until the afternoon was well advanced before heading into the shore.

  After they had passed for many miles up the coast he picked out aspot--after being warned by the lookout that there were two largevessels standing off beyond the twenty-mile line, undoubtedlymother-ships loaded down with fresh supplies of contraband--where theycould lie upon the surface of the water undetected by any one passingfar above, or at such a distance away as the foreign ships appeared tolie.

  Jack could not remember having ever known the restless Atlantic toremain almost perfectly calm for such a long stretch of time--he feltlike taking it as a favorable sign concerning the carrying out of theirindividual great plan--even the elements were apparently in league torender them assistance, which he took it to be most kind and reassuringon their part.

  Along about three in the afternoon Perk, again searching everywhere forsome sort of discovery, announced that he had picked out a plane duckingin and out of the white battalions of clouds still passing overhead.

  "Seems like she might be acomin' from that quarter where we got aourhunch the landin' field o' their airships must lie," he went on to say,as though his mind was made up along those lines. "Reckon as haow theycaint pick weuns off daown hyah, suh, seein' aour wings air abaout thesame color as the sea all 'raound this same spot."

  "Not the least chance of such a thing, partner," Jack assured him; "Ihad them colored that way purposely, seeing that we'd be likely to squatdown this way when spying on the mother ship further out--not even ifthey have binoculars aboard, which they undoubtedly must, could any onemake us out. Heading for that foreign steamship, isn't that cloudchaser?"

  "Straight away, suh, as sure as shootin'. Course they reckon on loadin'up with somethin' that's aboard, an' wants to git ashore the wustkind--mebbe a bunch o' Chinks it might be; or else some sorter stufflike high-toned laces, Cape diamonds, or sech expensive big things asallers come in small packages."

  "At any rate," Jack went on to mention, "they are heading for one ofthose two foreign boats further out. You say there were several speedboats and launches fast to the sides of the big freighters, when youglimpsed them? Strikes me things are breaking about right for our makinga start in the big racket tonight--of course depending on Jethro'sbobbing up all serene."

  Perk followed the course of the airship dipping in and out of the cloudbelt, and after quite some time had elapsed made his announcement.

  "They sure is acomin' daown ashootin', Big Boss. Reckons as haow theremust be a good hand at that ere stick, a lad as knows his businessokay--there, he's flattened aout, an' takes things some easier, seein'as haow the ship's ready to make contact with the sea. Aint this areg'lar picnic o' a time, when weuns kin jest lay here like a gullafloatin' on the water, an' see haow them smugglin' devils work things.Little do they suspect that there's sumpin' hangin' heavy over therheads, an' liable to crash any ole minit from naow on."

  It was by now getting close to the time Jack figured on making a start.He planned on taking a leaf from the routine methods brought intoservice by the expert pilots manning the illegal air carriers, passingin and out from mother ship to their secret landing place--by making ahigh ceiling, and depend on a curtain of lofty clouds to effectuallyscreen their presence while hopping over the danger zone.

  "Time we skipped out of this," he told Perk, who emitted a muffled roarwhich was possibly meant to be an expression akin to applause.

  The waves were picking up somewhat in the bargain, which may have beenone of the reasons why the ever cautious Jack wanted to get moving: hedid not have any particular yearning for a headlong dash amidst rollingbillows, such as might cause considerable trouble, even bring risk intheir train should they find themselves compelled to make the venture.

  However, they made the ascent without great trouble, even if there was acertain amount of splashing done. Perk looked pleased when the shiparose from its salt water contact, and began climbing at a steady pace.

  Jack held out for some little time as though meaning to pass inshore farto the north of the point he was really aiming to attain; this he did tohoodwink any one who might chance to see them through strong glasses,and feel a little curious to know who they were, also, what their objectcould be in carrying on after such a fashion.

  Eventually he turned more into the west; then, after passing over theshore line, faced due southwest, and sped on.

  Finally when Perk warned them they were approaching their proposedlanding-place Jack brought his charge lower until presently, as eveningdrew on apace, they could be seen sweeping along not five hundred feetabove the tops of the tall cypress trees with their queer festoons oftrailing Spanish moss.

  Then came a glimpse of Black Water Bayou, bordered by the mysteriousgloomy looking swamp, from whence had come all those uncouth sounds onthe occasion of their stopover some time previously.

  "Huh! mebbe we'll git right 'customed to them awful noises," Perk wasassuring himself, as their pontoons glided along the smooth surface ofthe lonely lagoon, and the boat headed directly toward that artificialcurtain behind which they had previously pocketed their "windjammer," oras Perk sometimes called their craft the "crocodile"--partly because, ashe affirmed, such a reptile was the only real amphibian, able tonegotiate both land and water in turn, and feeling at home in both.

  "So far, okay," he observed, softly, after the boat had come to a stop,close to that friendly ambush where they could readily hide their craftshould they choose to start forth with Jethro aboard his smaller duckingpowerboat; "an' naow let's on'y hope the gink shows up on time."

  "I wouldn't speak of Jethro in that sort of way, buddy," remonstratedJack. "It's true he is a Southern cracker, without much education; butthat I'd call his misfortune and not his fault. Mr. Herriott says he's achap with considerable principle, and his one weakness is about thewrongs this bunch of men have done him and his family. He is ready toencounter every risk if only he can show them up, cripple their bigbusiness, and possibly send some of the lot to Atlanta for a term ofyears."

  "I get yeou, partner," said Perk, contritely; "shore didn't meananything by sayin' what I did; an' I'll be glad to shake Jethro'sflipper whensoever we meet."

  "I knew you'd feel that way, Wally; and it may not be a great manyminutes before the chance comes along."

  "Meanin', I take it, Boss, he orter show up right soon?" demanded theother.

  "This is the rendezvous place you know, where we agreed to wait forhim," explained Jack; "he, may be a bit late getting up here, for hisboat is an old one; though Mr. Herriott did tell me he himself had hadit fixed up some, to work a lot smoother--Uncle Sam stood the racket,too; and you know when _he_ foots a bill nothing is too good to beutilized. We may be surprised when we see that same dinky powerboat."

  "As haow, partner?" queried Perk, his curiosity aroused immediately.

  "Wait and see, brother," Jack told him, tantalizingly. "Our first dutyright now is to poke the nose of our airship back of this dandy naturalcurtain, where it just couldn't be seen, unless a close search was beingmade, our plans possibly having been given away. That couldn't happen ina coon's age, we've been so cautious, so secretive, and made noconfidents except Mr. Herriott--and through him necessarily Jethro. Takehold, and help me swin
g her along back of the trailing moss and vines."

  When this had been effected Jack again whispered:

  "Listen while I give the signal, partner; if by any chance hostile earswere to catch the quacking of a duck, it could hardly excite theslightest notice; for such a sound often breaks out in the darkness ofnight down here, since a duck on the water acts as sentry to thesleeping flock. Here goes, then:"