CHAPTER XXVI
STRIKING OUT
Jack was able to say all he did simply because they were separated fromthe nearest group of men by considerable distance; moreover, the packpersisted in talking and laughing, as though absolutely free from care,doubtless filled with the belief that their lot was a most enviableone--which apparently was the case.
Perk kept as tight a rein on his enthusiasm as he possibly could. Heunderstood just what a perilous mission Jack was entrusting to his solecare; and how success, or failure, would depend on his ability tomeasure up to the confidence reposed in him.
"Jest where am I to meet up with yeou agin, after I finish my job, suh?"he whispered; even trying to carry out his assumed character when therewas really no need for such a thing, showing how the habit wasapparently getting a pretty stiff grip on Perk, it would seem.
"When I think it's about time for you to start things going, we'll slipaway, so as to be on our road when the fun gets hot and furious; theymight begin to scour the whole neighborhood if they suspected some enemyof starting the racket. So look for us where Jethro's boat's hidden.Hold on, partner--come to think of it, give us a bit of a signal whenyou're on the job--nothing to attract their attention, youunderstand--just hold up your red handkerchief; but don't wave it,remember. Then three minutes after you've done this--get busy!"
"Huh! leave that to me, boss--I gotter hunch a'ready jest haow that Ikin work the game. So-long!"
So matter-of-fact way his leave taking, so informal, that it was plainto be seen Perk must be taking things coolly; a fact that pleased hischum vastly, Jack told himself as the other crept away, heading alongthe back trail, and making no more noise than a writhing cotton-mouthmoccasin snake might have done.
Jack and Jethro waited as the minutes crept past. The latter beingadvised in low whispers just what was on the bill of fare, might havebeen heard to chuckle to himself when he finally understood--possibly hewas feeling a bit disappointed because this particular mission had notbeen turned over to his care; but then he must have realized that he washaving a share in everything that was attempted looking to the smashingof the powerful smuggler league, which conviction would give him thedegree of satisfaction he craved.
Jack could not see how the minutes passed--the lack of good lightprevented him from calculating from what the dial of his little wristwatch marked; so, having nothing else to do he commenced counting theseconds, and mentally figuring just how far Perk might have progressed.
Now he would probably be creeping along into the density of the heaviergrowth, following the sinuosities of the path Jethro had led themalong--later on Jack decided the other half of the Crocodile's crewwould have arrived at the spot where Jethro's powerboat was hidden backof the friendly natural screen.
He gave Perk a certain stretch of time to gather what he had come after;and then in his mind followed him all the way back to the vicinity ofthe hostile camp.
For amusement Jack had many a time trained his fancy along such paths ashe was now following out; so that really he had become quite an expertin painting similar mind pictures.
And now Perk must be diligently following up his maneuvers by sneakingalong on hands and knees, keeping well out of the sight of thosecarousing near the blazing fires.
When in the nature of things Jack finally concluded the other shouldhave reached his objective, he craned his neck, and started to keepclose tabs on the motionless airplane.
Even as he thus looked he discovered a small object that he felt surecould be nothing else than Perk's dingy old bandanna, which he so oftenwore about his neck, cowboy fashion, when on duty aboard their crate.
One minute he saw this object, and then it vanished utterly from view.Well, that fact rendered his belief more certain--Perk was on deck asbig as life; and in three minutes more he would have struck home--it wastime he and Jethro were fading out of the picture--making a silent exitfrom the scene, and be on their way.
So Jack touched his companion on the arm, and began to creep off, withthe other close after him.
They succeeded in passing from the near vicinity of the illuminationinside the appointed three minutes, after which Jack listened intentlyas he kept moving, ready to be duly thrilled by an outbreak andcommotion announcing the discovery of the blazing crate there on thesloping runway.
Just as he figured it all turned out--without warning loud yells andwhoops rang out, telling that every man-jack in the camp must havesuddenly made the tremendous discovery that their waiting plane waswrapped in fiercely devouring flames; for the gasoline which Perk had socarefully scattered here and there, would make a wonderful blaze oncontact with fire.
Jack found himself speculating how Perk must have managed so as to be onhis way, possibly already secure back of the dense thicket, before thefire broke out; but all that could be explained later on.
He remembered what the other had said about having a "hunch"; and Jack,knowing how fertile his pal was in originating bright schemes, feltcertain he had been able to rise to the occasion.
He found himself laughing softly as the dreadful clamor rose higher andhigher. In imagination he could even see how the startled smuggler crowdmust be forced to keep their distance from the costly airship that wasbeing reduced to ashes right before their eyes, with nothing to be doneabout it, such was the scorching heat accompanying the holocaust.
When it was all over, with nothing remaining save the useless engine ofthe burned plane, doubtless there would follow a perfect hurricane ofsurmises as to how so mysterious a fire could have started. The mostreasonable conclusion naturally would be that some spark from their campfires might have been wafted toward the airship, and, still retainingits vigor, fallen upon a tiny pool of inflammable gasoline spilled whenthe tank had been last replenished.
Let them think what they pleased, it mattered nothing to Jack--the oneprime object of his self congratulation lay in the fact that theirinitial blow had been struck, and the contraband carriers of the airreduced by one useful factor.
The volume of the shouts was gradually becoming less and less; whichfact must have resulted from their placing more distance betweenthemselves and the aroused camp; also through the men ceasing to givevoice to their excitement, under the conviction that there was nopossible remedy for the disaster--and then again the Combine, beingswollen with gross profits, could stand such a loss, so easily replaced.
In due time Jack and Jethro approached their goal. It was to be hopedthey would find Perk already there; or that he must show up soon afterthey arrived. They lay among the bushes, and waited, Jack knowing Perkwould be apt to give a certain little sound, very like the cheep of anight bird, such as they had frequently used under similar conditions.
A few minutes later sure enough he caught the expected signal, which,upon being immediately answered brought a stooping figure reeling intoview. Jack hastened to reach for his chum's right hand which he wrungwith considerable unction.
"Good old Perk--you filled the bill okay, I'm telling you, my pal!That's one ship less for them to use in their business--we've made asmall dent in their armor, and let's hope there's plenty more stillcoming to them."
Perk, though breathing hard, was also emitting queer sounds thatannounced his feeling of complete satisfaction. Jethro also insisted ongiving him a generous handshake, to let him know how tickled he feltover seeing those he hated so fiercely meet with their first loss.
"Gosh all hemlock! but things did work smooth, let me tell you-all,"Perk finally gasped, unable to repress his exultant feelings any longer,despite his lack of wind. "Say, she whooped things up right stunnin',when the slow match it got its work in--I'd say she did fellers!"
"Slow-match, did you say, brother?" asked Jack, having been given a hinton catching that significant word.
"Shore thing, ole hoss," Perk told him, in high glee. "I amused myselfwhile we was in that Charleston hotel, amakin' up a lit twister Icalc'lated might pan aout okay; an' s
he certain did me proud--took mosttwo minutes fo' the spark to creep 'long an' touch things off. Whoopee!didn't them bimbos kick up a reg'lar jamboree though, when the hull shipstarted in one big nest o' fire--nawthin' like a nice sprinklin' o' gasto make things hum."
"Shake hands again, Wally, boy--it takes a cracker-jack like you tothink up big things," and Jack acted as though he took more genuinepleasure in having Perk make such a "bulls-eye" than if he had occupiedthe spot-light himself.
They dropped into the cockpit of the old but rejuvenated powerboat andwere soon on their way back to the secreted airship. Fortunately theyran across nothing hostile while carefully following the channel of thetortuous river; had another speedboat laden with contraband come alongback of them they might have been hard put to hide, since the oncomingcraft would of necessity be using a searchlight, so as to buck thevillainous current, as well as avoid snags, and half hidden rocks.
Jack was ready to give full credit to Jethro for his wonderful successin locating every such obstacle; once or twice they did happen to runsoftly up against a submerged tree-trunk; but the pilot had acutehearing, and sensed the fact that they were approaching such a dangeroussnag; for he always reduced their speed, and the collision did no harmwhatever.
It took them double the time to get back to their hiding-place as whengoing forth, all because of that swift current; but in good order theyfinally arrived, somewhat weary, but feeling the uplifting ardoraccompanying a perilous mission successfully carried out.
Now they meant to seek rest, and sleep. In the morning they would tryand take things easy, having nothing to do while daylight lasted buteat, and doze, looking hopefully forward to making another such sallywhen darkness again covered the coast lands and waterways.
Perk must have been very contented with the fine showing he had made intheir first assault on the enemy's lines of communication. He followedthe example of his chum, lying down on one of the cots belonging to thecabin of the big amphibian--they had arranged blankets on the floor forJethro, after he had positively refused to take one of the cots, sayinghe was "used tuh knockin' around, an' takin' pot-luck when he feltsleepy"--and just before passing into dreamland himself Jack heard hisbest pal mutter:
"Huh! fust blood fo' Uncle Sam's boys, which same is a good sign, I'dsay!"
Flying the Coast Skyways; Or, Jack Ralston's Swift Patrol Page 26
