Aviation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE SKY PILOT'S GREAT CHASE
Or
Jack Ralston's Dead Stick Landing
by
AMBROSE NEWCOMB
Author of "The Sky Detectives," "Eagles of the
Sky," "Wings Over the Rockies," etc.
Published by
The Goldsmith Publishing Co.
Chicago
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 1930
The Goldsmith Publishing Co.
Made in U.S.A.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
I THE CLANG OF THE FIRE-BELL
II TRAPPED BY THE FLAMES
III BRIDGING THE GAP
IV THE RESCUE
V AT THE FLYING FIELD
VI A BLOW IN THE DARK
VII PERK HEARS THRILLING NEWS
VIII THE TAKE-OFF
IX A BROKEN PADDLE
X IN A SNUG HARBOR
XI A STORMY NIGHT
XII THE LAY-OVER AT SPOKANE
XIII OVER THE MOUNTAIN TRAILS
XIV THE BOOTLEG PACK-MULE TRAIN
XV WINGING INTO THE NORTHLAND
XVI BAFFLED BY HEAD WINDS
XVII JACK'S DEAD-STICK LANDING
XVIII AROUND THE CAMPFIRE
XIX PERK GETS A SHOCK
XX THE FUR-TRADING STATION
XXI OLD JIMMY, THE FACTOR
XXII PICKING UP CLUES
XXIII THE NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE
XXIV READY TO START
XXV AN OVERNIGHT BIVOUAC
XXVI THE WOLF PACK
XXVII ON THE DANGEROUS TRAIL
XXVIII DODGING THE LOOKOUT
XXIX THE HAWK AT BAY
XXX BACK OVER THE BORDER--CONCLUSION
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sky Pilot's Great Chase
CHAPTER I
THE CLANG OF THE FIRE BELL
"Well, I kinder guess now this here little ol' ho-tel in Salt Lake
City's got our experience in Cheyenne knocked all to flinders. Good
room, twin beds that keep you from hoggin' all the covers on a cool
night an' as to _eats_, say it's sure prime stuff, though mebbe I ain't
no judge 'long any line 'cept quantity. How 'bout it, Jack, ol' hoss?"
The happy-go-lucky speaker was an old friend of ours, one Perk, and the
companion to whom he addressed his question was his bosom pal, Jack
Ralston of the U. S. Secret Service. Nevertheless, it seemed that Perk
was now known as Gabe Smith, a woods guide of wide experience who in the
course of his wanderings had managed to pick up a smattering of
aviation, a particularly useful thing in these air-minded days.
And Jack, whenever there was a third party within hearing, was always
referred to as Mr. John Jacob Astorbilt, a wideawake young millionaire
sportsman always seeking novel thrills hunting big game by means of the
latest type airship.
All this had a good and sufficient reason back of it, which will be
placed before the reader ere we have gone deeply into this log covering
the latest undertaking of the two redoubtable sky detectives.
"Oh! things suit me okay, Perk," was Jack's rather indifferent reply, as
he smiled at his companion's grinning, enthusiastic face. "Somehow I
don't seem to set quite as much store by my meals as you do but I'll say
the food is pretty decent--better than the restaurant stuff we used to
eat three times a day over in old Cheyenne."
"Hot ziggety dog! I should say so. But what tickles me most of all,
partner, is the dandy ship Uncle Sam turned over to us after we climbed
out o' all that hot stuff down on the west coast o' Florida. She's a
genuine cloud-chaser, boy, an' don't take any guy's dust--am I right
'bout that, Boss?"
"I'll admit she's a prize boat and no mistake. Able to drop down on land
or water and with skis in place could do the same on a frozen lake or
the deepest snow the Northland ever saw. Yes, it would be hard to beat
our ship, Perk."
"Right up to date she is. Look at the shiny aluminum pontoons an' rubber
tired wheels peekin' out from the bow ends. The Hamilton propeller that
does its stuff to the dot; a real Hasler Telmot Flight Meter; aluminum
oil tanks so light and yet so strong; earth-inducter compass next to
infallible; Eclipse Starter--gosh amighty, if there's a single thing
worth its salt that our ship ain't got I'd like to hear 'bout it."
Jack laughed. He had a whole-souled laugh that did any one good just to
hear it--kind of gave you a warm feeling and seemed to draw you into
friendly relations with the clear-eyed young aviator.
"Just one thing lacking, partner, in the round-up if you stop to think
of it. We felt the need of it on our last jaunt[1] when in the midst of
the most dreadful fog-belt either of us had ever struck, we climbed to a
ten thousand foot ceiling only to have ice begin to form on our wings.
Haven't forgotten that, eh, Perk old fellow?"
"Ginger pop an' the weasel! I guess now I ain't. You've crabbed my game,
buddy, that's what you've done. But as we ain't, so far, been sent to
the South Pole to help get an explorer out o' his bad fix in the ice, I
kinder guess we don't need that ice meltin' device much. Got to draw a
line somewhere you know, Boss, else the ship'll be so loaded down with
new contraptions there won't be any storage room for the grub-pile!"
"And sure enough that's where the shoe would pinch, Perk. Grub, and
plenty of it is the real necessity to have aboard. It bobs up just three
times a day right along and with mighty long waits between according to
your way of looking at it."
"You said it, partner! I've tried goin' shy on the eats but it don't
seem to work worth a red cent. Right away there's a mutiny breaks put
under the midship hatch an' I jest _got_ to surrender. But, to change
the subject, I'm botherin' my poor brain tryin' to figger out which way
we'll face when the orders come breezin' along?"
Jack chuckled as he lolled back in his comfortable easy-chair for they
chanced to be sitting in their third-floor hotel room while engaging in
this little confab.
"It's a toss-up I'd say, Perk," he remarked a bit mysteriously. "You
know the whole wide world is our hunting ground as you've so often
boasted. International crooks breed a like species of detectives. When
they take to flying, the Secret Service has to go them one better. Our
familiarity with airships helped to rustle this job for us and we've got
to make good, no matter whether we fly to Japan, India, South Africa or
any other old country under the sun."
Perk displayed the proper amount of enthusiasm as this wide subject came
along, for his eyes sparkled, and he grinned broadly.
"You bet, Jack ol' hoss," he blurted out, "an' like's not the slick way
we put through that last deal down on the west Florida coast, fetchin'
the king o' booze smugglers back with us to the bar o' justice has made
us solid with the Head at Washington."[2]
"I shouldn't wonder buddy," was all Jack said, not being given to
blowing his own horn as Perk often did, being only human as he would
explain, and knowing a good thing when he saw it.
"We dropped in at this 'ere airport," Perk continued, "'cordin' to
orders a hull week back, sailin' under new names to hide our identities
an' here we be, killin' time an' waitin' to make a bee line for any
place that happens to be in need o' cleanin' up. We're the boss outfit
for that sorter job, on'y I'd give a heap to know what's what."
"That's a weakness of yours, Perk. Now in my case it doesn't give me one
minute's uneasiness. Whether I'm working in Paris, Cairo or Timbuktu
makes no difference, I calculate on getting enough to eat, pick up
plenty of sleep and beat the game if its possible. Nothing else will
satisfy me, as you pretty well know, brother."
"When I happen to wake up in the small hours o' the night, Jack, I just
get bothered 'bout the next layout and sometimes wonder if I'm right
then an' there across the Pacific or playin' a swift game down in
Nicaragua f'r instance. Feels a whole lot like we might be reg'lar
gypsies, changin' our camp every night."
"Well, what of it?" demanded Jack, looking vastly amused. "It wouldn't
be the first time that name was applied to me for you remember when I
first broke into this game it was as a gypsy pilot, doing stunts with my
'chute at county fairs and Harvest Homes all around the country. That
name always did sound kind of sweet in my ears. I like it to this day,
in fact."
"Mebbe now, it might be that you could give a sorter guess 'bout that
job we're goin' to have tacked on to us right away? How 'bout it, old
hoss?"
"Oh! that doesn't concern me one whit, Perk. Just hold your horses and
take things as they come. There's a bit of fun being kept in the dark
about these affairs. Makes me think of the times we used to have
grab-bags at church fairs, when you paid a penny or a nickel and pulled
out something queer. Say, didn't we feel a great big thrill just before
making the grab? Take things easy and let the folks at Headquarters do
most of the worrying. That's what I call logic, buddy."
"Huh! mebbe so," grunted Perk, eyeing his comrade quizzically as though
more than half suspecting that if Jack chose, at least he could give a
fairly good guess covering their next thrilling assignment. "But that
sorter philosophy don't cut any figger when I lie awake nights cudgelin'
my slow-workin' brains an' tryin' to get the answer. But then, like as
not, we ain't goin' to stick to this queer old burg much longer an' I
sure do hope the wire givin' us full directions in cipher comes along
right soon."
Jack Ralston, as the readers of the three preceding stories in this
series of Sky Detective adventures already know, had been building up
quite an enviable reputation in the Secret Service of the Government,
being entrusted with a number of the most important tasks that were
cropping up from time to time.
These necessitated not only a cool head, quick decisions and plenty of
nerve, but also demanded a thorough knowledge of aeronautics, since many
malefactors in these very modern days were taking to the air in order to
facilitate their unlawful operations so that it had become necessary to
meet them on their own grounds and go them one better.
His best pal was Gabe Perkiser, whose odd name was usually shortened to
Perk. He was fully ten years older than Jack and at the time our country
entered the World War chanced to be connected with the balloon corps so
that for some time he found himself a manipulator of an observation
balloon, better known as a "sausage."
Tiring of this monotonous life, the active Perk took up aviation. Here
he was in his element and few there were during those mad months when
the American army was breaking the Hindenburg line and pushing through
the terrible thickets and machine-gun nests of the Argonne, who attained
a higher rating as a fearless pilot than Gabe Perkiser.
He had numerous glorious victories to his credit, having sent down many
enemy flyers in blazing coffins but eventually met with a serious mishap
that sent him to a field hospital and kept him out of the rest of that
frightful campaign.
Recovering in due time, Perk had come back to the States bent on
securing some sort of employment that would give him all the excitement
his system demanded. This he found when he joined the Northwest Mounted
Police of Canada. The fact that one of his parents had been born across
the line while the other was a Maine Yankee, gave Perk the opening he
desired and his yearning for adventure after that was never left
unsatisfied.
But after a while he even began to tire of such a lonely life as his
duties entailed and floated down once more to the country of his birth.
There by some happy accident Jack ran across him and recognizing a
kindred spirit, he induced Perk to apply for a position in the Secret
Service.
Still later, when he had been detailed to make use of his ability as an
air pilot to carry on with a certain job that had been placed in his
hands, Jack remembered Perk. It was essential that he have an assistant
aboard his ship and so he negotiated matters so that Perk was ordered to
report to him and act as co-pilot for an indefinite length of time, an
arrangement that gave both the greatest satisfaction possible.
They were after all a well matched pair. What one lacked the other
possessed in abundance. Jack was able to hold his more impulsive comrade
in check when safety first became their watchword, and on the other hand
when a show of dash and vigor was the order of the day, Perk was apt to
take the lead and strike terror in the hearts of the enemy.
Naturally enough inaction became irksome to Perk and he fretted because
he loathed remaining quiet when his whole system was calling for
accomplishing things.
Jack, of course, was the one who laid out the plan of campaign, he being
much better fitted for such essential matters. Perk on the other hand
really needed some one above to give him the order and check his
impulsiveness on occasion. So they got on together admirably, and worked
like a well matched team.
To be sure Jack sometimes knew a bit more than he chose to tell Perk but
he always had good and sufficient reasons for holding back such
information and his lack of knowledge, until such time as his leader saw
fit to take him wholly into his confidence, did Perk no harm whatever.
It did, however, cause him to lie awake nights wondering and speculating
as to what would be next on the program. He would try his best to tempt
Jack to commit himself but all to no purpose, for the other put him off
with one plea or another with Perk returning to the attack time and
again.
They had had their wonderfully efficient plane lodged in a hangar out at
the flying field where just so often each day an air-mail pilot was
scheduled to arrive or depart with the letter sacks of the Post Office
Department. This courtesy had been bestowed upon them by a Mr. Spencer
Gibbons a private flyer and a man of considerable means who came and
went as his fancy dictated.
He had met Jack while the latter, under strict injunctions from the
Department, was posing as a young and enthusiastic air-minded
millionaire and had given him the use of the single-ship hangar while
he, Gibbons, was off on a jaunt that took him down to the Mexican
border, but as he was expected back at any time now they had changed the
location of their amphibian that same afternoon. It now rested secure in
another nearby hangar that happened to be empty and which Jack could
hire, being liberally supplied with funds by his generous employer,
Uncle Sam.
This was only a minor incident, and yet it was fated to play an
important part in the general network of things, and hence to be the
cause of many speculations on the part of the two chums.
Perk, acting under the direction of his mate, had taken a vast amount of
pleasure in loading up a supply of commodities. These consisted of the
ordinary supplies, such as an old and experienced camper would be apt to
put down on his list and possibly a few special dainties that
particularly appealed to Perk's appetite and which he meant to spring
upon his fellow flyer at some convenient time when both of them happened
to be ravenously hungry and there came a chance to build a cooking fire.
Then too, it was always their day by day plan to keep a full stock of
fuel and lubricating oil aboard their boat since there never would be
much warning given them when the order to hop-off came by telegraph.
They seldom allowed a favorable flying day to pass by without going
aloft in order to keep in practice and also be certain the precious ship
was in first class condition for immediate service. As they had not had
possession of the wonder plane for any great length of time, Jack was
always finding out some fresh discovery calculated to increase his
admiration for his craft and evoke a volley of expressions from the
voluble Perk.
The sun had already set and dusk was beginning to gather, telling them
it was about time to descend to the dining room and partake of their
customary evening meal. After that Perk would doubtless wander around to
the nearest moving-picture palace and allow his feverish soul to have
full swing in the excitement depicted on the silver screen.
Just then there came along one of those little incidents that sometimes
turn out to have unsuspected potentialities. Perk seemed to catch it
first, for he jumped up and broke loose by crying:
"Hear that, partner? The fire alarm as sure as you're born and me,
always like a little kid, crazy to run with the engine and watch the
fire boys go through with their thrillin' stunts. Come along,
buddy--supper c'n wait a bit for us an' we'll be all the hungrier at
that. Snatch up your hat an' let's go!"
-----
Footnote 1:
See "Wings Over the Rockies."
Footnote 2:
See "Eagles of the Sky."
II
TRAPPED BY THE FLAMES
Jack seemed perfectly willing to accompany his chum, even if it did put
a damper on their supper. Possibly he was like the vast majority of
American youngsters in his youth, and could never resist the lure of a
fire.
Accordingly they hurried down to the lower floor and dashed outside.
"Which way now, partner?" gasped Perk who was a bit short of wind after
making that rush downstairs, not waiting to use the elevator. "I don't
see any glow in the sky to tell where the blaze c'n be."
"Follow the crowd--that's our only cue, Perk," Jack hastened to say.
"Listen to all that row--must be a fire engine heading to the spot;
ought to set us right, I reckon."
"Sure thing, Boss an' here she comes a rushin' along like an express
train--no hosses though, these days which knocks a whole lot o' the
picture silly. On your way, John Jacob, I'm with you!"
They ran like deer, side by side. Others were streaming ahead, everybody
displaying the utmost zeal to get to the fire before the conflagration
was smothered by the streams of water turned on it.
Perk was in his glory--this sort of thing appealed to his nature as a
pond would to a flock of thirsty ducks. Only for his lack of wind he
might have indulged in a few cowboy whoops as he tore up one street and
down another, touching elbows with his pard and eagerly straining his
eyes in the hope of presently detecting a gust of smoke that would
proclaim their arrival at the scene of operations.
"Thar she blows!" Perk suddenly gasped, "see that black smudge blowin'
in from a side street ol' hoss? Jest one more burst an' we'll be Johnny
on the spot! Wow! ain't this glorious sport though?"
Jack made no answer, since there was nothing to say and he needed all
his breath to keep going, not yet having caught his second wind.
Already a large crowd had gathered and was milling this way and that,
trying in every way possible to catch a better view of the house that
was the object of all these activities. Several engines had arrived and
were making a great noise as they began to throw streams of water on the
imperiled building as well as its near neighbors that would soon be in
danger should the fire get a better start.
"Whee! smoke aplenty but so far I don't lamp any fire," Perk was saying
in disjointed fragments as he and Jack stopped running and commenced to
make their way through gaps in the moving crowds.
"A four-story frame building," observed Jack as though that fact gripped
his attention first of all, "and looks like it might be a tenement in
the bargain."
"I kinder guess you're 'bout right there, partner." Perk chimed in. "See
the women and kids huddled up over yonder, some o' 'em holdin' bundles
o' stuff they've grabbed up when they hurried to get out! Ain't that too
bad, though--the poor things, to git burned out o' their homes."
It was a picture well calculated to wring the heart of a softy like
Perk. Apparently all of the tenants had managed to get clear of the
smoke-filled halls for the police officers standing guard at the exit
were preventing any of the wildly excited women from rushing back into
the building, doubtless with the intention of saving some beloved
article which had a value in their eyes far in excess of its intrinsic
one. Although they fought desperately to push past, the stern guardians
of the law stood between and held them back, as if acting under the
belief that such an act would be sheer suicide with all that dense smoke
filling the halls and stairways.
"There, I saw a flash of flame jest then, Jack!" suddenly ejaculated
Perk and if there was a little tinge of satisfaction in his voice it was
hardly to be wondered at, the old boyish spirit rising up superior to
his feeling of sympathy for the unfortunate families thus dispossessed
of their humble homes.
Jack himself had noted the fact, although he made no remark, only shook
his head sadly as if recognizing the fact that despite the fight put up
by the fire laddies the frame building was very likely doomed.
They stood there and watched operations for some little time meanwhile
other engines had come up, attached their hose to convenient hydrants
and added fresh streams to those already drenching the buildings.
"Hot ziggetty dog! this here is gettin' some monotonous, partner," Perk
finally remarked, "mebbe after all we'd show good sense by hikin' back
to the hotel and tacklin' that grub."
"Don't be in such a big hurry, buddy," objected the other who usually
did prove to be some sticker, as Perk often observed, "since we've gone
and made the run we ought to see a bit more of the fire. Supper will
keep and besides, you're likely to have a bigger vacuum to be filled.
What say to taking a turn around and getting a view from another
quarter?"
"That ain't a bad idea boy, let's get a move on," agreed Perk who always
liked a change of base when it promised further novelty.
"Come this way then," Jack told him, starting to the left, "the crowd
thins out off yonder, and we'll be able to push through much easier.
They still keep on coming though; men, women and lots of children who'd
be better off at home I reckon still, what would you have? Chances are
the average kid is just as wild to run with the fire engine as when we
went into action!"
"Seems like it," chuckled Perk, grinning amiably at a bunch of
half-grown lads who had just come up and were staring goggle-eyed at the
red streaks of leaping fire that appeared frequently amidst all the
dense smoke.
Jack had been right in choosing to take the left turn, for they
presently had everything to themselves. Evidently the other side of the
building presented the most picturesque part of the conflagration, for
hardly a straggler was met as they pursued their way.
"Here's the rear of the tenement," Jack remarked in a loud voice for the
assembled steamers were kicking up so much noise that it was not easy to
make himself heard. "See, they're trying to wet down the building that
backs up so close to the one that's afire. It's a four-story one at that
and luckily built of brick, which may save it from catching fire."
There seemed to be a rear entrance for a cop was standing guard there,
apparently to keep any frantic tenant from rushing inside in the mad
hope of rescuing some cherished object that had been forgotten in the
frantic dash from the building earlier in the evening.
Flames were now coming out of several windows in the upper part of the
doomed structure. On seeing this Jack lost all hope of the house being
saved through the heroic efforts of the striving firemen.
"It's bound to go, Perk," he remarked, "I'm sorry for those poor
families that stand to lose everything they've got in the wide world.
Such as they never have a red cent of fire insurance. Look at that burst
of flame will you? Small chance anybody'd have if they were unfortunate
enough to get trapped up there!"
"Ugh! don't mention it, partner!" cried the shocked Perk, his gaze fixed
on the red tongues that kept flickering out of the upper windows like
angry demons. "Many a time I've dreamed I was in a fire-trap like this
here, an' had to slide down the water-pipe with greedy fingers like them
flames up there settin' my clothes afire, singein' my hair and eyebrows
an' nigh chokin' me in the bargain. I'll dream o' this for a month o'
Sundays but ain't it a thrillin' sight though?"
That was just like honest-hearted Perk--filled with pity for those who
stood to lose all their scanty earthly possessions, yet fascinated and
duly thrilled by the fire itself and the whole surrounding panorama.
A minute afterwards Perk burst out in most intense excitement, gripping
his chum's arm with a strained clutch as he cried:
"Je-ru-sa-lem crickets! now ain't that a danged shame though?"
"What do you mean buddy?" demanded Jack, also thrilled.
"Up yonder at that third-story window where the smoke's comin' out in
big whoops--I certain sure did see a poor woman reach out, wringin' her
hands like she was hopin' they started to set the ladders up--then she
fell back again in the smoke--oh! Jack, she's goin' to be smothered an'
burned to a crisp if nobody c'n get to her in time!"
III
BRIDGING THE GAP
"Which window, Perk?" cried the startled Jack, staring upward.
"That one--third from the further end--gee whiz! like I might be in a
cutout--brain all in a mixup--what c'n we do, Boss--knock that cop over
an' skoot upstairs?"
"Not any of that stuff, buddy," Jack told the impulsive one in his
impressive fashion. "He represents the Law, and so do we. Besides, look
at the smoke rolling out of that rear door, it would be the last of us
if we started that fool racket."
"But--somethin's _got_ to be done, Jack--we jest can't stand here and
let a poor woman be burned to death. Do somethin' partner, 'cause I'm
flyin' blind in a messy fog and can't see where I ought to head."
His voice and manner were both imploring, and Jack could not but be
impressed by the gravity of the occasion.
"Sure you saw some one are you, Perk?" he demanded.
"Jack, I got good eyesight, an'--looky there, right now, she's back at
the same window an' _will_ you b'lieve me if she ain't got a kid
alongside her? Wouldn't that jar you, ol' hoss?"
Jack no longer entertained any doubt regarding the truth of what his
comrade had seen for he too could dimly make out moving figures at the
third window from the end of the burning tenement.
"They're makin' motions to us right now!" sang out the greatly
distressed Perk in new agony of mind. "I swan if I don't think they're
meanin' to make the jump an' it'd be a crack-up dead sure!"
Startled by his own works Perk began to make violent gestures, as though
endeavoring to warn the frightened woman not to dream of jumping.
"Hold your hosses--we'll get goin' an' have you out o' that mess in a
jiffy;" and then turning upon his companion Perk almost savagely
demanded: "It's up to us, Jack--now how're we goin' to do it?"
"There's only one chance that I can see," Jack told him, "which is by
way of this other building here. We must rush up to the third floor and
if luck backs us we can find some way of passing over to her room--see,
it's only a matter of five or six feet at most. Come on, buddy!"
"Whoop! here we go then!" thundered Perk, making one more sweep of his
arms as if to reassure the trapped inmate of the tenement and then
rushing in the wake of the fast moving Jack.
Several people were emerging from a rear door of the brick building, and
lugging all manner of household things in a mad endeavor to save
cherished possessions. Evidently they had been seized by an overpowering
fear that the fire might leap to their establishment and acting under
this impression were hardly conscious of what they were doing.
Indeed, it began to look as though they might so block the narrow
passage with the stuff they sought to salvage that no one could either
get up or down. Jack was finding it difficult to push past and had
almost to climb over a bulky bundle of bedding that had become lodged in
the passage.
Perk, more impetuous, bowled over a stout man who had come down the
stairs dragging a trunk, that banged and skittered in a dangerous
fashion.
By great good luck and the exercise of some muscle, they both managed to
brush past the blockade and the stairs seemed free above them. The first
landing was reached and the second almost immediately afterwards; then
came the final climb and the two pals, almost breathless, reached the
third floor.
There was enough illumination for them to see what lay about them for
the fire seemed to be breaking out of all the upper windows by this time
and despite the thick smoke, shone through into the interior of the
brick tenement.
Smoke had found entrance too, and made their eyes smart but that was a
small matter and could be tolerated with such a vital stake in view.
Perk saw his companion take a swift look around as though to get his
bearings, after which he turned to the left and ran along the hall. By
this time Perk, a bit bewildered and confused, was willing to follow
wherever Jack saw fit to lead, so in blind confidence he put after the
other.
A door stood open as if inviting the would-be rescuers to enter a room
which Jack lost no time in doing, with Perk at his heels, both of them
groping about amidst whirls of pungent smoke.
One of the two windows was open, which would account for the presence of
that dense blanket and like a shot Jack jumped over to thrust out his
head so as to ascertain whether his guess had been worth while.
He saw the greedy banks of flame shooting out, across and up, and felt
it almost scorching his cheeks but just the same it was a satisfaction
to discover he was exactly opposite the third window from the end of the
burning building.
"This the right place?" Perk was booming in his ear for what with the
roaring of the fire, the pumping of the steamers down below and the
shouts of deeply interested crowds in every quarter, the clamor was
indeed something fierce and impressive, stirring the blood in their
veins and causing their hearts to beat wildly.
"Yes--that window right across this gap, Perk, is the one we picked
out!"
"Je-ru-sa-lem crickets! I kinder guess I c'n make the riffle!"
Jack managed to catch hold of the reckless fellow as he was in the act
of clambering up on the sill of the window, undoubtedly with the full
intention of making a desperate attempt to jump across, to the one from
which the smoke was pouring forth.
"Don't think of trying it--a crazy idea--one chance in ten you'd get
across without falling!" he shouted in the ear of the struggling one.
"Gosh! let me make the try, partner--sure I c'n do such a little stunt
okay--let off, won't you, Jack?" pleaded Perk, but the other only
tightened his grip.
"Even if you did manage to hang on and climb inside, what good would it
do--how get the woman and child across the gap?" Jack roared, feeling
that his comrade was losing all the sense he ever had.
Perk suddenly ceased struggling as though he had seen a great light.
"Wall, I guess you ditched me, ol' hoss--that's a fact they couldn't
make it after all. Then what's to be done?" he went on to say,
dejectedly.
"We've got to bridge it some way or other," snapped the ever ready Jack.
"This is a kitchen, seems like, partner--jump into it now, and see if
you can't run across something that would reach across to that other
window--even an ironing-board might make it. I'll take a look across the
hall, in some other apartment, and may run across another."
Perk, as if freshly inspired, set about his commission with alacrity and
almost immediately made a plunge toward a corner of the small room to
snatch up a six-foot board covered with several thicknesses of cloth
that was scorched in numerous places as with a hot iron.
Jack had meanwhile darted into the hall, discovered another open door
nearly opposite and without knocking rushed through to find a second
deserted kitchen and not quite so much smoke to interfere with his
vision.
Fortune again favored him, for almost the first object he saw was a
similar ironing-board, evidently a mate to that Perk had run across.
Snatching it up he turned and hurried back to the opposite room, where
he found Perk just laying his frail plank across the area to discover
that it bridged the gap, although with but a mite to spare.
Jack arrived just in time for the rash one was in the very act of
crawling out on his unsteady bridge which, if moved a few inches, would
have precipitated him down thirty feet and more to land upon a cement
pavement and meet with grievous injuries, even if he survived the drop.
"Hold on!" Jack shouted as he again caught hold of his chum. "Here's a
second board that will widen the bridge. Let's swing it across and then
one hold them together while the other crawls over!"
"Yeah, let's," Perk chimed in, seeing the advantage a double width would
afford, and this was quickly accomplished.
"I'll go over," Jack was saying.
"Not much you won't--that's _my_ job I'm tellin' you partner!" the other
insisted, pushing Jack aside.
"But--I'm younger than you, Perk, spryer too--it ought to be my game,
don't you see?"
"The devil you are!" whooped the one who would not be denied. "I'm
stronger an' tougher'n you ever be, boy--an' I saw 'em first, too! Let
me have my way, _please_, partner, won't you?"
Jack, realizing that it would be the utmost folly for them to keep on
disputing in this fashion while the very seconds were so valuable when
human lives were in jeopardy, gave up the contention.
"All right, Perk, you win, but I'll go next time, remember. Make up your
mind I'll keep the boards close together--be as easy as you can when
crossing. Now, go to it!"
Already Perk was out on the strange bridge on hands and knees, crawling
toward the opposite window while Jack, gripping the ends of the two
boards with all his strength, held them steady. It was a tense moment
and one not soon to be forgotten.
By this time it seemed that two of the firemen down below holding the
nozzle of a hose and sending a stream of water up to the roof of the
doomed tenement building had discovered what was being done, for they
raised their hoarse voices to applaud the daring bridge creeper. It was
all in the line of their own daily work and they surely could appreciate
the venturesome act at its full value.
Jack had a dread lest they change the direction of the stream, hoping
thus to sprinkle the climber and render him immune to that heat which
they must know would be almost unbearable so close to those darting
billows of fire but fortunately they did nothing of the sort, doubtless
realizing how frail that mockery of a bridge must be and how the shock
of a volume of water might cause it to break away.
A few seconds of dreadful suspense and then Perk vanished from view,
having passed into the room through the third window from the end of the
tenement. Jack almost ceased breathing, so thrilled was he lest that
might be the last glimpse he would ever have of his pal.
IV
THE RESCUE
There was some sort of a movement across the way--then to Jack's great
relief he saw Perk's head appear in the open window.
He had a small figure in his arms--the boy, undoubtedly and was already
starting out upon the bridge. Jack could see no sign of life about the
little child and had some fear that the rescue might have been too late
to save him from being smothered by that dense smoke.
Just then he also discovered that another figure had appeared back of
Perk, and readily guessed this must be the woman. She seemed to be
holding the ends of the ironing boards as though possessed of a deadly
fear lest they slip from the stone coping and precipitate both child and
rescuer to their death in a wild plunge.
That caused Jack to tighten his own hold for Perk was having
considerably more trouble in making his return than on his previous
crossing since he now had to push the child ahead of him, being unable
to navigate and hold a burden, however helpless, in his arms.
Again the firemen below were shouting words of praise and encouragement
to the gallant soul that so fearlessly risked his own life for that of
another. With them such exploits came in line with their duty, but in
this case it was simply an act of humanity.
Jack waited until Perk had pushed the child against his hands, then
cautiously he loosened his grip on the right board and dragged the light
weight over the window sill to safety. Perk clambered in and immediately
made a suggestive move as though about to turn around and do his stunt
all over again but Jack refused to stand for such a thing.
"You've had your inning, buddy, so don't be hoggish," he bawled as he
shoved Perk aside, "now it's my turn. Take hold, and keep the boards as
steady as you can while I fetch the woman across."
Perk was very loath to obey and doubtless did a lot of grumbling, but
Jack paid no further attention to him, just began to creep out on that
narrow bridge, and move ahead inches at a time. He dared not look down
lest it have some sinister effect upon his nerve--just kept his eyes
firmly fixed upon that window toward which he was creeping.
The poor woman was still in sight, wringing her hands and yet evidently
satisfied to know her child had been safely carried across the abyss
that yawned there so threateningly. Jack would have liked to call out
and beg her to keep quiet lest she chance to dislodge one of the frail
supports upon which so much depended but he also feared lest he himself
in thus shouting cause immediate trouble and defeat his purpose.
The crossing was made in safety. It was simply wonderful how those twin
planks held together when the necessity was so great. Jack would never
be able to look upon such an humble kitchen necessity again, whether in
a house or a hardware store window display, without feeling warmly drawn
toward the mute object on which his very life now depended.
He crawled through with a tongue of flame darting down and almost
licking his cheek. It was necessary that he should get the woman to go
out ahead of him, so that he could encourage her as they crept along.
"Steady yourself, madam," he called out as he felt her hands come in
contact with his arm, "it's all right--your boy is safe, and you will be
too if you get a grip on your nerve and do what I tell you."
She was evidently badly shaken as might be expected--he could see how
she trembled and seemed so weak, which was why he spoke as he did, in
the hope of putting a little new confidence in her almost fainting
heart.
"You must crawl out ahead of me," he told her. "Don't look down--keep
your eyes on the window where my pal waits for you--just keep saying to
yourself that your boy is over there waiting for you--he needs you, and
you must be brave now. There is no other way by which you can be saved
to join him again. Can you make the venture, lady?"
He used that last word almost inadvertently, yet already had he decided
that she was indeed a lady, though poorly dressed and evidently under
financial difficulties.
He must have inspired his charge with some of his own valor, for he saw
her cease trembling and knew full well it had been his mention of a
reunion with her child that had effected this change.
"Yes, oh yes, I will be brave--for Adrian's sake, my baby boy!" he heard
her cry as she started to creep out of the window amidst all that smoke
and the devilish tongues of fire that darted after her as if in rage at
being cheated of their intended prey.
Carefully did Jack follow after her, ready to throw out a helping hand
should she make the slightest slip and be in danger of falling. But to
his surprise and delight as well, she seemed to be supported by some
miraculous power for she made the short passage without a single mishap.
Perk made no effort to drag her through the opening--to do so he would
have had to take his hands from his job of holding the ends of the
planks and this might lead to a sudden shift that would bring about the
very disaster he had been dreading. His one thought now was the safety
of his pal--the woman was capable of passing over the sill of the window
without any assistance.
When, therefore, Jack came over the bridgehead and landed on the floor,
the impulsive and thrilled Perk threw his arms about him, words failing
him just then.
"We must get out of this," Jack managed to say, as soon as he could
catch his breath again, "the fire is almost sure to jump across that gap
and start things in this building unless firemen climb up here and hold
it in check. Perk take up the child, who I see is beginning to come to
all right. I'll help his mother down the stairs. We're all safe and
sound, lady, so keep as nervy a front as you can."
Perk cuddled the little chap to his breast and Jack was tickled to see
the boy clasp his own chubby arms around the other's neck as though he
realized something of what Perk had done for him and loved him for that.
The descent was made slowly for there was more or less danger of one of
them slipping and having a bad fall--but presently the last flight of
narrow rear stairs had been negotiated and they came to the open door
that led into the alleyway and safety.
They were just in time too, for a party of firefighters with a slack
hose were just entering the brick tenement, evidently with the intention
of dragging it to an upper window where, with the water turned on, they
could fight the hungry flames at close quarters and at least keep the
second building from being involved in the common destruction.
Perk might have been bothered to know what next to do but not the
versatile Jack who led the woman out of the crowd and then looked around
for some vehicle in which she and the boy could be taken to a hospital,
for he had discovered that one of her arms seemed to hang at her side,
as though it may have been broken in the excitement.
Fortunately a taxi chanced to come along into which they all bundled and
were taken to the hospital. The boy sat in Perk's lap and his preserver
seemed to take positive delight in holding one of the little chap's
hands. Noticing how fond Perk seemed to be of children--and this was not
the first time he had learned of this fact, since he had one of his
humorous smiles for almost every child--and dog--he met--Jack wondered
why his elder pal had never married but that was a subject Perk never
mentioned nor had Jack felt it his province to make inquiries, since
there are some things that are no one's business.
A doctor quickly examined the mother's arm and admitted that one of the
bones was fractured. It was not a bad break, however, and she could be
around with her arm in a sling after he had attended to it.
Somehow, although as yet supperless, neither of the chums seemed in any
hurry to get away. Perk was held by his attraction toward the chubby
little boy and as for himself he felt concerned with regard to what the
pair they had saved would do, since they no longer had a home and all of
their scanty possessions must have been devoured by those greedy flames.
He determined not to abandon them until he had learned how the mother
was fixed with regard to this world's goods. Somehow, although she
dressed very simply, there was an air of refinement about her that
impressed Jack very much and he also had an idea she could not be in
straightened circumstances for she was wearing a ring of considerable
value, he noticed.
He managed to enter into conversation with her after she had tried to
tell him she would never forget what he and his friend had done for her
that night. He had listened with his customary smile, shaking his head
meanwhile, as if to belittle their actions.
"We could not have done less, after we saw that the firemen had not
placed any ladder up to that third floor," he went on to tell her. "And
then, you see my chum here, who lives only for excitement, was just
complaining that things were so humdrum and dull so it tickled him to
have a chance to test his nerve again. And you can see he's especially
fond of little boys, not girls. We expect to leave Salt Lake City any
hour now as we are aviators,--flying men you know--and have a job ahead
of us. Before saying goodnight to you, madam, would you mind telling us
if we can be of any further assistance to you and your fine boy
here--pardon me for mentioning it, but are you supplied with present
funds, since possibly you may have to remain here in the hospital for a
week or more?"
She looked at him and smiled as though pleased with the solicitude he
showed but she shook her head and hastened to say:
"We are not what you would call poor, for we have good friends back of
us. Indeed, it was my intention to start for Spokane tomorrow as I must
try to find a certain party whose present whereabouts means everything
to me. So please do not worry about us, for we can get on. It was a
furnished flat we occupied and while I have lost all my clothes as well
as those of Adrian, that lack can easily be replaced. I thank you for
your card giving me your Washington address. Some day perhaps you may
hear from me and possibly I shall have some pleasant news to tell you
but just now it is all wrapped up in mystery. So much depends on my
finding the one who does not dream of the information we are carrying to
him. If only my clue proves trustworthy."
That was as much as Jack learned and it was bound to often come up in
his mind, causing him to wonder what the "good news" she mentioned could
be.
V
AT THE FLYING FIELD
It was pretty late when they sat down to supper that night but as Jack
had predicted, the appetite of his chum was amply recompense for the
delay. They had done a good deed and best of all managed to get away
before any inquisitive newspaper men arrived at the hospital on the
track of a sensational beat.
"Which pleases me a whole lot," Jack went on to say as they started
eating.
"Same here ol' hoss," added Perk, with unction. "Once them chaps get on
the scent o' a good story they never do let up till it's spread out on
the front page after bein' blue-penciled by the city editor. I know how
it's put through, 'cause I got some pretty good friends in the
bunch--they're all wool an' a yard wide on everything 'cept pokin' their
noses into the private affairs o' citizens and couples that jest _can't_
get on in double harness."
"Just imagine what a nasty shock it'd be to us both Perk, to see our
names and pictures staring at us under a scare line of black type--yes,
and like as not with as much as they could scrape together about our
private business--nice way to upset all the plans of Secret Service
hounds on the trail of big game, I must say."
"Honest, I didn't give away a single thing, buddy," said Perk with
unusual earnestness, which was as good as an invitation for Jack to
clear his skirts of the same suspicion, which he hastened to do.
"I simply gave her my address in Washington--at my room, you understand,
Perk--I wanted her to write to me later on so we could know how they
both came out after that nasty squeeze play. Not a whisper what line of
business we followed and I asked her as a particular favor not to let a
single soul know who the two parties were to whom she and her boy owed
their narrow escape from being trapped in that burning house. She said
the name would never pass her lips and that she would write, after
something she was bound to accomplish had been put through. Of course I
couldn't even give more than a guess what that is, only she seemed
dreadfully in earnest and I reckon it might be a reconciliation with her
husband, Adrian's father."
Perk nodded his head solemnly.
"Huh! mebbe so, Jack, mebbe so, lots o' that sort o' trouble goin'
'round these days, seems like. Now I wonder if you thought to ask what
her name might be?"
"Queer that I didn't think to do that, partner," Jack told him with a
little laugh. "I reckon I must have been a little absent-minded but
that's nothing to us for chances are we'll never meet the lady again.
How about you and the boy?"
"He told me his name, Jack, when he gave me this little picture he
happened to have in his pocket--you see on the back it's got written, I
guess by his Mom herself: 'Adrian, at six'; but tarnation take the luck
if I ain't jest plumb forgot the last name he told me--somethin' like
Burnham or Barnard--begins with a B, I'm dead sure--Buster,
Bramley--Buttons--well, for the love o' mike I can't strike oil but
it'll come back, given a little time."
"And I can see plain enough if it keeps on skipping you it's bound to
keep you busy guessing right along," Jack was saying, for only too well
did he know this little weakness on the part of his comrade. Perk was
bound to keep on pounding away at that puzzle day and night, giving
himself no rest until he either solved the riddle or else some one told
him the answer--left to himself he would never give up trying.
"Like as not, buddy," replied Perk, frowning darkly; "seems I'm gettin'
up a tree every little while--never could remember names worth a cent
but I don't forget faces, you understand."
"And then too, you're a great hand for remembering to hear the first
sound of the dinner bell," said Jack with a chuckle.
"I sure am some punkins 'bout that," admitted the amiable Perk with one
of his goodnatured grins spreading over his homely face.
"What's the program after we've cleaned up this mess, eh partner?"
inquired Jack, who doubtless could make a good guess from previous
experience as to what his companion's answer was apt to be, but for once
he counted without his host.