for him to feel a little thrill at being thus praised by a professional
man whom he had already begun to hold in high esteem.
Perk joined him outside, but was kept from doing much talking by the
necessity of carrying out a number of needful errands. They did not
expect to waste any unnecessary time hanging about the post--the trail
was already cold, and it was essential that they get on the move as
speedily as possible. Jack well knew what difficult, and perhaps even
sanguine work still remained to be accomplished, and as usual was eager
to get it all over with.
"We can't hang fire in this business," he was telling Perk, who perhaps
did not look at things in quite the same light, since his nature
differed from that of his companion; "and until I see our man trussed
up, to await our pleasure in hopping off for the border, I'll not have a
peaceful moment. From now on this has to be a whirlwind campaign, and no
mistake--get that, partner?"
"Huh! pleases me okay, ol' hoss," the other told him, nodding his head
vigorously; "I'm in the game up to my neck, an' with me it sure is
'Pike's Peak--or Bust!'"
"We'll take a little time to look over our stuff," suggested Jack, the
always wise worker, who seldom left the slightest thing undone, and
consequently, like other cautious sky pilots, seldom had a real accident
overtake him. "Make sure you've got plenty of cartridges for your gun,
and than add another belt for good measure, because you never can tell
what may happen, and it's best to be on the safe side--as a fire
insurance agent once said on his advertising cards, it's 'better to
_have_ insurance, and not _need_ it; than to _need_ insurance and not
_have_ it.'"
"Yeah! I know it, Jack, boy," admitted Perk, "even if sometimes I do get
caught nappin', an' have a peck o' trouble 'count o' my carelessness.
I'm set to carry along every shell I fetched up here with me--this is
the job they're meant for, an' why be a miser 'bout it?"
"That's the ticket, partner," Jack told him, apparently quite satisfied
he had started his companion on the right road--Perk sometimes had to be
"shown," and then he would follow to the bitter end.
Red Lowden had also been making sure nothing was forgotten, so far as he
could tell. Of course he was somewhat in the dark as to just what means
Jack meant to employ in order to bring about the success of the
undertaking; but in the short time he had known the young Secret Service
detective he had realized the capacity the other exhibited for handling
just such intricate cases--if it were not so the astute Head of the
Organization at Washington would never have entrusted this difficult
problem to his hands.
Of course, from this time forward it would be Sergeant Lowden who would
take the lead, since he knew the country, and it was all a puzzle to
Jack--even Perk would not be half as well acquainted with the ground as
the one who for a dozen years had been going over the entire district
for a radius of probably fifty miles in all directions.
Then, too, should any difficulty arise they could put their heads
together, and find a solution to the problem, since many hands make
light work, according to the old saying.
While Jack and Perk were doing other things Red had taken a look at the
tracks left by the raiders. Luckily no rain had fallen since they
galloped away from the plucked post, and hence the imprints of their
animals' hoofs could still be plainly located.
Besides this, Red was depending considerably on certain secret
information lately drifting in to Colonel Ascot, to help him out--as yet
he had not said anything to Jack and Perk concerning this matter, but
anticipated taking them both into his confidence before long, as it was
essential they should understand just what resources he was banking upon
in order to run the wolves to their secret den, the whereabouts of which
had so long been unknown.
And so, about an hour after arriving at Frazer's, the trio again rode
forth, to bring about the finishing touches of their campaign.
Even Perk seemed sobered by the desperate character of the duties now
devolving on the little party. Outnumbered at least two to one, possibly
with even greater odds against them, they would surely need all the
boldness and strategy with which they were endowed, in order to bring
about a successful finish to the invasion of the enemy's stronghold.
Sometimes they were compelled to go single-file on account of the narrow
trail, alongside which great masses of mighty rocks were piled up; but
in other places it was possible to ride three abreast; and these were
the occasions when Jack and Red consulted, clearing up any foggy spots,
so that they could work in unison when the time came for action.
Not a single incident occurred to take their attention from the fact
that they were carrying their lives in their hands. Now and then the
guide would pull up in order that he might make use of the binoculars
(which Jack had taken pains to bring along) some suspicious clump of
rocks such as would afford a most effective spot for an ambush needed
closer observation; and Red was too cautious a ranger to rush into a
trap when it could be avoided.
As they progressed Jack noticed how their guide gradually slowed down;
from which circumstance he judged they must be nearing the hidden
retreat of the plunderers. It gave him increased confidence in the
sagacity of the Mounty sergeant, whose disposition corresponded more or
less with his own.
Coming to a delightfully cold spring that bubbled up close to the trail,
Red called a halt.
"A short rest will breathe the hosses," Red was saying, after he had
taken a good look at the trail beyond the wayside spring; "and by the
same token I think it's high time I told you both about a little trick
of luck that came my way just a week or so back; 'specially since it's
got so much to do with the carrying out of this surround, and hoped-for
haul."
XXVIII
DODGING THE LOOKOUT
Perk looked eagerly at his old pal when Sergeant Red made that
interesting disclosure. The three of them were sitting close to the
spring at the time, engaged in passing a collapsible metal cup from hand
to hand, and quenching their thirst from the clear water that came forth
in apparently inexhaustible quantities.
"Huh! I kinder guessed now, Red, ol' hoss, that you had a trump cyard up
your sleeve all this while--reckon I ain't forgot a trick you used to
play on us boys long ago, springin' a nice little surprise just when the
game looked the bunk, an' we reckoned we was up a stump. Hit it up then,
an' tell us what sorter good luck it was you run smack up against,
that's got somethin' to do with this here racket o' ourn."
"I was riding slowly back to the station, after taking our mail to the
nearest settlement, where it could go on its way by a carrier, when I
chanced to hear what sounded like a groan. Of course I first of all
suspected it might be some sort of slick trap to get me off my mount;
but after riding on a bit I dismounted and fastening my hoss, crept
back.
"Turned out to be no fizzle after all, for I found a miserable looking
man lying on the ground, half starved, badly wounded in an arm, and
looking like he'd been in the river that was close by.
"I reckoned he might be one of the crowd that worked with the Hawk--had
an idea I'd seen him before in bad company; but he was a tough looking
sight, and I just felt sorry for the bloke. So I fed him, and looked
after his hurts, what with a heap of bruises, and a bullet through the
fleshy part of his left arm.
"Then I got him on my mount, and carried him all the way to the station.
The colonel took charge, and had him put to bed, with Doc. Hamilton
looking after his troubles. He got better right away, and on the third
day said he must be going. Then he confessed he had been a member of
that Hawk gang and that his name was Gene Hotchkiss, though we both
reckoned it was one he'd tacked on when he came up here to keep out of
jail.
"He went on to tell us that he'd been fool enough to defy the Hawk when
full of hard stuff; and how the other had flashed a gun to shoot him
through the shoulder; then knocked him down, kicked him in a passion;
and finally, when he was mighty near senseless, ordered two of his men
to pick him up and throw him over a cliff into the river.
"How he managed to keep from being drowned when so weak and sore he
couldn't explain--all he remembered was managing to pull himself out of
the water when an eddy drew him in close to a shelving rock. Later on he
tried to make his way along in the direction of Frazer's post, meaning
to get out of this country, for his life would not be worth a pinch of
salt if ever the Hawk learned he hadn't been put out of the way.
"He claimed to have a brother down in Winnipeg, and swore black and blue
he was going back to him, so as to try and redeem himself. Colonel Astor
encouraged him, feeling that what he spoke was the truth. Well, before
he pulled out, going in company with a trapper chancing along right
then, the chap was so grateful for all we'd done for him he up and told
us a few things about the Hawk, such as we'd been crazy to learn for
seven coons' ages.
"He described the location of the secret haunt of the gang, so we
couldn't miss finding it when ready to pounce down on them. More than
that he drew a sort of diagram, or chart, showing us how there was a
back-door way of gettin' in, case they barricaded the main entrance--so
far as he knew not a single guy of all the pack knew about this same
rear door except himself; and he'd only found it out by sheer accident,
keeping quiet, since he even then had a sneaking notion he'd have to
pull out on the sly, if ever it came to a show-down between himself and
the Hawk."
"That sounds like something well worth while," Jack remarked, after Red
had apparently reached the end of his little yarn; "always provided what
he told you was the truth, and not a fairy story invented to hoodwink
you until he got out of touch, and could make his getaway."
"I believe it was backed by solid truth," Red stoutly affirmed; "and the
colonel was of the same opinion. We were only waiting until several of
the boys returned to the station after having their vacations, when we
figured on pulling the roost, and closing out the whole bunch. Then you
hit our place, and he made up his mind to let you have your day, backing
you up when the posse arrived after their wild goose chase, sent on a
false information that the gang planned to raid the little settlement at
Frog's Neck down the river fifty miles or so."
Acting on Jack's request, Red explained (by means of the rude chart made
by the so-called Gene Hotchkiss) just where the retreat was located; and
also what course they would have to pursue if necessity compelled them
to attempt to break in through the back door.
"If that stacks up against us," Jack finally decided, "we can go over
this thing again and get our bearings--it may not be necessary if we
have a decent share of luck. And now, boys, let's move along, and start
something."
"When we get to a certain point," further advised the Mounty guide,
"it's going to be necessary for us to leave the trail, hide our hosses,
and take to the rocks."
"You reckon then they'll have a lookout posted to command the approach,
and get wind of any threatening danger?" Jack asked.
"That Hotchkiss guy told us they never left anything to chance," Red
explained; "he said that day and night a vidette is kept posted on a
lookout point, where, unseen himself he can discover if even a fox comes
along the only approach to the cave. He even said they had dynamite
planted, with a wire running up to the den, so the whole works could be
knocked into flinders if so be the Mounties came along. We've got to
find that wire, and disconnect it first thing we do."
"Je-ru-sa-lem crickets, I should say so!" Perk chattered; "I ain't so
set on doin' my flyin' in pieces that I'll cotton to any dynamite
cache."
Then, as they were once more compelled to go single file on account of
the rocks narrowing the trail, the consultation came to an end, and they
continued to move ahead in utter silence save when a hoof chanced to
strike the solid rock and made a subdued sound. Each rider, however,
tried to keep this from happening whenever possible, by skillful
guidance with the bridle.
Perk kept watching the mountain that reared up its lofty peak thousands
of feet above. It might be he was wondering what would happen should the
guide through some mistake overlap the range of safety, and their coming
be noted by the ever vigilant vidette posted in some eagle-like eyrie
far up the slope.
Would their first warning of this fact be when a frightful explosion
rent the atmosphere, and the massive rocks went flying in every
direction, carrying themselves and their unlucky mounts along in
sections? It was not a very cheerful subject to entertain, and Perk
might be pardoned for feeling a little cold chill creep up and down his
spinal column, when for instance he suddenly caught a rumbling sound,
like an earthquake in its first throes. It however turned out to be
simply a land-slide, such as frequently took place, as Perk himself very
well knew, with great rocks, and a shower of loosened earth slipping
down the slope with increasing momentum.
"Gosh a mity! that one near got my goat!" Perk told himself, with a
nervous little laugh; and as he brought up the rear just then neither of
his mates saw his brief spasm of alarm, for which he was thankful.
Suddenly Red threw up his arm. They had for some little time been
walking their horses, and this warning signal brought them all to a
complete standstill. Jack shoved up alongside the leader, and they
exchanged looks.
"Here's where we got to leave our mounts, and go on afoot," was what Red
explained, speaking in a low tone that added to the thrill of the
occasion, at least so far as Perk was concerned. "See this red-looking
rock that cuts out halfway across the trail--that Hotchkiss critter
warned me not to pass it by--if we rode fifty feet further we'd come in
line with the sentry up yonder."
"I guess now an inch is as good as a mile," Perk observed, grinning as
though he had uttered some "wise crack" that did his discretion credit.
Looking around they soon found an opening in the wall on their right,
through which the horses could be led. Red was particular to take the
animals quite some distance away, so that in case one of them took a
notion to neigh, as horses are apt to do at unexpected times, the sound
might not be heard by the man on the lookout post, or by any one
chancing to be passing along the trail.
So far so good; and yet the extra hazardous part of the undertaking was
but beginning to loom up ahead.
XXIX
THE HAWK AT BAY
Red led the way, of course. Jack knew he was searching for the wire that
ran from the planted explosive up to the spot where the vidette was
stationed, his intention being to sever this strand so as to make the
hidden dynamite futile for doing any damage.
Shortly afterwards the guide uttered a low exclamation as of
satisfaction, following this up by kneeling down, and with a pair of
pocket pliers cutting a wire that lay in plain sight on the rock.
Perk made a queer little noise, as though something in the way of a load
had been taken from his chest. Jack, too, felt relieved; and besides,
their early success seemed to presage a good ending to the adventure.
Again they went on, climbing by devious ways, but always making progress
up toward the little plateau which had been described to Red by the
former member of the bandit circle as the lookout's station.
Drawing gradually closer and closer in the end they could make out the
figure of a man, seated Arab fashion, with his legs drawn up under him,
and watching the spot where the trail stood out so plainly to one far
above. Apparently he had as yet discovered no suspicious movement, and
was unaware of what virtually hovered over his own devoted head.
Again did Red assume the initiative, and Jack was perfectly willing that
this should be his part. Whispering a few words in Jack's ear placed
close to his lips, the Mounty sergeant moved away as noiselessly as a
crawling serpent might have done, vanishing from their anxious eyes as
though the rocks had opened to engulf him.
The two sky pilgrims crouched there and waited, keyed up to a high pitch
of anticipation and excitement. Jack could hear Perk drawing in each
breath with a slight rasping sound; so, too, did the other move
restlessly as the minutes passed until a quarter of an hour had slipped
by.
Then Jack noticed a faint movement just back of the lounging sentry, and
something like four feet above his head. Of course it was Red, who had
managed to attain this commanding spot without making any sound
calculated to put the bandit lookout on the alert.
Perk, too, had glimpsed a face peering forth, and he as well as Jack
suspended breathing as they saw the sturdy Mounty launch his body into
space. Following came a scuffling noise, as the two forms writhed and
twisted there on the outcropping of rock, with a sheer drop of full a
hundred feet, if one or both were so unfortunate as to squirm over the
edge.
At least there had not been the faintest shout given, proving how
perfect all of Red's movements had been calculated and carried out. No
doubt the fingers of his right hand had clutched the sentry's throat in
a flash, cutting off his wind, and reducing him to a condition of
helplessness.
Two minutes afterwards and there was Red grinning as he beckoned for his
two mates to climb up to where he awaited them. Upon reaching his side
they found he had tied the prisoner's arms together behind his back; and
Perk making a quick examination, nodded as if vastly pleased over such a
thorough job. Borrowing a red bandana handkerchief--a fresh and new one
Perk had laid in for this especial occasion--Red speedily made an
effective gag which he secured over the senseless man's mouth, so that
no matter how much he strove to cry out the best he could do would be to
make a low moaning sound, hardly more than a grunt.
After this had been accomplished Red unceremoniously dragged him into an
inviting fissure near by, where he could be left to himself. He had been
coming into his senses at the time, and must have glimpsed the hated and
feared uniform of the Mounties, which would be apt to give him a
nightmare, knowing as he did what measure in the way of penalties was
due for his reckoning.
Again the daring trio set out to reach the hidden den. Red led them by
devious ways, always with the one thought of "playing safe" held up
before him. Inside of five minutes he pointed to where a network of
vines covered the face of a small cliff. Behind that curtain Red knew
the secret entrance of the freebooters' rendezvous was to be found.
Red's hunch turned out to be all to the good, as was proven when they
investigated, and found an opening that seemed to lead into the solid
rock. Before taking chances by pushing into the black depths Jack and
Red consulted once more in whispers.
Perk, hovering near by, suddenly glimpsed a moving object that turned
out to be a hostile eavesdropper--undoubtedly one of the outlaws had
been in the act of stepping out of the underground retreat when he made
the thrilling discovery that the dreaded Mounties were at the door.
Knowing from Perk's actions that his presence was discovered, in a near
panic the man attempted to get away. Perk, however, hoping to prevent
Jack's plans for surprising the gang from being upset, made a furious
rush toward the disappearing party.
He hurled himself upon the man, and succeeded in throwing him down with
such violence that the other was knocked senseless; but unfortunately
before this happened the outlaw had let out a warning shriek, that must
have echoed through the passages of the cavern.
Several shots rang out, proving how quickly the gang could take the
alarm. Loud voices, too, followed, and one in particular struck Jack as
most dominant and commanding; so that it hardly needed the quick
explanation from Red to tell Jack he was listening to the Hawk in
person.
Perk, realizing that the battle was now on, started to do his share of
the action; and the way he handled that machine-gun was a caution. Its
rap-rap-rap following each burst with others in rapid succession, made
it appear as though a dozen of the surprise party must be thronging at
the entrance, ready for a concerted rush.
Perhaps, too, those sheltered inside the dark interior of the wonderful
cavern could catch occasional glimpses of the hated and feared uniform
of the Mounted Police; for Red was actively moving back and forth, with
just this idea influencing him, to make them believe the entire force
connected with the station had come upon the ground, bent upon making a
complete sweep-up of the bunch at bay while they were about it.
The fight went on quite merrily for some little time, with shots echoing
through the corridors of the underground retreat. Whether their hot
fusilade was doing any harm the trio on the outside could not discover,
for no longer were shouts being exchanged--the besieged bandits kept
firing sullenly, nor did they seem to be lacking in an abundance of
ammunition.
Realizing that they were getting nowhere by these ineffective tactics
Jack again sought suggestions from his second in command. When Red
vigorously advised that they try to find the secret rear entrance to the
cavern, it struck Jack as a sensible plan. Knowing that there was little
risk of the inmates making any serious attempt to rush out at this early
stage of the battle, especially when unaware of the number of their
foes, Jack concluded to accept the risks and take his whole inadequate
force with him in making an attack from the rear.
It was indeed a lucky thing they had such a good guide at their disposal
as Red proved to be; for he had no particular trouble in leading them
along a narrow ledge, and through a branch of the main canyon, until
they presently reached a dark crevice in the shape of a rock fault,
exactly as his informant had advised would be the case.
This being the case they entered the split in the wall, and aided by
occasional flashes from the hand electric torch Jack carried, managed in
the end to reach the main cavern. Here torches fastened to the walls in
the regulation fashion, allowed them to see the flitting figures of the
alarmed bandits moving to and fro, as though engaged in changing their
stores to some more secure location.
It appearing that only by a sudden rush could they hope to strike
consternation into the hearts of the already panicky bunch, Jack gave
the word, and with loud shouts and much firing of guns the three boldly
rushed the enemy. In return came a volley of answering shots; but
apparently this unexpected attack from the rear unnerved the outlaws,
for breaking they rushed into an inner chamber, which had evidently been
prepared for a last stand in case of just such an emergency as had now
arrived. When the three came on the spot it was to find only a single
form stretched on the rocky floor, and with a stout oaken door checking
their further advance.
XXX
BACK OVER THE BORDER--CONCLUSION
Taking stock of the situation Jack found that things did not look so
satisfactory as he could have wished. The outlaws, with but two missing
from their number, so far as Jack could tell, had now retreated back of
what seemed in the nature of a fort, which might defy all the efforts of
himself and two companions to break in.
The thing that worried Jack most of all was the fact that Perk had been
wounded in the last exchange of fierce firing. Just how serious this
might prove he could not say; but his chum's left arm seemed to hang
helplessly at his side; although otherwise the war veteran displayed his
usual scorn of a little blood-letting on his part.
"Looks kinder like we might be up a tree, partner," Perk hoarsely told
him as they came together while dodging the hot firing. "Mebbe now you'd
better gimme permission to heave a couple o' them little tear gas
marbles into that ere hole in the wall! See there's a place right over
that same heavy door they left open for ventilation like; I could make a
little rush up and push the pills through it in three shakes o' a lamb's
tail. Say the word, buddy, an' let's end all this guess work."