THE HOP-OFF
Leaving the hotel, after settling their account, and still making use of
the taxi with its accommodating driver, Jack and his comrade had taken
what small amount of hand luggage they possessed along with them, not
meaning to come back again.
Mr. Adkins had recommended a small but unique restaurant run by a buxom
French madame, where they could have a Creole supper, such as would long
haunt their memories as a genuine treat and it was to this place they
ordered their driver to convey them.
Both of them felt fairly convinced they had been shadowed during the
afternoon, although so carefully must this have been accomplished they
had no positive proof to make it what Perk would term a “dead
certainty.”
They really did have a delightful “feed,” and the dishes set before them
were as a rule complete mysteries although the obliging madame, seeing
they were tasting her triumphs of the French _chef’s_ art for the first
time, gladly explained the nature of the food they consumed with so much
gusto.
Perk was fascinated with his supper, and inwardly vowed that this should
not be the last time he would partake of tasty Creole dishes. This duty
fulfilled, they faced the next progressive step in their night’s
program—making for the aviation field, and boarding their ship for a
speedy takeoff, their ultimate goal neither of them could say just
where, save that if all went well they expected to be somewhere along
the California border within the next few days.
The taxi was waiting, with the chauffeur on the alert. He had already
been advised of the fact that they anticipated having some parties
attempt to spy upon them as evening settled down and on this account he
had maintained a strict watch for troublesome visitors who might even
attempt to threaten him with bodily injury unless he agreed to enter
into their plans for delaying the flight of the two flyers, as he knew
his passengers to be from what he had been told.
“Well, I see our taxi’s still on deck, partner,” observed Perk, just as
if he might have suspected they would find it missing, with a detail of
grim city police waiting to escort them to the lockup, they to be held
in durance vile until serious charges against them could be sifted.
“Nothing came along to bother you, Henri?” asked Jack of the smiling
driver, who laughed as he said in reply:
“I haf seen one beeg hulk of ze man hanging around, M’sieu, and looking
as if he would like to eat me up but me, I haf been an old soldier in
the Grand Army of France, and I think he did not like the way I throw my
chest out thees way, and walk as eef I am on guard duty; he did not
address a single word to me, but just a little while ago he disappear—I
think he may haf gone to get more courage out of ze glass.”
“Good boy, Henri,” said the grinning Perk, clapping a hand on the
stalwart chauffeur’s shoulder; “for myself I should not like to tackle
you when you have your fighting face all set. Let’s go.”
So they were off, and heading out in the direction of the aviation
grounds, with the first shadows of approaching evening gathering around
them. Perk may have been more or less nervous, in anticipation of
something coming to pass that would seriously cripple their plans for a
speedy flight, since he kept turning his head from side to side and
scrutinizing every one they saw upon the streets they traversed.
Henri maintained a fairly good speed, all the law would permit, so that
few cars passed them on the road. Perk managed to watch closely, and
never a motor came booming along in their wake, honking to announce the
driver’s intention to pass by, than he had his eyes glued on the car and
continued to pay strict attention until it had crept well up ahead.
But after all nothing out of the way came to pass, and eventually they
reached the aviation field where they found lights already in play,
since a delayed air mail ship was hovering over signaling for better
illumination. There was some small damage in regard to the steering
gear, making it a bit risky to try a landing unless the field was
brilliantly lighted.
“You made an arrangement with a couple of the ground force to hang
around so as to help us get the crate out okay, didn’t you, Perk?”
queried Jack, as they drew up close to the particular hangar where they
had seen their plane placed in quarters.
“Yeah, I sure did, Jack,” the other replied. “Must be they’re over where
that crate hanging overhead means to land—somethin’ wrong mebbe but
they gimme their word to stay around till we got here—there, I c’n lamp
the guys runnin’ thisaways right now, so it’s okay, partner.”
“Yes, I see them coming,” returned the other, himself a bit relieved,
since the intended departure was a most important episode in their
plans, and to meet with any sort of a setback would be most aggravating
indeed.
The two mechanicians quickly arrived, the hanger was unlocked and opened
so as to permit the exit of the ship. First of all both flyers hastened
to don their working togs, then fasten on the ’chutes with the harness
necessary for the purpose, all working smoothly and finally clapping
their helmets on their heads, with the earflaps secured to keep things
in readiness for any emergency that might crop up.
This being accomplished, Jack gave the word to have the heavy ship
dragged out into the open. He knew that his assistant would have looked
after everything essential to their comfort during the coming flight for
Perk was one of those dependable fellows who carry out orders with
machine-like regularity.
A few parties had hastened up to see what was going on but so far as
Perk could tell they were either workers connected with the field, or
else visitors from the city, who had lingered to watch the landing of
the air mail, so as to tell how it was done when they reached their
several homes, to partake of a late supper.
Now the ship had been swung around so as to head into the west, since
the soft evening breeze was coming from that quarter and everything
seemed in readiness for the take-off.
Perk, still surveying his surroundings as if still cherishing a fragment
of his former suspicions that all might not be as lovely as surface
indications would announce, started to climb aboard. Jack on his part
was handing some money to the two men, not wishing to leave a single
thing unpaid when passing out from New Orleans—there was nothing to be
done about their use of the hangar, since Mr. Adkins had assured him
that matter had already been taken care of, regardless of how long they
chose to linger in the Crescent City.
Jack, too, cast a last glance around, just as he would have done had he
still been with the air mail service and about to start off on his
customary night flight with the north-bound sacks of letters and the
express matter that vent along.
Just then he heard Perk give vent to a hurried exclamation:
“Get aboard, partner; I guess the measly critters are acomin’ down on us
like hot cakes right now. Lookit how they start arunnin’ thisaway, will
you?”
Jack did not bother looking, as every second might be valuable; he
climbed aboard with alacrity, and settled down in his seat; at the same
time calling out to the helpers to stand aside. Then he pulled the gun,
with the motor responding instantly, so well had Perk done his work when
checking up the ship that morning.
Perk was still glueing his eyes on the several figures now racing madly
in their general direction, and waving their arms wildly; no doubt they
had started to shout in addition, but the descending air mail crate was
making more or less racket, which, added to by their own motor’s
thunder, prevented any one from hearing what they may have been
whooping.
Perk was trembling with an excess of emotion—evidently they had just
escaped “by the skin of their teeth,” for he felt certain he could
distinguish the uniforms of the police in the little bunch of runners.
“Played your hand just a mite too late, gents!” Perk was whooping as he
in turn waved a mocking adieu backward; “thought you’d ketch a weasel
asleep, I guess, but not so easy, you gate crashers. Wow! here we go
spinnin’ along like the wind, and it’s goodnight to the bunch. Huh!
shootin’ at us, air you—jest awastin’ ammunition, that’s all, boys. Go
’way back an’ sit down.”
Then Jack lifted her in an upward fling, and they were off like a
startled hawk!