READY FOR ANYTHING
The following day was a busy one for the two pals. Each had a regular
programme to follow, Jack having made out two lists of important things
absolutely essential to the carrying out of their plans.
As usually happened he left to Perk the task of seeing that the ship was
fully supplied with all the fuel and oil she was capable of carrying off
in making an ascent; some of which could be stored in the wings,
purposely provided with stowage room for such occasions.
Then when it came to taking aboard a stock of provisions, such as would
not require cooking, trust Perk for having a complete understanding as
to these requirements--he possessed such a vast knowledge of what was
good for a hungry man, not in a position to start a campfire, that when
he put the last of their stock away aboard the plane it looked as if
they might be getting ready to explore the Arctic regions, where nothing
but driftice was to be met, and no chance of having a fire either for
cooking or comfort.
Jack, meanwhile did his part, making carefully arranged plans, with
alternate makeshifts such as could be taken up in case unsurmountable
obstacles baffled them in the one chosen for the start--with Jack it was
always part of his strategy to have several "strings to his bow," and
never if possible "put all his eggs in one basket."
When wearied after all the tramping he had done in accumulating such a
vast pile of material, Perk dropped down into a chair alongside his
chum--who was still doing the finishing touch to his programme--he
heaved a sigh as of contentment--as a rule Perk was not a vigorous
walker, preferring to go by airplane, motorcar, or bus; perhaps even by
stage if necessary, so that such unusual exercise told heavily on his
muscles.
"Get through with your list, partner?" queried Jack, shoving aside his
papers, as though he too had had quite enough of work for one day.
"Sure did, matey," came the satisfied reply; "we're done loaded up to
the limit, an' then some. Hope the ole gal don't fight shy o' liftin'
sech a rummy cargo; but so far we aint never had her balk on us. How
yeou gittin' on with things, Jack?"
"Making good progress," came the steady answer. "I've learned that we've
shouldered a whopping big job this time; and still things keep cropping
up, that make it necessary to go back and change matters some. But I'll
be in fine shape by tomorrow noon, I figure."
"Kinder reckon on makin' the jump then, air yeou, boss?" demanded Perk.
Jack shook his head in the negative.
"Better wait up until night-time, buddy," he explained. "An ounce of
prevention's always a heap better than a pound of cure, you remember. We
can slip away a lot easier in the night, as we've proven more than a few
times in the past. Then besides, we'd like to profit by the latest
weather report. If a wide storm threatened it would be good policy to
hold back even for several days, rather than get caught in a hard blow;
such things are said to be doubly tough amidst the mountain gorges and
canyons, with their cranky air currents, and a continual danger of
running smack into some high peak."
"I leaves all that figgerin' to yeou, as usual, partner; when yeou gives
the word, that's goin' to be the right time for us to climb, an' not
afore. Golly! but I'm as hungry as seven wolves all in one--hopes as
haow they got steak an' fried onions on the bill o' fare tonight, 'cause
my innards air jest a yellin' fur a mess o' my fav'rite chow."
"I can't say I'm in the same box, because being shut up for hours, and
badgering my poor brain with a hundred puzzling questions, isn't
calculated to make a man ferociously hungry. You had outdoor exercise,
and in consequence have built up a glorious appetite. Queer what some
fellows _will_ do so as to cater to their thirst or hunger."
"Naow whatever kin yeou mean by that same remark, Jack, ole boy?"
They were on their way along the street at the time, keeping step as
they headed for the restaurant. Jack seemed agreeable so far as
explaining, for there was a little yarn back of his words, just as the
astute Perk had suspected, knowing his chum as well as he did.
"This story was told to me long years ago, but I never think of it that
I don't get a fresh laugh," Jack was saying, chuckling as he spoke. "It
seems a couple of artists who were fond of trout fishing were up in
Maine, stopping at a small hotel, while waiting for their guides to show
up.
"They noticed at breakfast several mornings that another party, small
and dried up, but a fisherman to the tips of his fingers nevertheless,
always ordered salt mackerel for his morning meal. This aroused their
curiosity, so one day, after having a good confab with him on the
prospect of sport ahead on the trip they had planned to take, one of the
pair had the audacity to refer to the singular liking for such a dish
evinced by the other. He grinned and looked wise, as he went on to say
in reply, not taking the least offense over the matter as a personal
one:
"'Oh! I aint carin' so much for the fish, gents, an' gets fed up on the
same sometimes; but let me tell you, folks 'long 'bout ten o'clock every
mornin' there comes the most delicious _thirst_ that pays up for my
eating them salt fish.' Think of him punishing himself so regularly,
just to create a tremendous yearning for his favorite tipple."
Perk saw the point, and of course laughed quite vigorously.
"Hot-diggetty-dig! boy, hope I aint jest as bad as that same gent," he
presently gurgled. "I c'n understand heow he felt though, an' she don't
seem so derned queer to me after all."
Jack often managed to get off some such yarn when the necessity arose
for keeping the talkative Perk from "spilling the beans," as the latter
himself would have explained it--Perk was a rather simple minded fellow,
taken in all, but a faithful and sincere chum, a ready worker, and as
brave as they make them, even if a bit incautious, often to recklessness
in his actions.
It seemed as though there were more people dining that evening in the
particular little restaurant than ever before: but Joe had upturned two
chairs at their favorite corner table, toward which Jack led the way; so
they were assured of comfort, even though late-comers were standing,
awaiting their turn.
Both of them always made it a point never to dress in any fashion such
as would be apt to give away the fact of their being airmen, or as
having some connection with the following of aviators. This was done
from a broad policy, founded on the fact that undoubtedly rumors of
their calling might long ere this have posted criminal circles; and Jack
for one had no fancy about having gunmen dogging his steps, with murder
in their hearts, because of the fact that this pair of "birds" had been
chiefly instrumental in sending some pal, or brother, to the "big house"
for a long stay, or it might be to the chair to atone for his crimes.
Jack always sat so he could look in careless fashion around the room.
His manner was that of a social fellow, taking an inventory of the
diners, as though wondering if he could single out some crony. There was
nothing of the "eagle eye that could look into a man's very soul, and
read his hidden thoughts," as usually connected with the mystery story,
or stage detective--not about Jack, or for that matter Perk either--so
far as outward appearances went they were only a couple of goodnatured
young men, smiling and agreeable, enjoying their meal, and chatting
about the latest stirring events of the day in the field of sports,
possibly also interested in political matters, as would be natural.
Perk always declared he felt as though he had put on a mask, when thus
debarred from "talking shop," with curious ears so close by; but he
realized the necessity for such extreme caution, when they were always
pitted against the desperadoes of the underworld in their daily work.
"Somethin' o' a mob here tonight, partner?" suggested Perk, after they
had been served by Joe, the waiter, and taken the edge off their
appetites; both having settled on the same aromatic dish, which Perk was
savagely attacking.
"Looks that way, Perk; if this keeps on we'll have to find another place
to feed, when we strike San Diego again; since neither of us is partial
to crowds. Remember the old frontiersman who complained that the
neighborhood was getting too thickly settled for him and his folks,
because a new family had started to build a log cabin less than _seven
miles away_? People look at what makes a crowd with different
viewpoints, we have to remember; what is flesh to one is just poison to
another man."
"Huh! never heard tell o' that idear 'fore," confessed the interested
Perk; "but it rings like there might be somethin' in the same. See
anybody yeou happens to know 'round here partner?"
"Not one that I would be apt to speak to," Jack told him; "of course we
see some of them each night; but they've paid no attention to us, for
which we're only too glad; doesn't pay to pick up chance acquaintances
at haphazard, when you happen to be engaged in a certain type of
business. If you reckon you've attended to that vacuum downstairs we
might as well be moving out, and give some of the standup people a
chance at this table."
"Let's get goin' then," agreed Perk, pushing back his chair; which
action caused several groups of impatient waiting persons to start
toward the spot, so as to preempt the vacant table.
"Show tonight, Jack?" queried the satisfied Perk, as they moved along.
"I ought to get busy once more on my stuff, as my programme isn't at all
complete; but just the same I don't want to overdo such brain fatiguing
work, and have to lay off a spell--nothing to be gained by such corrupt
practices, I imagine. So, since I know you feel as if you'd like to see
something, to take your mind off business for one night, decide on where
you want to go, and we'll be off."
"Course I'm not really dead set on seeing any picture," apologized Perk;
"but chances are we aint agoin' to have another whiff o' a screen drama
for days and days; an' it'll fill in time, as well as freshenin' up
yeour mind more'r less, buddy."
What they saw and heard does not concern us in following up this, their
latest exploit; but evidently Perk fully enjoyed the night's
entertainment, since he seemed to be in a jovial state of mind all the
way back to their sleeping quarters.
Their ship was quartered close to a well known aviation field, where air
mail was coming and going at all hours of the day and night; as well as
privately owned planes of the very latest design, some of them wonderful
craft in which daring adventurers could seek out the utmost parts of the
earth, backed of course, by an abundance of necessary funds.
They were not known under their real names to any of those who from time
to time they chanced to meet and chat with. It was generally understood
however, that Jack was the son of a wealthy family in the South--New
Orleans to be specific; and had come from Candler Field in Atlanta, with
his companion as assistant pilot. Moreover they were believed to be
waiting for certain things to transpire, after which they meant to take
an extended jaunt down through South America, over the Andes, and the
vast wilderness of the Amazon Valley, with its tributaries, engaged in
collecting myriads of wonderful orchids, said to have their _habitat_ in
that torrid region.
Thus no one had bothered them to any extent--at least not thus far;
realizing that the young explorer expressed a dislike about creeping
into print, and having his plans broadcast, so that perhaps some rival
plant hunter might "slip one over" and beat him to the much prized
field.
They came and went, as they pleased in their boat, making sure never to
leave the slightest evidence of their true calling lying around, which
would be apt to "lift the lid," and give them away. When Perk that very
day was so busily engaged loading up, it was all in line with their
pretended objective; entering into the spirit of the great game of
"pulling the wool over the eyes" of curious fellow aviators, Perk took
delight in concocting an extravagant yarn, depicting some of the
possible adventures he anticipated running across down in the countries
of South America--Brazil, the Orinoco River forest lands, Peru, Chili
and the Argentine--enough to make them envy his good fortune, when tough
Luck bound them in fetters along the line of their more prosaic jobs.
Jack was indeed through with the last item on his lists by noon of the
following day; but adhered to his expressed policy of holding back their
launching until night came on. Perk, however, made a last visit to the
hangar in which their beautiful ship lay quartered, to make doubly
certain he had omitted absolutely nothing that could add to their
comfort--and safety.