ALL ON A DIET
"Steady then, boy--we mustn't give them a chance to glimpse anything
moving up here, or the fat'll be in the fire. A step at a time, and
mighty slow at that!" Jack warned the hasty Perk.
The sun lay low toward the western horizon, as seen through a gap in the
mighty snow-capped mountains lying in that quarter. It happened that
there was a line of scrub growing close to the edge of the cliff; and
which the quick-witted Jack saw would prove a very effective screen for
them to hide back of.
Down on hands and knees they dropped, to begin crawling inch by inch
toward their objective. A cat creeping up on a sparrow, or a fat robin,
could not have displayed a greater amount of sagacity and caution that
those two man-hunters exhibited then and there--every little move was a
gem; and Perk, keeping close to the heels of his leader, was fain to
thrill with admiration over the wonderful skill shown by Jack in making
this advance.
By slow degrees they opened up an amazing vista as they drew closer to
the brink of the cliff--it was a spectacle such as neither of them had
ever laid eyes on during their entire past life--that glorious green
valley lying like an oasis amidst grim mountain ranges, making the
contrast clean-cut, and magnificent indeed.
Later on no doubt Jack would drink the scene in with avidity, since he
was a great lover of the picturesque; but at that particular moment
there happened to be other things demanding their sole attention.
The valley itself was the only frame that surrounded the picture most
interesting to their minds. Those who had gathered under the effective
leadership of the man whom they had been credited with sending to the
Federal penitentiary not so many moons back, were the objects of their
dangerous journey into these untracked wilds; and they were most eager
to learn just how they were living in their hidden retreat--also what
their mode of slipping out to make a bold stroke, and then disappear
again most mysteriously, might be.
First the further end of the valley came under their view, but with
never a moving figure, nor yet any sign of huts or tents to indicate the
presence of human beings.
By slow degrees they widened their line of observation--objects closer
at hand began to be noticeable, and finally they discovered the first
shack. It was only a place used as a shelter for animals, which would
indicate that they had a herd of ponies in the valley, where doubtless
there would be found plenty of grass for grazing, even throughout the
severe winter season.
Jack's first impression ran along the line of what a wonderful prize
such a rare mountain retreat must some day prove for cattle, driven from
the open range by the coming of cold, and heavy snows.
Ah! a second structure now bobbed up; but like the other it had the look
of a rough shelter unsuited for human use. Others by degrees came along,
and Jack counted nearly a dozen up to the time he struck quite a
commodious log cabin, looking like some he had seen in times gone by
when in a logging camp in Michigan, where a bunch of loggers cutting
timber during the winter, had to be kept warm when feeding.
Men were clustered around this structure, some lying on the ground,
while others sauntered about, evidently talking and joking; although any
sounds they might be making came but faintly to the strained hearing of
the watchers up on the heights, so great was the distance separating
them.
"Hot-diggetty-dig! thar they be, partner, the hull kittin' crew," Perk
ventured to say, softly; for as yet they did not know whether a lookout
or vidette was kept posted, where he could have a range of vision
covering many miles out over the rock strewn country toward the east and
south.
"Just a round dozen in sight," muttered Jack, who was already using the
binoculars; "but at that there might be as many more in the huts and
shacks. Away off there to the north, where the grass looks greenest I
can see a small herd of ponies feeding; remember, Perk, some of those
accounts hinted that in all probability they conducted their raids on
horseback, and faded away again completely after striking."
"Huh! seems like they got a reg'lar _system_ organized," grunted the
observant Perk, staring off to the section where Jack indicated.
"That's all the work of our old friend, Slippery Slim," he was told in
terms that would not admit of any denial; "he's shown in his past jobs
he's a wonderful organizer--if he had been straight, and in the army,
his genius might have pushed him far up the ladder; as it is he's only
been able to prove one of the nastiest thorns in the flesh the
Government ever tackled."
"Then I kinder guess it'll be a relief if we carry this job through to a
finish, and get the critter landed for keeps back where his wings'll be
fair clipped."
"You said it, Perk."
Jack still held on to the glasses, finding it so interesting trying to
locate this thing and that; but then Perk had most astonishingly keen
eyesight, and could pick up considerable information unaided. He was
accustomed to staring into dim far-off spaces when aloft, which added to
his ability in that line.
Lower dropped the sun.
Presently the shadows would come trooping out of their hiding-places,
where they holed during daytimes. Jack realized that, shut in as the
valley was by those beetling cliffs, the twilight must be already
falling down yonder--yes, he could notice the failing light, and inside
of a brief time darkness must wrap everything in its dark folds, save
where possibly some fire continued to burn, and dispel the gloom.
"I figure that they do most if not all of their cooking inside of that
long log cabin, and eat there to boot," he explained to his companion,
eagerly listening.
"More organization stuff, eh?" grunted Perk; "then like as not they even
got some kinder cook, or _chef_, to handle the pots an' pans. Flyin'
high, I'd call it, partner--alivin' off the fat o' the land mebbe."
"Why not, when they've pulled off some mighty big shake-downs during the
last few months, and must have raked in a heap of dough? With the coin
you can buy all sorts of good things to eat; and don't forget how
they've got a special delivery ship, that is able to tote half a ton or
more of freight."
"Whew! jest to think o' that," breathed Perk, making a face as if some
extremely painful thought had flashed through his excited brain; "an'
heow we on'y got _four_ slim sandwiches to fill up on--hardly a bite
apiece."
"Tough luck, that's right, boy," said Jack, cheerily; "but such old
campaigners as we are shouldn't squeal because we miss a few meals. Easy
enough to make up for lost grub when we're all cleaned up, and sitting
pretty. Besides, just as like as not I'm going to ask you to trot back
to our ship in the morning, if you're agreeable."
"Huh! surely not to stay, while yeou're up here by yeour lonely--don't
tell me that, Jack, ole pard."
"Hardly, buddy; I'll need your help too much to divide our forces in
front of the enemy, or when crossing a stream, which is a bad time, they
say, to change horses. I meant that you could make up a big bundle of
grub, and tote it along; for there's no telling how much time we're
going to squander, loafing up on this roost, and watching how things
go."
"Gosh! _that's different_, partner; of course I'd be glad to slide daown
there, take a peek at our boat, load up with some stuff, an' make it
back here 'bout middle o' the afternoon--if I'm lucky."
"Well, you've just _got_ to be lucky, and not spill the beans, that's a
foregone conclusion, Perk. Every foot of the way you must keep on the
alert, and take no chances of discovery. But it's getting so dark down
in the valley we might as well shut up shop for the present."
"Meanin' it's the end o' a perfect day, eh, what?" asked Perk, as he
started to "back water," and push away from the screen of scrub bushes.
"Well, we've accomplished a few things worth remembering, so the time
hasn't been exactly wasted, Perk. But the main job still lies ahead of
us, remember, brother. It's going to be no small job either, to separate
that slick rascal from the balance of the gang, and carry him off in our
airship, without having to fight a regular battle with the mob."
Perk scratched an ear, and then remarked softly:
"It never could be done if left to a lad built like me, I'm tellin'
yeou, my boy--couldn't make the grade, which is a fack. Some galoots air
built that way, yeou savvy? But, so long as I got a pal to lean on I
aint worrin' 'baout not bringin' home the bacon, not me."
"None of that baloney, Perk."
They continued to back away until Jack decided they were far enough
distant from that dreadful brink of the mighty cliff, to avoid any
possibility of falling over if by chance they "walked in their sleep,"
as Perk had been known to occasionally do, when something was weighing
heavily on his mind.
"Let's have those last few sandwiches that you held out at lunchtime,"
Jack remarked, settling down to make himself as comfortable as the
conditions allowed. "Good thing too, you were so thoughtful, since only
for that we'd have gone to sleep with empty stomachs, which is rather
hard on a fellow as fond of chow as some one I know."
"I'm guilty, all right, Jack--eatin's one o' my shortcomin's for a
fack--allers did count the hours 'til the horn'd blow fur
dinner-time--age haint changed little Gabe Perkiser a whit, an' never
will, I kinder spect. Take yeour pick--jest two each, an' haow I wish
I'd a told him to make 'em double thick--why, dang it they on'y be a
couple o' bites each, sech bites as I take."
"Half a loaf's a lot better than no bread--be philosophical, buddy, and
as you munch your fodder keep thinking what you're going to do punishing
the grub when the time of plenty rolls along, which it surely will do in
good time."
They sat there exchanging remarks in cautious tones, and making the
slender allotment of food go just as far as possible--as might a child
nibbling all around the sugar coating on the top of his cake, "keeping
the best for the last."
"Goin' to be some cold, in the bargain, seems like," suggested Perk,
whose mind always ran to picking out the thorny parts, and forgetting
the pleasant ones lying in wait for them later on.
"Oh! well, we ought to know what cold stuff means, after being miles
high so many hours at a time, and in an open cockpit at that, remember,
Perk. What can't be cured must be endured--there's going to be a lot of
good times when we've wound up this game for keeps, skip back to old San
Diego, and that jolly little restaurant we know."
"Yeah! providin' we aint knocked aout o' the runnin' 'fore that time,
ole hoss," grumbled Perk.