TAMPA BOUND
"Congrats, Perk," said Jack, as soon as he came close enough, "you did
the thing up in first-class shape. If all other jobs went back on you I
reckon you could get your papers along the engineering line. A bit tired
in the bargain I take it, partner?"
"Lay off on that stuff, matey," replied the other, scornfully, "me, I
never get what you'd call tired, but jest the same I'm right glad it's
all over an' the rotten crate didn't get sunk out there--hate to lose
all this bottled juice we come by in such a queer way. Climb aboard,
Jack, an' let's have a little talk-fest while we rest up."
"Later on I'd be glad to do that," he was told. "We'd be wise to push
further in among these islands before morning comes along if any sponger
or fisherman happened to glimpse this pair of odd sea and air craft he'd
spread the story far and wide and get us in Dutch. I'll fasten a tow
line on to the ship here, if you'll toss me a coil and taxi away back
where there wouldn't be one chance in a thousand of our being seen."
"I get you, buddy," Perk hastened to say, as he made ready to toss the
bight of stout rope to his waiting chum, "and it's all to the good with
me. Dandy luck we've been havin' for a fact, on'y hope it keeps on that
way to the finish line. Here you are, Boss!"
After Jack had made the small hawser fast he started the taxi stunt and
presently they were moving past the outlying clumps of mangroves with
never a bit of trouble. Perk made himself comfortable by throwing his
really fatigued form flat on the deck and stretching his muscles to the
limit.
This continued for some little time until finally Jack shut off his
power and came alongside, ready to climb aboard the sloop.
"We'll tie her up to this nearby clump of mangroves, where you'll notice
there's a bunch of tall palmetto trees growing, showing there must be
ground, such as few of these islands can boast. I'm picking this place
especially because those cabbage palms will keep the mast of the sloop
from sticking up and betraying its location to any flyer passing over."
"I'd call that a mighty fine idea, partner," declared Perk
enthusiastically. "Never would athought o' anything like that myself--my
old bean don't work along them lines I guess. An' when I've done that
camouflage act again nobody ain't agoin' to spy out a single thing down
this-aways. Great work, if I do say it myself, Jack old boy."
After he had managed to fasten the bow of the sloop to one of the
palmetto trees, Jack crawled aboard. He must have also felt more or less
tired, after being caged in the small confines of the cockpit so long,
for he followed Perk's example and dropped down on the deck to stretch
out while they exchanged opinions.
"None too soon for our safety," was the first remark Jack made, "see,
there in the east the sky has begun to take on a faint rosy tint which
means the sun must be making ready to rise."
"Things are workin' just lovely for us, I'd mention, old hoss,"
suggested Perk, with one of his good-humored chuckles that told how well
pleased he must be on account of the many "breaks" that persisted in
coming their way. "Let the mornin' come along when it pleases, it don't
matter a red cent to us back here in this gloomy solitude."
They started to exchange opinions concerning the remarkable happenings
of the night just passed and in this way many things that had not been
very clear to Perk were made plain. On his part he was able to offer
several suggestions that added to the stock of knowledge Jack already
possessed so that it was a mutual affair after all.
"I rather reckon somebody's going to get a surprise packet when I finish
explaining just how this contraband sloop and cargo fell into our
hands," Jack was saying at one time, apparently vastly amused himself.
"Fact is, I wouldn't blame the Commissioner for believing I was drawing
the long bow when he hears about those tear-bombs you tossed out that
scattered the crowd like I've heard you tell a shell used to do when it
dropped into a dugout over in the Argonne."
As they lay there taking things easy, the heavens in the east assumed a
most wonderful range of various delicate tints that made even Perk gasp
with admiration. Birds started singing, mocking birds and cardinals
among others, crows could be heard cawing close by as though there might
be a hidden bird roost not far distant. This was corroborated later on
when streams of white egrets flew past, scattering to find their morning
meal.
So, too, circling buzzards could be seen far above as they searched for
signs of a feast in the shape of a dead fish cast ashore on some sandbar
or mudbank--a heavy plunge not far away told of a monster alligator that
had been lying asleep on some log, taking a dive as he noticed the
presence of two-legged human enemies whom he had reason to suspect of
designs on his life.
"How about a little grub for a change, partner?" demanded Perk, after
they had been talking for quite some time.
"I reckon it wouldn't come amiss," admitted Jack; "but if you've got any
idea of starting a fire and making coffee, better throw that overboard
right away, for in the first place you'd find it a hard job to run
across any solid ground among all these mangrove islands and then
besides it might not be the wisest thing going to send up a column of
smoke to attract attention to this quarter. Get that do you, Perk?"
"Y--es," admitted the other, with a disconsolate shrug of his shoulders
as if he had no liking for the scheme being thus tabooed, "s'pose it's
jest like you put it, Jack, though I own up I was hopin' we might make a
pot o' coffee. Just the same we got plenty o' fresh water along, even if
it is sorter warm an' coffee'd taste just prime, but I c'n stand
anything when necessity drives. So let's get our teeth in some eats
without botherin' further, 'cause I'm half starved an' them sandwiches'd
go fine."
Accordingly they started operations, Perk clambering aboard the
amphibian to fish out the package of "eats", he knowing best where it
had been secreted on the previous evening after they had supper near
this same spot.
As they munched their dry food they continued to talk, finding plenty of
subjects bearing on their work that would be the better for further
study.
"There's only one way we can arrange things so as to keep our clutch on
the spoils we've rustled so far and do our duty according to orders."
"I kinder guess I c'n smell a rat already, Jack," chuckled Perk as he
wrapped up the remnant of the food supply which he had taken from their
main stock--"I'm the goat in the deal--you figger on me stayin' here in
this 'gator hole to stand by the ship an' knock the block off'n anybody
what tries to get away with our property--how's that for a straight hit
square in the bullseye?"
"Go up head, Perkiser--you got the answer first clip, for that's just
what has to be put through. I'll start off presently and make a bee line
for Tampa where they told me our immediate boss, Colonel Tranter, is
stopping with his sick wife. I'll make my report direct to him and take
further orders. He'll like enough detail a couple of revenue men on duty
along the East Coast to come back with me to where you're lying here so
they can take the sloop and her wet cargo to Tampa to be given over to
the proper officers who will see that no clever smuggler has half a
chance to run away with her."
"I c'n easy enough see how you've thunk ev'ry thing out, an' on'y need a
little time to put the scheme through with a rush. Tell me, Jack, will
you be apt to get any further lines on the way things stand down
here?--there was some talk, I 'member, about them bein' able to give us
a few pointers concernin' them higher-ups the Government is so anxious
to cage so as to break this whole gang up for keeps."
"Certainly, I intend to ask about that very thing," came Jack's ready
reply, "and I'm also in great hopes they'll be able to add some news
worth while, that, in conjunction with what we already know, or suspect,
will put us sleuth hounds on the hot trail of the big millionaire they
feel certain has been the main backing of the whole ugly bunch while
keeping in the background himself all the while. They're depending on
you and me, Perk, to produce the evidence that's going to convict him of
conspiracy against the Government, which may send him to Atlanta for a
dozen years or more."
"Know how long you'll be away, Jack?" demanded the other casually as if
it was really a matter of but little moment to him what the answer might
be, since he could be depended on to hold to their booty with the
tenacity of a leech.
"That all depends on circumstances--I may be back by noon, and again not
till late in the afternoon or evening. I expect to fetch a couple of
sandbaggers along who will take over the sloop and stuff that's aboard.
Having washed our hands clean of those encumbrances we'll be in fit
shape to delve deeper into the game and see what we get out of the
grab-bag. Anyway, don't expect me until you see me heading this way and
keep a sharp lookout, for from all accounts this crowd we're up against
is said to be a tricky combination, always stepping on their toes and
doing big things."
"Yeah, we've heard lots o' that kind o' stuff but just the same the lads
makin' up the crew o' this sloop didn't keep their eyes open, or they'd
never been taken unawares by them hijackers. Leave it to Gabe Perkiser
to hold fast to what he's got; they'd have to be a regiment, armed with
machine-guns, bombs, an' even gas, to knock _me_ off'n my perch an'
I don't mean that for boastin' either, Jack."
Later on Jack decided it would be just as well for him to jump off and
be on his way to Tampa. Contrary winds or something else might delay his
arrival, and an early start was bound to be of much help toward bringing
a quick return.
He first used the binoculars in order to scan the heavens as well as
they could be covered when he was so surrounded by those strange
mangrove islands and discovering no sign of any cruising, spying crate,
he bade Perk goodbye and taxied in the direction of the open gulf, which
he knew lay due west.
Perk answered his signal ere the amphibian turned a bend in the tortuous
channel and saw Jack vanish from view; nor could he long detect any
sound to indicate the presence of an airship since cautious Jack had
again made use of that wonderful "silencer" which they had found so
useful while conducting their search during the preceding night. Then
the appointed guardian of the captured contraband sloop turned his
attention to matters which had to do with his making the tied-up craft
as thoroughly invisible from the upper air as he knew how.