CHAPTER XIII
THE HOP-OFF
Leaving the hotel, after settling their account, and still making use ofthe taxi with its accommodating driver, Jack and his comrade had takenwhat small amount of hand luggage they possessed along with them, notmeaning to come back again.
Mr. Adkins had recommended a small but unique restaurant run by a buxomFrench madame, where they could have a Creole supper, such as would longhaunt their memories as a genuine treat and it was to this place theyordered their driver to convey them.
Both of them felt fairly convinced they had been shadowed during theafternoon, although so carefully must this have been accomplished theyhad no positive proof to make it what Perk would term a "deadcertainty."
They really did have a delightful "feed," and the dishes set before themwere as a rule complete mysteries although the obliging madame, seeingthey were tasting her triumphs of the French _chef's_ art for the firsttime, gladly explained the nature of the food they consumed with so muchgusto.
Perk was fascinated with his supper, and inwardly vowed that this shouldnot be the last time he would partake of tasty Creole dishes. This dutyfulfilled, they faced the next progressive step in their night'sprogram--making for the aviation field, and boarding their ship for aspeedy takeoff, their ultimate goal neither of them could say justwhere, save that if all went well they expected to be somewhere alongthe California border within the next few days.
The taxi was waiting, with the chauffeur on the alert. He had alreadybeen advised of the fact that they anticipated having some partiesattempt to spy upon them as evening settled down and on this account hehad maintained a strict watch for troublesome visitors who might evenattempt to threaten him with bodily injury unless he agreed to enterinto their plans for delaying the flight of the two flyers, as he knewhis passengers to be from what he had been told.
"Well, I see our taxi's still on deck, partner," observed Perk, just asif he might have suspected they would find it missing, with a detail ofgrim city police waiting to escort them to the lockup, they to be heldin durance vile until serious charges against them could be sifted.
"Nothing came along to bother you, Henri?" asked Jack of the smilingdriver, who laughed as he said in reply:
"I haf seen one beeg hulk of ze man hanging around, M'sieu, and lookingas if he would like to eat me up but me, I haf been an old soldier inthe Grand Army of France, and I think he did not like the way I throw mychest out thees way, and walk as eef I am on guard duty; he did notaddress a single word to me, but just a little while ago he disappear--Ithink he may haf gone to get more courage out of ze glass."
"Good boy, Henri," said the grinning Perk, clapping a hand on thestalwart chauffeur's shoulder; "for myself I should not like to tackleyou when you have your fighting face all set. Let's go."
So they were off, and heading out in the direction of the aviationgrounds, with the first shadows of approaching evening gathering aroundthem. Perk may have been more or less nervous, in anticipation ofsomething coming to pass that would seriously cripple their plans for aspeedy flight, since he kept turning his head from side to side andscrutinizing every one they saw upon the streets they traversed.
Henri maintained a fairly good speed, all the law would permit, so thatfew cars passed them on the road. Perk managed to watch closely, andnever a motor came booming along in their wake, honking to announce thedriver's intention to pass by, than he had his eyes glued on the car andcontinued to pay strict attention until it had crept well up ahead.
But after all nothing out of the way came to pass, and eventually theyreached the aviation field where they found lights already in play,since a delayed air mail ship was hovering over signaling for betterillumination. There was some small damage in regard to the steeringgear, making it a bit risky to try a landing unless the field wasbrilliantly lighted.
"You made an arrangement with a couple of the ground force to hangaround 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 theyhad seen their plane placed in quarters.
"Yeah, I sure did, Jack," the other replied. "Must be they're over wherethat crate hanging overhead means to land--somethin' wrong mebbe butthey gimme their word to stay around till we got here--there, I c'n lampthe 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 theirplans, and to meet with any sort of a setback would be most aggravatingindeed.
The two mechanicians quickly arrived, the hanger was unlocked and openedso as to permit the exit of the ship. First of all both flyers hastenedto don their working togs, then fasten on the 'chutes with the harnessnecessary for the purpose, all working smoothly and finally clappingtheir helmets on their heads, with the earflaps secured to keep thingsin readiness for any emergency that might crop up.
This being accomplished, Jack gave the word to have the heavy shipdragged out into the open. He knew that his assistant would have lookedafter everything essential to their comfort during the coming flight forPerk was one of those dependable fellows who carry out orders withmachine-like regularity.
A few parties had hastened up to see what was going on but so far asPerk could tell they were either workers connected with the field, orelse visitors from the city, who had lingered to watch the landing ofthe air mail, so as to tell how it was done when they reached theirseveral homes, to partake of a late supper.
Now the ship had been swung around so as to head into the west, sincethe soft evening breeze was coming from that quarter and everythingseemed in readiness for the take-off.
Perk, still surveying his surroundings as if still cherishing a fragmentof his former suspicions that all might not be as lovely as surfaceindications would announce, started to climb aboard. Jack on his partwas handing some money to the two men, not wishing to leave a singlething unpaid when passing out from New Orleans--there was nothing to bedone about their use of the hangar, since Mr. Adkins had assured himthat matter had already been taken care of, regardless of how long theychose to linger in the Crescent City.
Jack, too, cast a last glance around, just as he would have done had hestill been with the air mail service and about to start off on hiscustomary night flight with the north-bound sacks of letters and theexpress 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 uslike hot cakes right now. Lookit how they start arunnin' thisaway, willyou?"
Jack did not bother looking, as every second might be valuable; heclimbed aboard with alacrity, and settled down in his seat; at the sametime 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 whenchecking up the ship that morning.
Perk was still glueing his eyes on the several figures now racing madlyin their general direction, and waving their arms wildly; no doubt theyhad started to shout in addition, but the descending air mail crate wasmaking more or less racket, which, added to by their own motor'sthunder, prevented any one from hearing what they may have beenwhooping.
Perk was trembling with an excess of emotion--evidently they had justescaped "by the skin of their teeth," for he felt certain he coulddistinguish the uniforms of the police in the little bunch of runners.
"Played your hand just a mite too late, gents!" Perk was whooping as hein turn waved a mocking adieu backward; "thought you'd ketch a weaselasleep, I guess, but not so easy, you gate crashers. Wow! here we gospinnin' 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 astartled hawk!