XVI
BAFFLED BY HEAD WINDS
During the last hour or two their progress had not been so entirelysatisfactory as they might have wished, on account of head winds thatheld them back more or less. This, however, did not give Jack theslightest uneasiness for as he so often told his more impatientcompanion, they were in no haste and that more battles were won by slowresistless pressure than by mere swiftness, as history would testify.
"Jack," observed Perk when he felt in dire need of receiving informationon the special subject that was giving him distress, "c'n you put mewise jest how come the Mounties ain't never yet been able to grab thisHawk, as they call him--the feller we've set out to yank off'n his highperch? From what I know 'bout the boys, thar didn't ever come along anyproblem they couldn't straighten out. It's a sorter slogan, as you mightcall it, with the Mounties that once they sets off on the track o' amarked man he's goin' to be fetched in, no matter how far he runs or howmany pals he's got to back him up. I'm sure bothered a heap to knowwhat's happened to the force if they've fallen down on this here job."
Jack made light of the matter, however.
"Nothing queer about that, partner," he told the mourning Perk. "Yourfriends the Mounties are only human after all. It's true they've thereputation of always getting their man but you must take that with agrain of salt, Perk. There must have been occasions--rare enough I'llgrant you--when in spite of all they could do their game got away orelse kept on giving them the slip until perhaps he got into a row withsome of his own gang and was wiped out."
"Yeah! that does seem reasonable I own up, ol' hoss," Perk admitted abit against his will as the other could understand, "but this critterkeeps on thumbin' his nose at 'em and playin' hob with decent folks'affairs. Don't seem as if the boys might be keepin' up with thereputation they had when I chanced to be playin' in their backyard."
"I wouldn't say that if I were you, Perk," remonstrated Jack, "we've gotto consider that lots of changes have come along in the last few yearsto alter the conditions. For instance, just see what we're doing rightnow, hopping along so merrily at the rate of two miles a minute withnobody to hold us up. Suppose the Mounties were hot on the track of adesperado,--then all at once they heard a great clatter and saw anairship rising above the pines with two men aboard, one waving his hatat them and making gestures of disdain--what could they do about such agetaway? He could be a thousand miles distant in ten hours and none ofthem know whether he went south, east or out over the ocean."
"Hot ziggetty dog! I never did think o' that sorter thing, partner,"confessed the awakened Perk, knocking his fist gently against his headas if to stir up his sluggish brain so as to grasp the new condition ofaffairs as presented by his wideawake chum. "Mebbe now the boys ain'tdropped back any, it's on'y that the workaday world has gone an' bust upahead--'less you keep abreast o' these here inventive times you soon gitleft in the lurch. Airships that c'n run upside-down--radio that c'nspan half the world so's a feller hears King George talkin' right overin London--talkin' movies that you could enjoy even with Byrd down atthe Antarctic Polar regions--gosh! it ain't no wonder if the Mounties doonce in a great while let their man slip away! We're livin' in too fastan age for old ways to bring in the bacon."
Apparently Perk had plenty to think about since Jack had enlightened himin this fashion, at any rate he asked no further questions but wentabout his various duties with a thoughtful face.
Now he was making a test to ascertain just how their supply of fuel washolding out and informing the pilot of the result, knowing how this mustalways be a matter of moment to any one getting so far away from theoutskirts of civilization as they were then where they could have scantyhope of adding to their diminishing store in case of near exhaustion.
But on comparing results Perk found no cause for anxiety on this score,since his deductions corresponded with the figures previously obtainedby his chum Jack who had a decided flair for making accurate estimatesin advance.
Perk made his customary rounds, investigating conditions and with a keeneye seeking the faintest indication of possible faults in the running ofthe airship.
Then that age-old trouble began to assail him and he realized that hehad a most aggravating vacuum that really ought to be attended to if hewished to retain his peace of mind. The sun was as near the zenith andit was high time they had a snack calculated to carry them along untilthey found a chance to cook a real meal for since they would be apt tosettle down with the approach of evening Perk had already made up hismind he would have a genuine camp supper, memories of that recent feastseeming to haunt him most tantalizingly.
Possibly too, the tricky fellow may have had a few little surprises inthe way of unusual supplies with which he hoped to bring a happy grin onthe face of his comrade--an old scheme with Perk by the way--one wordfor his pal and two for himself.
Another lovely little lake appeared way down below, making about a scorethey had glimpsed since starting out on the hop from Spokane thatmorning, each one presenting some additional novel feature that causedPerk to stare and admire. He even found himself wishing Jack mightfinally decide to take advantage of the presence of a body of waterwhere they could feel comfortable while the night lasted. Later on Perkfigured on suggesting that idea to the pilot for indeed, since groundlanding places were so few and far between in that mountainous country,it would seem as though such a policy might be the only one they couldadopt.
Jack, when he saw the spread made by his chum, announced himself asready to assist in making way with the food supply, though he would waituntil Perk had taken his toll when he meant to turn the stick over tohim for a spell.
This programme was duly carried out and no time lost. Perk compared itto a traveler seated in the diner of a limited express train heading forLos Angeles or New York City.
"But stop and think, brother, how old-fashioned you are right now," Jacktold him, his mouth well filled just then with the sandwich he wasenjoying. "Why, today they have cross-country airships that carrycomplete dining outfits with a first-class chef in attendance, alsosleeping berths to be made up when night draws close. You'll have to geta move on, buddy, for the procession is already at your heels andthreatening to take your number."
Perk grinned and knocked that head of his again.
"Guess you said somethin' that time, partner. These youngsters sure haveold chaps like me on the run for keeps. But I got a notion there are afew things the ol' guys c'n still manage an' as long as I'm able Ireckon to keep goin', with aviation my chief diet."
"Well," said Perk, "never give up the ship as long as you've got anounce of steam left in the boiler," and Jack turned his head once moreto the supply of dry food and cold coffee that Perk had set out for hisattention.
An hour afterwards he insisted on taking the controls once more. Perk,in hopes that he might be thinking of dropping down when some temptinglake came in sight, said nothing, though figuring on broaching thesubject presently when the sun sank a little further toward the westernhorizon.
The obstreperous head wind that had delayed them for so long still hungon, though very likely it would die out at sunset. If they had failed tocover all the ground such a run might have given them, at least theywere far advanced on their way.
Then something happened, for suddenly Perk missed the steady roar of themotor and on looking up discovered the ship was pointing down as thoughin a direct glide. His first belief was that, just as he had hoped, Jackwas bent on taking advantage of an opportunity to drop down on some lakeahead.
"Goin' to use the pontoons again, eh partner?" he called out as if toshow his companion he himself had been figuring on the chances of doingthat thing when to his amazement he heard Jack saying in a steady voice:
"Case of necessity--got to make a dead-stick landing--hold yourselfsteady now, Perk, and leave it to me!"