Flying the Coast Skyways. Jack Ralston's Swift Patrol

“I begin to think the time for our departure is getting close at hand, Pal Wally,” Jack remarked some time later, as they glimpsed the familiar smoke cloud hovering over the city ahead. “If my last talk with our good friend tonight pans out as I feel pretty certain it must, we’ll figure on making our big jump some time day after tomorrow. That will give us plenty of time to get everything aboard we expect to need; for once we leave Charleston we’ll not be likely to see the place again in a hurry.”

“Sure pleases me a heap, suh,” Perk told him, nodding his head approvingly, as though he might be some species of war-horse scenting the battle-smoke and acrid odor of burnt powder in the breeze, calling him to action.

In due time the big amphibian dropped down on the field, and was hurriedly conveyed to its hangar; the two airmen hovering around for a brief time examining certain parts of their ship, to make doubly certain there was nothing amiss. Jack did not intend going out on the following day, if things worked as he was now planning; they would fix up a last day program, by following which everything necessary would be carried out in the customary way of such careful adventurers as they had always proven to be.

“Huh! been a right full day, I’d call hit,” was Perk’s last word, as they started back to the hotel, so as to clean up for supper; after which Jack meant to keep an engagement with Mr. Herriott, who would be apt to have some news of importance to communicate.

“Taking things as they go, it certainly has, brother,” Jack told his “side push,” as Perk often called himself. “We’ve picked up some facts that plug the vacant holes in my scheme; and I feel confident we’re getting close to the big finish.”

CHAPTER XXII

Down to Business at Last

When Jack came back to the hotel late that night, he found Perk lounging in the lobby, and keeping a watchful eye on the main entrance.

“Got too darned lonesome up in the den, suh,” the latter explained, keeping up his character part as an employee of the rich New York sportsman, who was so well liked that he had become a sort of companion, and campmate in fact. “Jest couldn’t stand it any longer, an’ had to come daown hyah, so’s to watch the folks, an’ pass the time away. Gwine up right naow, suh?”

“Might just as well, for I’m a bit tired; and besides we have some plans to settle on before striking out for the ducking grounds day after tomorrow. Got those chilled-shot shells I want to tryout, did you, Wally?”

“Sure did, suh,” answered the other, with a wide grin, knowing that this had been spoken because the hotel clerk was close by at the desk, and watching them a bit curiously. “An’ I done reckoned as haow I might jest as well fotch ’long double the number o’ boxes yeou-all asked me to. They sure slips away right speedy like, suh, when the birds air atradin’ good.”

Once behind the closed and locked door, Jack started to explain such fresh facts as had come within the circle of his knowledge in the last chat with Mr. Herriott.

“He will make all arrangements with Jethro in the morning, so we can expect to find the man waiting at the rendezvous – Black Water Bayou, two nights from now; for I calculate to drop down there just while the twilight holds. That is the main thing we settled; and he assured me there would absolutely be no hitch to that part of the program. When such a man as our good friend gives a promise like that you can depend on it being exactly so.”

“Bet yeour boots that’s a fack, partner,” Perk took occasion to add most fervently, having conceived a great liking for Mr. Herriott, his charming betterhalf, and the two youngsters with whom he had had such a riotous time on the occasion of his late visit.

Jack took some object out of his pocket, and holding it between his fingers seemed to blow softly into the same with a certain quavering inflection. The result was an odd quacking sound, several times repeated.

“Gosh all hemlock!” Perk exclaimed, a little too loud for discretion as he himself appeared to realize, since he immediately moderated his voice as he went on to say: “If that ere aint a reg’lar duck-call I’m a rank piker. What dye know ’baout that, if we didn’t forgit to supply aourselves with a quacker – two on ’em in fact, one to coax the ducks within gunshot; an’ tother fo’ wild honkin’ geese. Takes yeou to think up the small but important things, ole hoss.”

“Well, we may some day have a chance to use this call for the purpose it was intended,” stated Jack, handing the queer little article with the split and brass tongue crown over to Hank for examination; “but I got it for quite another reason. When I put this to my lips, and give a number of loud quacks, it’ll be after we’re lying there on the surface of Black Water Bayou – as a signal agreed on with Jethro. You must remember he has never met us, unfortunately, and this game is too risky for any one to take chances. He’ll answer my signal by six quacks in quick succession, and I’ll give him another four in reply – then both will have made sure covering the identity of the other.”

“Jest fine as silk, I’d say, suh!” Perk assured him, with that look approaching adoration such as came to him most naturally, whenever his pal Jack sprang some unusually neat piece of work upon him.

Perk tested the duck-call several times, blowing softly, so as not to cause any guest, or possibly even a spy, in an adjoining room to wonder what such a series of queer sounds could mean.

“Huh! been a long time, suh, since I done used one o’ these contraptions,” he finally advanced. “They do fotch the s’picious birds aswimmin’ closer in to the stools – yeou knows I gotter to buy a bunch o’ cedar decoys tomorry, ’case no shooter ever goes aout to bag ducks withaout a flock o’ the same.”

“That’s down on your list of last supplies to be picked up, I remember, Wally. And when I’ve told you a few more things that come to me tonight we’d better turn in for a good snatch of sleep. No telling how much time we’ll be spending keeping wide-awake night after night, once we embark on that part of our big game. In fact, it’s possible we’ll have to change things around, and do about all of our sleeping daytimes.”

“Suits me right well, suh – so long’s I gits fo’ hours at a stretch, with a few halfway decent eats thrown in, I doant never kick.”

Less than half an hour later and they were getting ready for a spell of forgetfulness. Perk, as he crawled into bed, was muttering something to the effect that there would be only one more occasion when they could treat themselves to the real luxury of a decent bed, with a fine bathroom conveniently close at hand.

“But what do it matter with sech a ole campaigner as me– anything we kin strike aint agoin’ to be one-tenth as bad as when I was over in them stinkin’ trenches, up to my knees in water, an’ listenin’ to hell broke loose all raound, with the Heinies throwing shiploads o’ shells, an’ other devilish explosives – awful pizen gas in the bargain, every-which way – I ain’t complainin’ o’ anything after what happened to me there, no siree, I aint.”

In the morning they took a leisurely breakfast, and then separated, each of them having a complete list of certain necessary things that had to be attended to.

Jack had declared it his intention to take-off around midday, for they could once more follow the course now becoming quite familiar – passing out to sea, and from a great height learning whether a mother-ship lay off the coast, with fast speedboats tied up alongside, taking on cargoes – although no attempt would be made looking to coming in to the mouth of some estuary, up which they meant to push under cover of darkness.

Only one thing could keep them from making their start as planned, and this would be a bad weather report covering the coastal region from Brunswick, Georgia all the way past Hatteras, to the mouth of the Delaware. Optimistic Jack, however, was hoping for the best, since as far as he could see no bad weather appeared on the latest report from Headquarters, as given in the Charleston papers.

Much was accomplished during the morning, and both of them brought back various packages that were to be carried in their bags to the field, at the time of taking off.

“You looked after those decoys, I expect, brother?” Jack queried, as they sat at the lunch table, enjoying all manner of good things appealing to their sound appetites.

“Better b’lieve I did that same, buddy,” the other assured him; “an’ a mighty likely lookin’ bunch o’ stools I picked up. They’re sendin’ the same to the aviation grounds this afternoon; an’ I’m meanin’ to run aout so’s to stow the wooden ducks away aboard aour ship. I’d give somethin’ for a chanct to shoot over them same decoys, yes suh, I sure would.”

“Perhaps fortune will be kind to us, and you may yet have that pleasure, Pal Wally. No telling but what we may be ordered to hang out around this part of the coast for some time after we’ve done our job to the Queen’s taste; and to tell you the truth I’d enjoy a little shooting myself.”

The afternoon passed, and when the sun sank low in the west, with their coming together again at the hotel, never a single item on either list had been neglected.

In the morning Jack walked around to the post-office where the latest weather reports could be found, to see if they corresponded with the rosy promises the morning papers contained. He assured Perk on returning that they need have no fears about making the start as scheduled; so that Perk found his cup of happiness full to the brim, and even running over.

They took an early lunch and then went out to the aviation grounds in a taxi as usual. Before their ship was trundled out to be set for a start they saw that everything was aboard, and safely stowed away, from the cumbersome decoy flock to the last thing in “chow,” as selected by capable Perk, about as good a judge with regard to food supplies as could be run across in a day’s search.

The manager of the aviation field himself was out to shake hands, and give them a parting good-bye. Jack, seeing the smile accompanying the words and hearty handclasp, had a faint suspicion that possibly the affable gentleman had guessed something like the truth; but just the same he felt it would never go any further, if he could read good Southern faith in a human’s eyes.

CHAPTER XXIII

At the Rendezvous

The big amphibian, well loaded down, made a creditable take-off, and they were soon mounting up toward cloudland. As on the previous occasion there chanced to be a never ending flock of beautiful white fleecy clouds passing along, with the sun shining most of the time, since the banks of vapor were “light-weight,” as Perk poetically described them.

Looking back Perk took his last view of Charleston, a bit regretfully, since the quaint aspects of the city, connected with oldtime buildings, and other agreeable sights, had somehow gripped his heart.

Jack again soon headed off the coast, it being his intention, if the conditions were at all favorable, to drop down on the sea, and float there, waiting until the afternoon was well advanced before heading in to the shore.

After they had passed for many miles up the coast he picked out a spot – after being warned by the lookout that there were two large vessels standing off beyond the twenty-mile line, undoubtedly mother-ships loaded down with fresh supplies of contraband – where they could lie upon the surface of the water undetected by any one passing far above, or at such a distance away as the foreign ships appeared to lie.

Jack could not remember having ever known the restless Atlantic to remain almost perfectly calm for such a long stretch of time – he felt like taking it as a favorable sign concerning the carrying out of their individual great plan – even the elements were apparently in league to render them assistance, which he took it to be most kind and reassuring on their part.

Along about three in the afternoon Perk, again searching everywhere for some sort of discovery, announced that he had picked out a plane ducking in and out of the white battalions of clouds still passing overhead.

“Seems like she might be acomin’ from that quarter where we got aour hunch the landin’ field o’ their airships must lie,” he went on to say, as though his mind was made up along those lines. “Reckon as haow they caint pick weuns off daown hyah, suh, seein’ aour wings air abaout the same color as the sea all ’raound this same spot.”

“Not the least chance of such a thing, partner,” Jack assured him; “I had them colored that way purposely, seeing that we’d be likely to squat down this way when spying on the mother ship further out – not even if they have binoculars aboard, which they undoubtedly must, could any one make us out. Heading for that foreign steamship, isn’t that cloud chaser?”

“Straight away, suh, as sure as shootin’. Course they reckon on loadin’ up with somethin’ that’s aboard, an’ wants to git ashore the wust kind – mebbe a bunch o’ Chinks it might be; or else some sorter stuff like high-toned laces, Cape diamonds, or sech expensive big things as allers come in small packages.”

“At any rate,” Jack went on to mention, “they are heading for one of those two foreign boats further out. You say there were several speed boats and launches fast to the sides of the big freighters, when you glimpsed them? Strikes me things are breaking about right for our making a start in the big racket tonight – of course depending on Jethro’s bobbing up all serene.”

Perk followed the course of the airship dipping in and out of the cloud belt, and after quite some time had elapsed made his announcement.

“They sure is acomin’ daown ashootin’, Big Boss. Reckons as haow there must be a good hand at that ere stick, a lad as knows his business okay – there, he’s flattened aout, an’ takes things some easier, seein’ as haow the ship’s ready to make contact with the sea. Aint this a reg’lar picnic o’ a time, when weuns kin jest lay here like a gull afloatin’ on the water, an’ see haow them smugglin’ devils work things. Little do they suspect that there’s sumpin’ hangin’ heavy over ther heads, an’ liable to crash any ole minit from naow on.”

It was by now getting close to the time Jack figured on making a start. He planned on taking a leaf from the routine methods brought into service by the expert pilots manning the illegal air carriers, passing in and out from mother ship to their secret landing place – by making a high ceiling, and depend on a curtain of lofty clouds to effectually screen their presence while hopping over the danger zone.

“Time we skipped out of this,” he told Perk, who emitted a muffled roar which was possibly meant to be an expression akin to applause.

The waves were picking up somewhat in the bargain, which may have been one of the reasons why the ever cautious Jack wanted to get moving: he did not have any particular yearning for a headlong dash amidst rolling billows, such as might cause considerable trouble, even bring risk in their train should they find themselves compelled to make the venture.

However, they made the ascent without great trouble, even if there was a certain amount of splashing done. Perk looked pleased when the ship arose from its salt water contact, and began climbing at a steady pace.

Jack held out for some little time as though meaning to pass inshore far to the north of the point he was really aiming to attain; this he did to hoodwink any one who might chance to see them through strong glasses, and feel a little curious to know who they were, also, what their object could be in carrying on after such a fashion.

Eventually he turned more into the west; then, after passing over the shore line, faced due southwest, and sped on.

Finally when Perk warned them they were approaching their proposed landing-place Jack brought his charge lower until presently, as evening drew on apace, they could be seen sweeping along not five hundred feet above the tops of the tall cypress trees with their queer festoons of trailing Spanish moss.

Then came a glimpse of Black Water Bayou, bordered by the mysterious gloomy looking swamp, from whence had come all those uncouth sounds on the occasion of their stopover some time previously.

“Huh! mebbe we’ll git right ’customed to them awful noises,” Perk was assuring himself, as their pontoons glided along the smooth surface of the lonely lagoon, and the boat headed directly toward that artificial curtain behind which they had previously pocketed their “windjammer,” or as Perk sometimes called their craft the “crocodile” – partly because, as he affirmed, such a reptile was the only real amphibian, able to negotiate both land and water in turn, and feeling at home in both.

“So far, okay,” he observed, softly, after the boat had come to a stop, close to that friendly ambush where they could readily hide their craft should they choose to start forth with Jethro aboard his smaller ducking powerboat; “an’ naow let’s on’y hope the gink shows up on time.”

“I wouldn’t speak of Jethro in that sort of way, buddy,” remonstrated Jack. “It’s true he is a Southern cracker, without much education; but that I’d call his misfortune and not his fault. Mr. Herriott says he’s a chap with considerable principle, and his one weakness is about the wrongs this bunch of men have done him and his family. He is ready to encounter every risk if only he can show them up, cripple their big business, and possibly send some of the lot to Atlanta for a term of years.”

“I get yeou, partner,” said Perk, contritely; “shore didn’t mean anything by sayin’ what I did; an’ I’ll be glad to shake Jethro’s flipper whensoever we meet.”

“I knew you’d feel that way, Wally; and it may not be a great many minutes before the chance comes along.”

“Meanin’, I take it, Boss, he orter show up right soon?” demanded the other.

“This is the rendezvous place you know, where we agreed to wait for him,” explained Jack; “he, may be a bit late getting up here, for his boat is an old one; though Mr. Herriott did tell me he himself had had it fixed up some, to work a lot smoother – Uncle Sam stood the racket, too; and you know when he foots a bill nothing is too good to be utilized. We may be surprised when we see that same dinky powerboat.”

“As haow, partner?” queried Perk, his curiosity aroused immediately.

“Wait and see, brother,” Jack told him, tantalizingly. “Our first duty right now is to poke the nose of our airship back of this dandy natural curtain, where it just couldn’t be seen, unless a close search was being made, our plans possibly having been given away. That couldn’t happen in a coon’s age, we’ve been so cautious, so secretive, and made no confidents except Mr. Herriott – and through him necessarily Jethro. Take hold, and help me swing her along back of the trailing moss and vines.”

When this had been effected Jack again whispered:

“Listen while I give the signal, partner; if by any chance hostile ears were to catch the quacking of a duck, it could hardly excite the slightest notice; for such a sound often breaks out in the darkness of night down here, since a duck on the water acts as sentry to the sleeping flock. Here goes, then:”

CHAPTER XXIV

Perk Rides in the Ghost Boat

“Quack – quack – quack – quack!”

Perk chuckled at the clever way Jack imitated the outcry of a startled feathered pilgrim from the Far North – old shooter as he was, Perk felt confident he himself would have been deceived did he not know whence the sounds proceeded.

He listened intently, hoping they might not be disappointed in their expectations. There came an answering call from a point close by – it gave Perk a positive thrill – then Jethro must have already arrived, spurred on by his burning desire to pay his debt of hatred long since over due.

Jack waited a dozen seconds, after which he again sent out his call, repeating the first one exactly – four quacks.

“Gee whiz! somepin’s amovin’ over yonder, matey!” whispered the excited Perk, as they peered through openings in the leafy curtain by which the airship was so deftly concealed.

“I see it,” answered Jack, also feeling a thrill of satisfaction, in that their great scheme gave positive indications of being about to start off with a bang. “It’s some sort of boat okay – too dark yet to tell just what shape the same may be. There, it’s coming out of hiding now.”

“An’ a powerboat in the bargain – Jethro’s crate, I shore reckons; but hot-diggetty-dig! see haow fast she’s a headin’ thisaway, yet yeou caint ketch even a ripple, or hear the exhaust one teeny bit. A ghost boat, I’d call her, partner, blamed if I wouldn’t.”

Jack chuckled as if amused.

“Mr. Herriott put me wise about that,” he explained, softly. “It’s one of the big improvements Uncle Sam brought about in that old craft, in order that it could do the work so much better – and safer. You see, the overboard motor that’s been installed in place of the old one is up-to-date, and has its exhaust away down deep, so it can swing along without any of the racket most power-boats kick up. It’s used a great deal by fishermen, who troll for game-fish, and would expect but scant captures if their boat kept spluttering away as the old type used to do. Get that now, Wally?”

“Jest what I do, ole pal; an’ say, aint it won-der-ful what things they’re inventin’ these days – talk ’bout there bein’ nawthin’ new under the sun, why, hardly a day slips past that we doant hear or read ’baout stunnin’ discoveries. That certain is a happy thought. But here he is, clost to us, pard.”

“Hello! thar!” came in a low, discreet voice, as the oncoming boat slowed up by degrees.

“It’s okay, Jethro – we’re on hand as promised!”

As Jack said this the other gave a low laugh, as though greatly pleased to find his new employer so prompt, and evidently a man of his word.

He was soon leaning from his seat in the cockpit of his ancient powerboat, (in which he had for some years been engaged taking parties out from Charleston for their fishing, or shooting) and grasping first the extended hand of eager Perk, then that of Jack Ralston.

He had been put wise as to their real identity, but warned to meet them under their assumed names, so as to ward off any possible risk of discovery. So it was he lowered his voice to a hoarse whisper as he spoke after the handshake.

“Ah ’low as how yuh reckoned ah mout be some slow agittin’ hyah, suh; but since they fixed up my ole dickey boat, she shore do step along like smoke.”

“Glad to know that, Jethro,” said Jack, to whom the other had turned as if readily recognizing which of the pair must be the leader of the desperate enterprize with which he had committed his fortunes so gladly. “Looks like a fine night for us to make a beginning.”

“Jest what hit is, suh; couldn’t be no better, ah’d say. An’ ah done reckons as how they be some big doin’s goin’ on over tuh the station ternight.”

“That sounds good to me, Jethro,” Jack assured him. “Fact is, I’m beginning to believe the Fates are working in our favor right along, from the way things keep happening. Now I’m going to put the work in your hands as far as getting us in touch with these parties goes.”

“I kinder figgered as how yuh’d do thet same, suh,” said the confident Jethro, “seein’ as how I knows the ground like er book. I aint agoin’ tuh let yuh down, suh, bet yuh boots I aint.”

Perk had not tried to break into this brief confab; truth to tell he was engaged just then in keeping “tabs” on Jethro’s manner of speech, so as to determine how close to the real thing he himself had come when trying to play the part of a genuine Birmingham son of Dixie.

“How are we going to start this racket?” questioned Jack. “All get in your boat, and close in on the working station, so we can see with our own eyes just what sort of a show they’re putting up.”

“Them’s ther ticket, suh,” he was promptly told, showing that the guide had formed some sort of a general plan of campaign. “I be’n right up agin the level groun’ whar them airships land, an’ watched what was happenin’ lots o’ times. ’Taint no great shakes agittin’ clost tuh thet workin’ bunch, ’case they don’t reckon they’s a single stranger inside o’ ten mile. They’d shore skun me alive if they’d run ontuh me; but I knowed my beans, an’ how tuh fool ther best o’ ’em.”

Jack liked the way the other talked – it showed that Jethro had considerable self-confidence; also that the consuming passion running like hot lava through his veins was not apt to warp his judgment in the least. He could be depended on to keep fairly cool and discreet under any trying condition; and should matters ever come to a showdown, such a man would fight like a South Carolina wildcat, of that Jack also felt assured.