Trackers of the Fog Pack; Or, Jack Ralston Flying Blind

“I’ve been trying to figure that out,” Jack told him, reflectively it could be seen. “I’ve studied the conformation of the ground, which is something out of the general run; Simeon’s rude chart helped me a lot in the bargain. This enclosed valley, you understand, has high cliffs around it, with possibly only one way to go in and come out.”

“Yeah! I get yeou, buddy – meanin’ the queer pass that’s so narrow three hossmen couldn’t enter abreast – is that straight, Jack?”

“Absolutely so,” came the immediate reply, accompanied with a smile, as if it pleased Jack to understand how readily his comrade entered into the explanation he had offered. “That being the case it seems likely we might be able to keep on climbing until finally we reached a place where we could find a screen close to the top of such a cliff. That would give us a wonderful eyrie like an eagle would select to build her nest on; and from which place we could look down into the entire valley.”

“Hot-diggetty-dig! but woudn’t that be a scream, oh! boy?” gasped the deeply interested Perk, in whole-hearted enthusiasm, as he nodded his head in approval. “Let’s do jest that, then, partner. Why, with the glasses as I fetched along for keeps, we could spy aout everything we’d want to know, an’ mebbe find a way to git into the valley, withaout usin’ that guarded pass.”

“Just so, Perk, and I notice you’ve got a strangle hold on the situation, which pleases me a heap. You see, there were a few hints in what our good friend Simeon incorporated in his brief notes, that started such an idea in my brain; so once again we’re indebted to his scouting for putting us wise to a good thing.”

“Bully ole Simeon – he’s all wool an’ a yard wide I’m a tellin’ yeou Jack, as the boys used to say in aour village when I was a smart-aleck kid.”

“Then that’s settled,” Jack announced, with finality, “and we’ll keep on climbing after we get some rest, and finish our lunch. I’ve an idea I can catch the sweet song of a brook up above, so we’ll be able to wash down this dry stuff in fine style.”

“Good for that, partner,” gurgled Perk, with his mouth almost full, so that he was in danger of choking; and Jack, noting the fact, refrained from making any further remarks calculated to tempt the other to splutter out a reply, or a comment of some sort.

Once while thus engaged in “feeding,” as Perk always called the act of satisfying hunger, he chanced to lift his eyes above the high margin of the gully, and immediately stopped munching what he had in his mouth. Those sailing buzzards were still making their wide loops as they always do when scanning the face of the country for miles in search of their next meal; and somehow the very sight of them took away part of the satisfaction Perk was feeling in filling up a vacuum “down-below-stairs.”

“Drat the foul birds!” he muttered, half to himself; “they shore do make me tired with their everlasting wheelin’ an’ cavortin’, atryin’ to see what sorter grub we got daown here thet they’d like to gobble. Gosh all hemlock! haow I’d like to knock their red blocks off with a scatter-gun!”

Jack understood enough not to make any remark calculated to cause his pal to again worry his mind over what could not be remedied – the mysterious vanishing of poor Simeon Balderson. And presently Perk chirked up, as though he could put the grewsome matter out of his mind so long as he refrained from watching the constant evolutions of the carrion birds.

As they devoured their last sandwich, feeling as though they had had quite sufficient, somehow both were silent. Jack contemplated remaining there in that sheltered nook for a further brief rest, after which they would again take up the tedious and arduous climb.

“Mebbe we had orter be on the move, partner,” Perk finally suggested in a low whisper, just as though he feared lest a host of hostile ears might be hidden from sight by the nearby thickets. “I ’low I’m right daown thirsty, an’ a swig o’ that gurglin’ stream’d come in fine.”

“Just as you say, Perk,” with which remark Jack started to arise; and presently both were toiling upward, stepping carefully, and endeavoring not to brush against the branches of the stubby pinons as they advanced slowly on the way toward their goal.

A minute or so afterwards found them lying flat on the ground, swallowing generous quantities of the cold, icy water that was running down the rugged slope in a zigzag fashion, due to the innumerable obstacles that caused it to make little detours, since water must always seek its own level, and will find different means for so doing.

Suddenly Jack lifted his head, swallowing hastily, and made a low hissing sound that thrilled his companion.

“Voices near by – somebody coming this way, perhaps for a drink – we must get a move on or we’ll be discovered! After me, Perk, and be still as the grave,” was what Jack whispered in the ear of his mate as he commenced crawling away.

CHAPTER XX

On the Encircling Cliff

Considering the fact that neither of the two Service men could boast of having graduated from the school of born scouts, and that their education along the line of the crafty pioneers was a bit off-color, it was simply wonderful how successfully they managed to creep into the thickest of the surrounding heavy growth without making any noticeable noise to betray the fact of their passage.

When Jack fancied they had covered sufficient ground he gave Perk a signal with his foot – an old trick with the well paired couple that they had worked to advantage on numerous occasions.

Thereupon, when Jack halted his snake-like progress, the other glided alongside; and thus they lay so close together that if necessary they could exchange a few words in whispers, although most likely Jack would forego this privilege.

The sound of conversation had grown much louder, accompanied by the swishing of bushes, as two or more persons continued to follow some sort of narrow path undoubtedly leading to this wonderful little rivulet.

Now the speakers must have reached their goal, for the voices were stilled, as though the men might be lying flat, and quenching their thirst in something purer than the poor stuff with which they were probably wont to seek the much desired kick.

Both of the hidden intruders strained their ears in hopes of making out what was being said, and thus possibly acquiring a little useful information; but the men spoke in such muffled tones this expectation failed to materialize – the deep, rumbling tones of one, and higher and shrill voice of the other, accompanied by occasional laughs, kept on for at least ten minutes; then from the sounds growing fainter Jack and Perk understood the two men must be going back the way they had come; from which fact they judged the opening into the closed valley must lie in that quarter, almost due north-by-east from their present refuge.

“Dog gone it! an’ I ain’t wise to a single thing they was a sayin’,” Perk lamented, half under his breath, after they could no longer catch the faintest sign of the pair who had been so near them.

“Same here,” added Jack, “which was too bad, for we might have picked up a little useful information while they talked and laughed.”

“Gee! I strained my hearin’ so hard it near cracked my ear-drums, I bet,” continued Perk, with a shake of his head; “but it was all rumble an’ squeak, mixed in a mess. I shore never did hear so high-pitched a voice on a man in all my born days.”

“Well, I have; and if you’ll think back some you’ll remember just one occasion in the bargain – both of us remarked it as a queer kind of a voice – particularly for a big, bold fellow, who scorned to show a sign of weakness even when hemmed in, and taken prisoner by a couple of fresh Secret Service detectives, belonging to the Flying Corps.”

The effect of these words on Perk was electrical – he started as though he had been shot, stared hard at his companion, then grinned broadly, and gave vent to his feelings in a suppressed roar– as near as he dared under such sensitive conditions.

“Well, well, well – hot-diggetty-dig! what a blind loon I am, not to ’ve s’pected that same! Yeou mean that boob was no other than Slippery Slim hisself, the Ole Scratch we’re runnin’ after right at this minute, doant yeou, partner mine? Glory be! what a great chanct we lost o’ fillin’ aout aour job in the start – why, we could aturned back to the ship, gone aboard, an’ cut loose at two miles a minute fur the home airport, with him safely bagged.”

“On the other hand, Perk, we might have given ourselves away, and let him slip out of our hands; when it would be ten times as hard to capture him as if he didn’t dream we were around this district. Depend on it this is all for the best – we’ll imitate the hungry wolf, and lie in ambush until such time as we can pounce down on Slim, and carry him off unbeknown to the balance of the gang.”

“Yeah! I kinder guess that’s ’baout the ticket, partner; but it gives me a bad case o’ the willies jest to think haow close we was, an’ let ’em skip aout. Gee! I’m in a cold sweat, drat the luck!”

“While I was listening to his coarse language, and hard rasping laugh,” Jack went on to say, softly; “do you know what came into my mind – a picture of that cottage in the suburb of San Diego, where we took that clever little lad we managed to keep from falling into the jaws of the mad dog.”

“I’ve thought o’ the same many times since we left town,” Perk declared, in a sincere tone that bespoke his feelings in the matter. “Nice ole lady, too; an’ it gets me jest haow a boy could treat sech a fine mother like he’s done – he orter be tarred an’ feathered, that’s my ’pinion!”

“Don’t jump at conclusions that way, brother,” Jack interposed, as usual seeing further than the more impulsive Perk. “First of all, we’re not so dead certain he is her son, and that sweet child his boy – we just guessed as much because that was surely Slim’s moniker on the wall we glimpsed. But then the chances are, no matter what his relations may be with the old lady, she’s never really known what a bad egg Slim’s been. I’ve heard of cases where a wife of ten years standing still had faith in her man, and believed him to be simply unfortunate. So we mustn’t feel so positive until we know more; although it looks as if Mrs. Ferguson must think him a good guy, the story of his crimes having been kept from her ears, either through accident, or a desire to save her mental suffering.”

“Mebbe that’s it, Jack – yeou kin see deeper into sech puzzles than I ever could. But I only hope we manage to pick up leadin’ clues, an’ find aout ’baout that matter ’fore we’re through with this case.”

“Believe me, we’re going to do all of that, Perk. Once we get our man again, and are aboard our good ship, headed for port, we’ll see that he opens up and explains a good many things that so far are wrapped in mystery.”

“I kinder guess that’s right, buddy,” was Perk’s comment; after which they ceased whispering, to turn their full attention upon the task ahead – that of climbing still higher up the face of the steep mountain, with the idea of securing a full view of the hidden valley, and all contained therein.

Whenever a good opportunity opened up for an observation Jack studied the nature of the ground above them.

In this fashion he felt capable of deciding when they had gone as far as was needful in order to carry out their purpose, and secure an unobscured view of the wonder valley, with all it contained.

Both of them experienced more or less curiosity along these lines, as was most natural. So much had been said concerning the hard gang of bad eggs who had taken up their quarters in this wild locality – they had caused such a riot of annoyance to the authorities at Washington, on account of their periodical forays, and the apparent impossibility of breaking up the defiant group, that anything connected with their life in the mountain fortress must appeal strongly to each and every Secret Service man.

Then besides, the unknown fate that had overtaken the last two gallant adventurers who had dared to try and beard the tough lawbreakers in their den – and which had only latterly come to the ears of Jack and Perk – was calculated to invest the whole subject with a tinge of mingled romance and sheer adventure, such as added to the thrill.

It began to look as though they might reach their objective with an hour or so of daylight remaining, in which to take an observation. Later on, as they sat, or lay resting after the strenuous climb, they could compare notes, and begin to build up something of a plan of campaign.

“I reckon,” said Jack, softly enough, after one of those halts, during which he always made up his calculations, “we’re as high as we need go. By sheering off here to the right we’re apt to strike the top of that high cliff we spotted. Then we’ll have all the chance we want to get rested.”

“Shucks! I aint a mite tired, buddy,” Perk assured him, between breaths; “on’y short o’ wind, as yeou might say. Some climb, b’lieve me!”

“Get your breath then, Perk; and if you’re ready say when.”

“Go to it, ole hoss!”

They exercised due caution, and gradually swung around in a half curve, when Perk gripped the arm of his mate, to hoarsely exclaim:

“Thar she be, partner, openin’ up like a book right ahead o’ us!”

CHAPTER XXI

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.

CHAPTER XXII

The Man with the Cook’s Cap

Somehow Perk’s mind seemed to dwell most persistently on their lack of a comfortable fire. Many a time he must have been in much sore need of warmth than on the present occasion, and could “grin and bear it.” He wondered himself at his frequent grumbling, and at one time even openly confessed to Jack, as though his guilty conscience had begun to reprove him.