Chapter II: Part 2

"Wall," observed Perk shaking his head, "I did mean to take a look in at the pictur house, seein' they got my ol' favorite, Milton Sills booked tonight but shucks! it's too late an' 'sides, somehow I kinder lost my likin' for action jest now--mebbe I got my fill in that busy bee session with the fire fiend down by the tenement district--kinder a bit lame in the arm muscles, so I figger on rubbin' 'em with my salve that worked so fine after my rough landin' away back. Yep, I'll cut out the movies for one night in port an' go to bed early."

"I'm meaning to pick up all the extra sleep possible," ventured Jack at which his mate nodded approvingly.

"I get you, partner," he hastened to say, "kinder figgerin' on our skippin' out any ol' time an' like as not runnin' up against a rough passage that'll keep us on the jump. But I sure would like to have even an inklin' which way that hop-off's goin' to lead us."

"I'm surprised at such a reckless, devil-may-care sort of chap as I've known you to be, Perk, bothering your poor nut about such a silly thing just as if it mattered two cents to either of us which way we head--nothing ought to give us a second thought except that we're ready to jump in and carry through, any old place under the sun."

"Yeah! but then what'd I find to worry 'bout if I didn't pick on the way we're kept in the dark up to the last minute?"

Jack looked at him blankly and shook his head as if such peculiar philosophy were too much for him to master--then he changed the subject and the meal went on until even Perk, with his tremendous cargo capacity, could contain no more.

They sat in their room reading until their eyes getting heavy warned them it was time to hit the hay, as Perk was so fond of calling the act of getting into bed.

In the morning they were both astir, for it so happened that neither had ever shown signs of being late sleepers, save on special occasions.

"Another day," remarked Jack while leisurely dressing, for since they had nothing afoot (save to possibly take a few hours' spin in order to keep in practice as well as test out several new devices with which they had as yet not become as familiar as Jack would like), there was no necessity for any hurry.

"An' wouldn't I give somthin' if only I knew we could check out before sundown tonight," grumbled Perk, yawning and stretching as though life was becoming entirely too tame and monotonous to satisfy his cravings.

"Wait and see," advised his chum, "you know the old saying that it's always darkest just before dawn--we're due to get a thrill before many more hours. Give Headquarters decent time to cook up a fine fat game for us, a nut to crack that'll be worth going after. I've a few little things on my list that I mean to carry out this morning when I'll be ready for the call."

Perk seemed unusually slow that morning, though he did not complain about his lame muscles. Even when Jack asked about it he shrugged and with a grimace remarked indifferently:

"Oh! that's okay, buddy--turned out to be a false alarm--nothin' the matter with me, I guess, except I need shakin' up a wheen."

"You'll get all you want of that I reckon before you're many days older," Jack told him, "somehow I've got a notion we're going to be sent on a wild goose chase that may cover some thousands of miles and take us into a queer section of country--nothing but a surmise, or what you might call a _hunch_ to back me up in that, remember, but I've known a hunch to come true more than a few times."

"I wonder," Perk observed dreamily, eyeing his comrade as if he again felt the old suspicion arise with regard to Jack knowing more than he chose to tell just then.

But unseen by either of the two pals, coming events were hurrying along and threatening to speedily engulf them in as dizzy a spin as either had ever encountered in all previous experiences.

It was around eight when they arrived at the flying field, as usual a scene of considerable bustle with ships coming in and departing--air mail carriers, visiting boats taking off in a continuance of their prearranged flights east or west and several heavier bombing planes that were being taken to Los Angeles by naval pilots for some secret purpose of the War Department.

Jack and his pal observed all this with grins of sheer enjoyment, so bred in the bone had their love for their profession grown to be that everything connected with flying drew them as the Polar star does the magnetic needle of a compass.

"Times are getting right lively around these diggin's," remarked Perk, with a sparkle in his eyes and enthusiasm in his voice.

"Seems like it," replied Jack who chanced to be watching a novice just then starting out on what appeared to be his initial solo flight. "That boy shows fair promise of being due to break into the ranks of express pilots after he's had another hundred miles or so of flying. I like the way he handles himself and the test pilot told me yesterday he was sure to be a comer."

"Ol' Bob ought to know what's what," mentioned Perk taking a look for himself, "there, he's off and see how he lifts the ol' bus when he's ready. I watched him make as neat a three-point landin' yesterday as anybody could wish. A few o' 'em seem to be born with wings--but not many, not many, I'm sorry to say. Well, let's step over and get things started."

Perk stopped short as though some one had given him a blow--he seemed to be holding his breath while he stared and then commenced rubbing his eyes in a peculiar fashion, just as though he imagined he must be seeing things where they could not possibly exist.

Jack realized that his chum must have had a shock of some kind, and turned upon him quickly.

"What's the matter--what ails you, Perk?" he demanded.

"Gosh amighty! Jack, looky there will you--the hangar--Mister Gibbons; you know, where we parked our boat--it's burned down last night!"

VI

A BLOW IN THE DARK

Jack was naturally intensely shaken by this outburst from his companion. His first act was to whirl around and look hastily in the quarter indicated where he discovered quite a bunch of men clustered around some object from which wisps of smoke seemed to still be rising on the clear morning air.

He and Perk exchanged startled looks as though the same sudden thought had gripped their hearts.

"Queer I didn't notice a thing before, Perk, though I saw a crowd gathered--but then that's a common occurrence out here where so many interesting things keep on happening. Sure enough, the Gibbons' hangar has gone up--such accidents don't come along often in any modern aviation field."

"Accidents!" blurted out Perk steaming up--"lay off that stuff, ol' hoss--ev'ry little movement has a meanin' o' its own--up to last afternoon it was our ship that snuggled in that hangar, don't forgit that, my boy. Talk to me 'bout luck, we hit it sky-high that time. Let's go see what's happened, and how they talk 'bout it in the bargain."

This proposal Jack was only too willing to stamp with his approval so they hurried toward the bunch of men--pilots, mechanics, visitors and riffraff chancing to be at the field just then and now engaged in staring at the ruins of the new hangar, doubtless exchanging opinions as to how the conflagration had occurred in the dead of night.

"Huh!" Jack heard his comrade saying as if to himself as they approached the cluster of men, "seems like we got up against a reg'lar roundup o' fire--last night that tenement, an' now today the hangar we been usin' to shelter our boat. Hot ziggetty dog! but ain't life queer though?"

Everybody was turning to stare at them as they came along. Undoubtedly it was generally known that their ship had been stored in the destroyed shelter while Mr. Spencer Gibbons was away and that it was only on the preceding afternoon on coming back from a flight that they had transferred it to another hangar Jack had been able to hire since the owner of the one they had been using had wired he would be home shortly after dark.

"When and how did this happen?" Jack asked one of the pilots as he took in the fact that the remains of a plane could be seen amidst the wreckage--apparently an explosion had taken place, for much of the charred material of which the hangar had consisted was scattered around the near vicinity.

"They tell us around about midnight," came the answer for the pilot knew Jack as a fellow craftsman, although a stranger to Salt Lake City aviation circles. "The alarm was given by the pilot of an incoming mail ship making port hours late on account of heavy fog in the mountains. Queer, too, they say, how quick it all came about--fire was blazing furious like when discovered, and nothing could be done to save Mr. Gibbons' fine ship. There he is yonder, talking to some newspaper boys."

Jack went over to tell the other how he was shocked to see what had happened to his property and to ask if anything was known as to the origin of the conflagration.

"Seems to be pretty much a mystery, they all tell me," the genial sportsman informed him, not showing any signs of being at all worried although undoubtedly deeply mystified. "You fellows were in some luck to get your ship out before this nasty thing came along which I'm glad to know. Of course I'm well insured and can replace my Pitcairn Mailwing readily enough, only I'd gotten that one working like magic. I'm glad no other hangar caught when mine burned. I've offered five hundred dollars for any information that will prove that this was a set-up job for it happens that on one other occasion something similar to this came my way. You see, I was unlucky enough to make a few enemies in Wall Street who've never forgiven me for knocking them out on a big deal."

Mr. Gibbons laughed and seemed in no wise bothered by his recent loss, only Jack noticed how his eyes seemed to glint like sparks from steel when mentioning the fact that he had unscrupulous enemies in the commercial world.

Jack hung around for some little time, talking to several of those present and asking numerous questions but learning next to nothing. If, as some of the ground attendants seemed to believe, it was an incendiary act, those who took big chances in carrying it out must have planned carefully and fixed matters not only to make a certainty of the ship sheltered within the hangar being destroyed, but also covering their tracks with great skill.

Finally he started over to the other hangar and Perk, seeing him go pulled his freight, as he would have called it, to hasten after his chum.

"Huh! looks like a fine sight for sore eyes," Perk declared with glee, "to see our boat standin' there safe an' sound tho' I'm sure sorry Mister Fitzgibbons--I mean Gibbons, had to lose his crate--no fault o' ourn I'll tell the world, Jack."

"To be sure we could hardly be blamed for what happened," returned the other with a deep meaning in his voice and manner that caused Perk to start and then blurt out:

"By jinks! partner, does it look to you like some crazy snooper set fire to the hangar under the belief that our ship was locked in there?"

"Between you and me and the lamp-post, buddy, that just struck me as possible, though I've no proof to back me up in saying it."

"Another o' them slick hunches o' yourn, eh partner?" Perk hastened to say and then, scratching his chin in a way he had when seriously considering some debatable proposition that puzzled him very much, he added: "can't for the love o' mike guess how anybody could learn jest who an' what we might be but it's a risky line we're engaged in, buddy, an' some o' these here smart crooks have accomplices they say even in the service o' Uncle Sam. It's possible a whisper leaked out an' havin' some fish to fry, word was sent to some o' the big gang out here at Salt Lake City to do for us, or wipe our ship off the face o' the earth instanter. Gee whiz! but that sure does make things look mixed-up for us, ol' hoss."

"For one thing," said Jack, firmly, "after this I never mean to leave our boat in a strange hangar without hiring a guard to watch over it every hour of every night, no matter what the cost to Uncle Sam. I reckon they keep some insurance on these crates, but it would be what time and instruments and charts we lost that would knock us the hardest."

"But how could anybody know what sorter job we're goin' to wrestle with next, even 'fore we got a glimmer o' it ourselves?" querulously demanded the bewildered Perk, up in the air again apparently for there seemed to be a vast number of things of which he was densely ignorant.

Jack laughed and shook his head.

"Some fine day perhaps we'll get on the inside track of these strange doings, brother but right now I'm just as much in the dark as you. All I know is that for some little time rumors have been going around at and close to Headquarters but so far as I understand the matter up to lately, the mysterious party responsible for such give-aways hasn't been located. So it's within the bounds of reason for me to suspect we've fallen under the ban and have had some sort of secret enemy set on our track."

"Huh!" snorted Perk indignantly, "kinder like that Oswald Kearns employed one o' his critters to do us a bad turn--you know, that big rum-runner we nailed down in Florida not so very long back an' whose trial hasn't come along so far, we've heard."

"Just like that," Jack told him, "although I hardly believe it could be any of his dirty work. Still, it's going to pay us to keep our eyes peeled right along and never imagine the coast is clear just because we don't happen to see any ugly character around. Such scamps usually manage to hide themselves daytimes, to slip out after dark and do their tricks."

Soon afterwards they had tooled their ship to the runway close at hand, made the dash, and started skyward like a bird. For two hours they tried out various capers so as to make certain they had complete control of the wonderful amphibian that had been placed at Jack's disposal by those at the Secret Service Bureau in Washington, intent on equipping their trusted agents with the best going, so that no failure might be laid at their door due to insufficient backing.

They were back again by one that same afternoon, it being against Jack's better judgment to remain away more than a few hours at a time. He knew that at any day a message from Washington, in secret cipher, was apt to come along and which, for aught he knew, would call for them to start out without any unnecessary delay and he wished to be on hand to receive it.

To save time he and Perk dropped into the dining room of the hotel without visiting the office so they might have dinner before going up to their room. This was pretty much of a daily habit with them and so far there had not been any disadvantage arising from the arrangement.

They had almost finished their dessert when one of the bellhops came along and being familiar with the pair from rubbing up against them so often, he asked no questions but laid down a telegraph envelope addressed to Mr. John Jacob Astorbilt.

"Gosh!"

That was all Perk could gasp when he saw that presumably the orders they had been expecting for so long must have arrived. He watched Jack reach out and pick up the sealed envelope--noted that there did not seem to be the slightest quiver of his hand--indeed, if it were an ordinary dunning epistle Jack could not have acted more carelessly--so far as outward manifestations showed--than was the case just then.

He opened the envelope and then, still as cool as a cucumber grown in the shade of a cornstalk, drew out the enclosure which Perk's devouring eyes told him was unusually long.

Food was quite forgotten--for once--by the enthralled Perk who sat there, fascinated, watching Jack's face as though in anticipation of being able to tell from what he might read there something of the nature of the communication that had been telegraphed from far distant Washington.

It was quite useless, however. Had Jack been glancing over a casual invitation to some party he could not have evinced more unconcern. Of course the message was so fashioned that in order to glean its full meaning a recourse to his code would be necessary but then as Perk knew, Jack would be able to pick up a word here and there and in this way get an inkling as to its purport.

VII

PERK HEARS THRILLING NEWS

"On your way, partner--gimme a clue to save me from crashin'!" begged poor Perk, his wits in a huddle that would have made any football enthusiast take a back seat.

"It's our order to get busy, okay," said Jack with a gleam in his eyes his pal loved to see, since it meant _action_ and plenty of it.

"Where bound, for the love o' mike?" continued the other.

"I've made out one name here which may be our destination, Perk."

"Yeah?"

"Spokane," he was told at which Perk lifted his eyebrows as if to denote more or less surprise, likewise disappointment.

"Huh! 'bout a short day's flyin' from this joint," was the way the ambitious Perk voiced his feelings, just as if his expectations had been taking wings and soaring across the Pacific or some such long distance.

"Go slow, brother," his mate advised him, "give me half a chance to make this puzzle out--so far I've caught just a word or two here and there. From the size of this message there's a heap back of it. If you're done stoking, let's pass up to our den where I can get out my code and decipher this thing."

Perk was out of his chair in a jiffy.

"I'm with you, laddie so let's get a move on. I kinder guess now I'll jump out o' this here lowdown fit in a hurry, once we get goin'."

He already looked a hundred per cent more awake than he had been for several days and Jack chuckled as he led the way to the elevator, knowing how new life had been pumped into his chum's veins by the receipt of the order to go.

Once seated in the room they shared in common, Jack took his secret code from its hiding place and set to work in earnest. Perk could see him writing down word after word and filling in vacant places. The minutes fairly dragged like lead to the impatient one and when Jack sat back, nodding his head as if wholly satisfied, the other again begged him to lift the lid and give him a peep-in.

"What's the matter at Spokane? Some o' them Bolshevik miners broke loose over in Idaho an' threatenin' to kick up general hell again like they've done so many times?"

"A rotten guess brother," Jack told him. "Nobody said we were going to stop long at Spokane--just ordered to look up a certain party there who'd pass on a bunch of information he's been collecting this long while back and so help us on our way."

Perk beamed again, as though quite a load had been lifted from his chest.

"Sounds better to me, ol' hoss," he hastened to say. "An' tell me, where do we go from Spokane?"

"Due north!" snapped Jack smilingly, "in the direction of an old stamping-ground of yours."

"Across the border--into Canada, partner?" demanded Perk.

"Just where we'll be aiming for and moreover, buddy seems to me I've even heard you speak of a fur-trading post known as Frazer's, with a Scotchman as factor of the Hudson Bay Company, name of McGregor!"

At that Perk let out one of his whoops as though unable to contain his overpowering delight.

"Ol' Jimmy McGregor you mean, Jack! Don't I know him from his moccasins up, the queerest but straightest man in the whole Northwest Territory? Why, I was located not many miles away from his store an' many a time dropped in to get my 'baccy at his counter. I'll be as happy as a lark to shake his honest hand again. Now wouldn't that jar you though--such great luck?"

"Here's another name you may chance to know. We're to pick up one of the Mounties at the post and take him along as a sort of guide and backer, so as to show we're playing our game in conjunction with the legal authorities of the region. Ever meet up with Sergeant Lowden, Perk?"

"Say, I was in cahoots with a mighty fine lad by that name," came the speedy reply, "but if it's _him_ they've given Red a big boost since I quit the game and went back to flyin'."

"That sounds good to me, just the same," Jack told him, "because we're set to see a heap of the Sergeant before we skip back to our own side of the border and with him being an old pard of yours it's likely he'll feel it's up to him to do his level best to help us corral that wildcat."

"Meanin' who, if it's all the same to you, partner?" Perk observed.

"Listen then and get it pat, brother. Some time last year a certain man escaped from Leavenworth Penitentiary--it's never been learned just how he managed it, or who on the outside or in gave him a lift. Seems that he was a man Uncle Sam particularly wanted to keep shut up for a long term--a dangerous man to be at large. This brought about a bunch of trouble at Washington, and a number of high officials felt the finger of suspicion. Lax methods and such, you understand, being leveled at them. Rewards have been posted everywhere and I can remember seeing several of them in my travels, but up to now never has the first bit of information filtered in to Headquarters. They seemed to infer from certain hints that the escaped prisoner had gone West, but then again it was said he had skipped to South America where he could change his name and keep on playing hob with other people's wealth. His name, Perk, before he was hauled in and sent to the pen was Leonard Culpepper!"

"Hot ziggetty dog! so, _that's_ the way the scent leads us, is it?" cried Perk, evidently fully aroused by the disclosure. "Sure, I've seen them posters in mor'n a few post offices north an' south, east an' west and wondered who'd be the lucky dick to snatch that fat reward they put up. Gee! you've got me near goofy partner, with that news."

"Listen again then, Perk, and get the gist of what this message has given to us. Information had trickled in through several sources to state positively that a man answering the description of Leonard Culpepper has been playing hob up in the Northwest Territory for some months now. He's got a few tough bad men he runs with and they take their orders from him. That's another proof of his identity, since Leonard never would play second fiddle to any living man. It was rule or ruin with him every time."

"Huh! gettin' hotter right along I'd say, Jack--suits me to a dot, an' sure worth waitin' for in the bargain," and if any one could judge how happy Perk felt just then, the grin on his face, as well as the way in which he kept rubbing one hand over the other, just like a miser gloating over his gold, would be enough to tell the tale.

"Remember, boy, this man is reckoned a desperate character, ready to go to any extreme to keep his liberty. Even your old comrades the Mounties have so far fallen down on the job of taking him in. He seems to play too slick a game for the whole posse and we understand that at least one officer has mysteriously disappeared when trying to track him to his lair. So make up your mind we'll have to match wits with even Sherlock Holmes if we hope to get the better of this hard hitter."

"What's the name he goes by up there?" asked Perk.

"No name at all--they call him the _Hawk_, because he swoops down on his prey unawares and is absolutely merciless. Two gold prospectors who were said to have struck it rich somewhere further north have disappeared and it's suspected they fell in a fight with his gang. Sometimes he's here and in a few days they tell of him bobbing up a hundred miles away."

"Jest like a flea," suggested Perk, "gone afore you c'n put a finger on him. Wall, I kinder like the way our job's laid out for us, partner. The bigger they are the harder they fall when Uncle Sam's men get goin'. So we're meanin' to pick up a bunch o' news at Spokane, are we? An' if it's a fair question, ol' hoss, _when_ do we cal'late to pull out o' this burg?"

"No particular hurry, understand, Perk, we can take our own time going--slow and sure is to be our motto. But I'm a little like you in wanting to make a start, then, if we feel so disposed, we can loaf a while or turn aside if we see a chance to play a trick for Uncle Sam. That gives us a lot of leeway, you see."

"Nearly two o'clock right now--c'n we get off this afternoon, partner?" hinted the anxious one, appealingly.

"By four we ought to be on our way, buddy. Now let's get busy!"

VIII

THE TAKE-OFF

Jack was sorry that, owing to their pulling out so soon, he would not be able to visit the hospital again as he had planned and upon mentioning this fact to his companion, Perk shrugged his shoulders as he said:

"That's a downright shame, I'd say, partner, fact is, I depended on you to find out what Adrian's last name was--save me a wheen o' worriment if on'y I knowed it--somethin' that rhymed with Barnum--Bernard--Burling--Berwind--hang the luck, jest _why_ does this ol' short memory for names bob up to bother a feller when we're startin' off on a big spin an' may never see thet lady an' little Adrian again? Seems I'm jest goin' to speak the right word, an' then, shucks! it misses connection like, an' leaves me a gropin' in the dark."

Jack, being accustomed to his pal's queer ways, did not take much notice of the new cause for worry that had gripped the stubborn one. He felt pretty certain he would see Perk sitting many times with a brooding expression on his face and counting his fingers while checking off each and every name he could conjure up that sounded like Barnum, etc., to finally heave a tremendous sigh, shake his head and apparently try to get the troublesome puzzle out of his mind.

It was all very sad but then one usually has to pay some sort of penalty because of having a poor memory for names.

As for Jack, he gave the subject little thought partly because he had matters of much greater moment to take up his attention. Indeed, he would have been considerably surprised could he have suspected how that name for which Perk was grappling just through his stubbornness, would play quite an important part in those adventures which they were destined to run up against on the other side of the Canadian border.

"Now let's forget everything that happened last night," he told his chum seriously, "and stick to our business which is connected with the bringing in of that fierce go-getter and all-round bad egg who slipped out of jail so mysteriously that the wardens are floundering in a bog up to this day. All of which proves he's no easy mark and that we'll have to be on our toes if we expect to cage our bird."

They were so well prepared for the sudden emergency call that little remained to be done. The crate was serviced and could cover fully fifteen hundred miles as the crow flies with the gas they had aboard. Then, too, as they figured on stopping over in Spokane possibly a day or so, there would be ample opportunity to refill their aluminum tanks to the limit as well as lay in such other necessities as occurred to them.

"We've got to remember," remarked cautious Jack as they were heading for the flying field before two that afternoon, "that once we start across the line, we'll have few chances to fill up with gas. They may happen to have some gas at the post, or perhaps the Mounties could supply us because in these days of much flying it would be possible for a ship to drop down near by and be in need of fuel so badly the pilot would pay a big price to be supplied but I don't mean to bank on such a happening."

"Huh! mebbe things have changed some since I served with the Mounties," Perk went on to say; "for there wasn't such a thing as a gallon o' gas within fifty or a hundred miles o' the post at that time. Folks are gettin' air-minded ev'rywhere you go today an' it wouldn't surprise me to find they've got some sort o' a landin' place close at hand. Ain't staggered at anything nowadays, buddy."

They lost no time in reaching the field and as it was a pleasant day they found it an animated scene, with crates coming and going, visitors as well as those connected with the field in some capacity helping to make up a crowd with scores of spectators as a backing, rushing from one point to another.

This thing was such an old story for both flyers they paid little attention to the bustle that was going on but made straight for the hangar where their ship was quartered.

Jack had kept his word and a man could be seen standing or moving about near the squatty building. This was a guard in his employ, engaged by the day, for an indefinite time. It might be a week or a day, depending on the whim of the young and ardent sportsman, whom it was believed meant to hunt big game somewhere within five hundred miles of Salt Lake City.

"Listen Perk," said Jack as they approached the hangar, "it might be just as well for neither of us to say a word about making a quick run of it until about to pull out when I'll pay our man double wages. After what happened here last night anything might come along to upset our calculations."

"I'm on Jack--seems like you never do know what's what these days. Any more light on who did that dirty, sneaky job last night, eh what?"

"Nothing positive but I'm still of the opinion it must've been meant for us," replied Jack. "Everything points that way for we happened to change our hangar with hardly anybody knowing about it. Then again I understood Mr. Gibbons dropped in along about nine and never a soul to meet him and his pilot save the customary field hands. But then there's no use crying over spilled milk--what's done can't be changed and it serves to warn us never to trust to just mixing up our names. We've got to believe there are just as smart wideawake chaps up against us as we ever claim to be. That'll be enough on the subject Perk, so let's forget it."

"Anyway, luck's all in our favor, seems like," was the consolation Perk offered himself, at the same time relapsing into silence.

As quietly as possible, just as if they meant to take an ordinary spin, they got their bus out of the hangar. Jack had paid the rental for it in advance, so there was nothing to worry them from that quarter, which was just as well for things somehow manage to fly around among the employees and pilots connected with a base port and the news would soon become common property that the young millionaire sportsman and his pilot were at last on their way to some chosen hunting ground in search of big game like moose, grizzly bears or possibly Rocky Mountain big-horn sheep.

As usual Jack gave the ship the once over, to make doubly certain nothing had been neglected. So far as he was able to tell it was in apple-pie condition and so well stocked that they could count on a two thousand mile flight unless baffled by storm or dense fog banks.

The guard was given double pay and told that his services would not be needed any further, since a sudden wire had changed their plans somewhat and they were pulling out for good. If he evinced any particular curiosity concerning the goal they had in view, never a word spoken by either of the flyers put him any the wiser. Not that Jack suspected he might be in touch with some mysterious but vindictive enemy, but just kept mum on general principles.

"All ready, partner!" sang out Perk in his usual happy fashion for it always pleased him beyond measure to be making a start on some new air voyage and from what Jack had told him, Spokane was going to be only a way station, with the vast unknown Northwest Territory beckoning them on to fresh activities and mayhap thrilling adventures to follow. No wonder the chap whose nerves were always set for action felt joyful when the moment came to pull the gun and swing off.

One last look around and aloft so as to stamp his approval on the conditions with which they were to be confronted, and Jack made the momentous start. The wonderful up-to-date amphibian began to move down the slight decline with constantly augmented speed until, having reached the desired maximum the pilot lifted his craft and away they soared.

Perk took a last backward look at the field that had become fairly familiar to them by this time. There was a grin upon his freckled face that told of the pleasure he felt at such an auspicious moment. A ship was just coming into port, settling down for the last glide--just as a duck might set its wings, and throw its webbed feet forward on nearing the surface of a lagoon on which it intended to alight.

Perk rather imagined it was a belated air-mail boat, delayed by some accident like a forced landing or unusual weather conditions. No matter, he waved a hand gaily in salute to the homecoming air-man and felt no ill humor because there was no return wave, since the one whose hand was at the stick must needs give his full attention to his work, or risk a crash.

So they departed from the friendly Salt Lake City airport, with a far distant goal in view.

IX

A BROKEN PADDLE

After attaining some thousands of feet altitude, Jack headed into the north-west-by-north, it being his intention for variety to follow the shore line of the water until near its extreme northerly tip. This was only done for a change and to please Perk, who had mentioned the fact that he would welcome such a brief run, being a bit tired of looking down on endless stretches of rough country, mountainous in most places and with a most monotonous panorama passing far below.

So after all it was accident rather than an expectancy of meeting up with any sort of adventure that brought about the rather odd happening falling to their lot that afternoon.

Perk having little to do just then that could not be deferred until later on, was amusing himself with the glasses, looking back toward the old Mormon city with its vast temple devoted to the service of the followers of Brigham Young and the many other interesting features which he and Jack had faithfully surveyed while they were killing time and awaiting orders.

When these sights began to grow dim in the distance, he swept the surface of the big sheet of salty water and noted far away toward the west the shoreline bounding it in that quarter.

The day that had begun with considerable warmth had also brought up clouds that had, Perk thought, a bit of menace in their dark depths. Perhaps after all they would be treated to a little thunder and lightning for a change but that did not give him any concern, since both he and Jack were used to meeting up with boisterous weather when in flight and knew all the practical wrinkles for avoiding discomfort under such conditions.

Through the glass he could easily make out the various towns and smaller places that were to be met with along the eastern shore of the winding lake. They interested him from time to time, especially since Jack for some reason of his own had seen fit to drop down until they were zooming along not more than two thousand feet above the lake itself.

"Some wind down there," remarked Perk suddenly. "Startin' to kick up the waves like it might mean business."

"I wouldn't be surprised if we got a fair-sized blow later on," Jack told him as their ear-phones had been adjusted in order to permit an exchange of opinions and also allow them to work in common.

Perk shot a look skyward and noticed the clouds were actually growing blacker and more menacing. But that meant nothing in his care-free life. If the wind began to bother them it would be a simple thing to climb above the storm and keep merrily on their way, leaving the overcharged clouds to deluge the land beneath with their contents.

Perk was very still for some little time and seemed to be paying particular attention to something that had attracted his notice.

"I say, partner," he suddenly said, and Jack could tell he was agitated for some reason or other.

"Yes, what is it, Perk?" demanded the pilot.

"I don't just like the looks o' it, that's what!" exclaimed the other.

"Nothing more than a summer squall, with some fireworks thrown in for good measure, Perk. I'm surprised at you, old man."

"You're gettin' me wrong, ol' hoss," burst out the other, "I ain't referrin' to the weather, which don't disturb me a whiff--it's that silly little canoe down yonder an' sure as shootin' it's a _gal_ in it wavin' a white flag o' some kind!"

"What's that, boy?" cried Jack, startled somewhat by Perk's last words.

"A punkin-seed boat, such as no sensible person'd use on such a big sheet o' water as this here Salt Lake and she don't seem to have any paddle at work either, that I c'n see--mebbe now it's got broken an' thar she is three miles out from shore with the wind blowin' her further all the while!"

Jack had banked by this time and was commencing to circle preparatory to dropping down in a glide. Somehow what his mate had just said stirred his blood and without the first thought concerning their present errand he was listening to the call of humanity.

After all there was no need of undue haste while on this business of the Government. They had made the start, Perk's impatient mood had been successfully muzzled, and if they found occasion for any reason to delay their progress while en route to their distant destination, it would be all right.

"How about it now?" he sang out a little later when they had reached a ceiling of less than a thousand feet.

"Jest like I was sayin' partner," replied Perk promptly.

"It's a girl then?" asked the pilot.

"Sure is, an' a slip o' a youngster in the bargain, not over ten or twelve years old, I'd say on a guess. An' let me tell you, Jack, she's keepin' up that wavin' her flag like fun--guess now she's skeered we'll give her the go-by."

"We've got to drop down on the lake then, that's clear," said Jack, just as though it was imperative to attempt the rescue of the youthful castaway, once her serious plight had come to their notice.

"Some rough sleddin' for us, partner," mentioned Perk to quickly add: "But shucks! what o' that, with you holdin' the stick. Our boat c'n stand the racket okay. On your way, partner!"

Jack was now able to see for himself without the aid of glasses. There could be no question as to Perk having struck the absolute truth when he declared it was a question of life and death for the frightened occupant of the dainty little canvas canoe that was bobbing up and down in the rising waves like a floating cork. Yes, he could even make out what looked like a broken spruce paddle lying in the bottom of the tiny craft as though it had played the paddler a treacherous trick just when she needed it the most and been cast aside as useless.

He dropped still lower, with a practiced eye keeping tabs of the wind and waves that were being kicked up. Then came the contact between the pontoons and the roughening surface of the lake--a considerable commotion followed, but the admirably built aluminum floats did their expected duty and in a brief space of time they were safely established on the heaving waters, not more than thirty feet away from the young and distressed mariner.

Again the rat-tat-tat of the engine was heard as Jack turned on full power, knowing he had a combination of wind and waves to beat. The spray flew quite briskly and Perk let out one of his joyous whoops as, amidst all this clamor, they continued to taxi in the direction of the bobbing punkin-seed as he had called the drifting canoe.

The young girl had ceased waving the white object which Jack strongly suspected might be a piece of her own clothing, torn off in desperation when she feared her lone chance of rescue might pass by, leaving her to a cruel fate. She was kneeling in the tossing boat, staring toward the approaching strange craft--an airship that could navigate the lake as though by magic, something she undoubtedly had never witnessed before, even though planes must be a familiar sight, seen far up in the heavens as they journeyed back and forth on their individual errands.

So they soon came alongside the helpless canoe and Jack was telling his pal just how it would be best to get the girl aboard. Her craft of course would have to be abandoned, since it was out of the question for them to taxi head-on over that water, growing constantly rougher as the wind rose higher with the shore something like three miles distant.

After all the safety of the girl was the main thing they must keep in view--a canoe only represented a small amount of money but a human life was priceless.

Perk made ready to assist the wretched skipper of the frail craft aboard, although it required considerable maneuvering on the part of the pilot to fetch the ship around so that the contact could be effected. At the proper moment Perk reached out his hand and once he clutched that of the girl he knew the rescue was as good as accomplished, for he would never let go.

In this queer fashion then was a third inmate of the ship's cabin installed and the canoe allowed to drift away. The girl was too much agitated just then to bemoan the loss of her treacherous little shallop, for sinking down on her knees she burst into violent sobs the result of her late terror. But their main object had been attained and now to get out of this rough sea.

X

IN A SNUG HARBOR

It turned out to be rather a wet job, forcing the amphibian along against the waves and the wind, constantly increasing in vigor and both of them, as well as the girl, were more or less soaked before sufficient speed could be attained to permit the boat to swing upward and take to the air. Superior skill accomplished Jack's end at last and they left the agitated surface of the lake to ascend and head toward the shore.

Of course there was no way of asking the questions Perk had on the tip of his tongue, since she could not possibly hear anything he might say, what with the clamor of motor exhaust and spinning propeller, together with the shrill whistle of the wind amidst the struts.

But then according to Perk's mind there was no need of hearing any explanation, for it was all so simple--the girl had foolishly ventured out farther than discretion warranted in such a frail craft then the sudden rising of wind and waves had alarmed her, and she must have plied her paddle with such good will that suddenly it had snapped in the middle where possibly a knot in the wood had proved to be its weakness, leaving her helpless far from land and with a storm gathering.

No wonder the poor child was frightened--any man might have felt a chill passing over him as he contemplated his slender chances of being saved. And strangest of all, it had been no rescuing boat from the shore that arrived in time to take her aboard, but an airship dropping down from the clouds in the most miraculous way that could ever be imagined.

It was now their bounden duty to get her ashore as quickly as possible, for probably her folks would have discovered that she was missing and filled with fears, were at their wits end to figure how they could discover her whereabouts and go to her assistance.

Imagine their amazement when looking far out over the heaving waters they discovered a sky-scraper zooming along, suddenly make downward swoops and presently float upon the lake, for what object they could only surmise and feed their sinking hearts with wild hopes. Then to see the airship again taking wing, and even head toward the land, must have filled them with a wild enthusiasm. Jack knew very well what sort of reception he and his chum would be apt to receive and was determined to avoid it if possible, even to the point of seeming unmannerly. He could not enjoy the thought of being made to pose in the role of a hero when all they had done was of a most ordinary character.

"See that crowd gathering on that little dock--she pointed to it, an' tried to let me know it was where she came from."

Perk was calling in the pilot's ear as he himself thrust out his hand and called Jack's attention to the excited little group of gesticulating, waving people. The girl was once more making use of her distress flag, but now her face was lighted up with enthusiasm rather than flooded with despair for she must begin to feel like some fairy-book maiden being brought safely back to her father's palace after being torn from the castle of the odious ogre--that is about what her sensations must be, Jack was telling himself, if she had a spark of romance in her makeup, which was very likely the case.

Jack went about carrying out his plans by cutting off the engine and gliding down toward the water, comparatively smooth so close to the shore for the wind just then was coming off the land.

They struck with a great splash and the impetus almost sufficed to carry the amphibian to the outer edge of the miniature wharf, suitable only for small boats. Eager hands were held out to the girl, already leaning far over and in danger of falling overboard in her desire to reach her dear ones. But zealous Perk kept hold of her until she could be drawn up by many willing hands to be fairly smothered with a multitude of kisses, the women in particular showing their enthusiasm in this regard.

"Push off!" Jack told his chum who was kneeling there, gazing at the riotous scene, his face decorated by one of his customary grins.

So it happened that a minute or so afterwards, when the tattoo of the working motor startled the group around the girl, to their astonishment and dismay as well, they discovered the rescuing airship moving rapidly away. In vain did they hold out their hands and beckon as though actually pleading to the airmen to come ashore and accept their warm thanks for saving the life of the one so dear to their hearts. Both Jack and Perk smiled, but only shook their heads in the negative as they passed further away from the little landing with its excited group.

There was Perk sending kisses back with all his soul and Jack could see that this was for the benefit of the little girl, who, pushing to the front of the milling crowd was blowing kisses after them, as if in her heart she must let them know how grateful she felt for what they had done.

That was quite enough for Jack--the memory of the little deed would often arise in his mind and make him all the more satisfied that he had not waited to listen to the applause of those good people who must likely enough always believe it was about the only case on record where two gallant chaps who had actually done a creditable deed, refused to be lionized because of their modesty.

Perk was again paying some attention to the weather, for those black clouds seemed to be gathering thicker than ever toward the southwest aid from the signs, it would not be difficult to prophesy the coming of a fairly savage summer storm.

"Going to be some buster, seems like to me, Boss," mentioned Perk with a hint in his voice as if he would be pleased to hear what his comrade thought of the proposition and likewise what course they should pursue in order to escape as much of the coming turmoil as lay in their power.

"Between you and me and the lamp-post, brother," Jack remarked a bit seriously, "I don't seem to hanker much about climbing in hopes of getting through all that black mess, it's got a venomous look to me as though it might turn out to be one of those electrical twisters we've heard about. I've half a mind to run in closer to the shore in hopes of finding some sort of a point heading out into the lake behind which we could run and be sheltered from the worst of the blow. How about that, Perk?"

"Sounds good to me, ol' hoss an' by the same token I kinder guess I just sighted the cape we want, a mile or so ahead there."

He pointed as he spoke to what looked like a fairly sizable point that jutted out from the shore and behind which they would undoubtedly find a lagoon deep enough for their purpose.

"Yes, I see what you mean and here we go licketty-split for that headland," Jack told him without loss of time.

Indeed, the grumble of distant thunder had by now grown more like a roaring lion or a bull alligator in a swamp, challenging a rival to deadly combat.

"The closer we get the better I like that cape," Perk was saying as he continued to stare through the glass, "it's pretty high land and ought to shield us fairly well from any blow I'm glad to say, 'cause the wings o' the best ship ever built are kinder weak stuff and likely to be blowed away in a gale when held fast by an anchor or hawser."

Jack was picking the proper spot on which to alight--of course that would be on the water, but then it would be an easy matter for them to taxi around the point and find a safe harbor if things were as they pictured them.

This program was duly carried out without the slightest difficulty. The friendly tongue of high land proved all they could have hoped for and Jack readily drove his boat around its tip, to bring up further on where the ground rose to its maximum height.

"Looks okay to me, Perk," he called out as he stopped his motor.

"Couldn't well be bettered I'd say, partner."