CHAPTER III
HEADED SOUTH
Apparently Jack had completed his task about the same time, for he wasadjusting his 'chute harness, without which he seldom made a longdistance flight. This was only second nature to him, because of the longexperience he had had in barnstorming, and doing stunts for a living inyears gone by.
This accomplished, he stepped outside the hangar, and beckoned to acouple of ground workers who chanced to be close by, possibly inanticipation of their services being required, with a tip in prospect.
Between them the ship was moved to the open, and after that it would bea simple thing for Jack to taxi across the strip of ground adjoining thebig Pitcairn hangar, so as to face such wind as was stirring.
With what Perk had said concerning the new Ryan monoplane and its crewstill fresh in his mind, Jack did give a brief glance in that quarter.He could only see that both men were fully equipped with dungarees,helmets, and even chutes fastened to their backs; which combination wasan effectual disguise, since their best friends might have failed torecognize either of them offhand.
The one who was garbed in what seemed to be fresh clean overalls, andwho must be the employer, seemed to feel a mild interest in theirmovements, for he was looking that way through his goggles, that hadbeen pulled down as if in preparation for some species of flight. Theother was busying himself adjusting something, and from his greasydungarees it was evident he must be the working pilot of the Ryan craft.
With all the bustle that was going on covering the stunt flying andspeed races, Jack did not bother taking a second look; he failed to havethe same interest in the possible sporting excursion of the unknown pairthat had gripped Perk and hence failed to let the matter occupy any moreof his limited time.
They were soon both settled down in their respective places in thedouble cockpit of the ship, Jack of course occupying the front seat,since he had been placed in command, with the other acting as co-pilotand observer.
It was a very decent crate taken in all, that had been secured for theirwork on this special occasion, for Uncle Sam is never stingy insupplying his agents of the Secret Service with whatever they need, frommeans for swift travel to the customary "grub" necessary to their upkeepwhen "on the road." These air detectives in whom we are particularlyinterested just now, as a rule were angling for big fish, and it wasabsolutely necessary they should be given a free hand when making theirdemands for proper backing.
"Well, it's goodbye to Candler Field for us right now," remarked Perk,as he shot a general look around, being more or less interested in theexciting events being pulled off in the air circus. "Playtime's past,and now we've just got to put in our best licks along the line ofbusiness. Huh! seems like them two guys are meaning to pull out right onour heels, from the lively way that greasy lad is jumping around--keepsan eye on us in the bargain, as if it mattered a lick whether we did getgoing before he was ready to follow suit. Some folks never do likeanybody to show 'em their dust, even when it don't matter a pinch."
Just then Jack waved his hand toward the two hostlers whom he hadgenerously tipped, and pulled the gun in his accustomed careful fashion;after which they started along the level field for the takeoff, therebeing small necessity for a runway on such a generous fairway.
Faster and faster they flew along the ground, and then with their wheelsparting contact with the earth up they started at an easy incline. Theroar of the motor already drowned most of the clamor from the surgingcrowd, while the racket of the whizzing propeller added to the chorus sojoyous to the ears of all real air pilots, since nothing pleases themmore than to feel they are masters of a ship that is in "apple-pie"condition for battling whatever lies ahead, be it storm, fog or whatnot.
Somehow Perk was twisting his head around as if curious to ascertainwhether that Ryan crate had succeeded in imitating their example, andwas already making the preliminary dash across the field--which luckilyenough had chanced to be fairly clear of maneuvering planes, eitherdescending, taking off, or being taxied into position for the next stunton the program.
The afternoon was getting well along by this time, and already the firstdim shadows of approaching night were to be seen slipping out fromcertain patches of pine trees ahead. But the higher they climbed, nowthat a start had been accomplished, the lighter it would become, whatwith a lower horizon, and the sun still hanging in plain sight.
Once free from any possibility of any contact with the wheeling andducking planes--some of which were doing the barrel roll, and othersmaking successive somersaults, with the daring pilots proceeding whilein an inverted position--Jack could start spiraling, and climbing.
Rapidly was Candler Field fading from view behind them since Jack hadswung toward the south, as if to lay his course directly for NewOrleans. Perk seemed to find a subtle attraction back where they hadjust come from, since he was again turning his head with nothing else todo save gratify his innocent curiosity.
"Huh! 'pears like they might be meaning to strike for the Louisianacanebrake country, and black bear diggings, just like I said," he wastelling himself, with a chuckle of amusement over his shrewd guess. "Andsay, that little Ryan crate's no slouch 'bout making speed, I'd mention.Come along you sportin' crowd--plenty of room in the ceiling overhead,an' nixey a chance to bring about a collision. Take your choice, and cutout for all you're worth, boys. If you get there before we do, just tell'em we're acomin' too."
So Perk continued to amuse himself in watching the antics of the rivalship, and indulging in all kinds of wild speculations as to what thereal object of those two sporty looking occupants might prove to be.
Evidently thus far not the slightest suspicion had entered his mind thatthe taking to the air of the shining Ryan boat had the first thing to dowith their own skipping out, and heading toward the Crescent City.
"Like as not when it gets real dark after a bit," Perk continued to say,being addicted to talking to himself more or less, "we'll soon lose her,and have the field all to ourselves. Only moving thing I c'n sight backthere, 'cept them circlin' buzzards huntin' for a carrion supper. Guesseverything's going along first class and we're in for a comfortablenight run down over the corn and sugarcane country. This is the life forlittle Perk, you hear me saying, everybody--it's got the boxin' game,and even that outdoor life up with the Mounties in Canada, beat to afrazzle."
So Perk busied himself with his duties for some time, and presentlybecame aware of the fact that evening was actually at hand; for the sunhad dropped out of sight over in the far west, and looking down he foundit absolutely impossible to distinguish what lay beneath them some twothousand feet more or less earthward--there might be forests, farms,hills or swales following each other in rapid succession; but all maskedby the sable curtains of night. When the moon rose later on, its lightwould not afford them any opportunity for marking any peculiarities ofthe ground down there, since it must simply present the appearance of aswiftly moving panorama.
Perk, moved once more by his old curiosity concerning the ship that hadstarted off immediately after their own jump, again twisted his head soas to take another backward look.
"Hanged if she ain't keeping on our tail right along," he told himself,as if a bit surprised, though not in the least troubled, since therecould be no possible connection between this Ryan monoplane and theirown old bus, bent on reeling off so many miles per hour, and aiming tomake the airport at New Orleans by early dawn or before, according tohow the weather treated them, and the speed Jack could coax from hisaerial steed.
Further inspection convinced Perk that the rival ship was neithergaining nor losing as the two sped along their way; a fact that began tomake him "sit up and take notice," and then express himselfconfidentially:
"By jinks! it looks to me like that clever little Ryan bus could makecircles around our tub 'less Jack c'n squeeze a lot more snap from ourWhirlwind motor. Now what game c'n that pair of sports be playin' rightnow, I want to know--must be th
ey're so used to bettin' on anything an'everything they're meanin' to keep right on our tail all night long,just to make us hump along, and get the laugh on us poor guys."