CHAPTER XIX
TAKING GREAT CHANCES
Jack could read his chum almost as easily as he might an open page.Consequently he readily surmised what was making the other feel sogood--he saw Perk's chest swell up, and his whole person partake of thejoy that accompanied his secret thoughts. Not for worlds though would hewish to let the other know how it amused him.
"Let him enjoy the thrill while it lasts, the dear old chap," he toldhimself in a whisper. "It isn't often he plays the high hat role; andafter all's said and done his queer little game _did_ pan out justfine--no shooting, or whooping things up; just making it hot for thatill-tempered live wire of a silvertop bear."
What was causing Perk to feel so good was the thought of what wouldhappen should any one ever again try to coax that identical bear topartake of the tempting fluid that had brought about his recent panicand flight.
"Me, I'd shore hate to be in his shoes, if that big hulk broke loose an'made things fly," was the way he wound up his soliloquy; when other morevital matters began to engage his attention.
It was by now long after noon, and as usual Perk had begun to feel a bit"queer" down in the pit of his stomach. For this feeling there was, ashe very well understood, but one sovereign remedy. Accordingly he gave alittle tug at his companion's arm, and hastened to suggest:
"Jack, haow 'bout holdin' up, an' having aour lit snack--aint no tellin'when a better chanct'll come aour way, I kinder guess?"
"It wouldn't be a bad idea, Perk; and to tell the truth I'm feeling asif I needed a bite or two so's to keep up this climbing. Hold on, here'sas good a spot as any--let's go!"
Two minutes afterwards and they were seated crosslegged on the ground,amidst a generous growth of covert, which would likely screen themeffectually from any prying eyes.
Jack realized that by this time they must have climbed far enough up themountainside to bring them fairly close to the opening of the pass thatled into the valley of the giants.
If this were true then it behooved them to exercise a greater amount ofcaution than ever, lest they betray themselves to some vidette who mightbe posted near by.
With this idea in view he considered it the part of wisdom to take Perkinto his confidence, so that as they exchanged views they could tonedown their voices to the whispering stage.
Meanwhile Perk had produced the aforesaid "snack" in the shape of asmall package, neatly done up by that efficient waiter friend, andcontaining, it turned out, another kind of sandwich, with a tasty brandof cheese as the "filler."
"Jest didn't dare try to hitch that ere tank o' hot coffee along on thistough hike, partner," explained Perk apologetically, after listening tothe need of caution mentioned by Jack. "So we'll have to munch thisspread dry; or else locate a spring so's to wet aour whistles."
"That isn't much of a hardship," he was told; "but we may be luckyenough to run across fresh water; and you could fill that empty flask ofyours if you wanted."
"By gum! not a bad idee that, Pal Jack; shore I'll do that same rightwillin'ly, if the chanct comes aour way. Haow 'bout the next move, senseit seems we've got this far okay?"
"I've been trying to figure that out," Jack told him, reflectively itcould be seen. "I've studied the conformation of the ground, which issomething out of the general run; Simeon's rude chart helped me a lot inthe bargain. This enclosed valley, you understand, has high cliffsaround 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 threehossmen couldn't enter abreast--is that straight, Jack?"
"Absolutely so," came the immediate reply, accompanied with a smile, asif it pleased Jack to understand how readily his comrade entered intothe explanation he had offered. "That being the case it seems likely wemight be able to keep on climbing until finally we reached a place wherewe could find a screen close to the top of such a cliff. That would giveus 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 thedeeply interested Perk, in whole-hearted enthusiasm, as he nodded hishead in approval. "Let's do jest that, then, partner. Why, with theglasses as I fetched along for keeps, we could spy aout everything we'dwant to know, an' mebbe find a way to git into the valley, withaoutusin' that guarded pass."
"Just so, Perk, and I notice you've got a strangle hold on thesituation, which pleases me a heap. You see, there were a few hints inwhat our good friend Simeon incorporated in his brief notes, thatstarted such an idea in my brain; so once again we're indebted to hisscouting for putting us wise to a good thing."
"Bully ole Simeon--he's all wool an' a yard wide I'm a tellin' yeouJack, as the boys used to say in aour village when I was a smart-aleckkid."
"Then that's settled," Jack announced, with finality, "and we'll keep onclimbing after we get some rest, and finish our lunch. I've an idea Ican catch the sweet song of a brook up above, so we'll be able to washdown this dry stuff in fine style."
"Good for that, partner," gurgled Perk, with his mouth almost full, sothat he was in danger of choking; and Jack, noting the fact, refrainedfrom making any further remarks calculated to tempt the other tosplutter out a reply, or a comment of some sort.
Once while thus engaged in "feeding," as Perk always called the act ofsatisfying hunger, he chanced to lift his eyes above the high margin ofthe gully, and immediately stopped munching what he had in his mouth.Those sailing buzzards were still making their wide loops as theyalways do when scanning the face of the country for miles in searchof their next meal; and somehow the very sight of them took awaypart 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 makeme tired with their everlasting wheelin' an' cavortin', atryin' to seewhat sorter grub we got daown here thet they'd like to gobble. Gosh allhemlock! haow I'd like to knock their red blocks off with ascatter-gun!"
Jack understood enough not to make any remark calculated to cause hispal to again worry his mind over what could not be remedied--themysterious vanishing of poor Simeon Balderson. And presently Perkchirked up, as though he could put the grewsome matter out of his mindso long as he refrained from watching the constant evolutions of thecarrion birds.
As they devoured their last sandwich, feeling as though they had hadquite sufficient, somehow both were silent. Jack contemplated remainingthere in that sheltered nook for a further brief rest, after which theywould again take up the tedious and arduous climb.
"Mebbe we had orter be on the move, partner," Perk finally suggested ina low whisper, just as though he feared lest a host of hostile earsmight be hidden from sight by the nearby thickets. "I 'low I'm rightdaown thirsty, an' a swig o' that gurglin' stream'd come in fine."
"Just as you say, Perk," with which remark Jack started to arise; andpresently both were toiling upward, stepping carefully, and endeavoringnot to brush against the branches of the stubby pinons as they advancedslowly 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 runningdown the rugged slope in a zigzag fashion, due to the innumerableobstacles that caused it to make little detours, since water must alwaysseek its own level, and will find different means for so doing.
Suddenly Jack lifted his head, swallowing hastily, and made a lowhissing sound that thrilled his companion.
"Voices near by--somebody coming this way, perhaps for a drink--we mustget a move on or we'll be discovered! After me, Perk, and be still asthe grave," was what Jack whispered in the ear of his mate as hecommenced crawling away.