CHAPTER XXI
ALL ON A DIET
"Steady then, boy--we mustn't give them a chance to glimpse anythingmoving up here, or the fat'll be in the fire. A step at a time, andmighty slow at that!" Jack warned the hasty Perk.
The sun lay low toward the western horizon, as seen through a gap in themighty snow-capped mountains lying in that quarter. It happened thatthere was a line of scrub growing close to the edge of the cliff; andwhich the quick-witted Jack saw would prove a very effective screen forthem to hide back of.
Down on hands and knees they dropped, to begin crawling inch by inchtoward their objective. A cat creeping up on a sparrow, or a fat robin,could not have displayed a greater amount of sagacity and caution thatthose two man-hunters exhibited then and there--every little move was agem; and Perk, keeping close to the heels of his leader, was fain tothrill with admiration over the wonderful skill shown by Jack in makingthis advance.
By slow degrees they opened up an amazing vista as they drew closer tothe brink of the cliff--it was a spectacle such as neither of them hadever laid eyes on during their entire past life--that glorious greenvalley lying like an oasis amidst grim mountain ranges, making thecontrast clean-cut, and magnificent indeed.
Later on no doubt Jack would drink the scene in with avidity, since hewas a great lover of the picturesque; but at that particular momentthere happened to be other things demanding their sole attention.
The valley itself was the only frame that surrounded the picture mostinteresting to their minds. Those who had gathered under the effectiveleadership of the man whom they had been credited with sending to theFederal penitentiary not so many moons back, were the objects of theirdangerous journey into these untracked wilds; and they were most eagerto learn just how they were living in their hidden retreat--also whattheir mode of slipping out to make a bold stroke, and then disappearagain most mysteriously, might be.
First the further end of the valley came under their view, but withnever a moving figure, nor yet any sign of huts or tents to indicate thepresence of human beings.
By slow degrees they widened their line of observation--objects closerat hand began to be noticeable, and finally they discovered the firstshack. It was only a place used as a shelter for animals, which wouldindicate that they had a herd of ponies in the valley, where doubtlessthere would be found plenty of grass for grazing, even throughout thesevere winter season.
Jack's first impression ran along the line of what a wonderful prizesuch a rare mountain retreat must some day prove for cattle, driven fromthe open range by the coming of cold, and heavy snows.
Ah! a second structure now bobbed up; but like the other it had the lookof 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 acommodious log cabin, looking like some he had seen in times gone bywhen in a logging camp in Michigan, where a bunch of loggers cuttingtimber 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 anysounds they might be making came but faintly to the strained hearing ofthe watchers up on the heights, so great was the distance separatingthem.
"Hot-diggetty-dig! thar they be, partner, the hull kittin' crew," Perkventured to say, softly; for as yet they did not know whether a lookoutor vidette was kept posted, where he could have a range of visioncovering many miles out over the rock strewn country toward the east andsouth.
"Just a round dozen in sight," muttered Jack, who was already using thebinoculars; "but at that there might be as many more in the huts andshacks. Away off there to the north, where the grass looks greenest Ican see a small herd of ponies feeding; remember, Perk, some of thoseaccounts hinted that in all probability they conducted their raids onhorseback, and faded away again completely after striking."
"Huh! seems like they got a reg'lar _system_ organized," grunted theobservant Perk, staring off to the section where Jack indicated.
"That's all the work of our old friend, Slippery Slim," he was told interms that would not admit of any denial; "he's shown in his past jobshe'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 onlybeen able to prove one of the nastiest thorns in the flesh theGovernment ever tackled."
"Then I kinder guess it'll be a relief if we carry this job through to afinish, and get the critter landed for keeps back where his wings'll befair clipped."
"You said it, Perk."
Jack still held on to the glasses, finding it so interesting trying tolocate this thing and that; but then Perk had most astonishingly keeneyesight, and could pick up considerable information unaided. He wasaccustomed to staring into dim far-off spaces when aloft, which added tohis 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 thevalley was by those beetling cliffs, the twilight must be alreadyfalling down yonder--yes, he could notice the failing light, and insideof a brief time darkness must wrap everything in its dark folds, savewhere possibly some fire continued to burn, and dispel the gloom.
"I figure that they do most if not all of their cooking inside of thatlong 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 evengot 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 thelast few months, and must have raked in a heap of dough? With the coinyou can buy all sorts of good things to eat; and don't forget howthey've got a special delivery ship, that is able to tote half a ton ormore of freight."
"Whew! jest to think o' that," breathed Perk, making a face as if someextremely painful thought had flashed through his excited brain; "an'heow we on'y got _four_ slim sandwiches to fill up on--hardly a biteapiece."
"Tough luck, that's right, boy," said Jack, cheerily; "but such oldcampaigners as we are shouldn't squeal because we miss a few meals. Easyenough to make up for lost grub when we're all cleaned up, and sittingpretty. Besides, just as like as not I'm going to ask you to trot backto our ship in the morning, if you're agreeable."
"Huh! surely not to stay, while yeou're up here by yeour lonely--don'ttell me that, Jack, ole pard."
"Hardly, buddy; I'll need your help too much to divide our forces infront of the enemy, or when crossing a stream, which is a bad time, theysay, to change horses. I meant that you could make up a big bundle ofgrub, and tote it along; for there's no telling how much time we'regoing to squander, loafing up on this roost, and watching how thingsgo."
"Gosh! _that's different_, partner; of course I'd be glad to slide daownthere, take a peek at our boat, load up with some stuff, an' make itback 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 aforegone conclusion, Perk. Every foot of the way you must keep on thealert, and take no chances of discovery. But it's getting so dark downin 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 hestarted to "back water," and push away from the screen of scrub bushes.
"Well, we've accomplished a few things worth remembering, so the timehasn't been exactly wasted, Perk. But the main job still lies ahead ofus, remember, brother. It's going to be no small job either, to separatethat slick rascal from the balance of the gang, and carry him off in ourairship, 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 gra
de, which is a fack. Some galoots airbuilt that way, yeou savvy? But, so long as I got a pal to lean on Iaint 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 enoughdistant from that dreadful brink of the mighty cliff, to avoid anypossibility of falling over if by chance they "walked in their sleep,"as Perk had been known to occasionally do, when something was weighingheavily 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 theconditions allowed. "Good thing too, you were so thoughtful, since onlyfor that we'd have gone to sleep with empty stomachs, which is ratherhard 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 afack--allers did count the hours 'til the horn'd blow furdinner-time--age haint changed little Gabe Perkiser a whit, an' neverwill, I kinder spect. Take yeour pick--jest two each, an' haow I wishI'd a told him to make 'em double thick--why, dang it they on'y be acouple o' bites each, sech bites as I take."
"Half a loaf's a lot better than no bread--be philosophical, buddy, andas you munch your fodder keep thinking what you're going to do punishingthe grub when the time of plenty rolls along, which it surely will do ingood time."
They sat there exchanging remarks in cautious tones, and making theslender allotment of food go just as far as possible--as might a childnibbling all around the sugar coating on the top of his cake, "keepingthe 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 forgettingthe pleasant ones lying in wait for them later on.
"Oh! well, we ought to know what cold stuff means, after being mileshigh 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 ofgood times when we've wound up this game for keeps, skip back to old SanDiego, and that jolly little restaurant we know."
"Yeah! providin' we aint knocked aout o' the runnin' 'fore that time,ole hoss," grumbled Perk.