CHAPTER XVII
OKEECHOBEE THE MYSTERIOUS
“Say that again, Perk!” demanded the startled pilot, as though that apparently innocent question had given him a severe jolt.
“Oswald Kearns–kinder queer name, I kinder guess now, an’ I’m wonderin’ if I ever heard it before–that’s all, Jack.”
The pilot was busy with his work in handling the ship and therefore debarred from turning his head to look at his companion but at least he could put the astonishment he felt into words.
“So–you think that’s a queer name, do you? Well, I’m asking you again, where did you ever run across it–who ever spoke it in your hearing, Perk?”
“Why–er, guess it was on’y you, partner,” came the hesitating reply.
“You don’t say?” gasped Jack, tremendously excited, “please tell me when that happened because I don’t remember doing such a thing, though I meant to carry out our partnership arrangement this very night when we had settled down and could have a nice quiet confab–go on, though, and say when I lifted the lid, and let you into this part of our big game, Perk.”
“Huh! you talked in your sleep some, old hoss–first time ever I knew you to do sech a thing–said that name exactly three times, like it meant a heap in the bargain.”
“You mean tonight while I was picking up a few winks of sleep–is that a fact, Perk?”
“Sure thing, boss–course I knew somethin’ must be pesterin’ you like all get-out, so I made up my mind to ask you who that Oswald might be an’ what we’d got to do with such a critter.”