“Looks that way, brother,” was the other’s terse but eloquent reply.
They met with no accident while on their way back to their “location,” as Perk sometimes referred to the hidden camp, he having been out with companies of Hollywood people when making pictures demanding rural surroundings, and consequently picking up a few of their customary designations.
They had just managed to get safely aboard the amphibian when the first rain-drop came down; and in less than ten minutes it was pouring; evidently Nature herself was in league with Jack and his allies to favor their undertakings in a friendly as well as most admirable fashion.
CHAPTER XXVIII
Ready for Another Blow
That rain put a damper on their plans, all right, for it kept up intermittently for many hours. To be sure, they were comfortable enough, housed in the cabin of the big amphibian, and with plenty of good “eats” at hand, as well as soft drinks in abundance—what a grand forager that same Perk would make if the occasion should ever arrive where it was necessary to “live off the country,” as many an invading army has found itself compelled to do.
At least neither of his companions had any cause to “knock” the said Perk for the least dereliction along the line of supplies—backed by abundant resources in the way of funds, supplied by a generous Republic, he always found it a pleasure to lay in stock—and help make way with the same in addition, it must be confessed.
When night came there was no clear spot in all the heavens—only a vast gray curtain shrouding everything in gloom. And through the night at regular intervals fresh showers arrived to further moisten things.
Jack knew there would be nothing doing on the following night, since, even if the persistent clouds did choose to disperse, the ground and bushes would be much too well saturated for them to think of crawling on hands or knees, or “snaking” it along on their stomachs, so close to the hostile camp—they must exercise their patience, and await yet another twenty-four hours.
This long stretch of idleness was especially hard on poor Perk. From the day of his birth he had always been a “doer,” and no shirk; so that when compelled to just “loaf around sucking his thumbs,” as he so eloquently described the situation, he felt absolutely dejected.
Indeed, there were times when Jack had to almost use force in the effort to compel his near pal to “hold his horses,” and wait for the sky to clear up. Perk grumbled, and incessantly poked his head out of the cabin to ascertain if the expected break was yet in sight.