So another night gathered its shades about them; but they had seen the sun go down amidst a generous flush, which welcome sign of fair weather in the offing was accepted as most promising.
“Hot-diggetty-dig!” Perk was heard to say time and time again, as he prepared the evening meal; from which service he seemed to extract a meed of comfort; “mebbe naow I aint joyful over the chanct to be doin’ somethin’ once more. Never could keep my head straight when things they kept agoin’ ev’ry which way fo’ Sunday. An’ I’m shore all a twist to help knock yet another ship silly—the more the merrier sez I—we gotter to pound it inter the nobs o’ them ducks they caint meddle with a buzz saw owned by Unc. Sam, an’ git away with hit. Ev’rybody pull up to the table—soup’s on.”
Which it was for a fact, since he had heated up a tin of excellent vegetable concoction that helped warm them up—the continual rain having chilled the air, and made things “shivery,” as Perk kept saying disconsolately enough.
It was a long night to every one in the little company.
They had dozed so often during the last two days, that nobody felt very much like turning in; and at that slept fitfully; so that never was a dawn welcomed more heartily than daylight on the next morning.
The sun soon brought a fresh cheer with it, and as there was not a single cloud in the blue skies it looked as though by evening things would have dried up in a way to please the entire trio, with an opportunity for work at hand.
Again did Perk go over the list of things they would necessarily take along, not intending there should arise any hitch in the plan through want of forethought on his part.
The start was made in complete darkness.
Jack found himself hoping that their luck might stay by them for another spell; and that Jethro, who up to that hour had done so exceptionally well, might be able to keep up the good work.
It was bound to be a bit more difficult reaching their former hiding place, for several good reasons, Jack figured. In the first place the gloom that wrapped such a cloak about them would cause their guide additional trouble, in order to avoid coming into rough collision with one of those ambushing snags, or half concealed rocks.