This being presently located he called his chum’s attention to the open field, and in almost no time they were circling it, looking for the best place to land.
Early though it was there were moving figures circulating around, while some sort of ship was coming in from over the river—possibly one of the air mail carriers from a distant station, it might be many hundred miles away, fetching Uncle Sam’s important letter sacks, and worthwhile express matter, at treble the speed that the fastest train could muster.
The landing was effected without the slightest difficulty, and hardly had their boat come to a stop than a number of persons, most of them connected with the ground force of mechanicians and hostlers, surrounded the incoming craft, paying but scant attention to the air mail, which dropped down almost at the same moment—that was a daily happening, a following out of a regular schedule, to which they had become accustomed; while the arrival of a mysterious plane might stand for almost anything.
“Hold fast, Perk!” said Jack, as he took off his headphones, and raising his voice to almost a shout, so deaf did he appear after a whole night’s run; “don’t tumble out yet; and keep a muffler on your gab, for we’ve got to let ’em take it out in guessing. I’ll soon see if the party we’re expecting to meet is on hand.”
He still kept his helmet and goggles in position as he thrust his head out of the cockpit, and raising his right hand with two fingers extended, made a species of salute. A stout man, with a very red face, and an air of importance, immediately pushed through the gathering crowd, and answered Jack’s signal with a similar sweep of his hand.
“It’s okay, Perk—that’s our party, and he’s been watching for us, showing he had my wire last evening. Get a move on, and we’ll soon be doubling our legs under a breakfast table.”
“Glory be! but that will be a joy to me, old hoss!” Perk exclaimed; “’cause I’m as hungry as a wolf, an’ the smell o’ coffee is apt to set me wild. Go to it, partner.”
Jack was paying no attention to these vaporings, since it was a common occurrence to have old Perk declare the bottom of his stomach was in danger of falling out—he had met the red-faced gentleman and they were shaking hands as they exchanged a few words.
“It’s all fixed, comrade,” he said to Perk over his shoulder, mentioning no names lest suspicious ears catch them, and thus have a clue as to their identity; “we’ll get a few of these boys to run our boat into a hangar close by, which is waiting for us, and then cut out for the city—and grub.”
This being speedily carried out, with the doors fastened securely, and the two flyers began to hastily divest themselves of their working “duds.” Before ten minutes had passed they were on their way in a taxi the gentleman friend had brought out, with Jack and their host talking at a great rate; while as for Perk he was looking out, and finding more or less enjoyment in seeing new and novel sights along the road.