“We’ll keep that to the last, Perk, and go to the flying field from the eating house by taxi. From that time on we’ll have to depend on our own heads and hands to keep us out of difficulties. But let’s hope we can climb up to a three thousand foot ceiling, and strike out as if we were aiming for Savannah or Jacksonville, only to swing around inside of half an hour, climb high over the city and river and put for the Texas border at full speed.”
This enchanting program gave Perk much cause for rejoicing and he sat down at their regular table in the restaurant feeling, as he expressed it, “happy as a clam at high tide” and full of little laughs that seemed to gurgle up from his shoes.
They chatted of other happenings, not wishing to “talk shop” in such a crowded place, lest listening ears pick up certain information that could be used greatly to their disadvantage—Perk had an endless fund of interesting reminiscences that, told in his inimitable fashion, were a never failing source of joy to the appreciative air pilot.
The afternoon was spent in motoring all around the most interesting portions of the city, the obliging Mr. Adkins having made out a list of subjects they should not miss seeing while on this first visit to the justly famous Louisiana metropolis.
CHAPTER XIII
THE HOP-OFF
Leaving the hotel, after settling their account, and still making use of the taxi with its accommodating driver, Jack and his comrade had taken what small amount of hand luggage they possessed along with them, not meaning to come back again.
Mr. Adkins had recommended a small but unique restaurant run by a buxom French madame, where they could have a Creole supper, such as would long haunt their memories as a genuine treat and it was to this place they ordered their driver to convey them.
Both of them felt fairly convinced they had been shadowed during the afternoon, although so carefully must this have been accomplished they had no positive proof to make it what Perk would term a “dead certainty.”
They really did have a delightful “feed,” and the dishes set before them were as a rule complete mysteries although the obliging madame, seeing they were tasting her triumphs of the French chef’s art for the first time, gladly explained the nature of the food they consumed with so much gusto.
Perk was fascinated with his supper, and inwardly vowed that this should not be the last time he would partake of tasty Creole dishes. This duty fulfilled, they faced the next progressive step in their night’s program—making for the aviation field, and boarding their ship for a speedy takeoff, their ultimate goal neither of them could say just where, save that if all went well they expected to be somewhere along the California border within the next few days.