Without going into too many details everything was told by Jack, to account for the presence of himself and partner in the tigers’ den amidst the mountains. Then in his turn Simeon briefly sketched the mishap in connection with the discovery of himself and companion; sadly admitting that his fellow worker had been shot down and killed in the battle although combined they had diminished the roll-call of the tough gangsters by one bad man slain, and two wounded.
“I was myself seriously shot in the left leg,” he went on to say; “and undoubtedly would have been tortured, and put to death by those fiends, they hate and despise Secret Service men so much, only for one thing—Slippery Slim Garrabrant chances to be a brother-in-law of mine—nothing to be proud of, and of which I’ve never boasted, you may be certain. We married sisters, both of whom have since passed on. He has no love for me, but showed a streak of decency, I must admit, in sparing my life, although letting the gang make me its general servant, and cook. Still, things might have been worse with me, and I’m not complaining. I reckoned the Chief would do something to learn just what had become of poor Ross and myself; but never believed I’d get out of this sweet mess alive.”
They talked, and conspired for a full hour, when Simeon declared it was time he left these new-found allies. Some one might happen to come to his tent on an errand, for he served as doctor as well as cook; and thus discover his absence.
It was arranged that he come again to the crevice in the cliff the following night, when they could go deeper into the bold scheme Jack had suggested, and which appeared to meet with his hearty approval; for he turned out to be just the same type of man as Jack Ralston himself, a believer in daring and aggressive work.
Perk managed to explain how short of provisions they chanced to be, and to his extreme delight Simeon accommodatingly promised to fetch some eatables with him when he joined them on the following night.
After that the pair retraced their steps along the passage, being able, thanks to Jack’s flashlight, to fight shy of all impediments such as loose stones, and pitfalls that might have given them a bad half hour, had they attempted to proceed in the darkness.
Again they tried to get some sleep, and Jack, who was able to control his feelings better than his mate, succeeded admirably; but Perk, more excitable, only secured what he called “cat-naps,” being awake a good deal of the night.
The following day they spent much as before. Perk again trailed down to where the camouflaged airship lay under its covering of evergreens. He took back a few things they were not apt to need, and yet which they disliked leaving behind, once they quitted the neighborhood of the valley; but his main object was to make certain the plane was safe, and in condition for a quick take-off in case such became a necessity, as was likely.
Jack on his part added materially to his knowledge of things, and in a fashion touched up portions of his intended programme, to be carried out whenever Simeon, who could best know, told them conditions looked most promising.
Much to Perk’s relief Simeon did not fail them; and then, too, he brought a promising bit of plunder in the shape of provisions, which came from the commissary of the settlement, and of which he held the key.