CHAPTER XIV
Closing the Gap
Accordingly Perk swung off to the left, and banked sharply, thus starting on a turn that if pursued long enough would once more fetch them to the point from whence they had started the maneuver.
“Now I’ll take hold again for a time, until you’ve had your look,” announced Jack, suiting the action to the word.
While his mate manipulated the glasses Jack coached him word by word, until Perk finally uttered a cry of triumph.
“I got it, partner, sure I have!” he was saying in great gladness. “Can’t hardly b’lieve my eyes, it sure seems like a reg’lar miracle—to think o’ all we plugged through, an’ was able to hit straight to the bullseye o’ aour target—it dazes me to strike sech a wonderful happenin’, that’s right.”
“Then you recognize it from the brief description he gave on the side of his tissue-paper chart, do you, Perk?”
“It caint be anythin’ else, for a fack, buddy—there couldn’t run two queer heaps o’ rocks that look so much like a reg’lar ole-time castle on the Rhine! Yep, we done aourselves proud this time—meanin’ yeou did, Jack, ahandling the stick so smartly. Naow, what’s next on the programme, tell me?”
“You’re to take hold once more, and keep circling that target, while I stow away a little chow; afterwards I’ll run things while you stoke up. We must keep in mind that there’s no occasion for any undue haste—we’re out to get results, no matter how long we’ve got to hang around this part of the country. Caution, and slow progress—those are to be our watchwords, Perk.”
“I get yeou, partner,” was all that the other remarked, as he once more laid down the binoculars, and proceeded to take over the controls.
Just the same Perk knew full well Jack was intending to warn him against one of his faults, that of starting off on some important mission without due regard for precautions—a failing that had cost Perk dear more than a few times in the past, and which had never been fully eradicated from his system, no matter how gallantly he tried.