Jack now began to anticipate the return of his comrade, judging from the manner in which he frequently turned his head, as if to listen, while a look of concern began to draw lines about his eyes.
The fact that he had seen no sign of excitement among those he was watching had given him good cause for confidence. Surely, if the presence of strangers in the neighborhood had been discovered, with possibly Perk made a prisoner, he must have noted the fact as he viewed the panorama spread out before his eyes.
It was when the descending sun had dropped well down the western sky—about five by his faithful little wrist watch—that all of a sudden he heard something drop just back of his position, followed by a low, shaky voice saying:
“Hot-diggetty-dig! say, I’m ’baout all in, for a fack—gee whiz! sech a climb, with a pack on my back that weights somethin’ like a ton. Whee!”
And there was Perk, flat upon his back, having been drawn down when he attempted to let his burden drop. Jack gained his side as speedily as he could, his mind at ease once more, his late fears having vanished like a puff of mountain fog before a rising breeze.
“Mighty glad to see you safe back, buddy—was just beginning to feel a bit anxious—but you shouldn’t have attempted to lug such a whopping bunch of stuff up this steep grade.”
Perk gave him a wise grin, and managing to find his voice he went on to say, in a jerky manner between breaths:
“Didn’t reckon to in first place, Jack—after I hitched to aplenty yeou know I ’membered ’bout somethin’ else—then saw a package o’ grub I jest did want to try eout the wust kind—so she climbed to this mounting—but it’s okay—we kin make use o’ ever’thing, bet yeour boots we kin.”
“I hope you did what I told you to—eat a good lunch while you had the opportunity?” Jack asked, solicitously, whereat the other slily winked one eye, and made reply:
“Sure thing, partner—easier to swaller the grub an’ carry same inside, than to tote it on my back. But queer haow a gink keeps on buildin’ up a appetite, fur somehaow I’m hungry as all git-eout agin.”