CHAPTER XXI

ALL ON A DIET

"Steady then, boy--we mustn't give them a chance to glimpse anything moving up here, or the fat'll be in the fire. A step at a time, and mighty slow at that!" Jack warned the hasty Perk.

The sun lay low toward the western horizon, as seen through a gap in the mighty snow-capped mountains lying in that quarter. It happened that there was a line of scrub growing close to the edge of the cliff; and which the quick-witted Jack saw would prove a very effective screen for them to hide back of.

Down on hands and knees they dropped, to begin crawling inch by inch toward their objective. A cat creeping up on a sparrow, or a fat robin, could not have displayed a greater amount of sagacity and caution that those two man-hunters exhibited then and there--every little move was a gem; and Perk, keeping close to the heels of his leader, was fain to thrill with admiration over the wonderful skill shown by Jack in making this advance.

By slow degrees they opened up an amazing vista as they drew closer to the brink of the cliff--it was a spectacle such as neither of them had ever laid eyes on during their entire past life--that glorious green valley lying like an oasis amidst grim mountain ranges, making the contrast clean-cut, and magnificent indeed.

Later on no doubt Jack would drink the scene in with avidity, since he was a great lover of the picturesque; but at that particular moment there happened to be other things demanding their sole attention.

The valley itself was the only frame that surrounded the picture most interesting to their minds. Those who had gathered under the effective leadership of the man whom they had been credited with sending to the Federal penitentiary not so many moons back, were the objects of their dangerous journey into these untracked wilds; and they were most eager to learn just how they were living in their hidden retreat--also what their mode of slipping out to make a bold stroke, and then disappear again most mysteriously, might be.

First the further end of the valley came under their view, but with never a moving figure, nor yet any sign of huts or tents to indicate the presence of human beings.

By slow degrees they widened their line of observation--objects closer at hand began to be noticeable, and finally they discovered the first shack. It was only a place used as a shelter for animals, which would indicate that they had a herd of ponies in the valley, where doubtless there would be found plenty of grass for grazing, even throughout the severe winter season.

Jack's first impression ran along the line of what a wonderful prize such a rare mountain retreat must some day prove for cattle, driven from the open range by the coming of cold, and heavy snows.

Ah! a second structure now bobbed up; but like the other it had the look of a rough shelter unsuited for human use. Others by degrees came along, and Jack counted nearly a dozen up to the time he struck quite a commodious log cabin, looking like some he had seen in times gone by when in a logging camp in Michigan, where a bunch of loggers cutting timber during the winter, had to be kept warm when feeding.

Men were clustered around this structure, some lying on the ground, while others sauntered about, evidently talking and joking; although any sounds they might be making came but faintly to the strained hearing of the watchers up on the heights, so great was the distance separating them.

"Hot-diggetty-dig! thar they be, partner, the hull kittin' crew," Perk ventured to say, softly; for as yet they did not know whether a lookout or vidette was kept posted, where he could have a range of vision covering many miles out over the rock strewn country toward the east and south.

"Just a round dozen in sight," muttered Jack, who was already using the binoculars; "but at that there might be as many more in the huts and shacks. Away off there to the north, where the grass looks greenest I can see a small herd of ponies feeding; remember, Perk, some of those accounts hinted that in all probability they conducted their raids on horseback, and faded away again completely after striking."

"Huh! seems like they got a reg'lar _system_ organized," grunted the observant Perk, staring off to the section where Jack indicated.

"That's all the work of our old friend, Slippery Slim," he was told in terms that would not admit of any denial; "he's shown in his past jobs he's a wonderful organizer--if he had been straight, and in the army, his genius might have pushed him far up the ladder; as it is he's only been able to prove one of the nastiest thorns in the flesh the Government ever tackled."

"Then I kinder guess it'll be a relief if we carry this job through to a finish, and get the critter landed for keeps back where his wings'll be fair clipped."

"You said it, Perk."

Jack still held on to the glasses, finding it so interesting trying to locate this thing and that; but then Perk had most astonishingly keen eyesight, and could pick up considerable information unaided. He was accustomed to staring into dim far-off spaces when aloft, which added to his ability in that line.

Lower dropped the sun.

Presently the shadows would come trooping out of their hiding-places, where they holed during daytimes. Jack realized that, shut in as the valley was by those beetling cliffs, the twilight must be already falling down yonder--yes, he could notice the failing light, and inside of a brief time darkness must wrap everything in its dark folds, save where possibly some fire continued to burn, and dispel the gloom.

"I figure that they do most if not all of their cooking inside of that long log cabin, and eat there to boot," he explained to his companion, eagerly listening.

"More organization stuff, eh?" grunted Perk; "then like as not they even got some kinder cook, or _chef_, to handle the pots an' pans. Flyin' high, I'd call it, partner--alivin' off the fat o' the land mebbe."

"Why not, when they've pulled off some mighty big shake-downs during the last few months, and must have raked in a heap of dough? With the coin you can buy all sorts of good things to eat; and don't forget how they've got a special delivery ship, that is able to tote half a ton or more of freight."

"Whew! jest to think o' that," breathed Perk, making a face as if some extremely painful thought had flashed through his excited brain; "an' heow we on'y got _four_ slim sandwiches to fill up on--hardly a bite apiece."

"Tough luck, that's right, boy," said Jack, cheerily; "but such old campaigners as we are shouldn't squeal because we miss a few meals. Easy enough to make up for lost grub when we're all cleaned up, and sitting pretty. Besides, just as like as not I'm going to ask you to trot back to our ship in the morning, if you're agreeable."

"Huh! surely not to stay, while yeou're up here by yeour lonely--don't tell me that, Jack, ole pard."

"Hardly, buddy; I'll need your help too much to divide our forces in front of the enemy, or when crossing a stream, which is a bad time, they say, to change horses. I meant that you could make up a big bundle of grub, and tote it along; for there's no telling how much time we're going to squander, loafing up on this roost, and watching how things go."

"Gosh! _that's different_, partner; of course I'd be glad to slide daown there, take a peek at our boat, load up with some stuff, an' make it back here 'bout middle o' the afternoon--if I'm lucky."

"Well, you've just _got_ to be lucky, and not spill the beans, that's a foregone conclusion, Perk. Every foot of the way you must keep on the alert, and take no chances of discovery. But it's getting so dark down in the valley we might as well shut up shop for the present."

"Meanin' it's the end o' a perfect day, eh, what?" asked Perk, as he started to "back water," and push away from the screen of scrub bushes.

"Well, we've accomplished a few things worth remembering, so the time hasn't been exactly wasted, Perk. But the main job still lies ahead of us, remember, brother. It's going to be no small job either, to separate that slick rascal from the balance of the gang, and carry him off in our airship, without having to fight a regular battle with the mob."

Perk scratched an ear, and then remarked softly:

"It never could be done if left to a lad built like me, I'm tellin' yeou, my boy--couldn't make the grade, which is a fack. Some galoots air built that way, yeou savvy? But, so long as I got a pal to lean on I aint worrin' 'baout not bringin' home the bacon, not me."

"None of that baloney, Perk."

They continued to back away until Jack decided they were far enough distant from that dreadful brink of the mighty cliff, to avoid any possibility of falling over if by chance they "walked in their sleep," as Perk had been known to occasionally do, when something was weighing heavily on his mind.

"Let's have those last few sandwiches that you held out at lunchtime," Jack remarked, settling down to make himself as comfortable as the conditions allowed. "Good thing too, you were so thoughtful, since only for that we'd have gone to sleep with empty stomachs, which is rather hard on a fellow as fond of chow as some one I know."

"I'm guilty, all right, Jack--eatin's one o' my shortcomin's for a fack--allers did count the hours 'til the horn'd blow fur dinner-time--age haint changed little Gabe Perkiser a whit, an' never will, I kinder spect. Take yeour pick--jest two each, an' haow I wish I'd a told him to make 'em double thick--why, dang it they on'y be a couple o' bites each, sech bites as I take."

"Half a loaf's a lot better than no bread--be philosophical, buddy, and as you munch your fodder keep thinking what you're going to do punishing the grub when the time of plenty rolls along, which it surely will do in good time."

They sat there exchanging remarks in cautious tones, and making the slender allotment of food go just as far as possible--as might a child nibbling all around the sugar coating on the top of his cake, "keeping the best for the last."

"Goin' to be some cold, in the bargain, seems like," suggested Perk, whose mind always ran to picking out the thorny parts, and forgetting the pleasant ones lying in wait for them later on.

"Oh! well, we ought to know what cold stuff means, after being miles high so many hours at a time, and in an open cockpit at that, remember, Perk. What can't be cured must be endured--there's going to be a lot of good times when we've wound up this game for keeps, skip back to old San Diego, and that jolly little restaurant we know."

"Yeah! providin' we aint knocked aout o' the runnin' 'fore that time, ole hoss," grumbled Perk.