te contraband runners might be, at
least they had slipped a cog by failing to keep up with the inventions
of the times, for undoubtedly this pilot had no silencer aboard his
craft to effectually muffle the exhaust of his engine.

However, this was no time to bother about such minor things when the
main issue was whether he was destined to "get" the ex-war ace, or the
other put him out of action when the battle was on.

Perk shifted his gun so that its muzzle kept following the moving
seaplane in its advance. Let Oscar but make a start in his projected
bombardment, and Perk stood ready to answer with a similar fusilade that
must rather astonish the other, for as yet he could have no assurance
that the concealed sloop was manned--doubtless he would figure the
seized craft had been hidden here and temporarily abandoned until such
convenient time as the captors could return with recruits and run it to
some port where the confiscated shipment might be turned over to the
proper authorities.

Just the same Oscar Gleeb might think it good policy to make sure of his
ground by spraying the boat's deck with a round or two of searching
missiles before attempting to board it.

Whatever way the cat was going to jump, Perk knew the issue was bound to
be joined before many more seconds slipped past, and he held himself
ready.

CHAPTER XIII

WHEN GREEK MET GREEK

The seaplane had stopped short, although its engine still rattled away
as vehemently as ever. Perk understood the reason for this--Oscar may
have been a hot-headed youngster away back when the great war was on,
but apparently his later experiences had cooled his blood to some extent
and he did not mean to be too rash.

Doubtless he could by this time plainly make out the sloop which was so
skillfully concealed, especially from the air above, and there may have
been a sufficiently menacing air about it that called for caution. He
was not such a fool as to blindly walk into what might prove to be a
clever trap, set by a bunch of those despised Government workers to
catch him napping.

Accordingly he considered it good policy to hold off and pepper the
sloop from stem to stern before taking any further steps at doing any
boarding and seizing it for its rightful owners.

Then again, in order to get the best work from his firearms and have his
hands free, he knew he should fix matters so he could drop the controls
and pay strict attention to his other job.

Pe