s."

"Well, I guess now that would queer our game, wouldn't it, partner?"
bleated the annoyed Perk, then brightening up as he eyed his chum in a
suggestive fashion as though anticipating further interesting remarks
along that particular line, he went on to add: "S'pose I'm let into the
plan I know you've got all fixed up for us to foller."

"All things considered," began Jack, thus urged, "I reckon it would be
the best scheme if we managed to get the rum-runner anchored back in
that big bunch of mangrove islands on the outer edge of which we lay low
with our crate so nicely camouflaged. For that matter we could cover the
deck the same way, since it'll be from the air most likely the danger is
bound to come--through Oscar Gleeb, the German ex-war pilot."

"Sounds good to me, buddy!" snapped Perk, grinning.

"I'll swing around overhead, and have my eye peeled for any sign of
trouble," continued Jack, "and also keep tabs on you while on the trip
south. Of course we don't know just what speed you can coax out of that
rusty old engine, but even at a minimum of six or eight miles per hour,
we surely ought to get in hiding before sun-up."

"Easy enough, Boss, and mebbe long before," Perk agreed. "Didn't you get
the far away grumble of a marine engine working just when we climbed
aboard this junk--I didn't say anything at the time, but I guessed as
how it might be that second tub turnin' tail an' puttin' for the shore."

"I made up my mind that was what it stood for," Jack told his companion.
"They listened to all that terrible racket and just made up their minds
it was too hot out this way for them to make the riffle. Oh, well! two
may be company, but three's considered a crowd and we might have found
we'd bitten off more than we could chew, so what does it matter?"

"We've gathered in the booze," Perk was saying proudly, "or most of it
anyway, together with the rum-runner, and one o' the crew to turn
State's evidence, so what else could we wish for--I for one don't feel
greedy. Plenty more where this one came from, and the smuggling season
is long. What we got to pay most attention to is liftin' the lid, so's
to find out just who the big guns are, backing this racket an' chances
are we're on the right road to doin' that this very minute."

"That's correct, Perk, but let's get a move on and be going."

CHAPTER IX

ENGINEER PERK ON DECK

Everything else being in readiness Jack and his muscular comrade started