rk although
all that would be changed after a while, when the late moon climbed into
sight.

Perk, just as he promised himself, had made certain to pick up that
serviceable pole with which he had dispatched the rattlesnake and this
he kept poking out ahead, as if to stir up any lurking reptile that
might be lying coiled in the path.

His nervousness increased as they drew near the spot where the one-sided
fight had taken place. He had apparently been brooding over the matter,
wondering if the mate of his victim could have come upon the scene of
the tragedy and sensing what had happened, was lurking thereabouts, bent
on exacting a terrible revenge in payment for the untimely demise of her
partner.

When he felt certain they had passed this particular narrow part of the
trail, Perk began to breathe easier, but he soon had reason to fear lest
he was crowing too soon for just then he felt Jack buck up against him
and heard him saying in a low but distinct voice:

"Hold up and listen, partner!"

CHAPTER XXIV

ON HANDS AND KNEES

Even while Jack was saying those few words, Perk had recovered from his
sudden alarm, since he already knew the reason for the other's bringing
him to a halt.

"Huh! that crate's startin' off again, seems like," he muttered.

Indeed, it was a foregone certainty for the splash of water told the
story as well as the abrupt explosions of a working motor. Then, too,
these suggestive sounds all came from directly ahead.

Then Perk had another gripping fear which he imagined must have also
seized his companion--that the chief object of their concern might be a
passenger aboard that ship, heading once more across the state to Miami
and that in consequence, all of Jack's carefully laid plans would meet
the same untimely fate as befalls an ambitious soap-bubble when struck
by a stray puff of air.

So they continued to stand there and listen to the telltale sounds with
sinking hearts. Perk in particular seemed to be dreadfully put out by
this fresh upset and was grinding his strong teeth as though desirous of
letting out an explosive but restrained by the fact of Jack being so
close at hand.

"Gee whiz! this here is what I call tough luck, Boss," he grumbled, more
because he hoped Jack might be able to dispel his fit of the blues in
some way or other, having a much clearer vision than he himself
possessed.

"Oh! I don't know, partner," said Jack in a wholesome, optimistic tone.
"It l