d the manner in which the soldier and
his companions crept up when making ready to seize their prey, that it
was still haunting the mind of the airman and somehow the conditions
just then confronting himself and Perk seemed to be very similar. He
only hoped they would prove to be just as successful in their mission as
Funston was when he carried Aguinaldo back to Manila, and thus broke the
backbone of the native uprising against the authority of Uncle Sam.

Perk was already reaching out toward the bucket he discovered perched on
the rocky border of the well. Jack could hear him give a chuckle of
satisfaction on rinding it half full of water and felt himself a bit
tickled to see the way in which his chum proceeded to greedily fill up
with the precious liquid.

Little Perk cared if the water chanced to be stale--he had no complaint
coming on that score as long as his parched throat and tongue came in
for a good soaking and the choking sensation was immediately relieved.

Perk must have suddenly remembered his lapse of manners, for in the
midst of his drinking spree he stopped short and stepped back as though
to invite his comrade to take his turn.

This Jack showed no hesitation in doing, drinking long and with
considerable ardor though he knew when to stop, which was what Perk did
not for no sooner had the other released his hold on the bucket than
Perk took another turn.

In the end Jack was compelled to almost drag the other away from the
well possibly for fear he burst or else some one come out of the shack
and discover them prowling there, unwelcome intruders on Oswald Kearns'
privacy and a positive threat to his peace of mind.

It was hardly a time and place for doing any talking, no matter how
subdued their voices. Jack kept hold of the other's arm and thus started
to steer him in the direction of the lighted window.

Perk must have guessed what his pal had in mind for he made no
resistance whatever, just allowed himself to be steered as his comrade
wished. Stooping down they crawled past, and then closer until they
could begin to glimpse the interior of the room where the light was
dispelling the darkness.

The first thing that struck Jack was the fact that the place had been
fixed up with an eye to comfort--it looked almost luxurious with its
easy chairs and imported rugs that must have cost a considerable sum.
Evidently Oswald Kearns had been too long accustomed to comfort to deny
himself such luxuries