they had at bay, his fighting spirit, first fed during those bloody
days and nights in the Argonne, had burst into flame again and he shed
his free and easy character as the lord of that wonderful palace at
Miami to assume the rough and ready type of an adventure-loving smuggler
chief, quick to defy all authority while the red blood rioted in his
veins.

"We've just got to keep him on the jump," Jack was saying, "so's to
occupy his attention and keep him from putting a match to those papers
and that priceless account book with its addresses. Here, find a way to
get in a smash or two on the door, like we meant to break in--I'll slip
around and see what can be done at the window."

"Jack, I 'member there's a log a'lyin' right over there--why couldn't I
use that an' really break through?"

"Too dangerous, buddy--he'd turn that terror of a machine-gun on and
wipe us off the map. Do what I'm telling you, only keep back so he can't
get you when he shoots again."

"Just watch my smoke," grunted Perk, stooping to feel around for some
object that could be made available for the purpose of a door knocker.

"Wait," he heard the other saying as he was starting to move off.
"Here's a little pile of rocks--pick up one and toss it on the roof of
the shack--make him think we're climbing up, meaning to break in that
way--anything to keep him so busy dodging and firing he'll have no time
to start that blaze."

Perk grasped the main idea, which was to fight for time--given even half
a chance, he knew his pal would find some way to accomplish the end he
had in view which was to take Kearns a prisoner with enough positive
evidence of his guilt to convict him when placed on trial in a Federal
court.

Hastily then did Perk scramble for the rocks mentioned by his
companion--it was much too dark for him to see where they lay, but he
used his common sense with such signal success that almost immediately
he found what he sought.

To toss up a good-sized rock with such vim that it came down on the roof
with a loud bang was the work of a few seconds. Hardly had the crash
sounded than Perk had another missile on its way and as long as the pile
held out he meant to keep up a continual fusillade that would have the
man inside guessing.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE COME-BACK

It was more or less fun for Perk to keep up that bombardment as long as
he had any ammunition left--the heavy thumps on the roof continued to
follow each other, lik