to work the deck winch in order to get the anchor "apeak," as Perk
called it, being desirous of showing off with his limited knowledge of
things nautical.

"She's amovin' okay, old hoss!" gasped Perk who had been doing
considerable straining, anxious to display his ability as a mudhook
lifter. "A few more good pulls an' we'll have the old gink where we want
it."

The task being completed, the sloop began to move backward, very much
like those fiddler crabs Perk had watched retreating before his attack
on one of the sandy Florida beaches.

"Looks like I'd better go aboard our ship and get away from here before
anything happens to disable a wing," Jack hastened to remark, sensing
possible trouble which would be in the nature of a serious calamity just
then.

"Go to it then, matey," Perk told him, light-heartedly enough, "I'm
ready to do my stuff as a half-cooked engineer. Don't worry a bit about
my gettin' there with both feet if the bally motor only holds together.
Don't like its looks any too much, but then Lady Luck seems to be givin'
us a heap o' favors, so we're goin' to finish after the Garrison
style--heavy on the home stretch."

Before Perk reached the last word his chum had gained his seat in the
cubbyhole of the amphibian, and almost immediately called out:

"Cut that rope and let me get away, partner--hurry up before I get
another and harder bump!"

Ten seconds afterward the airship was entirely free from contact with
the drifting sloop. Then came the roar of the motor showing that Jack
had given her the gun. Instantly there was a forward movement of the
amphibian, which increased rapidly until it was rushing along with great
speed presently lifting its nose toward the heavens and leaving the
rolling surface of the gulf, soared aloft in repeated circles.

Perk, after seeing that his pal was well on his way, turned his
attention to his own job. He had no particular trouble in coaxing the
engine to start, although it did considerable "grunting" as though its
joints might be rusty and in need of lubricating oil, thus telling that
the late skipper had allowed his engineer to neglect his duties in a
climate where the salt in the air always rusted the inside of gun
barrels, machinery of all descriptions, and in many ways played havoc
with exposed metal parts.

However, after the engine got well warmed up it began to work more
smoothly so that Perk lost some of his first anxiety.

"Goin' to get along ok