Part 19 (1/2)
Next he started to turn the handle in order to fetch the bucket to the top of the well In order to get a better purchase on the handle, he took a step to the left, and as luck would have it, struck his knee against the crouching form of Perk
Then came a quick look doard, since he was naturally curious to knohat sort of object he had collided with--possibly he may even have had a sudden suspicion it would turn out to be so swamp--possibly a panther, since such animals had been known to frequent the western shore of Okeechobee as a hunting-ground in days gone by
Of course he instantly ht to show hi
It would have been instinctive for thethis discovery but he did not have the chance to give tongue, at least fully, for Perkand had both hands clasped about his throat effectually throttling the intended shout so that it eed only as a queer sound, rather on the order of a bull alligator's bellowing suddenly cut short
That was but the beginning of the affair as Perk knew only too well it h proposition on his hands for thehis wind suddenly cut entirely off with a pair of iron-like hands pressing his throat as though it were gripped in a vise?
Jack sprang up, ready to lend his pal any necessary assistance if only the opportunity showed itself Just then all he could ling figures, looking for all the world like one of those teetotuerated scale
Then they went doith a crash, first one on top and then the other in rapid succession It would have made an excellent picture for the silver screen, Jack could not help thinking while he drew his automatic and kept tabs on that open door,to see Oswald Kearns dash wildly out with soun in his hands, ready to take a chance in the ga to do with his own safety
Perk see, for not another peep did the wolfishfight continued It was lucky indeed there chanced to be a raised wall about the well or in their frantic staggering this way and that the wrestlersaperture, much to their ainst the curbing several tih contact
Finally, Jack, to his relief, saw Perk slaround and i in a nuht out of the unfortunate chap who collapsed as if wholly done for
Perk hiasps and hein every joint from the tremendous exertion put forth but as always, victory eet in his nostrils and after assuring hi further need be feared froed hiht it out along those lines if it took all night
CHAPTER XXVII
AT BAY
Jack had been keeping a watchful eye on the nearby shack, not knohatforth arun and ready to sweep up the earth with the led bodies of hireatly to his relief as well, nothing of the kind came to pass Suddenly he realized that the door of the squatty little coquina rock building had been closed, for no longer did the light spread a banner out into the black night
”Drag hiot to ive us no further trouble Got that piece of stout rope I gave you?”
”Right here, partner--wrapped around ed to ht hold of the nearest leg of his late antagonist and without the least cereht a bag of meal--when head-over-heels in a real scrap Perk counted his opponents as so much junk whose fate it was to be handled without ceremony and yet after the roas over, no one could beup their hurts than Gabe Perkiser
”Use the rope to fasten his ankles together,” advised Jack, standing guard meanwhile with his auto around in search of signs along the trouble line, ”and knot it half a dozen tiet free”
”All done up brown and slick, Jack old hoss, nohat?” announced Perk a minute or so later
”Clap that new pair of bracelets on his wrists,” further explained the head pilot briskly, ”and be sure to frisk hi to have our hands full with the boss and can't fool around with this chap any longer”
”His name is Mud!” scornfully declared Perk briskly as he completed his task with the manner of one to whom it had become an old story
The fellow, it seemed, had recovered his senses for he tried to bite Perk's hand and received a solid thuood,” Jack was saying, half to hi to the house and make sure our bird hasn't skipped out while ere so busy at the well here Got all the drink you want, Perk--we can't be co neck!”