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{{frabfp063.png}} || eagles of the sky ||

make me think o' the times when us boys lined
up on a dock and made the dive, one right after
another--plunk--plunk--plunk! Go to it, you
terriers--swim for the shore, boys, and good luck
ocr>   to you all. '@Our job'll be to pick up the rum-boat
fix>   to you all. Our job'll be to pick up the rumboat
with her juicy cargo, an' hand her over to some
Government official Jack knows about around
these diggings. High--low--Jack an' the smugglin'
ocr>   game---that spells the hull thing I kinder
fix>   game--that spells the hull thing I kinder
guess!"

Perk was by no means so lacking in sagacity
not to understand just why his comrade was
hanging fire and keeping at a respectful
distance from the sloop. He wished sufficient
time to elapse so that most of the penetrating gas
from the tear bombs would be carried off on the
night wind and it might be reckoned safe for
them to go aboard.

He could vision the terrified hijackers after
their speedy plunge overboard managing to find
their several boats and dragging themselves over
the gunwales with but one thought in their bewildered
minds, and that to put as much distance
between themselves and the rum-runner as possible.

He even told himself he could catch the sound
of splashing and oars working madly in the locks,
although this may have been only imagination on
Perk's part, but for one thing, he did glimpse a

[[63]]

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