back contents forward {{frabfp095.png}} || eagles of the sky || been secreted on the previous evening after they had supper near this same spot. As they munched their dry food they continued to talk, finding plenty of subjects bearing on their work that would be the better for further study. "There's only one way we can arrange things so as to keep our clutch on the spoils we've rustled so far and do our duty according to orders." "I kinder guess I c'n smell a rat already, Jack," chuckled Perk as he wrapped up the remnant of the food supply which he had taken from their main stock--"I'm the goat in the deal--you figger on me stayin' here in this 'gator hole to stand by the ship an' knock the block off'n anybody what tries to get away with our property--how's that for a straight hit square in the bullseye?" "Go up head, Perkiser--you got the answer first clip, for that's just what has to be put through. I'll start off presently and make a bee line for Tampa where they told me our immediate boss, Colonel Tranter, is stopping with his sick wife. I'll make my report direct to him and take further orders. He'll like enough detail a couple of revenue men on duty along the East Coast to come back with me to where you're lying here so they can take the sloop and her wet [[95]] back contents forward