back contents forward {{frabfp121.png}} || eagles of the sky || when coming with an impetuous rush to investigate the mysteries of the mangrove islands. "Huh! that strikes me as a bit queer," Perk was telling himself as he gazed after the ship, now growing smaller and smaller as it placed miles between them. "Looks like Oscar might a remembered a mighty important engagement he ought to keep. Oh well, I've had my little shindig, and it's just as well we both came through okay--them as 'fights an' runs away, may live to fight another day,' that old sayin' has it which is sure a true thing. Hey! what's this mean--seems like I didn't come through as soft-like as I figgered I had--blood on my hand, yep, an' on my face ditto. Guess one o' them nasty zippin' bullets must a creased my ear, and fetched the juice a little. Shucks! nothin' to bother about I'd say." He took his old red bandanna and dabbed at his right ear with many a grunt as well as chuckle. "Seems like it's the only time I've weltered in my own gore for a coon's age," Perk was saying as he looked at the stains on his faithful if faded rag that had been his close companion on many a long flight through fog and storm, wintry cold and summer heat. "But then I got a notion Oscar must a'been nipped, too, mebbe a whole lot [[121]] back contents forward