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{{frabfp197.png}} || eagles of the sky ||

particular seemed to be dreadfully put out by
this fresh upset and was grinding his strong teeth
as though desirous of letting out an explosive but
restrained by the fact of Jack being so close at
hand.

"Gee whiz! this here is what I call tough
luck, Boss," he grumbled, more because he
hoped Jack might be able to dispel his fit of the
blues in some way or other, having a much
clearer vision than he himself possessed.

"Oh! I don't know, partner," said Jack in
a wholesome, optimistic tone. "It looks a little
dark, but just wait a minute or so before you
croak--after all, the thing may not be so bad--it
doesn't pay to jump at conclusions."

"Shucks! that's me all over, old hoss, but I'm
sure glad to hear you say the last chance ain't
snuffed out yet," mumbled Perk contritely, but
at least he had gained his point which was to
coax Jack to mix a little good cheer in with the
gloom that had descended on his, Perk's soul.

ocr>   "There, he's off! declared Jack as a significant
fix>   "There, he's off!" declared Jack as a significant
change in the clatter so thoroughly understood
by any airman announced the hop-off from the
surface of the lake.

"An' nothin' happened to give him a spill,
either," Perk went on to say and the disconsolate
vein in his tone told plainly enough how he had
been secretly hugging to his heart a hope that

[[197]]

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