back contents forward {{frabfp230.png}} || eagles of the sky || include some pal of Kearns' before finishing their job. He quickly had the fellow lying inert and acting as though he did not have another bit of fight left in him. Managing to pull out the handcuffs, Perk first tested them for size, and finding he could snap them shut after circling the ankles of his prisoner he did so with a vim. This would effectually prevent the man from getting any distance away, since he could move his feet only a few inches at a time at the best. Perk struggled to his feet, feeling more or less dizzy. His first natural act was to put a hand to his head, and feel it gently, in order to ascertain the character and extent of his injuries. There was a cruel lump on his crown and he knew blood was streaking his face but on the whole he did not believe he was very badly hurt--perhaps after the double beating the other fellow had received at his hands he was worse off than Perk--an idea that started the latter chuckling, even if the act caused him a sudden dart of pain that made him wince. Then he remembered what was going on, knowledge of which had been knocked out of his head by the unexpected fight that had taken place. How about Jack? He dimly remembered hearing further shots from behind the barrier, although unable to [[230]] back contents forward