Part 24 (2/2)
”And call me at four,” said Sam. ”I want to do my share.”
The night proved to be as misty as that previously pa.s.sed, and although first d.i.c.k and then Sam and Tom kept their eyes on the alert, nothing was seen or heard of any other vessel. Once d.i.c.k fancied he heard the faraway toot of a foghorn, but the sound, whatever it was, was not repeated.
By morning it was raining. At first only a few drops came down, but then it began to pour, so that all were glad to remain under shelter.
Hans and Sam prepared breakfast, while Tom looked after the engine and the fire and d.i.c.k kept watch on deck.
”It is going to be a corker,” was d.i.c.k's comment, when he came in for something to eat. ”The rain is so thick now you can't see a dozen yards in any direction.”
”Let us hope that the rain will clear away the mist,” said Sam. ”Then perhaps we'll have some suns.h.i.+ne for a change.”
”It's all right, if only it doesn't start to blow,” answered Tom.
”But you must remember that they have some pretty fierce storms down here.”
The rain continued to come down as hard as ever and kept up until near noon. In the meantime, however, Sam and Tom got up enough steam to run the yacht at a low rate of speed.
”We can try her that way first,” said Tom. ”Then, if it's O. K., we'll give her a hundred pounds or so.”
”Now, Tom, be careful of that engine!” pleaded d.i.c.k. ”It won't do to monkey too much.”
”Oh, I'll be careful, d.i.c.k. I don't want to be blown up any more than you do.”
”Remember the old saying, 'The more haste the less speed,'” warned the big brother.
It was with a peculiar thrill that d.i.c.k took his place in the wheelhouse and rang the bell for the engine to start. Tom, below, was equally excited as he turned on the power. There was a peculiar hissing and bubbling, but the propeller did not turn.
”What's the matter?” called down d.i.c.k, through the speaking tube.
”Didn't you hear my signal?”
He listened for a reply, but instead of Tom's voice he heard the fierce hissing of steam. Then, of a sudden, came a yell from Tom.
”Shut off that steam, Sam! Quick! or I'll be scalded to death!”
CHAPTER XVIII
IN PERIL OF STEAM
As quickly as he could, d.i.c.k rushed from the wheelhouse and toward the companionway leading to the engine room.
”Vot's der madder?” bawled Hans, who was at the rail, waiting for the steam yacht to start.
”Tom's in trouble,” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the eldest Rover, and went down the stairs four steps at a time, with the German youth behind him.
The engine room was full of steam, so that for the moment d.i.c.k could see little. A pipe running along one side of the engine had burst, and Tom was hemmed in a corner. To get out he would have to pa.s.s through the furious outpouring of steam, which might scald him to death.
Not far away was Sam, frantically trying to turn the steam off. But the youngest Rover's knowledge of engines and marine machinery was limited and, while he fussed around, the steam in the narrow engine room kept growing thicker and thicker.
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