Part 30 (2/2)
”Perhaps he has lost his oars,” suggested Eline.
”Maybe that is the trouble,” remarked Cora. ”Well, we'll soon see.”
She changed the course of the _Pet_, though it was a bit risky for the seas were quartering now, and the spray came aboard in salty sheets. But the girls could not get much wetter.
Cora slowed down her engine by means of a throttle control that extended up near the wheel. She veered in toward the tossing dory.
”What is it?” she cried. ”What's the matter?”
”Out of gasoline! Can you lend me a bit so I can run in? I came out to lift my lobster pots, but it's too rough.”
”Gasoline? Yes, we have plenty,” said Cora. ”I'll give you some.”
”Don't come too close!” warned the fisherman. ”Can you put it in a can and toss it to me? That's the best way.”
”I'll try,” promised Cora, as she cut off all power. The _Pet_ was now drifting, rising and falling on the swells. Belle looked very pale, and Bess was holding her.
”Find something, and run some gasoline into it from the carbureter drip,”
directed Cora, as she clung to the wheel.
”What shall I find?” asked Bess.
”Would an empty olive bottle do?” asked Eline.
”The very thing!” cried Cora. ”Has it a cork?”
”Yes, and one olive in it.”
”Throw out the olive, and poke your handkerchief down in the bottle to dry it out before you put in the gasoline. Even a drop of the salt water the olives come in will make trouble in the gasoline. Hurry!”
”Look out!” cried the fisherman. ”Fend off!”
”You'd better do it!” directed Cora. ”We have no boat hook!”
”All right, I'll attend to it.”
The two boats were drifting dangerously close together. The fisherman caught up an oar he carried for emergencies, and skillfully fended off the _Pet_, which was drifting down on him. In the meanwhile Bess, with the help of Eline, had dried out the olive bottle, and had filled it with gasoline.
”What shall I do with it?” she asked Cora.
”Throw it to the man.”
”I never can throw it.”
”Then give it to me,” and, holding to the wheel with one hand, with the other Cora tossed over the bottle of gasoline. The lobsterman caught it, called his thanks and gave the _Pet_ a final shove that carried her past him.
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