“This timer, which is hooked up to the detonator, is fixed so it starts in motion when the engine is started. It cuts out when the engine is out. Very clever, actually, even though it is simple.”
“When would the timer fire the charge?” Biff asked.
“I’d judge after about an hour, perhaps two—no more—after the engine had been running.”
“We’d be out in the middle of the ocean by then.” Biff looked at Li and Mr. Mahenili. Both shook their heads.
“Worse than that, Biff, if I’ve got it figured right.”
“How, Dad?”
“Well, Perez Soto would know that we’d use the engine to get us out of the harbor. Maybe a twenty-minute run. Then we’d go to sail. And we’d use sail every minute we could. But then—this is the really devilish clever part of his plan.” Mr. Brewster paused. He turned to Li’s father.
“Didn’t you tell me that there are some dangerous reefs off Ka Lae?”
“You bet there are,” Mr. Mahenili said. “And the water’s shark-infested, too.”
“Well, to search the coast along there for Huntington’s sunken sloop, we’d have to use the engine. Couldn’t take a chance with sail on those ragged coral reefs.”