“It’s the pumping engine,” Sandy said grimly. “He’s started it up. We must be shipping water.”
“Oh.” Ken’s momentary hope that it might be the engine of a rescue craft died hard. But he tried to fight off his disappointment. “Good,” he said. “It’ll keep him busy awhile. Give us time to get ready.”
“Maybe,” Sandy said. “Or maybe it means we have less time than we thought. If it’s really as tough out there as it sounds, the tugboat captain may decide to turn back.”
“I see,” Ken said. His throat felt suddenly tight and he swallowed. “And if he decides to turn around, Cal would have to give up the idea of waiting for really deep water. He’d do—what he’s supposed to do to us—right away.”
CHAPTER XV
CATAPULT
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t try your scheme, Sandy,” Ken said after a moment. “It just means we have to speed up the schedule.”
“That’s what it means,” Sandy said. He laughed grimly. “I’ve got no feeling in my legs. My arms are numb to the elbow. I’ve got about as much chance of standing up as I have of—” He broke off, and Ken could hear him edging over on the bunk. “But I might as well try,” he concluded.
Ken moved until he could see over the rim of his own bunk. “Why stand up? All you have to do is turn around on the bunk.”