“Now we are up against it,” murmured Bob.
“Not quite yet,” said Jerry.
“How can we get water without being shot?” asked Ned.
“There is quite a bit left in the pipe coils of the radiator,” answered Jerry. “It will be pretty poor stuff to drink I guess, but it’s better than nothing.”
There was considerable of the fluid in the big brass radiator on the front of the car, and, though it was stale, and had been heated many times, as it circulated about the cylinders, still, it was better than none. Made into tea, which was served as a change from coffee, it did not taste so very bad.
But the situation was grave. With only water enough on hand to last about half a day, the plight of the travelers was a critical one.
“We’ll have to have water for the car, as well as ourselves,” spoke Ned. “We can’t run the machine without water.”
“That’s so,” admitted Jerry dubiously. “Something will have to be done.”
After the evening meal Jerry resumed his labors on the car, working at double speed, in which he was assisted by Ned and Bob. The professor and Tommy took turns watching at the cavern’s mouth.
But there seemed to be no need of this, as the men showed no inclination to make a second attack. They appeared to know that the boys were caught in a trap; a trap that contained no water. So they evidently felt sure of success sooner or later, and that without the danger of being wounded.