He did not speak of the vital need of saving every drop of the precious fluid, but Ned and Bob must have guessed, for they worked quickly, and the water from the leaking tank, in which a hole had been punched by a piece of one of the broken cylinders, was emptied into another receptacle. But several gallons had leaked away, and Jerry looked more serious than before.
“I wish I could do something to make up for my carelessness,” suggested the scientist. “But I fear my knowledge of machinery——”
“That’s all right, Mr. Snodgrass,” replied Jerry. “We will be able to get the engine in shape, I think. I’ll cut out the two broken cylinders, and run on eight,” for the motor was a ten-cylinder one. “We won’t be able to go so fast,” added the youth, “but it will serve.”
“Then as long as I can’t do anything, I may as well be on the hunt for the flying lizard,” decided the scientist, and he set off over the desert, with his net and his specimen box.
“Is there anything we can do?” inquired Tod, as he and Jim Nestor approached Jerry.
“Nothing, I guess,” replied the tall lad. “Ned and Bob will help me with the engine.”
“Then we’ll go off prospecting a bit,” said Jim. “We may find a place to catch some fish,” and he winked at Jerry, to indicate to him that he and Tod would hunt for water. And, indeed, Jerry knew there might soon be need of it, before the engine was repaired.
But nothing was said to either Ned, Bob or the professor on this score. Jerry did not want any needless alarm.
“Now, fellows,” he exclaimed cheerfully, when the three chums were alone beside the ship, “let’s get busy. It’s going to be quite a job to take out those broken cylinders.”