While Jack was trying to pick up their message, the Skipper leaned forward to switch off the instrument-board lights, and as he did so he glanced out the window along the wing on Jack’s side and made an alarming discovery.
The fuel pipe line from the wing tank ran along the outside surface of the wing for a short distance, and then curved down to the fuselage, where it came through to the main tank and the carburetor. In the curved part was a flexible joint which had evidently vibrated loose, for streaking out behind was a flow of their precious fuel. There was no way of knowing how long this had been going on.
The Skipper had a terrible sinking sensation as he realized what the consequences of this tiny leak might be. Perhaps gallons had even now been lost and the seriousness of it appalled him. They would need every drop they had to reach India, and already enough might have escaped to ruin their chances of even making Europe.
CHAPTER VII
MID-ATLANTIC
WITHOUT a word the Skipper touched Jack on the arm. He looked up, and the Skipper pointed to their trouble. As Jack took off his earphones, he mechanically sent out “Stand by.”
Both Jack and the Skipper turned over in their minds plans for remedying this trouble. The Skipper immediately turned off the flow of fuel that was being pumped into the right wing tank from the main tank. The fuel remaining in the wing tank continued to leak out, for it came through the pipe line into the carburetor by gravity. By adjusting his valves the Skipper drew on his supply in the left wing tank.
They were in a desperate plight. Something must be done at once to stop this leak. Although they had tried to provide for every emergency, here was one which would tax their ingenuity to the utmost.
They had a large roll of tape and a bottle of liquid similar to shellac in the equipment; but whether Jack could reach back far enough to tape the break was doubtful. However, he opened the sliding window beside him and tried it. For the first time in his life he regretted his broad shoulders, for the small window gave him no room in which to work. Once the rush of the wind nearly tore the tape from his hands. He slipped back into his seat to rest for a moment, after the twisting strain he had been under.