"Poke your head in there."
He obeyed. Miss Chalmers also poked her head in, so that wisps of her brown hair brushed his unshaven cheeks.
"Now, do you see that little handle there?" she inquired.
"Yes, ma'am."
The boatman's voice was meek.
"Do you know what it is?"
"No, ma'am."
"Well, it's the cut-off in the gas-line."
"Never noticed it before," he commented blandly.
"And it's cut off now," continued Miss Chalmers.