And the wheel snapped off in Hawkins' hands!
“Why—why—why——” he stuttered, in amazement.
“Yes, now you've done it!” I rapped out, savagely. “How the dickens are we to get back?”
“There, Griggs, there,” said Hawkins, “don't be so childishly impatient. I shall simply unlock this case again and control the steering-gear from the inside. Certainly even you must be able to understand that.”
The calm superiority of his tone was maddening.
One or two of my sentiments defied restraint.
Heaven knows I didn't suppose it would make Hawkins nervous to hear them, but it did. His hands shook as he fumbled with the key of his steel box, and at a particularly vicious remark of mine he stood erect.
“Well, Griggs, you've put us in a hole this time!” he groaned.
“How?”
“You made me so nervous that I snapped that key off short in the lock!”