“I don’t think we need worry about the Fancy leaking,” came from Ralph. “And I don’t think we’ll have any serious trouble with the engine—although, of course, we may have some if that gasoline is too dirty. After this I’m going to have every gallon I buy strained before it is put in.”
Another half hour passed, and again they heard the hoarse whistle of a steamer, this time from their left.
“She’s coming up the coast, but she doesn’t seem to be very close,” said Andy. “Gosh! I hope she passes by without scaring the wits out of us,” he added, with a wry smile.
As before, the cadets strained their ears. The sounds kept coming closer, but presently they died away in the distance, much to the lads’ relief.
Ralph had stopped the engine, but now it was started once more, and again they headed in the direction of Cape Cod, steering, of course, entirely by the compass.
“I’m heading a little to the westward,” announced Ralph. “I don’t want to miss the shore of the Cape and get out into the Atlantic by mistake.”
Less than twenty minutes later they found themselves in more trouble. Again the engine stopped, and once more Ralph and Jack, aided by Gif, began a search for the trouble. They found the supply pipe flowing freely, and then examined the carburetor, and finally looked over the wiring.
“I think it’s in the battery,” said Jack, at last, and when the sparking was tested this proved to be a fact.
The Fancy was equipped with a full set of tools, but, even so, the boys made a long job of getting the motor to run. In the meanwhile, the wind had sprung up again, and they found themselves drifting eastward into the broad and rolling Atlantic.