“It seems to me safe to give her more speed,” said Chester. “At this rate we sha‘n’t reach home until late at night.”
“All right; turn on more power—no, don’t! Ouch!”
Alvin snapped his fingers, as one does when they are burned. He had placed them upon the exhaust pipe, which was growing red hot.
“Shut her off! The mischief is to pay.”
Knowing from the gesture of the Captain what was the matter, Chester asked, as he obeyed the request:
“What causes that?”
“There is either something wrong with the water pump, the spark is retarded, or a lack of sufficient lubrication, causing the motor to heat. It will take some time to find out and we shall have to drift for awhile.”
“Why not run to land and tie up? We may get in the way of some of the boats steaming up or down the river if we stay out here.”
Alvin scrutinized the eastern bank, which is the upper portion of Westport, and much nearer than Wiscasset township opposite.
“The water is so deep that I suppose we can touch the bank anywhere without risk to the hull. All right; feel your way in.”