“That’s it!” shouted Bill. “Now to see what happens!”
The plugs were inserted, screwed tight, and then came the test. Steadying themselves as best they could in the rocking boat they turned the flywheel over, Tom having thrown in the battery switch.
There was the tell-tale buzz, which told of the working of the spark plug—a buzz and a hum, but there was no welcoming explosion. No hearty puff from the cylinders that indicated the gasoline mixture being set off by the spark.
“Hum!” mused Bill, as he paused to contemplate the silent motor.
“Something wrong, still?” asked Tom anxiously, gazing off across the dark expanse of water for a possible sight of a flickering light that would tell of the ill-fated Olivia. But he saw nothing.
“Well, we’ll try once more,” exclaimed Bill. “Hold the lantern closer, Tom, so I can see how the timer works.”
The young wireless operator obeyed. Once more the buzz and hum told of the perfect working of the ignition system—and yet not perfect either, for the motor was still silent, and the launch was drifting about more helpless than ever.
“Suppose you try, Tom,” suggested Bill. “Maybe you’ll have better luck than I had.”
Tom handed his companion the lantern, and grasped the wheel, for there was little use in trying the automatic starter in such a condition as was the machinery now.
But Tom had no better success, though he strained and tugged, giving the wheel many revolutions.