CHAPTER VIII
The Fancy Frogmen
"The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in? While we were at Charlotte Amalie? Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"
"In Charlotte Amalie, of course," Tony said. "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
Rick shrugged. He had no answer to that. The question had popped into his mind unbidden.
"We didn't take the compressor apart," Scotty reminded him.
That was true. But Rick had started it in Charlotte Amalie to be sure it was functioning. There was no oil in it then. He said as much.
"You started the compressor at the same time you checked the tanks," Zircon reminded him. "I believe the oil was put in at the same time the valves were loosened."
That seemed reasonable. Rick put aside his hunch. "Well, we found it in time, anyway. Now Scotty and I will have to tear the compressor down and clean it before we can recharge the tanks."