"Better put in a new inner tube. We'll want to make time when we get away from here."
"Don't let me keep you," said Dick, quickly. "I think I may be able to locate the trouble myself."
"Well, I am in something of a hurry," the man admitted. "But, since my own car needs attention I'll stay with you until they get the tire fixed. Have you looked at the carbureter?"
"No, I was just going to."
Together they inspected that important part of an auto's mechanism. They found it a little out of adjustment, and proceeded to remedy it.
"I imagine the trouble, as much as anything, is in the gasoline," said the stranger. "It's an awful poor quality they supply nowadays. It'll get so, after a while, that we'll have to use kerosene. In fact, I'm thinking of getting a car that has a two-jet carbureter on it, to mingle gasoline and kerosene. That's what we'll come to, after a while."
He and Dick talked interestedly of the mechanical side of autos, while the carbureter was put in shape for a test. Meanwhile the two men were working away at their tire. They seemed to be having trouble with it, and Paul and Innis were just going to ask if they did not want some help in return for the service their friend was rendering Dick, when Mr. Cameron exclaimed:
"I'll lend 'em a hand. I want to learn how to change a tire. I may have an auto of my own some day."
With the three of them at work, the tire was soon in shape and pumped up. But Dick's car would not respond. The self-starter was tried again and again, but, though the motor flywheel was turned over rapidly, the cylinders would not take up their work.
"She doesn't seem to be getting a spark," said the man. "How is your magneto?"