The ship shook from stem to stern as though her machinery had been suddenly thrown out of place.
The captain rushed down from the bridge and the mates came running forward. The boys had leaped to their feet and looked at each other in dismay. Then, with one accord, they plunged down in the direction of the engine-room. Before they reached it they could hear the hoarse shouts of MacGregor and his assistants as they shut off the steam, and the ship losing headway tossed helplessly up and down.
“What is it Mr. MacGregor?” asked the captain.
“I canna’ tell yet,” answered Mac. “Something must have dropped into the machinery. And yet I’ll swear there was nothing lying around loose. But I’ll find out.”
A minute or two passed and then with a snarl and an oath, he held up a heavy wrench.
“Here’s the thing that did it,” he yelled, “and it didn’t get there by accident either. I ken every tool aboard this ship and I never set eyes on this before. Somebody threw it there to wreck the engines.”
“To wreck the engines,” repeated Captain Manning. “Why? Who’d want to do anything like that?”
“I dinna’ ken,” said Mac stubbornly. “I only know some one must ha’. I’d like to get these twa hands of mine on his throat.”
“Has any one been here except you and your men?” asked the captain.
“No one—leastwise nane but the Chink. He stopped to say——”