CHAPTER X
Train Robbers!
AT Karl’s dread discovery the others uttered exclamations of alarm and astonishment.
“What could have caused it?” asked Bob grimly.
The aviator shook his head.
“Can’t say,” he returned. “Maybe something pierced it while we were in Cuba. Could have made a small leak that let out a little at a time. Or the storm could have done it.”
“Good thing we were able to make it across the Caribbean,” remarked Mr. Holton. “If it had been much larger, perhaps we wouldn’t be here now to find it out.”
The short-lived tropical twilight was upon them, with a promise of darkness being only a few seconds off.
“Suppose we put the tent up while we can see to do it,” suggested Bob. “Then we can attend to the leak in the morning. There’s some solder in the provision compartment, and we can put some of it on now to keep the remainder of the gas from running out.”
The others thought this good advice. While the youths and the naturalists made camp, Karl Sutman applied a heavy coat of liquid solder over the cut in the gasoline tank.
“I guess we’re in a mess,” the aviator said disgustedly. “We’ve used up all the gasoline in the spare tank, and now we haven’t enough to take us twenty-five miles. We could have flown to Bogotá easily if it hadn’t been for that leak.”