“Now, captain, what’s the next thing on your programme?” Vance asked when they were back at the tent and Roy was preparing breakfast.
“I think it would be a good idea for you two to overhaul the machinery, and see if it can be put in running order. I’ll take a portion of the stores on board, by way of gettin’ ready for our departure.”
“But suppose we find that it is impossible to do anything with the engine? You know we don’t profess to have very much knowledge of such matters.”
“Then it’ll be a case of bendin’ the sails an’ gettin’ along the best we can in that way. With main, fore, an’ a jib we should be able to strike some port where you can hire an engineer and sailin’ master. You know we’ve got money enough to indulge in all those luxuries.”
The cook did not spend any very great amount of time over the range on this morning.
Now that it appeared possible they might be able to leave the key as soon as the yacht was in sailing trim, each member of the party was eager to be under way, and at the earliest possible moment the amateur engineers went on board.
Ned did not accompany them.
He realized fully how much labor there was yet to be performed before they could begin the voyage, and found plenty with which to occupy himself until Roy hailed him from the deck of the yacht.
“We can’t make head nor tail of the machinery, and even if we could I don’t think it would be safe for us to attempt to run her any distance under steam.”
“All right,” Ned replied cheerily. “Suppose you come ashore, and we’ll tackle the canvas.”