The engine responded readily to treatment, much to the satisfaction of Buster, who had been entertaining serious fears. The motor had proved tricky on one other occasion, he remembered, and on this account he wondered what they would ever do should it go back on them again.
They were now in the war zone, and it would hardly be possible to get repairs made and secure permission to continue down the Danube on their cruise.
Of course, Jack did not think to put on a full head of power; that would hardly have been wise while they were apt to come upon floating remnants of the bridge at any time.
“Josh, you can help me now if you want to,” he presently told the other.
“Give your orders, then, Commodore.”
“Crawl up forward, and keep as close a watch on the water as you can,” Jack told him. “I mean directly in front of us, because it might get us in trouble if we ran smack into one of those pontoons out here in the middle of the river.”
“I get your meaning, all right,” responded Josh, starting to carry the plan out. “I’ll call myself the lookout man, and signal you to back her in case I see any sign of trouble ahead.”
“Give a sharp whistle, and I’ll know what that means,” the skipper told him.
So Josh crept past Jack and sprawled there in the extreme bow. He possessed good eyesight, and was likely to discover any floating object long before they were in danger of striking the same.
Buster, too, strained his eyes in order to try and supplement the good work; but George contented himself with lolling there in a comfortable position. What was the use, he doubtless figured, of everybody getting excited? If later on Josh wanted some one to “spell” him George would be quite willing to assume the responsibility; but he did not mean to wear out his eyes when not on duty. And no doubt George was quite right.