“What do you mean?” asked Frank in surprise.
“The tank, sor, is out of order. Shure, it must have been the shock av dynamite.”
“The tank!” exclaimed Frank, and sprung to the key board. He pressed the pneumatic key. It would not operate.
The boat remained upon the surface. Barney was right.
The tank was certainly out of order. But what was the cause of it? Was it the result of the explosion?
He reckoned that this was true. He went down into the hold and made a quick examination.
This showed him that the tank had shifted its position, and bent the tubes so that water could not be pressed through them. Until these were straightened there was no hope of controlling the boat under water.
Frank studied the situation for some time.
He realized that it was an unfortunate situation, and that unless the matter was remedied the expedition must prove a failure.
Just how much of a job it would be to repair the damage he could hardly estimate.