A RADIO CALL THAT FAILED
"Of course," Amy said composedly, "if worse comes to worst, we can send the news by radio that the yacht is sinking and bring to our rescue somebody—somebody——"
"Yes, we can!" exclaimed Burd Alling. "A revenue cutter, I suppose? Don't you suppose the United States Government has anything better to do than to look out for people who don't know enough to look out for themselves?"
"That seems to be the Government's mission a good deal of the time," replied Dr. Stanley, with a smile. "But you don't think it will be necessary to call for help, do you, Darrington?" he asked the sober-looking owner of the yacht.
"Well, the fire's out, that's sure——"
"You bet it is!" growled Burd. "It had to be out, there's so much water in the hold."
"But we are not sinking!" cried Amy.
"Lucky we're not," said Burd. "The radio doesn't work."
"Why, how you talk," Nell said admonishingly. "You would scare us if we did not know you so well, Burd."
"You don't know the half of it!" exclaimed the young fellow. "Fuel is getting low, too. Skipper wants us to work the pump by hand. That means Darry and me to 'man the pumps.'"