At the first swing of the starting handle the motor fired and continued to do so, “ticking over” with the throttle only just open.
“Well, I’m dashed!” ejaculated the Merlin’s engineer. “What did you do?”
“Nothing,” replied Peter. “Now replace the floorboards.”
As soon as the rectangular-shaped woodwork was placed in position the motor stopped.
“That beats me!” remarked the Patrol Leader.
“There’s your trouble,” declared Craddock, removing and overturning the floorboard. “See that steel plate?”
He pointed to the double strip of metal forming the edge of a slot to take the reversing lever.
“It’s bearing directly upon the high-tension wire, and the continual vibration has damaged the insulation. The motor fired when the floorboard was up, but when it was in position the metal touched the wire and caused a short circuit. Wrap some insulating tape round the wire—it would be as well to cut a notch in that beam to let the wire bed itself better—and you won’t have any more bother.”
“My word! You’re a smart fellow!” exclaimed the other, with frank admiration.
“Not at all,” protested Craddock. “You see, I had exactly the same trouble once on board our old boat, the Puffin, and I had to get another fellow to put it right.”