“How fast do you think she is going?” asked Dick eagerly.
Billy studied a moment. Then:
“About seven miles,” he answered. “You ought to make nine with the current and no tow.”
Dick looked triumphantly at Chub. For once Chub had nothing to say. Presently Dick observed:
“What I don’t understand is why she wouldn’t start at the wharf. We flooded the carbureter dozens of times then.”
“Maybe that was the trouble,” was the reply. “Your engine was stiff and cold and you got too much gasolene into it. That’s just as bad as getting none at all. You’ve got to have the proper mixture of air and gasolene, you know. After you’d turned her over awhile you worked the gasolene out and she started. It’s a good plan to have a small oil-can with some gasolene in it. Then if she doesn’t start with three or four turns you can open your relief-cock and squirt a few drops into the cylinder. That’ll start her all right.”
For the next few minutes Dick took a short course in gas-engine operating and by the time he had asked all the questions he wanted to they were approaching the Ferry Hill landing and a disconsolate figure in the shade of the boat-house.
“There’s Harry,” said Chub. “I’ll bet she’s mad!”
But she wasn’t; only grieved and reproachful until they told their troubles to her, and after that vastly interested and sympathetic. Harry, having just become a passenger, was by no means ready to end the cruise, demanding that the launch should go up the river for a way. The boys, however, being for the moment firm believers in punctuality as regarded meals, compromised on a voyage around the island. So they went up along the inner channel, swung around Far Island, which, as every experienced mariner knows, lies nor’-nor’-west of Point Harriet, and, navigating skilfully past the dangerous shoals which lie around The Grapes, stopped off Hood’s Hill while Billy Noon returned to the Minerva and, with the aid of a broken oar, reached the beach. The boys were properly grateful for his help, Dick thanking him profusely.
“That’s all right,” said Billy, as he pulled the nose of the Minerva onto the beach and carried the painter up to the nearest tree. “Glad I happened along. Any time you want any help you yell for me.”