Medway saw his glance.
“Lots of steam,” he vouchsafed; “only thing to do is to get her going. Remember, it’s that or the bottom of the deep blue sea.”
For reasons that the boys did not learn till later, the Valkyrie did not carry an assistant engineer. When the old crew had been set ashore at Madeira there was no chance to secure such an officer, and so she had proceeded to sea with Judkins as the only skilled man in her engine-room. No doubt it was the severe strain he had been under that had caused him to become careless and receive the injury which had disabled him.
Jack’s natural quickness at mechanics enabled him to see what was required on the condenser after a few words of explanation. This done he and Tom ascended to the starting bridge and applied steam to the engines. It was no easy task to carry out these operations on the rolling, wallowing yacht. But at last, as Jack turned on the steam and Tom applied the starting power, they were rewarded by the sight of the cranks slowly revolving.
Suddenly a loud clang close by his head startled Jack.
“All right, come ahead!” hailed Judkins, “Easy now!”
Medway in the pilot house had felt the quiver of the started engines and had given the signal. Jack allowed the engine to pick up revolutions gradually until, at half speed, they were heading into the big seas with the screw turning regularly and powerfully. When this was done Judkins closed his eyes, lay back, and slipped off into unconsciousness. Tom, alarmed, ran through the bulkhead door into the fire-room. Here he found the stokers at work. There were three of them and he sent one on deck after Medway. It was plain that something would have to be done for Judkins at once. Medway soon appeared. It seemed that the man, in a rough way, was a bit of a surgeon. At any rate he declared that he could care for the injured man and had him carried above by two of the crew.
Not long after, the same two men appeared with food for the boys. They did full justice to the meal, unembarrassed by their queer situation. After it had been despatched, Jack noticed Tom’s sleepy looks. In fact the younger of the two lads could hardly keep his eyes open.
“You lie down on that bench and take a nap,” ordered Jack, “I’ll stand watch.”
“But what about you?” inquired Tom drowsily.