“Then I suggest we get a move on.”
“Right you are,” agreed Jack, and then, looking around for Tom, he missed him. The lad had slipped silently out of the place.
“What can have become of him?” gasped Jack, somewhat astounded at Tom’s quick disappearance act.
It was not till they emerged on deck a few seconds later that they heard sounds from the engine-room, and presently Tom showed up. He had a wrench in his hand, and bore a well-satisfied grin on his round face.
“What on earth have you been up to?” asked Jack.
“I’ve been administering much the same treatment to the engines of this craft that you have to the wireless,” chuckled Tom. “Gee whillikers! what an astonished outfit of tamale-eaters there’s going to be on this ship when they come to life!”
CHAPTER XI—THE “FLYING ROAD RACER”
Leaving the Tarantula to drift at her sweet will, all haste was made by the youthful adventurers in regaining the side of the Sea King. When they reascended to the deck of that craft, after making fast the Vagrant, they found a newcomer among the crew to greet them,—namely, MacDuffy, the engineer, who announced that he had made temporary repairs.
“But they willna be lastin’ lang, I’m thinkin’,” he said ruefully, “I dinna ken if they will carry us a hundred miles.”
“And it’s a good three hundred or more back to that river mouth,” cried Ned in dismay.