“No harm to try. At least we’ll come aboard for a cup o’ tea,” MacGregor chuckled.
Johnny rowed the lifeboat alongside the girl’s boat, the Krazy Kat, and they climbed aboard.
“She’s not gittin’ gas,” said MacGregor, after he had turned the motor over twice.
“I know,” the girl’s brow wrinkled.
Without saying a word, Johnny scrambled back to the box covering the gas tank. After lifting the box off, he struck the tank a sharp rap. The tank gave off a hollow sound.
“You might try putting some gas in your tank,” he said with a sly grin.
“Oh, but there must be gas!” the girl exclaimed. “There must be.”
“Perhaps,” said Johnny. “But it’s empty. May be a leak.” Drawing a small flashlight from his pocket, he bent over and examined the offending tank.
“Yep,” he said, “there is a leak, a small hole, but big enough. Your gas is in the bottom of the boat, along with the bilge water. Any reserve supply?”
“Not a bit.”