"The vapor was there, all the same."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Glennie. "Vapor wouldn't stay in that tank for a month. It would escape and find its way out."
"Gasolene vapor is heavier than air," said Matt; "and it would remain indefinitely at the bottom of the reservoir. A little of it probably leaked through the bottom of the feed pipe, so that the match set it off. Luckily for the Chink there wasn't very much of it."
"Gee, klismus!" babbled Ah Sin. "Me tly smokee, something go boom! No likee devil-boat!"
"Have you any more cigarettes?" demanded Matt sharply.
Ah Sin dug a handful out of the breast of his blouse.
"Is that all?" demanded Matt.
"No gottee allee mo'."
"Don't strike any more matches," went on Matt sternly. "You're going with us to Para, and you're going to do the cooking. Take him in hand, Speake," he added to Speake, who had dropped down behind Gaines, "and show him how we do that part of our work on the Grampus. Keep an eye on him, and see that he doesn't blow up the boat."
"Never did like a bloomin' chink, nohow," grumbled Speake. "If he gits too blame' troublesome, I'll break his scrawny neck. Come on here, yaller mug!"