"The machinery is too hot to handle, now, sir," reported one of the naval machinists, "but it looks as though something was wrong right in there"—pointing.
"Put one of the electric fans at work there, at once," directed Hal. "Then things ought to be cool enough in half an hour, to make an examination possible."
After seeing this done, the two submarine boys left for the platform deck, for the engine room was both hot and crowded.
"How long is it going to take you, Mr. Hastings?" asked the naval officer in command of the "Pollard."
"Half an hour to get the parts cool enough to examine, but I can't say, sir, how long the examination and repairs will take."
So the officer in command signaled what proved to be vague and unsatisfactory information to Lieutenant Commander Mayhew.
"This is a bad time to have this sort of thing happen," observed the naval officer in charge.
"A mighty bad time, sir," Jack murmured.
"And the engines of the 'Pollard' were supposed to be in first-class condition."
"They were in A-1 condition, when the boat was turned over to the Navy,"
Jack responded.