"This, sir," complained Hal, turning around to face the naval officer in charge, "looks like a direct attempt to tamper with and damage the engine. Someone has done this deliberately, sir. It only remains to find the culprit."
"Then we'll find out," retorted the naval officer, "if it takes a court of inquiry and a court martial to do it. But are you sure of your charge, Mr. Hastings?"
"Am I sure?" repeated Hal, all the soul of the young engineer swelling to the surface. "Take this piston, sir, and examine it. Could such a job have been done, unless by sheer design and intent?"
"Will the lieutenant permit me to speak?" asked the senior machinist, taking a step forward and saluting.
"Yes; go ahead."
"Yesterday morning, sir," continued the senior machinist, "we thought the engines needed some overhauling by someone more accustomed to them than we were. We saw one of the machinists of the 'Farnum,' sir, hanging about on shore. So we invited him aboard and asked him to look the engines over."
"Describe the man," begged Jack.
The senior machinist gave a description that instantly denoted Sam Truax as the man in question.
"Did you leave him alone in here, at any time?" demanded Hal.
"Let me see. Why, yes, sir. The man must have been alone in here some three-quarters of an hour."