“Very well, sir,” replied Berwick. “Lucky I brought my traps along.” Picking up his bag he descended into the engine room followed by Juarez.
“Well, how is it?” inquired the professor, when Berwick came on deck again a little later. “Everything all right?”
“Indeed no,” replied Berwick. “Looks as if somebody had been tampering with the engine. Lot of loose bolts and nuts. If she had been started up there would have been a pretty smash-up. However, I think two or three hours’ work will put it all right.”
“That must be some of Broome’s work, I suppose,” commented the professor. “Bribed the engineer. You see what we have ahead of us, boys. Go ahead and do the best you can, Mr. Berwick. But I suppose we had better have breakfast first. Got anything to eat on board, captain?”
“Fully provisioned, sir,” replied the captain. “I told your steward that you would want breakfast and I think he has it ready.”
“Very well, then,” said the professor. “That seems to be the next thing in order.”
A handsome, and what was more important, a very competent man, the steward proved to be. The professor explained that ever since his early youth Pedro had been in his employ, and his father before him for many years.