“Say, this is something like!” uttered Joe enthusiastically, as he stepped below and stood looking about him. Here there was an abundance of room, for much of the engine was housed back under the bridge deck. The engineer had plenty of space in which to move about. Forward of the engine room, shut off by a curtain, was the galley. Here were stove, sink, ice box, dishrack and room for a goodly supply of foods.
Through a passageway Mr. Dunstan led them under the bridge deck. Curtained off from the passage was a wide berth.
“We generally call this the captain’s berth,” explained the owner.
“I guess my berth will be on one of the engine room lockers with Joe,” smiled Halstead.
The cabin proved to be spacious and handsome. The four locker seats could be fitted into berths when cruising. The cockpit aft was large and contained, besides side seats, half a dozen comfortable armchairs.
“Now suppose we go back to the engine,” desired Mr. Dunstan, turning about. “I’m anxious, indeed, to know whether you can locate the trouble that has tied this craft up here.”
Returning to the engine room, the boys opened their suit cases, taking out overalls and jumpers. Clad in these they were soon armed with wrenches and other tools, exploring the mysteries of that engine.
“This machine hasn’t had very good care,” spoke Joe after a while. “She’s fouled with dirt and thick oil at a good many points.”
“Has the motor been overheated?” asked the owner.
“I don’t believe so, sir; at least, not to any serious extent,” Joe stated as his opinion.
“Any repairs to parts going to be necessary?”
“A few, but simple ones, I guess. We ought to be able to make ’em from the materials at hand.”
“You—er—couldn’t run out to-night, I suppose?”
“We shall be very fortunate, sir,” Joe answered, “if we can take this boat out to-morrow forenoon.”
“We’ll stay aboard to-night and work as late as we can,” Tom explained. “Joe can’t really tell, until we get started, just how much will have to be done. But the motor is not hurt past ordinary repair.”
“I was going to ask you over to the hotel for dinner to-night,” hinted the owner.
“There seems to be plenty of everything to eat in the galley,” Tom answered seriously. “So, if you don’t mind, sir, we’ll stay right by our work and help ourselves to food as we can.”