You've a clear
course half a mile to westward of that light."
Stump disappeared, and Royson found himself entrusted with full charge
of the vessel ere she had been ten minutes at sea. His gruff commander
could have paid him no greater compliment.
In the engineer, a man from West Hartlepool, the captain met one who
spoke the vernacular.
"It's no good a-dammin' me because there's a flaw in a connectin' rod,"
he protested, when Stamp's strenuous questioning allowed him to explain
matters. "I can't see inside a piece of crimson steel any more'n you
can."
"None of your lip, my lad, or I'll find flaws all over you, P. D. Q.
Can you fix this mess at sea, or must we put back?"
The engineer quailed under Stump's bovine eye.
"It would be better to put back, sir. I may be able to manage, but it's
doubtful."
Stump went aft to consult von Kerber. So speedily had the yacht's
mishap been dealt with that no member of the saloon party was aware of
it, though any sailor among them, would have recognized instantly that
the vessel was traveling under canvas.
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