at hand-holds and rails, they followed their conductor. He led the way up the compani

e pallid gray dawn. No land was in sight, nothing but giant combers amidst which the yacht seemed no more than a helpless chip. Looking at the sea the boys found themselves wondering ho

f the main cabin house, was an object t

n hoisted there and, so far as they coul

ipped T

xclaimed hoarsely, as if that was

to venture o

" he half shouted above th

her someway, so we made a tackle fast under her

decent of you," c

the rough rejoinder, "it

y machinery that arose from it, the boys knew that it led to the engine-room. They climbed down a steel-runged ladde

el wall a man was reclining. His face was white and covered with sweat. His hand was bandaged and one of h

of his head. "Condenser went out of business a while ago. He g

dubious. Tom

hand," said Judkin

," he said, turning to the boys, "it's a case of life or death. The sea is incre

gh both boys had, in addition to their other studies gone in for a course of steam engineering

ant to know. The first thing to do, I

ank shaft," said Judkins weakly. "All she needs is a

and the place where the uni

engine-room from the stoke hold. A glance at the gauges affixed to this showed Jack that, at any rate, they had

saw his

g to do is to get her going. Remember, it'

t Madeira there was no chance to secure such an officer, and so she had proceeded to sea with Judkins as the only skilled man in her engine-r

m ascended to the starting bridge and applied steam to the engines. It was no easy task to carry out these operations on the rolling, wallowing y

ang close by his h

ahead!" hailed Ju

When this was done Judkins closed his eyes, lay back, and slipped off into unconsciousness. Tom, alarmed, ran through the bulkhead door into the fire-room. Here he found the stokers at work. There were three of them and he sent one on deck after Medway. It wa

the meal, unembarrassed by their queer situation. After it had been despatched, Jack noti

h and take a nap," ordered

t you?" inquir

couple of hours. I guess we'll have to hold down this job for some ti

g time with the rhythmic pulsing of the eng

ype="