The young lieutenant held a wrench in his right hand.
"I will now turn on the compressed air device," announced Lieutenant
Jack. "First of all I will empty the bow chambers of water by
means of the compressed air; then the middle chambers, and, lastly,
the stern chambers. On a smaller craft than this we would operate
directly with the wrench. On a boat of the 'Dodger's' type we
must employ the wrench first, but the work must be backed up with
the performance of a small electric motor."
Captain Jack rapidly indicated the points at which the wrench
was to be operated, adding:
"I want you to note these points as I explain them, for after
I start with the wrench I shall have to work rapidly along from
bow to stern tanks. Otherwise we would shoot up perpendicularly,
instead of going up on a nearly even keel. Mr. Hastings, are
you all ready at your post?"
"Aye, aye, sir," came back the engineer officer's reply.
"On post, Mr. Somers?"
"Aye, aye, sir."
Lieutenant Jack applied the wrench, calling snappily:
"Watch me. I've no time to explain anything now."
With that he applied one of the wrenches and gave it a turn.
Instantly one of the electric motors in the engine-room began
to vibrate.
Almost imperceptibly the bow of the "Dodger" began to rise. Lieutenant
Jack, intent on preserving an even keel as nearly as possible,
passed on to the middle station with his wrench.
Just as he applied the tool the electric motor ceased running.
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