"
"Well, what of that?" demanded Jetson, not seeing the point.
"Why," Dave explained, "a man at laborious physical work uses up
more air than a man who is keeping quiet. If the three officers
are going to work hard in there then they've closed the door in
order not to deprive us of air."
"We called them kids, at first," spoke Dan
Dalzell ruefully, "but they're a mighty fine lot of real men, those
three acting Naval officers."
Dave Darrin rose and walked over to the engine room, opening the
door and looking in. Hal and Eph were hard at work over the motor,
while Lieutenant Jack Benson, with his hand in his pockets, stood
watching their efforts.
"I beg your pardon, sir," said Darrin, saluting, "but did you close
this door in order to leave more air to us?"
"Yes," answered Jack Benson. "Go back and sit down."
"I hope you won't think us mutinous, sir," Darrin returned steadily,
"but we don't want any more than our share of whatever air is left
on board this craft. We belong to the Navy, too."
From the after end of the cabin came an approving grunt. It was
here that the cook and the four seamen had gathered.
With the door open the midshipmen could see what was going on
forward, and they watched with intense fascination.
Eph Somers had taken 'the too-thin copper' plate to the work-bench,
and had worked hard over it, trying to devise some way of making
it fit so that it would perform its function in the motor.
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