"I've about come to the conclusion we ain't much good as mechanics,
anyhow," went on Zenas Henry with a short laugh. "In fact, Abbie's of
the mind that we get things out of order faster'n we put 'em in."
Janoah Eldridge rubbed his grimy hands and chuckled, but Willie deigned
no reply.
"This propeller now," he presently began as if there had been no
digression from the topic, "I s'pose the kelp gets tangled around the
blades."
"That's it," assented Zenas Henry.
"An' that holds up your engine."
"Uh-huh," Zenas Henry agreed with the same bored inflection.
"An' that leaves you rockin' like a baby in a cradle 'til you can get
the wheel free."
"Uh-huh."
There was a moment of silence.
"It can't be much of a stunt tossin' round in a choppy sea like as if
you was a chip on the waves," commented Jan Eldridge with a
commiserating grin.
"'Tain't."
"What do you do when you find yourself in a fix like that?" he inquired
with interest.
"Do?" reiterated Zenas Henry. "What a question! What would any fool
do? There ain't no choice left you but to hang head downwards over the
stern of the boat an' claw the eel-grass off the wheel with a gaff.
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