OH, SHOOT! 



Ri agreed: 



"She never missed an explosion coming 

 over." 



"Sure you've got gas?" I hopefully in- 

 quired. This is my first question in cases of 

 engine trouble. 



They were sure; so I returned to my bunk 

 and ran Duchess out of my warm place. Had 

 they answered my inquiry in the negative, I 

 could have instantly diagnosed the case, but 

 when an engine has gasoline and still refuses 

 to run, I delve no deeper. I respect its wishes. 



Another half hour passed ; then I went for- 

 ward and asked if there was plenty of spark. 

 This is my second question, and it leaves me 

 clean. But there was spark enough, so I 

 effaced myself once for all and again disturbed 

 Duchess just as she had made an igloo of my 

 bedclothes. This time I dozed off, lulled by 

 sounds which indicated that Nathan haa 

 begun a major operation of some sort, with 

 the others passing instruments and counting 

 sponges. 



Running footsteps roused me. Max was 

 removing a fire extinguisher from its rack 

 when I opened my eyes. He was calm; noth- 

 ing to worry about except a small conflagra- 



14 



