CHAPTER XXI 



La Mulata 



Wednesday, June 3d. At 6.30 a.m. the shore 



party, Bartsch, Clapp, Rodriguez, and myself, 



boarded the auxiliary, amid furious barking of the 



two dogs and a volley of adios from the crew. The 



schooner at once hoisting anchor drew away, 



and we, in the little boat, proceeded on our course 



in the opposite direction toward the Alacranes 



Keys just discernible on the eastern horizon. 



Before going very far, one of the cylinders of our 



engine "lay down" and refused to "get up." 



Without Greenlaw, who is a wizard with engines 



and speaks their language, we felt very helpless. 



Everyone, in turn, "got out and got under," and 



did all that seemed possible to do to any engine. 



When hope was about dead and we sat bathed in 



gloom the balking cylinder suddenly started and 



worked perfectly, and then we forged ahead 



through the clear water in a most satisfactory 



manner. Without charts or knowledge of the 



256 



