However I hope we
will not have to. Now, Mr. Damon, if you will just take charge of
the steering apparatus for a minute, I want to go aft."
"What for?"
"I wish to see if everything is all right. I can't imagine why
Eradicate was making those queer motions."
Mr. Damon, who knew how to operate the Red Cloud, was soon
guiding her on the course, while Tom made his way to the rear
compartments, through the motor room, where the stores of
supplies and food were kept. He made a careful examination,
looking from an after window, and even going out on a small, open
platform, but could discover nothing wrong.
"I guess Rad was just capering about without any special
object," mused Tom, but it was not long after this that they
learned to their dismay, that the colored man had had a method in
his madness.
On his way back through the motor room Tom looked to the
machinery, and adjusted some of the auxiliary oil feeders. The
various pieces of apparatus were working well, though the engine
had not yet been speeded up to its limit. Tom wanted it to "warm-up"
first.
"Everything all right?" asked Mr. Damon, as Tom rejoined them
in the pilot house, which was just forward of the living room in
the main cabin.
"Yes, I can't imagine what made Rad act that way. But I'll set
the automatic steering gear now, Mr.
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