Page:Barbour--For the freedom from the seas.djvu/165

 "Sixteen knots at a pinch, but we usually do twelve on account of using two much fuel at high speed. You got to think of fuel, you know."

"I suppose so. And where do you keep that?"

"Everywhere." Clancy waved a big hand vaguely. "There's tanks of it all over. The main tanks are fore and aft, next to the keel, but we've smaller ones here and there. There isn't any space wasted on one of these contraptions, Nep."

"Why did he call you Nep?" asked Martin curiously as they went on. Nelson explained and his friend chuckled. "That's not so bad, either. Guess I'll have to call you that, too. This we call the after quarters, but technically it's the after battery compartment. About half the storage batteries are underfoot here. You can see the cables leading forward there. These gratings lift up when you want to get at the cells. That's my bunk there. Those cupboards are where we stow our gear. Next is the central station. Can't show you around there, though, for the Old Man doesn't like us hanging about. Everything's controlled from there, you see."

They paused inside the door and looked through into the next compartment. There were nine persons there, the captain and first officer 140