Page:Cruise of the Dry Dock.djvu/167

 instant, and dreams, long hidden in their hearts, suddenly leaped to life. They were poor dreams, selfish dreams, foolish dreams, but for the moment they poised, like liberated fairies, for a flight to the land where dreams come true.

“We sail in the morning,” explained Madden, “for a South American port. Is there anyone in this crew who knows anything about running a marine engine?”

The men fell silent and looked inquiringly at each other. Fortune was beginning to show herself elusive, even in the Sargasso, save to those who know.

“I b'lieve not,” said Mulcher.

“We could raise steam, sir,” suggested Galton, “and then pull all the levers and twist th' w'eels, sir and see w'ot'd 'appen.”

“W'ot 'ud 'appen!” cried two or three voices. “W'y, we'd hall be blowed galley west, 'at's w'ot'd 'appen!”

“Sure Misther Madden can figger it out!” suggested Hogan cheerfully.

“We might leave th' dock and run 'er 'ome by sail,” suggested Galton.

“No! No! Take th' dock!” “We'll run'er