"A clamp over the plate will do the business," I said.
"Yes, but there is no clamp on board," was the answer.
"Have you a couple of wrenches?"
"We have one wrench."
"And a coil of wire?"
"Yes, there is wire."
"Then that will do. Here, we will clamp up this end first, and bind it with wire. Then we'll clamp this end up, and leave the wrench on, and I'll wager you can carry a half pressure of steam easily."
"I don't think," began Graves, when the commodore silenced him.
"Try the boy's scheme," he said, for he had studied a little of steam engineering himself, at Annapolis, years before.
It did not take long to put my plan into operation, I looking to it that the wire was wound just as I wanted it, and the wrench set in exactly the right place. Steam was all ready, and when I had concluded, the engine carried a few pounds over half pressure without a sign of giving way.
"She's all right now," I said. "Only watch that wrench and see that it doesn't slip."
"I declare, you're quite a genius!" laughed the commodore. "I think I had better take you with me."
