"Let us try to fix the pipe. I saw some extra pieces in the tool room. Maybe one of them will fit."
With the engine room cleared of steam they inspected the split pipe. It was a piece exactly two feet long, and they looked over the pieces in the tool room and found one just half an inch shorter.
"I think that will do," said Dick. "We won't be able to couple it on quite so tightly as the other was but we can pack it well, and I guess it will last till we reach some port."
The tool room was supplied with the necessary wrenches and all of the boys spent two hours in fitting in the new piece of pipe. Then they inspected the other pipes and the engine, but every thing appeared to be in first-class shape.
The fire had been allowed to die down while the repairs were going on, and was not started up again until the work had been completed.
"Say, don't I look like a nigger?" demanded Tom, as he put down some tools. "If I don't, I feel black from head to foot."
"You are certainly pretty grimy," answered Sam, with a laugh. "But I am that myself."
"We'll all have to go in for a good wash," said Dick.
"Vy ton't you chump oferpoard?" demanded Hans, who was pretty dirty himself.
