The Carlisle independent., 1918-01-17
CHAPTER II-continued.


 thing ready-all of us, that is, except Mrs. Green, who complained of a headache. poor old lady, and decided to stay in bed.
 l did not help Bopp on his way much. as I should have liked to, be- cause l know my limitations when it comes to motorboats. Now, with an automobile am right at home. When car refuses to do what the advertise ments claim for it, all you need to do is to get out the tool kit, jack up one of the axles and telephone the nearest garage. Sometimes 1t isn't even nec- essary to use the jack. but it looks more professional and impresses your passengers with your mechanical skill.
 Bopp looked the engine over and sniff ed. Looks like 1t was built by one armed plumbers assistant with the St. Vitus dance. However, it's very sim pie. A child could understand this"
 He pulled few levers, set the steer ing wheel and started to crank it.
 Monty" he commanded, 'loosen that line there, and when the engine starts throw it aboard so I won't have to leave the steering wheel"
 1 did as he asked.
 He turned the fywheel over pain fully. There was a sort of wheezing sound, but nothing resembling the reg ular explosion of a marine motor in the flush of perfect health feeling it's oats. The engine is cold" he announced.
 'The principle of the gasoline en- gine," I lectured glibly to Lucille, lis easily comprehensible to the intellect of boy of ten. It consists simply of mixing gasoline in the thing-a-ma-jig which is drawn into a what-d' '-you-call- it in the engine, and then when an electric spark is applied from the ding bat there is an explosion. See-he turns the wheel over-thiS draws the charge of gas into the engine-now the eccentric trips the sparkling device now listen intentIy for the explosion. You can't hear it because there is very good muifler on the boat"
 Bopp expressed what he thought of me by hitting the engine a smart rap with the monkey wrench.
 "What's the matter?" inquired Lu- cile sweetly wishing to smooth matters over. "Won't the engine run?
 That is always the prize question to ask the operator of a gasoline engine on a boat or an auto. Next time you see and auto stalled beside the road, with the driver dripping precipitation and tearing his heart out at the crank, ask him that, and you will hear him pour out his innermost soul in words If one syllable.
 Bopp seemed disinclined to answer, sU did it for him. You see, he could make the engine go, any child could, but he wants to get it all warmed up before he starts it. It is really kind ness on his part. No humane man would want to make poor, cold, gaso- line engine run fast right at first See! E1r. Bopp is going to hold it in his lap until it gets warm"
 "Oh, dry upr' snapped Bopp impo- iitsly.
 That's impossible" I retorted. 'The earth itself is over two-thirds water, and I stack up considerably higher than that"
 Bopp now had a smudge of dark grease on his light trousers, had worn a blister on the palm of his hand and had used up a collar completely. He opened a valve on top of the engine, sn;.fed suspiciOusly and looked wise.
 Its flooded" he snorted.
 "I can sympathize with it." said feelingly.
 After rummaging around in the lock- CT for awhile he got out collection of tools and began to remove steel plate from the engine.
 'In order to make it easier to under stand the inner workings of the en- zine" I explained to Lucille. he is going to take it apart so that you may see each piece distinctly. l wonder if be knows that he spilled some cylinder oil in that place where he is now sit ting. No matter. To resume our lee ture, that thin piece of tubing covered with black grease is the crank shaft No; am mistaken. That is the mans leg. The crank shaft is that other thing not quite so thin and shapeless. Move your leg little, will you, Bopp, so that Lucille can tell which is the crank Shaft?"
 There was no reply save a growl of rage from below where the young man was standing on his head peering into the gizzard of the machine.
 Don't forget to tell me when to let go of the rope" reminded him.
 Lucille suddenly scrambled down into the launch.
 "0h, Frank she exclaimed, would