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This left him swinging by one hand from the point of the propeller-blade; but in another second he had grasped it with his other hand, and, after a struggle or two, managed to get fairly astride the edge.
He felt that he was lost; but, with the instinct of self-preservation, turned quickly on his feet, and as they too were slipping off the minute projections on which he had been supporting himself, he made a vigorous desperate spring outward from the face of the rock, reaching forward into space toward the curved end of the propeller-blade which he saw in front of him.
"The forward eccentric-strap screw's dropped off," said the engineer, investigating. "That all? I thought it was a propeller-blade." "We must go an' look for it. There isn't another." "Not me," said Pyecroft from his seat. "Out pinnace, Hinch, an' creep for it. It won't be more than five miles back." The two men, with bowed heads, moved up the road. "Look like etymologists, don't they?
He had hardly begun this task before he realised that it was one which would tax his strength, energy, and ingenuity to their utmost extent. The propeller-blade upon which he was perched happened to be at the very lowest point of its revolution; and his first task must be to reach the boss, which was about seventeen feet above his head.
"Now, you, McClusky," said Tam, following him and deftly strapping himself, "ye'll turn that propeller pull it down so, d'ye hear me, ye miserable chauffeur!" The man obeyed. He pulled over the propeller-blade twice, then jumped back as with a roar the engine started.
Above the noise of the machinery in the motor room could be heard the thrashing and banging of the broken or loose propeller-blade. Just what its condition was, could not be told, as a bulge of the gas bag hid it from the view of those gathered about the gun, which was about to be fired when the alarm was given. "We're sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "We're going down, Tom!"
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