092 The Ghost of Craven Cove by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

9

Sabotage!

“Should we jump overboard?” Bess asked, on the verge of hysteria.

“No. Not if we don’t have to,” said Nancy. “That water is ice-cold, and the current is very strong.”

Suddenly George’s eyes widened. “Nancy, look!” she shouted, pointing straight ahead of them.

Their boat was veering toward a pile of rocks that were jutting out of the water.

Nancy knew that they and their boat would be destroyed if they continued their present course.

Desperately, she tried to regain control of the wheel, but it was too hot to handle and flames were spreading across the panel.

George looked down, and under the gunwale she spotted a fire extinguisher strapped in place. She grabbed it and immediately began spraying the area around the steering wheel.

Nancy took hold of the wheel and turned the boat away from the rocks. “I can’t slow down,” she cried. “The gears are gone!” Flames were licking around the ignition area, so Nancy couldn’t turn the key off.

“Nancy, look out!” Bess screamed. A fire had suddenly sprung up at Nancy’s feet.

George aimed the fire extinguisher, and the flames were doused. Nancy turned back to the controls.

“Get rid of the fire around the ignition and engine,” she shouted. “We can’t risk an explosion. We’ll all be blown up.” The motor sounded as if it were trying to tear the boat apart now.

“I’m going to radio for help before the wires melt,” Nancy told Bess, grabbing the microphone for the two-way radio. “Someone may get here in time, but you two had better prepare to abandon ship!”

Bess lifted a lid beneath her seat and reached into the compartment in which the life jackets were stored. She handed jackets to Nancy and George, then put on her own.

“Mayday! Mayday!” Nancy shouted into the microphone. “This is an emergency! Our boat is on fire a couple of miles off Craven Cove! Mayday, Mayday!”

Nancy repeated the distress call several times before she received an answer from the Coast Guard.

The officer assured her they were on their way at top speed.

By now George had completely extinguished the flames coming up through the floorboards as well as the fire on the control panel. “I think that’s about it,” she said wearily.

Nancy could touch the key now and cut the engine. The boat slowed to a stop.

“I’d better check the motor,” said George. She tried to open a hatch in the deck of the boat, but the brass handle was too hot.

“Let me help.” Bess found an old cloth, and together she and George pulled the door open.

Black smoke came billowing out of the chamber. The boat’s engine and wiring below were a charred, smoky mess, but there appeared to be no sign of flames.

To be safe, George sprayed the entire area until the extinguisher ran out of foam. The fire was definitely out.

With tremendous sighs of relief, the girls moved to the rear of the boat and sat down, exhausted.

“I think Mr. Littlefield is going to be slightly upset,” Bess said.

“Maybe just a bit,” said Nancy, returning her friend’s smile.

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