e cautious men have failed. Then much depends on the engineer.
I brought you across to ask if you would go."

Lister's eyes sparkled. "Yes, sir. I've been looking for a chance like
this."

Cartwright studied him quietly. Lister's keenness was obvious; the young
fellow liked adventure, but Cartwright imagined this did not account for
all.

"From one point of view, I think the chance is pretty good," he said.
"If you can float the wreck and bring her home, I expect some of the big
salvage companies will offer you a post. Anyhow, you'll get your pay,
and if we are lucky, a bonus that will depend on the cost of the
undertaking and the value of all we salve."

"I'm going," Lister declared, and Cartwright noted that he did not
inquire about the pay. Then he hesitated and resumed: "But I haven't got
an English chief-engineer's certificate."

"I don't know if it's important. I expect you'll find the adventure is
marked by a number of small irregularities. However, to satisfy the
Board of Trade is my business."

"Then you can reckon on me; but there's another thing. Why do you hope
to lift the wreck when the salvage men could not?"

Cartwright smiled. "I have been asked this before, but saw no grounds
for satisfying the inquirer's curiosity. All the same, I'll enlighten
you."

He did so, and Lister looked up sharply. He had known Cartwright was
clever, but the old fellow was cleverer than he thought. It was possible
he had solved a puzzle that had baffled the salvage engineers. After
all, perhaps, it was not strange they were baffled. They had reckoned on
mechanical obstacles; Cartwright had reckoned on the intricacies of
human nature.

"I expect you have got it, sir," Lister agreed. "If her bilge was in the
sand and the divers couldn't break into the engine-room--" He paused and
laughed. "A powerful centrifugal pump lifts some water, but you can't
pump out the Atlantic!"

"It looks as if the salvage company tried," said Cartwright, dryly.
"However--"

He talked about the undertaking, giving Lister particulars he thought he
ought to know, and when the young man went off, all important plans had
been agreed upon. Soon afterwards Cartwright went home and found Mrs.
Cartwright had gone to bed. He was getting disturbed about her, but
since the doctor had said she must rest, he talked to Barbara in the
evening. He told her about the wreck, and smiled when he stated that
Lister would have control.

"I think you declar