Tony Walker

Anything I can do?

She said she didn't know what was the matter.

The engine had just stopped and wouldn't start again.

And it had.

It wouldn't even turn either with the self-starter or the handle.

The whole thing was awfully hot.

And I asked her whether there was any water in the radiator.

She didn't see why there shouldn't be.

There always had been.

This didn't strike me as entirely conclusive.

I said, we'd better put some in and see what happened.

She said, why not use snow?

But I thought not.

There was an idea at the back of my mind that there was some reason why it was unwise to use melted snow, and it wasn't until I arrived with a bucket full that I remembered what it was.

Of course, goiter.

When I got back to her, she'd got the radiator cap off and inserted what a Danish friend of mine calls a funeral.

We poured a little water in.

Luckily, I'd warned her to stand clear.

The first tablespoonful that went in came straight out again, red hot, and blew the funeral sky high.

We waited a few minutes until things had cooled down a bit, but it was no go.