[CHAPTER V—THE UNDER-SEA WIRELESS]
As soon as Rawlins was out of sight the boys commenced to talk, Tom speaking through the transmitter while Frank wrote down what he said, for of course they could not know if Rawlins heard them, and the only means of determining if he had received all the words was to keep a record for comparison when he came up. They were busily engaged at this and tremendously interested and excited, when the telephone bell rang. Telling Rawlins to wait a moment, and explaining the reason, Tom ceased speaking while Frank answered the call.
“Hello, Frank,” came Henry’s voice. “I just rang up to be sure you were there. How’s everything going?”
“Fine!” replied Frank, “come on down, we’re just testing it out for the first time. When did you get back?”
“Last evening—but didn’t have a chance to run around to see you. I called up, but the maid said you were out with Tom. Didn’t she tell you? I’ll be right down, you bet. Say, I’ve some news for you. So long.”
“I’m glad he’s back from that trip with his father and is coming down,” said Tom, “Won’t he be interested and surprised if this works? Wonder what the news is.”
Then, turning to his set, he continued his interrupted talk, or attempt to talk, with Rawlins until, five minutes later, Henry was pounding at the door.
“Gee, but you’ve a fine place here!” he cried as he glanced about the little laboratory, “and you’ve diving suits and helmets and everything. Say, I was just crazy to get back when I got your letter telling about your experiments and everything. Where’s the diver fellow? Oh say, you’re not really talking to him under water! Crickety! Isn’t that wonderful to think he can hear you down under the river!”
Tom laughed. “Don’t know if he can,” he replied. “We’ll have to wait for him to come up and
tell. You see we haven’t got an under-sea sending set rigged up yet and the one he’s got is just a sort of makeshift for experimenting.”