“Hello!” he cried into the microphone. “What on earth’s the matter? I haven’t heard a word
from you two for five minutes. Can you hear me?”
But instead of Tom’s voice in reply Frank was amazed to hear thick, guttural words rapidly spoken, and among them he made out only one that he understood, the name “Oleander.”
“Henry!” exclaimed Frank, speaking in hushed tones as if he feared being overheard, “Henry, there’s that fellow talking again—the one you and Mr. Rawlins heard—talking in Dutch or something!”
Then the strange voices ceased and very faintly and indistinctly Frank heard Tom’s voice asking,
“What does it mean?”
Frank was puzzled. “What does what mean?” he inquired into the microphone. But the reply, if Tom made one, was drowned out and confused by Rawlins’ voice. Frank could not distinguish all the words, but he knew from the sounds and intonations that Tom and the diver were discussing some matter between them and he refrained from interrupting.
Then the voices ceased and Frank called, begging Tom to explain matters, asking if anything
was wrong. But for a moment there was no reply and he wondered if his voice could be heard.
Then to his ears came Tom’s familiar “Gosh!” a few unintelligible words and a shrill whistle, followed by Rawlins’ voice. Part of it Frank could not catch but as he strained his ears he distinctly heard Rawlins exclaim: