The man looked with surprise, first at the radio boys and then back to Mr. Salper.
“Am I to understand——” he began, when Mr. Salper cut him short with an imperative wave of the hand.
“These boys,” he said, “know something of radio. How much they know I am about to find out.
“Are you ready?” he asked, sharply, as the boys still hesitated. “A delay of even a few minutes would be regrettable.”
The boys looked at each other, and since no one else made a move to approach the apparatus, Bob saw that it was up to him. And right there he realized the great difference that there is between theory and practice. Of course they had had some practice in sending and they were fairly familiar with the code, but never before had they been called upon to make use of their knowledge in such a matter as this.
Then too, Mr. Salper was not the kind of person to inspire self-confidence. He was a driver, and it is hard to do good thinking when one is being driven.
However, having gone so far, there was no possibility of backing out and with a show of confidence, Bob approached the apparatus. The man who had addressed Mr. Salper regarded him with not a little distrust. He had heard of the radio boys, as who at Mountain Pass had not, but he certainly did not think them competent to send a message of any importance.
And at that moment, neither did Bob.
“Will you send your message phone or code?” he asked, looking up at Mr. Salper inquiringly. “We can do either here.”
Mr. Salper hesitated for a moment, then with a significant glance at the other man, who was hovering curiously near, he snapped out, “Code.”