“There’s a chance of that, of course,” conceded Johnson. “But there are so many chances connected with Arctic exploration that one more doesn’t make much difference. There’s Amundsen now and McMillan, the one up in the Arctic ice and the other in Baffin Land. They’re counting largely on keeping in touch with civilization by radio, and occasionally they have. But there have been quite a number of cases where stations in the United States have tried to communicate with them but evidently didn’t, for they have received no answer. The fault hasn’t been with the sending set, which was plenty powerful enough to reach them. My guess is that the failure’s been due to the aurora borealis. It’s a beautiful thing all right, but there are times when one would like to have a little less beauty and a little better communication.”
“It seems to be fading now,” remarked Bob, as his glance swept the sky. “It isn’t so bright as it was, and it isn’t covering as much space.”
“It’ll last for about another hour,” judged Johnson; “and then my enforced vacation will be over.”
“You fellows are as busy as a hive of bees most of the time,” observed Jimmy. “Don’t you get so tired sometimes that you’d like to chuck the job?”
“No, I’ve never got so tired as that,” replied Johnson. “The truth is, I’m such a fan on radio that I’d rather handle a set than eat.”
There was an exclamation from Jimmy at this.
“Jimmy thinks you’re losing your mind when you say that,” chuckled Joe.
“Perhaps I was putting it a little strongly,” said the operator, with a grin, while Jimmy looked reproachfully at Joe. “But, honestly, I think radio is the greatest thing in this whole universe. Every day something turns up that gives me a new angle on its limitless possibilities. What hasn’t it done? What can’t it do? What won’t it do?”
“You’re getting eloquent,” said Bob, with a smile.
“It’s enough to make a dumb man eloquent,” returned Johnson. “I tell you, radio is almost human. It seems to have an intelligence of its own. Why, already it’s doing things that formerly only men could do. It directs ships. It guides torpedoes. It flies planes.