The weather remained fine, and several days passed busily and fruitfully, the Radio Boys becoming more and more familiar with the fascinating work of the iceberg patrol. Their keen interest in radio cemented the friendship between them and the operators, who gladly showed them all they knew. So expert did the boys become, and so frequent were the opportunities afforded them, that before long any one of them, but especially Bob and Joe, could, on a pinch, have taken the places of the regular operators.
They would have been perfectly happy had it not been for the shadow of dread that hovered over them concerning the fire in Clintonia. They had not yet succeeded in getting news any more definite than that contained in the first meager dispatches, and their apprehension seemed at times more than they could bear. To banish it as far as possible, they sought to engross themselves in the work of the ship. But many a night they tossed restlessly on their pillows, a prey to torturing thoughts and fears.
Blended with their more personal fears was anxiety about Mr. Strong. It was possible that he might have been picked up and the fact not generally broadcasted. But, as far as they knew, he might have found a grave in the Atlantic.
One morning, after the boys had been conscious at intervals through the night of much coming and going on the Meteor, they were surprised to note that Johnson and Marston were missing at the breakfast table. There were many other vacant seats also, and the boys looked at the steward in wonderment.
“What’s the big idea?” asked Bob, indicating with a sweep of the hand the empty places.
“Sickness,” replied the steward. “Heap of trouble on board. Captain Springer told me to ask you to come to his cabin as soon as you had finished breakfast.”
CHAPTER XXIII
IN DEADLY PERIL
The Radio Boys looked at each other in anxious surmise.
“Seems to be something serious,” remarked Bob.
“That explains the tramping I heard last night,” said Joe. “I remember being waked up two or three times. Once I was tempted to get up to see what the matter was, but I dropped off again before I did it.”