“I suppose radio is your chief reliance in giving warning to vessels of the presence of icebergs,” remarked Mr. Layton.
“Practically the only reliance,” replied the captain. “If the transmitting set of the vessel were put out of commission, she might as well be laid up in port for all the good she could do.”
“Trust old radio to do the work!” said Bob, with enthusiasm.
“I ought to tell you,” observed Mr. Layton, with a smile, “that when radio is mentioned among these boys, they all sit up and take notice. Every one of them is a radio fan.”
“Is that so?” asked the captain. “Then that’s another bond between us, for it’s my most fascinating study. I’ve studied it day and night, awake and asleep.”
At this last word, the boys looked at each other in surprise.
“Aren’t you joking when you say you learned it while asleep?” queried Mr. Layton.
“Not a bit of it,” replied the visitor. “One of the new developments at the naval stations has been a method of teaching students to send radio code messages more speedily by giving them data through their earpieces while they are asleep. I know that sounds suspiciously like a fish story, but it’s an actual fact.”
“How is it done?” asked Bob.
“What’s the idea?” queried Jimmy.