“That is indeed terrible news,” he said gravely. “I feel it, not only for your sake, but for the sake of your people, to whom I am indebted for such kindly hospitality. It touches me very nearly. But let us hope it may turn out to be much less serious than you fear. I’ll do my very best to get further information for you at the earliest moment possible.”
They thanked him, and went on their way to the stateroom they shared together. There they exchanged their hopes and fears.
They saw the old Clintonia that they knew, where all of them had been born and brought up, with its pleasantly shaded streets, its schools, churches, homes and business blocks. It was a part of themselves, and they loved it. Now they visioned it as blackened and blighted, the houses mere masses of débris, a prey to the red fire demon they had learned to hate at that time when they had fought its fury in the flaming forests of Spruce Mountain.
But far worse than that was the possibility they conjured up of personal harm, perhaps death, having come to their dear ones. The material damage could be replaced, the town could be rebuilt and be made more beautiful than before, but nothing could restore their people if death had laid a hand on them.
They talked together for a long time, in low and trembling voices, and tried to cheer each other up. Then at last they climbed into their bunks and tried to sleep. But sleep refused to come to them, except in brief and fevered dozings, and it was a haggard group of Radio Boys that left the stateroom in the morning.
As soon as they could, they hurried to the radio room, where Marston, who was on duty, had been obeying the orders of the captain and doing all that he could, consistent with his other duties, to get in touch with Clintonia.
But so much difficulty was encountered in getting information, owing to the breakdown of telegraph and telephone service and the general state of confusion existing in the stricken town, that the effort had to be deferred to a more favorable time.
The boys were desperate at the necessity, but they summoned all their courage to sustain them during the waiting. The only thing to do was to bear their trouble manfully and hope for the best.
A warning that came by wireless helped to turn their minds for a time into another channel. A big iceberg had been sighted by a freight steamer. Latitude and longitude were given, and the Meteor was soon tearing through the water in quest of the menace to life and property.
“How long will it take us to sight the iceberg?” inquired Bob.