"He'd lose his ship, anyway."
"But suppose he made out he didn't hear the call?"
"Be sensible," Eric retorted. "How could he do that? Bribe the operator, or threaten him?"
"That's true," said Homer, thoughtfully. "It would look pretty bad if the wireless outfit on a ship was shut down, as soon as an 'S O S' came in."
"I don't believe there's a wireless operator in the business who'd stand for it," the boy declared. "They're a high-grade bunch of men. I'd be willing to bet if any operator got such an order, before he quit he'd send out a message to the nearest station or ship, telling the whole story."
"And then what?"
"Why, if the wireless was shut down then, and the operator told the truth of it, they'd tar and feather that skipper. Commercialism may be all right on land, but when you come right down to the bones of the thing, there's mighty few men on salt water that'll ever do a dirty trick to another man."
"Right you are," agreed Homer; "a shellback is the real thing in a pinch. By ginger," he continued, "doesn't she burn! Surely there can't be anybody on board of her."
The Itasca was now rapidly approaching the burning steamer. Amid the roar of the flames and the hiss of the sea against heated iron was heard the thin whine of the speaking tube whistle.
"Call from the burning steamer, sir, I think," said the operator, "but there's no meaning to it."