“Will he listen to us, do you think?”
“Of course he will,” said Whistler with confidence.
The two friends could scarcely sleep in their watch below, and in the morning their anxiety was apparent to the other boys.
Whistler watched for his chance and spoke to Ensign MacMasters. The ensign would do anything within reason for Whistler and his friends. He considered the four Seacove lads about the finest boys aboard the Colodia.
Upon hearing the story of the mystery message he became vastly interested. He went to see Sparks first of all, and then hurried to Commander Lang’s cabin. One reason why Mr. MacMasters was so eager to see the commander was because Sparks had told him that during the previous evening an operator at the Weather Bureau station at Arlington, Virginia, had asked the Colodia’s chief radio man:
“Have you caught message being put out for Colodia?”
While a radio man on the troopship Kinkadia demanded:
“Anybody named Belding on Colodia? He appears to be wanted by a ham.”
Which was not a very respectful way of referring to George’s sister. It showed, however, that Lilian’s uncertain sending was attracting attention at several points.
It was mid-forenoon before the two friends were called into the presence of Commander Lang. Belding was bashful and allowed Whistler to do most of the talking. And he was impressed by the ease and coolness with which his friend went about the matter.