Newport News acknowledged the call, and then the vessel's wireless continued:
·--- ·- ··· ·--· · ·-·
And Joe, transcribing, wrote: "JASPER." Following this came:
-·· · - ·- ·· ·-··
The other boys looked on in chagrin, while Lieutenant Mackinson's countenance took on an amused smile, as Joe wrote down the word "DETAIL," and then nothing else but the initials "N. N.," which ended the message.
"Don't make sense," announced Slim in a discouraged voice. "You must have missed part of it."
"No, I didn't," Joe replied, looking anxiously toward the lieutenant.
"I guess he got it all," the young officer assured them, at the same time unlocking a little closet and taking a leather-bound book from an upper shelf. "Let's see."
He turned to the J's and ran his finger down the page until he came to the word "JASPER."
"That means 'We have coaled,'" he said, writing the words out on the pad.