“Have you a passenger named Jarrold on board?”
Jack’s heart and pulses gave a bound. Jarrold was leaning forward till his bristling chin almost touched Jack’s cheek. The man’s hand stole back toward his hip pocket and stayed there.
“Yes, what do you want with him?”
“We—have—a—message—for him,” came the halting reply.
Jack’s fingers were on the key to reply when the quick, harsh voice of Jarrold came in his ear.
“That’s the Endymion. No monkey business now. Send what I tell you. I——”
There was a sudden blinding flash from the instruments and a blaze of blue, hissing fire filled the wireless room.
Jarrold and the young wireless man staggered back, their hands flung across their faces to shield their eyes from the scorching glare. It was all over in an instant—just one flash and that upheaval of light.
“The aërials have gone!” cried Jack.
He darted from the wireless room, leaving Jarrold alone, a look of frustrated purpose in his eyes.