“Who are you, members of Terror Carson’s poaching crew? This is the ice patrol cutter Thespis.�
“No; we were on board against our wills. We are Noddy Nipper, Pompey, a negro cook, and William Raynor, lately of the freighter Cambodian.�
The next instant young Higgins had reason to exclaim as he stared in amazement at the usually self-contained Jack Ready.
“He’s gone crazy!�
For the young wireless man of the Thespis was doing a war-dance and banging his key as if he would break it off at one and the same moment. The crackling, whanging spark made an accompaniment for his wild caperings.
“What’s the matter? Can I do anything? Shall I go for the doctor?� inquired Higgins when he had recovered his breath.
“Doctor nothing!� shouted Jack, and with his free hand he smote young Higgins a blow petween the shoulders that made that youth cough and his eyes water.
“Old Billy Raynor’s come back! Come back from the grave via wireless, by all that’s wonderful!�
CHAPTER XXVII: A CRASH IN THE FOG.
Making northward was a smart gasolene craft motored with a powerful engine. She was the power tender of the Thespis, a taut, seaworthy craft, especially designed for the work of the revenue service, and she had taken part in many a chase after smugglers and other would-be evaders of Uncle Sam’s laws.