Raynor had hardly expected an answer to his first call. But he was a little discouraged when night came and he had received no answer from space. He wondered if he had set the apparatus up correctly. He had followed closely the directions in the book. Still, he might have made a mistake, and a mistake would be fatal to the success of his wireless.
He could see that Noddy and Pompey were skeptical about the wireless plant working at all. When no answer came their faith plainly began to waver. He spent the evening figuring out their exact latitude and longitude on the chart he had brought from Captain Carson’s cabin. It gave their position exactly and Raynor memorized it so as to be able to flash it out when the time came.
“Well, all I’ve got to say is that if wese is dependin’ on dat mouse cage uv wire and dat lectric spark to git us offen de island, we got a mighty slim chance uv ever giving the good-bye,� said Noddy after supper.
“Dat lilly snake seem pretty ter look at but dem hair-oils don’ seem ter be circumambulatin’ dose spots an’ splashes in jes’ de way dey ought to,� added Pompey.
“Oh, have a little patience,� said Raynor, “we’ll attract attention in time. The atmospheric conditions may not have been just right.�
“When you tink dem hysteric conditions will be salubrious fer dem hair-oils?� inquired Pompey.
“Well, you noticed to-day that it was rather foggy. The Hertzian waves don’t travel as well in such weather.�
“I ’spose dey calls ’em Hurtsome waves on account ob de way dat snaky spark ’ull hurt yo’ if yo’ grab it,� said Pompey.
“The wireless transmission is usually better at night,� went on Raynor. “I mean to try again before we turn in.�
But his efforts met with no better success than during the day. Tired out, and not a little disappointed, he went to bed where even his vexation over his failure failed to keep him awake.