While awaiting orders, which the wireless had told the St. Mark’s captain were not ready for transmission, the big liner stood “off and on” at the mouth of the channel. It was wearing work, and all looked forward eagerly to the day when their destination would be settled and they could proceed.
Jack felt the monotony of it no less than anyone else on board, but he spent a good many busy hours perfecting an attachment for a wireless coherer which he hoped would prove of great value in the future, and possibly prove as profitable as the Universal Detector, to which allusion has already been made in “The Ocean Wireless Boys” and “The Naval Code.” One night, after working for some time at some rather abstruse calculations in this connection, he decided to abandon the work for the night and take a stroll on deck before turning in.
Raynor, he knew, was finishing up the last of a series of match games of checkers, so he did not bother to look up his friend. Knowing that Bill was busily engaged, Jack was rather surprised when, at his fourth or fifth turn up and down the deck, which was almost deserted, a steward stepped up to him with a note.
It proved to be from Raynor and read as follows:
“Dear Jack:
“Meet me at once in the stern where we can talk without being spied on. The steward will show you where. I have something important to tell you about Radwig.
“Bill.”
“This is very peculiar,” mused Jack, and then, turning to the steward he asked:
“Did Mr. Raynor give you this?”
“Yes, sir, and he told me to bring you to where he was waiting, sir,” was the obsequious response.