The surgeon paused. “The fellow!” cried the captain. “Who was he? Have you any idea?”
“I certainly have. Although it was perfectly dark out on deck, I saw the man’s face clearly outlined against a light. It was Black.”
CHAPTER XX
HENRY’S EXONERATION
With such a line of evidence against Black, the outcome of the court-martial that quickly followed was a certainty. Black was convicted, dishonorably discharged from the Coast Guard service, sentenced to serve a prison term, and thrust into the brig, after being stripped of his uniform.
Quite as naturally Henry was appointed to fill his place. The appointment, however, could not become really effective until Henry should receive his mother’s permission to enlist. He had no doubt her consent would be forthcoming. He had already written to obtain it, and was expecting a reply soon. Everybody on board seemed genuinely glad when Henry was completely exonerated, and nobody was more pleased than Captain Hardwick. He had come to like the lad immensely.
“Henry,” he said, “I never had more satisfaction in appointing any one to a position under my command than I have in appointing you. If you continue to be as faithful as you have been so far, there won’t be any question, when your probationary three months are up, about your confirmation as a permanent member of my wireless staff. With Mr. Sharp and Mr. Belford and you, I shall have one of the best wireless staffs in the service.”
Nor was Mr. Sharp or Belford one whit less pleased with the change in the wireless staff. Neither of them had ever liked the third-class radio man. When Mr. Sharp shook Henry’s hand in congratulation, Henry said, “Mr. Sharp, I want you to teach me everything there is to know about wireless.”
The chief electrician laughed. “I can’t do that, Henry,” he smiled. “I don’t know everything myself. But I’ll be glad to teach you all I do know. With two such students as you and Jimmy, I’ll have to hustle to keep ahead of you.”
Even the weather seemed to rejoice with Henry, for the clouds disappeared, the sun came out clear, and the day following the rescue of the Rayolite was one of rare beauty. The Iroquois was able to quicken her speed and bring her tow into New York Harbor before darkness again fell.
As the cutter steamed up the channel, Henry got into touch with Roy and flashed him the joyful news that the mystery of the field coil had been solved, and that he himself had been exonerated and permanently appointed third member of the radio staff.