“Correct. That dot on the chart,” and the captain pointed with his pencil, “is the spot where this derelict was reported to be. Also it’s just where we are now. If I drew a mark from that dot along the direction in which the wind is blowing, which is from the southwest, that should be the course of the derelict. But the current may have carried it to right or left of that line. So we have to make a grid, in order that we may not pass the derelict in our search. We will sail a course that takes us first to right and then to left of this supposed course, in such a way that we can examine every foot of the sea over a wide area. Our present grid will be like this;” and the captain drew on a piece of paper a diagram something like the following:
“We are now at A,” he said. “We’ll run off to starboard a distance, then make a right-angled turn to port, and on around so as to make a series of long rectangles, as it were. The sides of these rectangles will be as far apart as twice the supposed limit of visibility. Thus we shall be able to see everything that floats within the limits of our course.”
“How far do you think you could see this derelict?” said Henry.
“Not so very far. We are looking for an old, wooden schooner. Her masts are gone and her decks are awash. At least that is what she was like when sighted. She wouldn’t stick up above the water much, and this sea may have broken her in pieces. We might be able to see her five miles, so the sides of our rectangles couldn’t be much more than twice that distance apart.”
“That’s a fine scheme,” agreed Henry, “and I’ll bet you’ll find her.”
Already the Iroquois had come about and was standing on the first leg of the grid. Hour after hour the cutter continued its search, covering leg after leg of the course. But neither the men on the bridge nor the lookouts in the crow’s-nests could detect any particle of wreckage.
Meantime the chief electrician had been combing the seas with his wireless, asking all vessels that had seen the derelict to give the Iroquois what information they had concerning it.
Every three or four hours he kept broadcasting this message: “Iroquois searching for derelict schooner. Last reported September 25 in latitude thirty-nine, thirty; longitude sixty-six, twenty. Any vessel sighting derelict please notify Coast Guard cutter Iroquois. Call letters NTE.”
And Henry, listening in at times, caught several messages like this: “NTE—NTE—NTE—de—KLF—Your QST acknowledged. Will keep sharp lookout. AR.”