“Find young Harper,” said the captain.
“I saw him on deck helping the sailors.”
“Send him to me.”
When the quartermaster had summoned Henry, the commander said to him, his voice quivering with emotion, “Lad, Mr. Sharp is gone. He was in the last boat. Are you sure you can operate our wireless? We need it now as we never needed it before.”
“I can,” said Henry quietly.
“Then try to get in touch with this land station. I don’t know which one it is. I thought that we were opposite Truro. We’re somewhere in that neighborhood. Find which station it is, and ask how many men got ashore.”
“But what about Belford?” asked Henry. “He’s the regular assistant. Oughtn’t he to do it?”
The captain glared angrily at Henry. Then he comprehended what was in the boy’s mind. “Send Belford to me,” he said. “It’s no time for etiquette now. I want action.”
“You shall have it,” said Henry, and he hastened to the radio shack.
“Belford,” he said, as he closed the door to shut out the howl of the wind, “the captain has asked me to send a message. He wants you to report to the bridge.”