This was the first time in his life that Henry had ever been placed in a situation of great responsibility. The responsibility was very real, too, for the lad understood that in large measure the safety of the ship now depended upon him. Much more than his own life was at stake. The lives of all the men left on the cutter, and the safety of the ship herself, might at any moment become absolutely dependent upon him. If no danger threatened aboard the Iroquois, there might yet be other lives and other ships endangered, and upon how well his instruments were cared for, and how thoroughly the watch was kept, would depend the possibility of catching those far-flung cries for help.
Had Henry been put in charge of the wireless thus suddenly and unexpectedly, under less harrowing circumstances, he doubtless would have felt the responsibility far less poignantly. But for hours past he had been watching the fight against death, and even death itself. He was nervously keyed up to a fearfully high pitch. His nerves would not let down. Doubtless it was the sense of responsibility that kept them taut. Again and again he told himself that it was his business to go to sleep and rest, so that he might be fit for duty when his turn came. But his arguments had no effect upon his nerves. He was unable to sleep.
For an hour or two he tossed in his bunk restlessly. Again and again he fell asleep, only to wake a few minutes later. The situation preyed on him. He could not keep his thoughts away from the radio shack. Suppose all was not right there. Suppose young Black was taking this time to defy orders and fool with the wireless key. Suppose when Henry woke up he should find the wireless out of commission. And suppose the Iroquois should break her rudder, or crack her shaft. She might, with such a strain on it, in such a sea. Suppose the captain should go wrong in his reckoning and the cutter should pile up on the sands, as the Capitol City had done. Suppose—suppose——A hundred terrifying suppositions came into Henry’s mind. Finally he could stand them no longer. He rose, drew on his clothes, and made his way toward the radio shack. Light was beginning to illumine the eastern sky. The sea still heaved violently, but the wind had lost most of its force. Peace was returning to the troubled world.
Then Henry stepped inside of the radio shack, and stood as though petrified. Young Black lay back in his chair, his eyes tightly closed, snoring loudly. He was sound asleep. For all that Henry knew, he might have been asleep for a long time.
“Black,” said Henry sternly, touching the sleeping wireless man on the shoulder. When the sleeper merely grunted, Henry said, still more sternly, “Wake up!” And this time he shook the sleeper vigorously.
Slowly young Black opened his eyes. A savage oath burst from his lips as he saw who was standing before him and realized his situation. Then a crafty look came into his eyes. He laughed.
“Fooled you that time, didn’t I?” he chuckled. “You thought I was asleep.”
“No, you didn’t fool me,” said Henry. “I don’t think you were asleep. I know it. Put on your headphones and attend to your business.”
All the ill nature in the other lad’s being leaped to the front. “You spy!” he snarled, with an oath. “So that’s the sort of chief radio man we’ve got, is it? A sneaking spy!”
For a moment it was all Henry could do to keep from hitting the lad. But he took a grip on himself and for a moment made no answer. Then he said: “I shall report this matter to the captain as soon as possible. You may go to your bunk. I will finish your watch myself.”