Slowly the third-class radio man arose and left the shack. At the door he turned and faced Henry. “You sneaking spy,” he said, with another oath, “if you tell the captain, I’ll fix you as sure as my name is Black.”
CHAPTER XIV
A CATASTROPHE
Henry gave slight heed to the young operator’s threat. Not for one second did he fear violence from him. Should any physical encounter occur, he was sure he could take care of himself, and he saw no other way in which young Black could harm him. He believed his own word would be taken quicker than Black’s. Knowing that he had done no wrong, and that he intended to do none, he saw no way in which his rebellious assistant could do him an injury. So, as soon as he could, he dismissed the matter from his mind.
But on account of the excitement accompanying his little encounter with Black, it was not altogether easy to forget the matter. When Henry remembered that Black had been asleep at the key, and that some one might have been trying to talk to the Iroquois, he drew on the headphones and for a space sat listening. Then he threw over his switch, flashed out a general call, and asked if any one had been calling the Iroquois. When, after listening and repeating the message, there came no response, he felt relieved. He sat back in his chair, satisfied that all was right.
After breakfast Belford came on duty, according to agreement. He expressed his surprise at finding Henry in the wireless shack. Henry told him what had happened. Young Belford frowned deeply.
“Be careful, Harper,” he said. “I never trusted Black. He might try to do you some harm.”
“I don’t see how he could,” said Henry. “There are too many people about.”
“Just the same I wouldn’t spend too much time out on deck after dark. There’s seldom any one out there except the watch forward.”
“I’m sorry it happened,” remarked Henry. “I hate to tell on him.”
“But you must,” urged Belford. “If you don’t, he’ll think he has scared you out of it. Then he’ll be worse than ever. And he ought to be punished, if only to make him more careful in future. You can’t tell what might happen if the wireless watch goes to sleep.”