Again Roy had to fight his way to the bridge with the message. It might be important for the captain to know about the lights.
Another hour passed. The Empress was not within sight. For half an hour longer the captain held to his course. Then he headed the Lycoming nearer shore. Another half hour passed. The Empress was still invisible.
Then an able-bodied seaman appeared in the wireless house and said, “The captain says to see if you can find out anything about the location of the Empress, sir.”
Into Roy’s mind flashed the remembrance of the fog off Hatteras. He had located the Merrimack in the fog. The captain must believe he could also find the Empress by wireless. It was a great opportunity.
“Tell him I’ll try,” said Roy.
The seaman started for the bridge. Roy dropped his head in his hands and began to think. How could he locate the Empress? A direction finder such as they had in the search for the secret wireless would do the trick at once. But he had no direction finder. Then Roy remembered how the wireless patrol had improvised a direction finder during the hunt for the dynamiters at Camp Brady. He had helped make that instrument. He could make another. Before he began, he decided to call up the Empress again. Hardly had he adjusted his receivers before a signal crackled in his ears.
“WNA de KKK. Can see a search-light. Is it yours?”
“Will have the light swung in an arc three times. Watch,” flashed back Roy.
The seaman had not returned, and again Roy had to go to the bridge. “Swing the search-light overhead in an arc three times,” shouted Roy. “The Empress thinks she sees us.” Then Roy added, “Please send a seaman to carry messages for me.”