“What’s that?” he went on, into the instrument. “You say she’s in trouble? Got a wireless?”
He turned to those in the room, putting a hand over the transmitter.
“Gee!” he ejaculated. “Here’s more of it! Well, what do you think of that?”
“What?” demanded Chick.
“Great Cæsar! Wouldn’t that jar you?” was all Patsy responded, as he turned again to the telephone.
He listened a few moments. Then, as he clapped the receiver on the hook, he announced, trying to speak calmly:
“The steamer Spangled Star is in trouble a hundred miles out. One of her engines has broken down, and she is limping back to port as well as she can with the other.”
“What? To San Juan?” demanded Chick.
“Sure!” replied Patsy.
“That’s good. We’ll be there to meet her when she comes in,” said Nick Carter, with a smile that was partly a vengeful frown.