“Wait and see if it works first, father,” said Jack, with a happy smile. He had not much doubt on this point, having solved the vexatious problem of getting his wires aloft.
CHAPTER XXIV—AN APPEAL FOR HELP
“What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
Jack had just flashed out the location of the island, and with it a fervent appeal for help. From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
But as yet no answer had come, though the lad sat with the transmitting switch open, waiting for a reply.
“Maybe there are no ships in this part of the Gulf,” said Tom.
“Well, with the power we have from that dynamo we ought to have gotten into communication with something before this,” said Jack impatiently. He turned his head toward the dynamo of the Flying Road Racer, which had been connected with the wireless apparatus and was whizzing away merrily. The motor, fed by a fresh supply of gas obtained by dumping in a new lot of crystals, of course supplied the motive power for the current maker.
“Try again,” suggested Professor Chadwick.