CHAPTER XIV—A MESSAGE FROM THE AIR
Fortunately, there was no ray of light visible about the Vagrant. The incandescents had been switched off in every part of her, with the exception of the engine room. In this compartment Tom, by some inspiration, had closed the deadlights, and therefore not a gleam of light leaked out to betray the whereabouts of the craft.
“Do you think the Tarantula will cross the bar to-night?” asked Jack presently.
“I don’t imagine so,” was the rejoinder. “They wouldn’t be idiots enough to take such a chance as that on this tide. No, if you ask me, we’ve got the night ahead of us till the first streak of daylight.”
“Good enough,” said Jack, with much inward satisfaction; “and now, I’ve been thinking, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for me to keep watch by the wireless. It’s likely enough that Herrera will try to send a message to his plantation up the river, provided he’s managed to get his apparatus repaired.”
“I’ve been thinking that, too,” said Tom. “I’ll go below and start up the generator.”
“You might as well,” said Jack, “although I don’t think that we’ll send out any messages to-night. Our job is to catch what we can from the air.”
While Tom hastened to the engine-room to start up the dynamo. Jack made his way to the cabin, accompanied by Ned Bangs. Captain Andrews and Jupe remained on watch on deck.
Seating himself at the wireless table. Jack adjusted the head band, placed the receivers at his ears, and then threw the switch for receiving. Ned, in the meantime, had run up the wireless mast with its slender antennæ, or aerials.
This done, Ned rejoined his chum, seating himself beside him. After an interval he spoke.