Part 20 (1/2)

The next day was devoted to saying good-by to the scenes and the people who had helped make up a happy vacation for the lads. Noddy, it was decided, would stay on with Captain Toby for the present, as his presence was not required in New York.

Of course the lads visited Captain Simms. He told them that his holiday also was almost over. The naval code was nearly completed, and he must get back to Was.h.i.+ngton within a week or so.

”Well, here's to our next meeting,” he said, as he heartily clasped the hands of both lads in farewell.

Under what circ.u.mstances that meeting was to occur none of them just then guessed.

CHAPTER XXII.

”THE GEM OF THE OCEAN.”

The _Columbia_, a magnificent and imposing vessel of more than 20,000 tons burden, lay at her New York dock two weeks later. Within her steel sides, besides the usual cabin accommodations, she had swimming pools, Roman courts, palm gardens and even a theater. Elevators conveyed her pa.s.sengers from deck to deck. The new vessel of the Jukes s.h.i.+pping interests was the last word in s.h.i.+pbuilding, and from her stern flew the Stars and Stripes.

It was sailing day. From the three immense black funnels smoke was rolling. Steam issued, roaring from the escape pipes. The dock buzzed and fermented with a great crowd a.s.sembled to see their friends off on the first voyage of the great s.h.i.+p. Wagons, taxicabs and autos blocked the street in front of the docks. Photographers and reporters swarmed everywhere. The confusion was tremendous, yet, promptly at the hour set for sailing, the booming siren began to sound, last farewells were shouted, and the invariable late stayer on board made his wild leap for the gang-plank before it was drawn in.

A perceptible vibration ran through the monster s.h.i.+p. Her propellers began to churn the water white. A small fleet of tugs helped to swing her against the tide as she slowly backed into the stream. Majestically her monster bulk swung round, her bow pointing seaward. Her maiden voyage had begun.

It is doubtful if among her delighted pa.s.sengers and proud officers, however, there were any more enthusiastic about the great vessel than two lads who were seated in the wireless operators' cabin on the topmost deck.

”Well, Billy, this is different from the old _Ajax_, eh?”

”Is it? Well, I should say so,” responded Billy. ”You ought to see the engine-room. You could have put the _Ajax_ in it, almost.”

”We ought to be proud of our jobs,” continued Jack.

”I know I am. It's a great thing to be part of the human machinery of a huge vessel like this, and the best part of it is that she flies the American flag,” added Billy enthusiastically.

”I heard that the _Gigantia_, of the London Line, sails to-day, too. By Jove, there she comes now.”

He pointed out of the open door back up the river. The great British steamer, till then the biggest thing on the ocean, was backing out. Her four red-and-black funnels loomed up imposingly above her black hull.

”Then we'll have a race for certain,” said Billy, his eyes dilating with excitement; ”good for us, but my money goes on the _Columbia_.”

”That Britisher can travel, though,” said Jack.

”Oh, we won't have an easy time of it, but I'll bet my s.h.i.+rt we'll win the blue ribbon of the ocean.”

”I hope so,” rejoined Jack with a smile at the other's enthusiasm. ”But what do you think of my quarters, Billy?”

”Why, they're fit for a king or a millionaire,” laughed Raynor. ”I'll bet you never thought, when you were in that little rabbit hutch of a wireless room on the old _Ajax_, that some day you'd be traveling in such style?”

Raynor's eyes wandered to the instrument table, with its array of the most up-to-date wireless apparatus.

”Hullo! What's that thing?” he asked suddenly, pointing to a device that looked unfamiliar. It was a box-shaped arrangement, metal, with complicated wires strung to it and had a ”telephone” receiver attached to it with a band to hold it securely to the operator's head.

”Oh, that's an invention of my own that I'm trying out,” said Jack. ”I don't just know what success I'll have with it. I haven't really put it to the test yet.”

”What do you call it?”

”The Universal Detector,” replied Jack.