Part 1 (2/2)
The old man, weather-beaten and bronzed by the storms and burning suns of the seven seas, shook his head.
”Idt is nice now, all righdt,” he said, ”but you ought to see der gla.s.s.”
”The barometer? What is the matter with it?”
”Py gollys, I d.i.n.k der bottom drop oudt off idt. You may have vurk aheadt of you to-night.”
”You mean that we are in for a big storm?”
”I sure do dot same. Undt ven it comes idt be a lollerpaloozitz. Take my vurd for dat. Hark!”
The old quartermaster held up a finger.
Far above him in the aerials could be heard a sound like the moaning ba.s.s string of a violin as the wind swept among the copper wires.
”Dot's der langwitch of Davy Chones,” declared Schultz. ”Idt says, 'Look oudt. Someding didding.' I'fe heardt idt pefore, undt I know.”
The old man hurried off on his way forward, and Jack emitted a long whistle.
”My, won't there be a lot of seasick pa.s.sengers aboard to-night! The company will save money on breakfast to-morrow.”
Just then Sam came back from dinner and Jack was free to go below to his meal. He was about to relinquish the instruments when there came a sudden call.
”To all s.h.i.+ps within three hundred miles of Hatteras: Watch out for storm of hurricane violence.
”Briggs, Operator Neptune Beach U. S. Wireless Service.”
CHAPTER II
WIRELESS CONVERSATIONS
Sam was looking over Jack's shoulder as the young wireless chief of the _Tropic Queen_ rapidly transcribed the message on a blank.
”Phew! Trouble on the way, eh?” he asked.
”Looks like it. But we need not worry, with a craft like this under our feet.”
But Sam looked apprehensive.
”What is the trouble? Not scared, are you?” asked Jack, who knew that, excellent operator though he had shown himself to be, this was Sam's first deep-sea voyage.
”N-no. Not that,” hesitated Sam, ”but seasickness, you know. And I ate an awful big dinner.”
”Well, don't bother about that now. Lots of fellows who have never been to sea before don't get sick.”
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