Part 26 (2/2)

”Wait and see how bad it is,” counseled Mr Hosbrook ”It ht shock”

Indeed, as he spoke, the tre of the island ceased, and there was silence The two ladies, who had retired to their own private shack, ran out screa, and Mr Anderson and Mr Nestor hastened over to be with their wives

”I guess it's passed over,” spoke Mr Fenwick

An instant later there came another tremor, but it was not like that of an earthquake shock It wastrain

”Look!” cried Toaze went in that direction, and, under the light of a full reat portion of one of the rocky hills

”A landslide!” cried Captain Mentor ”The island is slowly breaking up”

”It confiret your theory for a while, Parker, please,” begged Mr

Hosbrook ”We're lucky to have left a place on which to stand! Oh, e be rescued?” he asked hopelessly

The worst see that the two ladies were quieted, Tom started up the hill to his wireless station Mr Da the e had been clicked out as usual To

They found that the earthquake shock had slightly disturbed the apparatus, and it took them half an hour to adjust it As there had been a delay on account of the landslide, it was eleven o'clock before To out any flashes, and he kept it up until ht But there caet a little rest

”It looks pretty hopeless; doesn't it?” said Mr Fenwick, as he and Mr Da shack

”Yes, it does Our signal hasn't been seen, no shi+ps have passed this way, and our wireless appeal isn't answered It does look hopeless but, do you know, I haven't given up yet”

”Why not?”

”Because I have faith in Tom Swift's luck!” declared the eccentric man ”If you had been with him as much as I have, up in the air, and under the water, and had seen the tight places he has gotten out of, you'd feel the same, too!”

”Perhaps, but here there doesn't see to do It all depends on soht You leave it to Toet an answer yet, you see if he doesn't”

It was an hour past ht Tom tossed uneasily on the hard bed in the wireless shack The telephone receiver on his ear hurt him, and he could not sleep

”I may as well sit up for a while,” he told himself, and he arose

In the dimness of the shack he could see the outlines of the dynamo and the motor

”Guess I'll start her up, and send out soht just happen to catch some shi+p operator who is up late I'll try it”

The young inventor started theaway He tested the wireless apparatus It shot out great long sparks, which snapped viciously through the air Then, in the silence of the night, Tom clicked off his call for help for the castaways of Earthquake Island

For half an hour he sent it away into space, none of the others in their shacks below hi worked off his restless fit, was about to return to bed

But as this? What was that clicking in the telephone receiver at his ear? He listened It was not a jue thatto him No! It was his own call that was answered The call of his station--”E

I”--Earthquake Island!

”WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT'S WANTED?”