Page:The Wireless Operator with the U.S. Coast Guard.djvu/177

 station. Tell Sparks to get in touch with the station and find how many men were saved.”

The quartermaster climbed down the ladder and made his way to the radio shack. Young Belford was on duty. “Where is Mr. Sharp?” demanded the quartermaster.

“Gone,” said the young wireless man, and there were tears in his eyes.

“Gone! You don’t mean he went in a boat?”

The radio man nodded. For a moment he could not speak, then he managed to say, “I saw him leap into the last boat.” And a great sob broke from him.

“He may be safe,” said the quartermaster. “Most of the men got ashore. We could see them with the glasses.”

“Oh, I hope so!” cried the lad.

The quartermaster ran up on the bridge again. “The chief radio man is gone,” he said. “He pulled an oar in the last boat.”

“Find young Harper,” said the captain.

“I saw him on deck helping the sailors.”

“Send him to me.”

When the quartermaster had summoned Henry, the commander said to him, his voice quivering with emotion, “Lad, Mr. Sharp is gone. He was in the last boat. Are you sure you can operate our wireless? We need it now as we never needed it before.”