Page:The Wireless Operator with the U.S. Coast Guard.djvu/251

 and still the Iroquois had not found the helpless tanker. But as dusk was descending there came the joyful word from the Rayolite, “Heard your shot faintly.”

Again the captain called for a compass bearing. This time the signals from the tanker came much more distinctly, and the captain accordingly altered his course. The first faint call had given Belford a bearing not quite correct. The Iroquois continued to fire her gun. Forty minutes after the course was changed the Rayolite reported that she heard the shot from the Iroquois clearly.

When Henry sought the bridge with this cheering news, the commander said, “Tell the Rayolite operator to set his watch with yours. At five o’clock I will fire another shot. At the same instant you are to notify him by wireless. Tell him to note how many seconds elapse between the time he gets your flash and the time he hears my gun.”

Once more Henry called the Rayolite and explained the captain’s plan. “At five exactly we will fire,” concluded Henry.

Five o’clock came. Henry sat at his desk, switch thrown over, finger on his key. “Bang!” crashed the gun. Flash, went Henry’s signal. Then he sat in silence, waiting almost breathlessly for the reply. Five, ten, fifteen seconds