Page:The Wireless Operator with the U.S. Coast Guard.djvu/60

 “Surely,” assented the commander. “We mustn’t forget that. Come with me and we'll go get acquainted with Sparks.”

“Sparks?” queried Henry.

“Oh! That’s our pet name for Harry Sharp the chief electrician. He has charge of all the electrical apparatus as well as the wireless itself.”

They found the chief electrician in the wireless house, for it was his trick at the key. “Mr. Sharp,” smiled the captain, “this is Henry Harper. He’s taking a little trip with us, and maybe he’ll be a Coast Guard man himself some day. Just now he wants to send a message to his friends at home, so that his mother won’t be alarmed about him. Will you help him out?”

Henry’s eyes shone bright as he looked about the small wireless room.: There was a broad, desk-like shelf that stretched from side to side of the little room, and on this, and on the walls about him, were fastened a dazzling array of wireless instruments.,

“Gee!” exclaimed Henry. “What a peach of an outfit!”

“It ought to be,” said the chief electrician with a smile. “It’s right up-to-date, and it cost Uncle Sam ten thousand dollars. Know anything about wireless?’

“A little,” said Henry. “I served as a sub