Page:The Wireless Operator with the U.S. Coast Guard.djvu/96

 “I go on my regular watch in half an hour, Captain, and we would then be uninterrupted. I could give him a thorough examination.”

“Very good. That is the arrangement, then.”

Half an hour later Henry joined the chief electrician in the wireless shack. The latter first questioned Henry concerning the equipment and the theory of wireless. He found that Henry had a good basic understanding of these matters. The brand-new instruments that Henry had not hitherto been acquainted with, he understood at once when their operation was explained to him. In general knowledge and understanding Henry was, the examiner found, fully the equal of even a first-class radio man. When it came to operating the key, Henry showed that he was very proficient. That the chief electrician already knew. Nevertheless he examined Henry thoroughly. He made him flash out all the letters of the alphabet. Then he gave him a message to send, and told Henry to get it off at his best speed. Henry called the imaginary party to whom he was signaling and then dashed off the message almost as fast as the chief electrician could have done it himself. His sending was flawless.

“Now let me see how you receive,” ordered the chief operator.

Both men sat with phones strapped to their