They now began to steam past small islands, bare, desolate spots for the most part, but surrounded by waters clear as crystal and gleaming like jewels. Some of them were covered with a sparse sort of brush, but generally they were mere specks of sand in a glowing sea of azure.
One evening Jack was sitting at the key, when through the air there came, beating at his ears, a wireless summons. Such messages were common enough and the boy languidly, for the night was stiflingly hot, reached out a hand for his pencil in order to jot down whatever might be coming.
But the next instant he was sitting bolt upright, sending out with strong, nervous fingers a crashing reply to the message that had come to him.
"To any ship in vicinity," it read. "Send us a boat-load of provisions and water or we shall perish."
"Who are you?" flashed Jack's key in reply.
Feebly, as if the supply of juice was running low, the mysterious sender of the urgent appeal sent back his answer.
"The Sombrero Island Light. The monthly provision boat has not arrived from the mainland. We are almost destitute."
Jack looked up at his wireless map. Sure enough, on a tiny speck of land not far off, was marked in blue, with a red star, the location of the island light, the coloring denoting that, like many modern lighthouses, it was equipped with wireless.
"How many of you are there?" inquired Jack's radio.
"Two. But my partner, an old man, is bedridden from suffering. I have not slept for many nights and am almost exhausted."
"Keep up your courage," rejoined Jack, "and I'll see what I can do."
He hurried forward with his message to the bridge. He found the captain taking his ease in slippers and pajamas outside the sacred precincts of his cabin. Jack told him briefly about the communication he had had, and then handed the skipper the notes he had made of the radio conversation.
The captain looked annoyed. A frown furrowed his forehead.
"Confound it all," he muttered, "I was making up my mind for a record run and this means delay. But we can't neglect to aid those unfortunates who are probably suffering the pangs of hunger and thirst at this very moment."
He paused as if reflecting, while Jack stood by respectfully. The captain had not dismissed him, and the boy judged that he was considering some plan.