re the operators who have
charge of them know their job; and inspectors to make sure that every
such rule is obeyed."

"Who has the big chore of following up all these people and making
certain that they are conforming to the law?" questioned Mr.
Crowninshield.

"The Department of Commerce issues the licenses for all private and
commercial stations and sends its inspectors to keep an eye on
whatever comes under their control. It is this department that will
have jurisdiction over Surfside if the license is granted. Government
radio stations on the other hand, not only the high-power class but
the coastal stations and everything that pertains to their relations
with commercial stations afloat or ashore, whether in the United
States or in foreign lands are entirely under the control of the
Director of Naval Communications of the Navy Department."

"I wish you'd tell us something more about compass stations," Dick
said. "Were you ever stationed at one?"

"Yes, for a little while I was on an island off the coast," replied
Bob. "But I did not like it very well and applied for a transfer."

"It must have been lonely as the dickens on an island; worse, even,
than being at Seaver Bay. Why in goodness did they build the station
there?"

"Why, you see, a compass station that operates independently as that
one did is usually situated on a lightship or an island because that
location is best suited to the sort of work it has to do."

"And that is?"

"To give ships their positions when they sing out to ask exactly where
they are," replied Bob. "Since the station is fairly well out to sea
itself, it is able to furnish excellent cross-bearings and set the
vessel on her course in case she is off it. Ships have been known to
miss their way, you know, especially in a fog; and if they have not
missed it they are often very grateful to be assured they have not and
that their own calculations were correct. So the rule is that an
operator must always be listening in for at least three minutes at
ten, twenty-five, forty, and fifty-five minutes past the hour and be
ready to answer a Q T E when he hears it."

"What's a Q T E?" inquired both Dick and Walter simultaneously.

"Those particular letters mean: _What is my true bearing?_ It takes
less time to send the letters than to spell out the entire sentence
and therefore a simple code which means the same in all languages is
used. When such a call is received the operator replies: Q