T S
(meaning: Your true bearing is) and then follows it with the number of
degrees from his radio post stated in words, and also the name of the
station responding to the message. It is a general rule, by-the-by,
that all numerals used in any wireless communication must be spelled
out to make sure of their being perfectly understood."

"What a bother!" ejaculated Walter.

"It prevents mistakes, brother; and if it does that it is certainly
worth the trouble."

"I suppose so," answered His Highness a trifle crestfallen.

"Then what do you say next?" interrupted Dick, who was much interested
in the subject in hand.

"Well, after you have given the true bearing the ship wires: Q T F."

"And that means?"

"_What is my position?_"

"And you have to repeat those words before giving it just as you did
before?" asked Dick.

"Always," nodded Bob. "Every question asked is always repeated by the
operator answering it to make sure that each party fully understands
what is being talked about. You can't risk having a ship complain:
'Oh, I thought those figures you sent me were so-and-so.' No, indeed.
Everything must be so explicit that there will be no room for
blunders. So after you have repeated the question you send the
latitude and longitude _in words_."

"I guess there is sense in the rules after all," smiled Mrs.
Crowninshield. "Thus far we have not discovered any which, on being
examined, were not both reasonable and wise."

"That's the way I feel," Bob rejoined. "After being in radio work and
seeing the opportunities there are for mistakes I have decided
operators cannot be too careful. You see it is not like talking with
a person face to face. Those you are communicating with are usually
miles and miles away. Such stations as I have been telling you about
are on the lookout for any six-hundred-meter calls and they answer in
this tune. After communication with a ship is established, however,
the tune shifts to seven hundred and fifty-six meters if a Navy vessel
should be talking; if not, the six-hundred-meter wave length assigned
is used. This leaves the shorter range waves to commercial vessels and
greatly simplifies matters."

"That is a good rule, too," chimed in Mr. Crowninshield.

"And now about the harbor stations," suggested Dick.

The young tutor smiled.

"I had not intended to give you all this stuff this morning,"
protested he, "but since you are interested in it we may as well go on
with the su