Jenkins at the hatch.

"Got his wave length now," Denman heard him say. "Took all night, but
that and the code'll fool 'em all."

From then on Munson stood watch at his instrument only from six in the
evening until midnight, got more sleep thereby, and soon the tired,
haggard look left his face, and it resumed its normal expression of
intelligence and cheerfulness.

CHAPTER XXIII

After supper about a week later, Denman and Florrie sat in the deck
chairs, watching the twilight give way to the gloom of the evening, and
speculating in a desultory manner on the end of this never-ending
voyage, when Munson again darted on deck, and ran up the bridge stairs
with a sheet of paper, barely discernible in the gathering darkness, and
handed it to Jenkins, who peered over it in the glow from the binnacle.

Then Jenkins blew on a boatswain's whistle--the shrill, trilling, and
penetrating call that rouses all hands in the morning, but is seldom
given again throughout the day except in emergencies.

All hands responded. Both cooks rushed up from the galley, the engineers
on watch shut off all burners and appeared, and men tumbled up from the
forecastle, all joining Jenkins and Munson on the bridge.

Denman strained his ears, but could hear nothing, though he saw each man
bending over the paper in turn.

Then they quickly went back to their places below or on deck; and, as
the bells were given to the engine room, the rasping of the wireless
could be heard.

As the two cooks came aft, Denman heard them discussing excitedly but
inaudibly the matter in hand; and, his curiosity getting the better of
his pride, he waited only long enough to see the boat steadied at
east-northeast, then went down and forward to the door leading into the
passage that led to the galley.

Billings was doing most of the talking, in a high-pitched, querulous
tone, and Daniels answered only by grunts and low-pitched monosyllables.

"_Gigantia_--ten to-morrow--five million," were a few of the words and
phrases Denman caught; and at last he heard the concluding words of the
talk.

"Dry up," said Daniels, loudly and threateningly. "Yes, thirteen is an
unlucky number; but, if you don't shut up and clear off these dishes,
I'll make our number twelve. Glad you've got something to think about
besides that woman, but--shut up. You make me tired."

Denman went back to Florrie somewhat worried, but no longer puzzled; yet
he gave the girl none of his thoug