"You see," the captain resumed, "I have twelve numbers here on the
keys of this radio-combinator--forward, back, stop propeller
motor, rudder right, rudder left, stop steering motor, light
signals front, light signals rear, launch torpedoes, and so on.
The idea is that of a delayed contact. The machinery is always
ready, but it delays a few seconds until the right impulse is
given, a purely mechanical problem. I take advantage of the delay
to have the message repeated by a signal back to me. I can even
change it, then. You can see for yourself that it really takes no
experience to run the thing when all is going right. Gladys has
done it frequently herself. All you have to do is to pay
attention, and press the right key for the necessary change. It is
when things go wrong that even an expert like myself--confound it-
-there's something wrong!"
The Z99 had suddenly swerved. Captain Shirley's brow knitted. We
gathered around closer, Gladys next to her father and leaning
anxiously over the transmitting apparatus.
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