“That _Sea Pigeon_ has got to be caught!” was the assurance of the boys and men of the _Colodia’s_ crew. The cruise, after this experience, was a much more serious matter to them all than it had been before. As far as the Seacove boys and Belding went, it had become pretty serious in any case. The prime reason for this lay in the message of mystery that the radio men continued, at times, to half catch out of the air. George Belding confided to Sparks the name Phil Morgan had made out of the uncertain letters which the chief had written down after hearing them repeated in his ear while at the radio instrument. “Redbird”; that seemed plain enough. “And the _Redbird_ is the ship my folks and Whistler’s sisters are sailing on to Bahia,” explained Belding. “Why, she might be right out yonder, not so many miles away,” and he pointed into the west. “You mean to say your sister can send Morse?” “She used to be able to. She wasn’t quick or accurate, but she could get a message over.” “There is something altogether wrong with this sending,” said the radio man thoughtfully. “I know it, sir. She wouldn’t know any code. She would probably spell out every letter and word. We only get a part of what is sent. That is, if it is Lilian who is doing this.” “It is mighty interesting, this ‘ghost talk’,” the chief said slowly. “I can see you are putting altogether too much faith in the possibility that the stuff is real. Why, we often get the most inexplicable sounds out of the air! It is a very long chance that this is a real message, or that it is from your sister, George.” “It’s a message from somebody and from somewhere; and I’m awfully interested, too,” declared Belding. “I wish you’d let me listen in again.” “Oh, I’ll do that little thing for you,” agreed Sparks. “If there is nothing much doing in radio in the afternoon watch, come around again.” With this promise George Belding contented himself. He told Whistler and the other boys he was going to set down every letter of the mystery message that he could comprehend, and see afterward just what could be made out of them--sense or nonsense! CHAPTER XXII--THE WIRELESS CALL FOR HELP Having delivered the survivors of the _Susanne_ to the greater comforts of an Italian liner bound eastward, the _Colodia’s_ own course was set for the south and west. Her commander and crew hoped to pick up news of the _Sea Pigeon_ once again. At any rate, the German raider had been last seen making off toward the West Indies and the Caribbean. The destroyer was below the Tropic of Cancer now, and the weather was exceedingly hot. A dress of dungaree trousers and sleeveless undershirt was the most popular uniform forward of the bridge, decided Donahue. “The brass hats who have to fairly live in their uniforms are greatly to be pitied.” Drills were not pushed, and many duties became merely a matter of form.