answers to expect," he said to his companions; "but here goes my
best guess."

He had selected an intermission period in the atmosphere when the big
broadcasting stations were quiet, and then gave the general call and sent
out the following:

"I want help to identify and locate an amateur who figured in mysterious
radio affair in last two days. He said his name was Raymond Flood, that
he lived in Kingston, that his call was V A X, and that he was marooned
on island in St. Lawrence River. Can anybody help me? Call A V L."

Immediately three amateurs, two in Canada and one in New York State,
clamored for a hearing. Cub wrote down their calls and then took on the
one in Kingston first.

"There is no such amateur in Kingston," the latter announced. "I know
them all here. V A X is held by somebody in Port Hope. I listened-in to a
lot of that stuff and called up three amateurs in Port Hope. I learned
that A V L is Alvin Baker who is attending Edwards College."

"Why, he's my cousin!"

This exclamation from Hal created a real sensation in the cabin of the
Catwhisker. Meanwhile Bud had been taking the message down longhand in
order to preserve a record of the investigation, so that Mr. Perry, who
read as the boys wrote, got the progress of events about as rapidly as
did the three youthful experts. It is needless to say that he was as much
astonished as were his boy companions.