CHAPTER VIII.

TALKING THROUGH SPACE.


As the distance increased between air and land stations, the currents
became stronger, and frequent tuning was necessary. But Jack was able
to keep up a constant conversation with his father, telling him all
the details of the country as they flew along. The sudden explosion,
however, for it sounded like nothing else, startled him into a sharp
exclamation.

"What in the world was that?"

As if he had spoken the question to someone close at hand, came back
the explanation.

"Wireless telegraph wave crossing ours," said his father. "Some
powerful land station is sending out a message, possibly to some
ship."

"It almost broke my ear drum," said Jack, and inwardly resolved to
devote some time to trying to solve the problem of avoiding such
"collisions" in the future. It occurred to him that some sort of a
circuit breaker might be devised to cut off, temporarily, the
telephone talk by automatic means when a cross-wave of high energy
struck its current.