Hal needed no second bidding and soon he was busy with coil and detector.  Cub’s “weather report” proved to be accurate, for in a few moments he announced: 

“Here’s Schenectady, New York, with some opera.”

Over went the switch and with the move came a hornful of vocal resonance.  They listened eagerly to the end of the program and then Hal began to tune about for “something else doing” in the ether.  Presently he “straightened up” in an attitude of close attention, and his radio friends all realized that he had found something of more than ordinary interest.

“Here’s a Watertown newspaper looking for information about us,” he announced excitedly after a few moments of tense listening.

The other boys sprang forward with exclamations of wonder, Bud and Cub donning the other two phone head-pieces.

“Shall I give him the information?” Hal asked a few moments later, turning to Mr. Perry.

“Whom is he talking to?” the latter inquired.

“Some Canadian amateur who’s been listening in to us a good deal of the time.”

“I don’t see why you shouldn’t tell him everything, Mr. Perry.  He’s a reporter, isn’t he?”

“Yes, I think he has his own private set and he’s looking for a big scoop.”

“Give it to him, by all means,” Mr. Perry directed heartily.  “Now the whole country will be aroused over this affair.”

Hal managed to attract the attention of the reporter, although he did not know his call, and pretty soon the ether was alive with a torrent of thrills for the ambitious representative of the Fourth Estate.  For half an hour the “radio interview” continued, during which many names and addresses were given and dramatic details were recited in the most approved manner of exciting spontaneity.  At last, however, the close came with an announcement from the reporter that he was going to get a motor boat, make a dash to Friday Island, and “scoop the world”.  Hal gave him a careful description of the location of the island and assured the reporter that they probably would remain there a day or two longer.

“Now, we’d all better go to bed,” Mr. Perry announced after Hal had tapped goodnight to the Watertown scribe.

“We ought to arrange some watches first,” Bud urged, unforgetful of his prediction that something was going to happen before morning.

“Why do you think something more is going to happen?” inquired Hal.  “You’re a good forecaster, Bud, for your prediction has been fulfilled already.  Something did happen when I caught that reporter and gave him our story.”

“I’ll say so,” Cub “slanged” wisely.  “We’ll all have to take our hats off to you, tee-hee.”

“Hal hasn’t tee-heed for twenty-four hours in my hearing,” Mr. Perry said reprovingly.

“That’s right, Cub,” declared Bud.  “A little while ago I heard him laugh right down deep from his lungs.”

“Out-door exercise is working wonders for him,” Cub opined with deductive superiority.