Читать книгу The Radio Boys with the Iceberg Patrol; Or, Making safe the ocean lanes онлайн

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“That’s exactly what I mean,” rejoined Captain Springer, with a smile. “Not that all of that shows above the water. You know that seven-eighths of an iceberg is submerged, so that of its total height only one-eighth rises above the surface. But if you measured from the bottom to the top of the berg it would be many thousands of feet in height. So you can see what chance a ship would have if it struck one of those floating mountains. It would be crushed like an eggshell.”

His hearers involuntarily shuddered at the thought.

“I suppose radio is your chief reliance in giving warning to vessels of the presence of icebergs,” remarked Mr. Layton.

“Practically the only reliance,” replied the captain. “If the transmitting set of the vessel were put out of commission, she might as well be laid up in port for all the good she could do.”

“Trust old radio to do the work!” said Bob, with enthusiasm.

“I ought to tell you,” observed Mr. Layton, with a smile, “that when radio is mentioned among these boys, they all sit up and take notice. Every one of them is a radio fan.”