inshield said as he
approached.

"Yes; a rather hopeful one, I think."

"I'm so excited! We all are. What do you suppose is in the wind?"

"I've no idea. Something good, I hope."

"Is that Morse code hard to learn?" inquired Nancy.

"The Morse Continental? That depends on what you consider hard,"
smiled Bob. "If your memory is good and you are quick at catching
sounds it ought not to be very awful. Numberless persons do learn it."

"Of course sending messages after you have the code learned cannot be
so bad, for you can take your own time," Dick put in. "It is receiving
them that would fuss me."

"We'll fix you up with a buzzer and let you and Walter practice later
if you want a try."

"Could you?" asked Dick eagerly.

"Sure! Moreover, there are phonograph records made on purpose to be
used by beginners. Perhaps your father will get you some of those. It
is a fine way to learn, training your ear to the sounds and giving you
lots of practice."

"What a bully scheme!"

"It is a good proof of how one science can help another, isn't it?"
observed Mrs. Crowninshield.

"I suppose transmitting is a great deal harder than receiving anyhow,
isn't it?" pursued Dick.

"Well, of course there is more to it. In the rough it is merely the
reverse of receiving; but in reality to project a message through the
air requires a more elaborate outfit."

"But you said our wireless would send as well as receive."

"Oh, it will. It was made with both ends of the service in view. Your
apparatus would first have to be adjusted and tuned until it was at
the same frequency as the station with which you were talking. That
you have to do anyhow, whether you are sending or receiving. And I
told you, you remember, how to regulate that. Your antenna is
connected through an adjustable induction coil, and moreover you have
a small condenser which together with it forms a closed circuit. It is
simple enough when you understand the principle to adjust the
vibratory motion in the antenna by moving the connection. The
frequency of the closed circuit can be adjusted, too. Tuning is
nothing more than putting these two circuits into accord with the
waves you receive. Your detector does a good part of the work for you,
for it responds to every oscillation set up in the receiver. When,
however, you are transmitting a message, you must take care to cut out
your receiver by turning on the switch. Never forget that. You won't
be likely to, either