CHAPTER XIV
A Catastrophe
HENRY gave slight heed to the young operator’s threat. Not for one second did he fear violence from him. Should any physical encounter occur, he was sure he could take care of himself, and he saw no other way in which young Black could harm him. He believed his own word would be taken quicker than Black’s. Knowing that he had done no wrong, and that he intended to do none, he saw no way in which his rebellious assistant could do him an injury. So, as soon as he could, he dismissed the matter from his mind.
But on account of the excitement accompanying his little encounter with Black, it was not altogether easy to forget the matter. When Henry remembered that Black had been asleep at the key, and that some one might have been trying to talk to the Iroquois, he drew on the head-phones and for a space sat listening. Then he threw over his switch, flashed out a general call, and asked if any one had been calling the Iroquois. When, after listening and repeating the message, there came no response, he felt re-196
