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Eighteen hter and junk crossed paths, a distress call was heard by the United States container carrier Rio Grande, bound for Sydney, Australia, with a cargo of tractors and agricultural equipation bridge, and the operator had only to turn to address the second officer, who stood the earlywatch

"Sir, I have a distress signal frohter Mentawai"

The second officer, George Hudson, picked up the ship's phone, punched a nu voice "Captain, we've picked up a distress signal

Captain Jason Kelsey was about to take his first forkful of breakfast in his cabin when the call cae "Very well, Mr Hudson I'et her position"

Kelsey wolfed down his eggs and hah a short passageway to the navigation bridge He went directly to the radio room

The operator looked up, a curious look in his eyes "Very strange signal, Captain" He handed Kelsey a notepad

Kelsey studied it, then stared at the radio operator "Are you sure this is what they transmitted''"

"Yes, sir They came in quite clearly"

Kelsey read the hter Mentawai forty kilometers south-southwest of Howland Island Co more? No coordinates?"

The radio operator shook his head "They went dead, and I haven't been able to raise theain"

"Then we can't use our radio direction-finding systems" Kelsey turned to his second officer "Mr

Hudson, lay a course for Mentawai's last reported position southwest off Howland Island Not o on without exact coordinates But if we can't , we'll have to rely on our radar to spot them" He could have asked Hudson to run the course nuation co by the old rules

Hudson went to work on the chart table with parallel rulers, attached by swinging hinges, and a pair of dividers, and Kelsey signaled the chief engineer that he wanted Rio Grande to come to full speed First Officer Hank Sher as he buttoned his shirt

"We're responding to a distress call?" he asked Kelsey

The captain smiled and passed him the notepad "Word travels fast on this ship"