TWO SHORT BUT EXCITING VOYAGES
As the Alaska steamer on which Alaric and Bonny so unexpectedly took
passage moved from the Tacoma wharf, and they lost sight of the officer
who had so nearly overtaken them, they congratulated each other over
their escape.
"I tell you, Rick Dale, that was a close shave," said Bonny.
"Wasn't it, though! But it seems to me, Bonny, that smuggling must be
one of the worst crimes a person can commit, judging from the anxiety
those fellows show to capture us. I knew it was bad, but I hadn't any
idea it was so serious."
"It does look as if we were wanted," admitted Bonny; "but we've thrown
'em off the track this time, so they won't bother us any more. Didn't we
do it neatly?"
"Yes, we certainly did. But where do you suppose we are going now?"
"Haven't the least idea, and don't care. Maybe to China, maybe to San
Francisco, and maybe to Alaska. Yes, I think this must be an Alaska
ship, for I remember now seeing a big Eskimo dog taken ashore just as we
came aboard, and Alaska is where they come from. If she is bound for
Alaska, though, she'll stop at Port Townsend and Victoria on the way,
and we must lie low until after we pass the first. It would never do to
be put off there, for that's headquarters for the whole revenue
business, and they'd scoop us in quick enough. I wouldn't mind Victoria
so very much, though."
"I should," objected Alaric, who feared that the Sonntaggs might have
telegraphed from Japan to have him apprehended and forwarded to them. "I
don't like Victoria, and neither do I want to go to any of the places
you mentioned."
"Very well," laughed Bonny, who, with a sense of freedom, had regained
all his light-heartedness. "Just send word to the captain where you want
to go, and he'll probably be pleased to take you there."
For an hour or so longer the boys discussed their plans and prospects.
Then, as it was growing dark and they were becoming very hungry, Bonny
proposed to skirmish around and see what the chances were for obtaining
something to eat. Bidding Alaric remain in hiding until his return, the
young sailor sallied forth. In a moment he reappeared with the news that
the ship was putting in at Seattle and was already close to the wharf.
"That's good," said Alaric. "Seattle is much better for us than Port
Townsend, or Victoria, San Francisco, China, or even Alaska. So I move
we go ashore and try our luck here."
This was what they were obliged to do, whether or no, for the ship was
hardly moored before they were discovered by one of the mates. Berating
them for a couple of rascally young stowaways, this man chased them down
the gang-plank with terrific threats of what he would do if he ever
caught them on the ship again.
"Whew-w!" gasped Alaric, after they had run to a safe distance. "It
seems to me that working your way through the world consists mainly in
being chased by people who are bigger and stronger than you are."
"Yes," remarked Bonny, philosophically. "I've noticed that. It's the
same way with sparrows and dogs too; the strong ones are always picking
or growling at those that are weaker. Being chased, though, is better
than being caught, and we haven't been that yet. Now let's go up-town
and see about a hotel."
This mention of a hotel reminded Alaric of his previous visit to Seattle
and the great "Rainier," away up at the hill-side, in which he had spent
the day. At that time he had not paid any more attention to it than to
any other of the hundreds of hotels in which he had been a guest, but
now a thought of the dinner being served in its brilliantly lighted
dining-room caused him to realize how very hungry he was more than
anything else could have done. But Rainier dinners were not for poor
boys, and with a regretful sigh he followed his comrade in another
direction.
It is hard to say how our lads expected to obtain the meal for which
they longed; but whatever hopes they had were doomed to disappointment,
for after wandering about the streets a couple of hours their hunger was
as unsatisfied as ever. Finally Bonny asked a policeman if there was not
some place in all that great city where a hungry boy without one cent in
his pocket could get something to eat.
"There's a free soup-kitchen on Yessler Avenue," answered the man, "but
it's closed for the night now, and you can't get anything there before
seven o'clock to-morrow morning. But what do strong young fellows like
you want of soup-kitchens? Why ain't ye at work, earning an honest
living? Tramps is no good, anyway, and if you don't chase yourselves out
of this I'll run ye in. See?"
Seven o'clock to-morrow morning! How could they wait? And yet there
seemed nothing else to be done. Slowly and despondently the lads made
their way back to the wharf on which they had landed, for even that
seemed a better place in which to pass the long night hours than the
unfriendly streets.
They eluded the vigilance of a night watchman, and gained the shelter of
a pile of hay bales, on which they stretched themselves wearily.
"I'd almost rather be in China, or even a well-fed smuggler," announced
Alaric.
"Wouldn't I?" responded Bonny; "and won't I if ever I get another
chance? I don't believe anything would seem wrong to a fellow as hungry
as I am, if it only brought him something to eat. Even chewing hay is
some comfort."
At length they fell into an uneasy sleep, from which they were awakened
a few hours later by the sound of voices close at hand. In one of these
they instantly, and with sinking hearts, recognized that of their
relentless pursuer, the revenue-cutter's third lieutenant. The other
person was evidently answering a question, for he was saying:
"Yes, sir, I seen a couple of young rascals such as you describe chased
off the Alaska boat by the mate. They started up-town, but I make no
doubt they'll be back here sooner or later. Such as them is always
hanging around the docks."
"If they do come around, and you can catch them, just hold on to them,
for they are wanted by the government, and there is a reward offered for
them," said the officer.
"Aye, aye, sir. I'll nab 'em for ye if they comes this way again," was
the answer; and then both speakers moved out of hearing towards the
upper end of the wharf.
The poor, hunted lads, trembling at the narrowness of their escape,
peered after the retreating forms. Then Bonny's attention was attracted
to the lights of a white side-wheel steamer lying at the outer end of
the wharf that seemed on the point of departure.
"Look here, Rick," he whispered, "this place is growing too hot for us,
and we've got to get out of it. There's the _City of Kingston_, and she
is going to Victoria or Tacoma, I don't know which. Either of them would
be better for us than Seattle just now, though, because in Victoria the
revenue folks couldn't touch us, and in Tacoma they won't be looking for
us. What do you say? Shall we try for a passage on her?"
"Yes," replied Alaric. "I suppose so, for it is certain that we must get
away from here somehow. I hope she won't take us to Victoria, though."
So the young fugitives stole down the wharf in darkest shadows to where
a force of men were busily at work by lantern-light, trucking freight up
a broad gang-plank from the steamer's lower deck, and at the same time
carrying aboard the small quantity that was to go somewhere else. Among
this was a lot of household goods.
"Now," whispered Bonny, "we've got to be quick, for there isn't much
more to be done. I'll run aboard with one of these trucks, while you
grab a chair or something from that pile of stuff and follow after. Each
of us must hide on his own hook in the first place he comes to, and if
we don't find a chance to get together on the trip, we'll meet on the
wharf at the first place she stops. Sabe?"
"Yes. Go ahead."
So Bonny boldly picked up one of several idle trucks that lay near by,
and rattled it down the gang-plank with every appearance of bustling
activity. As he trundled it aft along the dimly lighted deck he was
greeted by a gruff voice from the darkness with:
"Get that truck out of here. Didn't you hear me say I didn't need any
more of 'em?"
"Aye, aye, sir," answered the pretended stevedore, facing promptly about
and wheeling his truck away. In a place where there seemed to be no one
looking he set it gently down, and walked forward as boldly as though
executing some order just received. Away up in the bows of the steamer
he found a great coil of rope, in which he snuggled down like a bird in
a nest.
Alaric was not quite so fortunate. He watched Bonny disappear with his
truck in the dark interior of the boat, and then, taking a mattress from
the pile of household goods, marched aboard with it in his arms. Walking
aft with his awkward burden, he stumbled across the truck that Bonny had
left in the passage and sprawled at full length. As luck would have it,
the mattress, loosed from his grasp, struck the mate who was coming that
way and nearly knocked him down.
[Illustration: "BONNY SEIZED A TRUCK, AND ALARIC A MATTRESS"]
Springing furiously forward, the man aimed a kick at the prostrate lad,
called him a clumsy lunkhead, ordered him to wheel the truck up on to
the wharf, and threatened to discharge him on the spot without one cent
of wages as a cure for his blooming awkwardness.
There was nothing for it but to return to the wharf with the truck.
Then, to his dismay, Alaric found that there was no freight left to be
taken on board. The pile of household goods had disappeared. As he stood
for a moment irresolute, another gruff voice sang out to him to cast off
the breast line and get aboard in a hurry if he didn't want to get left.
Alaric had no more idea than the man in the moon of what a breast line
was; but he knew what to cast off a line meant, and, making a blind
guess, fortunately did the right thing. By this time the gang-plank was
hauled in, and obeying the order "Jump! you chuckle-head!" he took a
flying leap that landed him on all fours on the deck, amid loud guffaws
of laughter from those who happened to be near. As he regained his feet,
the lad, still mistaken for one of several new hands who had been
shipped the evening before, was ordered aft to help haul in the stern
line by which the boat was now swinging. He went in the direction
indicated, but managed to slip away before reaching the place of the
stern line and hide among the very household goods he had helped bring
aboard.
Here, after lying for a while pondering over the strange fortunes by
which every step of his pathway into the world of active life seemed to
be beset, he fell asleep. When he awoke it was broad daylight, the sun
was shining, and a house seemed tumbling about his ears. It was only the
goods among which he had hidden being pulled down by the crew, who were
discharging cargo. As the lad scrambled from beneath the very mattress
he had brought aboard, and which had now fallen on top of him, he was
greeted by an angry roar from the gruff voice of the night before.
"Shirking, are ye, you lazy young hound? I'll teach ye!"
Picking up a bit of rope and whirling it about his head, the mate sprang
towards the lad, who darted away in terror; nor did he stop until he
found himself clear of the boat and running up a long wharf, without an
idea of where he was or whither he was going.