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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35652-8.txt b/35652-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c9fa5e --- /dev/null +++ b/35652-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9331 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Rick Dale, A Story of the Northwest Coast, by Kirk Munroe + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Rick Dale, A Story of the Northwest Coast + +Author: Kirk Munroe + +Illustrator: William Allen Rogers + +Release Date: March 22, 2011 [EBook #35652] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICK DALE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + RICK DALE + + _A STORY OF THE NORTHWEST COAST_ + + BY KIRK MUNROE + +AUTHOR OF "SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES" "THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH" THE "MATES" +SERIES ETC. + + + ILLUSTRATED BY W. A. ROGERS + + NEW YORK AND LONDON + HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS + + + + +[Illustration: THE ICE ABOVE GIBRALTAR] + + + + +CONTENTS + + +I. A POOR RICH BOY + +II. THE RUNAWAY + +III. ALARIC TAKES A FIRST LESSON + +IV. THE "EMPRESS" LOSES A PASSENGER + +V. FIRST MATE BONNY BROOKS + +VI. PREPARING TO BE A SAILOR + +VII. CAPTAIN DUFF, OF THE SLOOP "FANCY" + +VIII. AN UNLUCKY SMASH + +IX. "CHINKS" AND "DOPE" + +X. PUGET SOUND SMUGGLERS + +XI. A VERY TRYING EXPERIENCE + +XII. A LESSON IN KEDGING + +XIII. CHASING A MYSTERIOUS LIGHT + +XIV. BONNY'S INVENTION, AND HOW IT WORKED + +XV. CAPTURED BY A REVENUE-CUTTER + +XVI. ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW + +XVII. SAVED BY A LITTLE SIWASH KID + +XVIII. LIFE IN SKOOKUM JOHN'S CAMP + +XIX. A TREACHEROUS INDIAN FROM NEAH BAY + +XX. AN EXCITING RACE FOR LIBERTY + +XXI. A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY + +XXII. TWO SHORT BUT EXCITING VOYAGES + +XXIII. ALARIC TODD'S DARKEST HOUR + +XXIV. PHIL RYDER PAYS A DEBT + +XXV. ENGAGED TO INTERPRET FOR THE FRENCH + +XXVI. PREPARING FOR AN ASCENT + +XXVII. BONNY COMMANDS THE SITUATION + +XXVIII. ON THE EDGE OF PARADISE VALLEY + +XXIX. MOUNT RAINIER PLACED UNDERFOOT + +XXX. BLOWN FROM THE RIM OF A CRATER + +XXXI. A DESPERATE SITUATION + +XXXII. HOW A SONG SAVED ALARIC'S LIFE + +XXXIII. LAID UP FOR REPAIRS + +XXXIV. CHASED BY A MADMAN + +XXXV. A GANG OF FRIENDLY LOGGERS + +XXXVI. IN A NORTHWEST LOGGING CAMP + +XXXVII. WHAT IS A HUMP-DURGIN? + +XXXVIII. ALARIC AND BONNY AGAIN TAKE TO FLIGHT + +XXXIX. BONNY DISCOVERS HIS FRIEND THE TRAMP + +XL. A FLOOD OF LIGHT + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +THE ICE ABOVE GIBRALTAR + +ALARIC MAKES HIS FIRST DECISION + +"'VELL, I TELL YOU; I GIFS T'VENTY-FIFE'" + +BONNY'S INVENTION STARTED + +THE ARRIVAL AT SKOOKUM JOHN'S + +BONNY SEIZED A TRUCK, AND ALARIC A MATTRESS + +"BONNY WAS JERKED BACKWARD" + +"THEY WERE PARALYZED WITH TERROR" + + + + +RICK DALE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A POOR RICH BOY + + +Alaric Dale Todd was his name, and it was a great grief to him to be +called "Allie." Allie Todd was so insignificant and sounded so weak. +Besides, Allie was a regular girl's name, as he had been so often told, +and expected to be told by each stranger who heard it for the first +time. There is so much in a name, after all. We either strive to live up +to it, or else it exerts a constant disheartening pull backward. + +Although Alaric was tall for his age, which was nearly seventeen, he was +thin, pale, and undeveloped. He did not look like a boy accustomed to +play tennis or football, or engage in any of the splendid athletics that +develop the muscle and self-reliance of those sturdy young fellows who +contest interscholastic matches. Nor was he one of these; so far from +it, he had never played a game in his life except an occasional quiet +game of croquet, or something equally soothing. He could not swim nor +row nor sail a boat; he had never ridden horseback nor on a bicycle; he +had never skated nor coasted nor hunted nor fished, and yet he was +perfectly well formed and in good health. I fancy I hear my boy readers +exclaim: + +"What a regular muff your Alaric must have been! No wonder they called +him 'Allie'!" + +And the girls? Well, they would probably say, "What a disagreeable +prig!" For Alaric knew a great deal more about places and people and +books than most boys or girls of his age, and was rather fond of +displaying this knowledge. And then he was always dressed with such +faultless elegance. His patent-leather boots were so shiny, his +neckwear, selected with perfect taste, was so daintily arranged, and +while he never left the house without drawing on a pair of gloves, they +were always so immaculate that it did not seem as though he ever wore +the same pair twice. He was very particular, too, about his linen, and +often sent his shirts back to the laundress unworn because they were not +done up to suit him. As for his coats and trousers, of which he had so +many that it actually seemed as though he might wear a different suit +every day in the year, he spent so much time in selecting material, and +then in being fitted, and insisted on so many alterations, that his +tailors were often in despair, and wondered whether it paid to have so +particular a customer, after all. They never had occasion, though, to +complain about their bills, for no matter how large these were or how +extortionate, they were always paid without question as soon as +presented. + +From all this it may be gathered that our Alaric was not a child of +poverty. Nor was he; for Amos Todd, his father, was so many times a +millionaire that he was one of the richest men on the Pacific coast. He +owned or controlled a bank, railways, steamships, and mines, great +ranches in the South, and vast tracts of timber lands in the North. His +manifold interests extended from Alaska to Mexico, from the Pacific to +the Atlantic; and while he made his home in San Francisco his name was a +power in the stock-exchanges of the world. Years before he and his young +wife had made their way to California from New England with just money +enough to pay their passage to the Golden State. Here they had undergone +poverty and hardships such as they determined their children should +never know. + +Of these Margaret, the eldest, was now a leader of San Francisco +society, while John, who was eight years older than Alaric, had shown +such an aptitude for business that he had risen to be manager of his +father's bank. There were other children, who had died, and when Alaric +came, last of all, he was such a puny infant that there was little hope +of his ever growing up. Because he was the youngest and a weakling, and +demanded so much care, his mother devoted her life to him, and hovered +about him with a loving anxiety that sought to shield him from all rude +contact with the world. He was always under the especial care of some +doctor, and when he was five or six years old one of these, for want of +something more definite to say, announced that he feared the child was +developing a weak heart, and advised that he be restrained from all +violent exercise. + +From that moment poor little "Allie," as he had been called from the day +of his birth, was not only kept from all forms of violent exercise and +excitement, but was forbidden to play any boyish games as well. In place +of these his doting mother travelled with him over Continental Europe, +going from one famous medical spring, bath, or health resort to another, +and bringing up her boy in an atmosphere of luxury, invalids, and +doctors. The last-named devoted themselves to trying to find out what +was the matter with him, and as no two of them could agree upon any one +ailment, Mrs. Todd came to regard him as a prodigy in the way of +invalidism. + +Of course Alaric was never sent to a public school, but he was always +accompanied by tutors as well as physicians, and spent nearly two years +in a very select private school or _pension_ near Paris. Here no rude +games were permitted, and the only exercise allowed the boys was a short +daily walk, in which, under escort of masters, they marched in a dreary +procession of twos. + +During all these years of travel and study and search after health +Alaric had never known what it was to wish in vain for anything that +money could buy. Whatever he fancied he obtained without knowing its +cost, or where the money came from that procured it. But there were +three of the chief things in the world to a boy that he did not have and +that money could not give him. He had no boy friends, no boyish games, +and no ambitions. He wanted to have all these things, and sometimes said +so to his mother; but always he was met by the same reproachful answer, +"My dear Allie, remember your poor weak heart." + +At length it happened that while our lad was in that dreary _pension_, +Mrs. Todd, worn out with anxieties, cares, and worries of her own +devising, was stricken with a fatal malady, and died in the great +château that she had rented not far from the school in which her life's +treasure was so carefully guarded. A few days of bewilderment and +heart-breaking sorrow followed for poor Alaric. Many cablegrams flashed +to and fro beneath the ocean. There was a melancholy funeral, at which +the boy was sole mourner, and then one phase of his life was ended. In +another week he had left France, and, escorted by one of his French +tutors, was crossing the Atlantic on his way to the far-distant San +Francisco home of which he knew so little. + +He had now been at home for nearly three months, and of all his sad life +they had proved the most unhappy period. His father, though always kind +in his way, was too deeply immersed in business to pay much attention to +the sensitive lad. He did not understand him, and regarded him as a +weakling who could never amount to anything in the world of business or +useful activity. He would be kind to the boy, of course, and any desire +that he expressed should be promptly gratified; at the same time he +could not help feeling that Alaric was a great trial, and wishing him +more like his brother John. + +This bustling, dashing elder brother had no sympathy with Alaric, and +rarely found time to give him more than a nod and a word of greeting in +passing, while his sister Margaret regarded him as still a little boy +who was to be kept out of sight as much as possible. So the poor lad, +left to himself, without friends and without occupation, found time +hanging very heavily on his hands, and wondered why he had ever been +born. + +Once he ventured to ask his father for a saddle-horse, whereupon Amos +Todd provided him with a pair of ponies, a cart, and a groom, which he +said was an outfit better suited to an invalid. Alaric accepted this +gift without a protest, for he was well trained to bearing +disappointments, but he used it so rarely that the business of giving +the horses their daily airing devolved almost entirely upon the groom. + +It was not until Esther Dale, one of the New England cousins whom he had +never seen, and a girl of his own age, made a flying visit to San +Francisco as one of a personally conducted party of tourists, that +Alaric found any real use for his ponies. Esther was only to remain in +the city three days, but she spent them in her uncle's house, which she +refused to call anything but "the palace," and which she so pervaded +with her cheery presence that Amos Todd declared it seemed full of +singing birds and sunshine. + +Both Margaret and John were too busy to pay much attention to their +young cousin, and so, to Alaric's delight, the whole duty of +entertaining her devolved on him. He felt much more at his ease with +girls than with boys, for he had been thrown so much more into their +society during his travels, and he thought he understood them +thoroughly; but in Esther Dale he found a girl so different from any he +had ever known that she seemed to belong to another order of beings. She +was good-looking and perfectly well-bred, but she was also as full of +life and frisky antics as a squirrel, and as tireless as a bird on the +wing. + +On the first morning of her visit the cousins drove out to the Cliff +House to see the sea-lions; and almost before Alaric knew how it was +accomplished he found Esther perched on the high right-hand cushion of +the box-seat in full possession of reins and whip, while he occupied the +lower seat on her left, as though he were the guest and she the hostess +of the occasion. At the same time the ponys seemed filled with an +unusual activity, and were clattering along at a pace more exhilarating +than they had ever shown under his guidance. + +After that Esther always drove; and Alaric, sitting beside her, listened +with wondering admiration to her words of wisdom and practical advice on +all sorts of subjects. She had never been abroad, but she knew +infinitely more of her own country than he, and was so enthusiastic +concerning it that in three days' time she had made him feel prouder of +being an American than he had believed it possible he ever would be. +She knew so much concerning out-of-door life, too--about animals and +birds and games. She criticised the play of the baseball nines, whom +they saw one afternoon in Golden Gate Park; and when they came to +another place where some acquaintances of Alaric's were playing tennis, +she asked for an introduction to the best girl player on the ground, +promptly challenged her to a trial of skill, and beat her three straight +games. + +During the play she presented such a picture of glowing health and +graceful activity that pale-faced Alaric sat and watched her with +envious admiration. + +"I would give anything I own in the world to be able to play tennis as +you can, Cousin Esther," he said, earnestly, after it was all over and +they were driving from the park. + +"Why don't you learn, then?" asked the girl, in surprise. + +"Because I have a weak heart, you know, and am forbidden any violent +exercise." + +The boy hesitated, and even blushed, as he said this, though he had +never done either of those things before when speaking of his weak +heart. In fact, he had been rather proud of it, and considered that it +was a very interesting thing to have. Now, however, he felt almost +certain that Esther would laugh at him. + +And so she did. She laughed until Alaric became red in the face from +vexation; but when she noticed this she grew very sober, and said: + +"Excuse me, Cousin Rick. I didn't mean to laugh; but you did look so +woe-begone when you told me about your poor weak heart, and it seems so +absurd for a big, well-looking boy like you to have such a thing, that I +couldn't help it." + +"I've always had it," said Alaric, stoutly; "and that is the reason +they would never let me do things like other boys. It might kill me if I +did, you know." + +"I should think it would kill you if you didn't, and I'm sure I would +rather die of good times than just sit round and mope to death. Now I +don't believe your heart is any weaker than mine is. You don't look so, +anyway, and if I were you I would just go in for everything, and have as +good a time as I possibly could, without thinking any more about whether +my heart was weak or strong." + +"But they won't let me," objected Alaric. + +"Who won't?" + +"Father and Margaret and John." + +"I don't see that the two last named have anything to do with it. As for +Uncle Amos, I am sure he would rather have you a strong, brown, +splendidly built fellow, such as you might become if you only would, +than the white-faced, dudish Miss Nancy that you are. Oh, Cousin Rick! +What have I said? I'm awfully sorry and ashamed of myself. Please +forgive me." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE RUNAWAY + + +For a moment it seemed to Alaric that he could not forgive that +thoughtlessly uttered speech. And yet the girl who made it had called +him Cousin "Rick," a name he had always desired, but which no one had +ever given him before. If she had called him "Allie," he knew he would +never have forgiven her. As it was he hesitated, and his pale face +flushed again. What should he say? + +In her contrition and eagerness to atone for her cruel words Esther +leaned towards him and laid a beseeching hand on his arm. For the moment +she forgot her responsibility as driver, and the reins, held loosely in +her whip-hand, lay slack across the ponies' backs. + +Just then a newspaper that had been carelessly dropped in the roadway +was picked up by a sudden gust of wind and whirled directly into the +faces of the spirited team. The next instant they were dashing madly +down the street. At the outset the reins were jerked from Esther's hand; +but ere they could slip down beyond reach Alaric had seized them. Then, +with the leathern bands wrapped about his wrists, he threw his whole +weight back on them, and strove to check or at least to guide the +terrified animals. The light cart bounded and swayed from side to side. +Men shouted and women screamed, and a clanging cable-car from a cross +street was saved from collision only by the prompt efforts of its +gripman. The roadway was becoming more and more crowded with teams and +pedestrians. Alaric's teeth were clinched, and he was bareheaded, having +lost his hat as he caught the reins. Esther sat beside him, motionless +and silent, but with bloodless cheeks. + +They were on an avenue that led to the heart of the city. On one side +was a hill, up which cross streets climbed steeply. To keep on as they +were going meant certain destruction. All the strain that Alaric could +bring to bear on the reins did not serve to check the headlong speed of +the hard-mouthed ponies. With each instant their blind terror seemed to +increase. Several side streets leading up the hill had already been +passed, and another was close at hand. Beyond it was a mass of teams and +cable-cars. + +"Hold on for your life!" panted Alaric in the ear of the girl who sat +beside him. + +As he spoke he dropped one rein, threw all his weight on the other, and +at the same instant brought the whip down with a stinging cut on the +right-hand side of the off horse. The frenzied animal instinctively +sprang to the left, both yielded to the heavy tug of that rein, and the +team was turned into the side street. The cart slewed across the smooth +asphalt, lunged perilously to one side, came within a hair's-breadth of +upsetting, and then righted. Two seconds later the mad fright of the +ponies was checked by pure exhaustion half-way up the steep hill-side. +There they stood panting and trembling, while a crowd of excited +spectators gathered about them with offers of assistance and advice. + +"Do they seem to be all right?" asked Alaric. + +"All right, sir, far as I can see," replied one of the men, who was +examining the quivering animals and their harness. + +"Then if you will kindly help me turn them around, and will lead them to +the foot of the hill, I think they will be quiet enough to drive on +without giving any more trouble," said the boy. + +When this was done, and Alaric, after cordially thanking those who had +aided him, had driven away, one of the men exclaimed, as he gazed after +the vanishing carriage: + +"Plucky young chap that!" + +"Yes," replied another; "and doesn't seem to be a bit of a snob, like +most of them wealthy fellows, either." + +Meanwhile Alaric was tendering the reins to the girl who had sat so +quietly by his side without an outcry or a word of suggestion during the +whole exciting episode. + +"Won't you drive now, Cousin Esther?" + +"Indeed I will not, Alaric. I feel ashamed of myself for presuming to +take the reins from you before, and you may be certain that I shall +never attempt to do such a thing again. The way you managed the whole +affair was simply splendid. And oh, Cousin Rick! to think that I should +have called _you_ a Miss Nancy! Just as you were about to save my life, +too! I can never forgive myself--never." + +"Oh yes you can," laughed Alaric, "for it is true--that is, it was true; +for I can see now that I have been a regular Miss Nancy sort of a fellow +all my life. That is what made me feel so badly when you said it. Nobody +ever dared tell me before, and so it came as an unpleasant surprise. +Now, though, I am glad you said it." + +"And you will never give anybody in the whole world a chance to say such +a thing again, will you?" asked the girl, eagerly. "And you will go +right to work at learning how to do the things that other boys do, won't +you?" + +"I don't know," answered Alaric, doubtfully. "I'd like to well enough; +but I don't know just how to begin. You see, I'm too old to learn from +the little boys, and the big fellows won't have anything to do with such +a duffer as I am. They've all heard too much about my weak heart." + +"Then I'd go away to some place where nobody knows you, and make a fresh +start. You might go out on one of your father's ranches and learn to be +a cowboy, or up into those great endless forests that I saw on Puget +Sound the other day and live in a logging camp. It is such a glorious, +splendid life, and there is so much to be done up in that country. Oh +dear! if I were only a boy, and going to be a man, wouldn't I get there +just as quickly as I could, and learn how to do things, so that when I +grew up I could go right ahead and do them?" + +"All that sounds well," said Alaric, dubiously, "but I know father will +never let me go to any such places. He thinks such a life would kill me. +Besides, he says that as I shall never have to work, there is no need +for me to learn how." + +"But you must work," responded Esther, stoutly. "Every one must, or else +be very unhappy. Papa says that the happiest people in the world are +those who work the hardest when it is time for work and play the hardest +in play-time. But where are you driving to? This isn't the way home." + +"I am going to get a new hat and gloves," answered the boy, "for I don't +want any one at the house to know of our runaway. They'd never let me +drive the ponies again if they found it out." + +"It would be a shame if they didn't, after the way you handled them just +now," exclaimed Esther, indignantly. + +Just then they stopped before a fashionable hat-store on Kearney +Street, and while Alaric was debating whether he ought to leave the +ponies long enough to step inside he was recognized, and a clerk +hastened out to receive his order. + +"Hat and gloves," said Alaric. "You know the sizes." + +The clerk answered, "Certainly, Mr. Todd," bowed, and disappeared in the +store. + +"See those lovely gray 'Tams' in the window, Cousin Rick!" said Esther. +"Why don't you get one of them? It would be just the thing to wear in +the woods." + +"All right," replied the boy; "I will." + +So when the clerk reappeared with a stylish derby hat and a dozen pair +of gloves Alaric put the former on, said he would keep the gloves, and +at the same time requested that one of the gray Tams might be done up +for him. + +As this order was filled, and the ponies were headed towards home, +Esther said: "Why, Cousin Rick, you didn't pay for your things!" + +"No," replied the boy, "I never do." + +"You didn't even ask the prices, either." + +"Of course not," laughed the other. "Why should I? They were things that +I had to have anyway, and so what would be the use of asking the prices? +Besides, I don't think I ever did such a thing in my life." + +"Well," sighed the girl, "it must be lovely to shop in that way. Now I +never bought anything without first finding out if I could afford it; +and as for gloves, I know I never bought more than one pair at a time." + +"Really?" said Alaric, with genuine surprise. "I didn't know they sold +less than a dozen pair at a time. I wish I had known it, for I only +wanted one pair. I've got so many at home now that they are a bother." + +That very evening the lad spoke to his father about going on a ranch and +learning to be a cowboy. Unfortunately his brother John overheard him, +and greeted the proposition with shouts of laughter. Even Amos Todd, +while mildly rebuking his eldest son, could not help smiling at the +absurdity of the request. Then, turning to the mortified lad, he said, +kindly but decidedly: + +"You don't know what you are asking, Allie, my boy, and I couldn't think +for a moment of allowing you to attempt such a thing. The excitement of +that kind of life would kill you in less than no time. Ask anything in +reason, and I shall be only too happy to gratify you; but don't make +foolish requests." + +When Alaric reported this failure to Esther a little later, she said, +very gravely: + +"Then, Cousin Rick, there is only one thing left for you to do. You must +run away." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ALARIC TAKES A FIRST LESSON + + +On the day following that of the runaway, Esther Dale resumed her +position as a personally conducted tourist, and departed from San +Francisco, leaving Alaric to feel that he had lost the first real friend +he had ever known. Her influence remained with him, however, and as he +thought of her words and example his determination to enter upon some +different form of life became indelibly fixed. + +That very day he drove again to the park, this time with only his groom +for company, and went directly to the place where the game of baseball +had been in progress the afternoon before. As he hoped, another was +about to begin, though there were not quite enough players to make two +full nines. Hearing one of the boys say this, and discovering an +acquaintance among them, Alaric jumped from his cart, and, going up to +him, asked to be allowed to fill one of the vacant positions. + +Reg Barker was freckle-faced and red-headed, clad in flannels, with +sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and was adjusting a catcher's mask to +his face when Alaric approached. As the latter made known his desire, +Reg Barker, who was extremely jealous of the other's wealth and fame as +a traveller, regarded him for a moment with amazement, and then burst +into a shout of laughter. + +"Hi, fellows!" he called, "here is a good one--best I ever heard! Here's +Allie Todd, kid gloves and all, wants to play first base. What do you +say--shall we give him a show?" + +"Yes," shouted one; "No," cried another, as the boys crowded about the +two, gazing at Alaric curiously, as though he belonged to some different +species. + +"We might make him captain of the nine," called out one boy, who had +just gone to the bat. + +"No, he'd do better as umpire," suggested Reg Barker. "Don't you see +he's dressed for it? I don't know, though; I'm afraid that would come +under the head of cruelty to children, and we'd have the society down on +us." + +As Alaric, with a crimson face and a choking in his throat, sought in +vain for some outlet of escape from his tormentors who surrounded him, +and at the same time longed with a bitter longing for the power to +annihilate them, a lad somewhat older than the others forced his way +through the throng and demanded to know what was the row. He was Dave +Carncross, the pitcher, and one of the best amateur players of his age +on the coast. + +"It's Miss Allie Todd," explained Reg Barker, "and her ladyship is +offering to show us how to play ball." + +"Shut up, Red Top," commanded the new-comer, threateningly. "When I want +any of your chaff I'll let you know." Then turning to Alaric, he said, +pleasantly, "Now, young un, tell me all about it yourself." + +"There isn't much to tell," replied the boy, in a low tone, and with an +instinctive warming of his heart towards the sturdy lad who had come to +his rescue. "I wanted to learn how to play ball, and knowing Reg Barker, +asked him to teach me; that's all." + +"And he insulted you, like the young brute he is. I see. Red Top, if +you won't learn manners any other way I shall have to thrash them into +you. So look out for yourself. Now, you new fellow, your name's Todd, +isn't it?" + +"Yes." + +"And your father is Amos Todd, the millionaire?" + +Alaric admitted that such was the case. + +"Well, I know you, or, rather, my father knows your father. In fact, I +think they have some business together; and after this whenever you +choose to come out here if I'm around I'll see that you are treated +decently. As for learning to play ball, the mere fact that you want to +shows that you are made of good stuff, and I don't mind giving you a +lesson right now. So, stand out here, and let's see if you can catch." + +Thus saying, the stalwart young pitcher, who held a ball in his hand, +ran back a few rods, and, with a seemingly careless swing of his arm, +threw the ball straight and swift as an arrow directly at Alaric, who +instinctively held out his hands. + +Had he undertaken to stop a spent cannon-ball the boy could hardly have +been more amazed at the result. As the ball dropped to the ground he +felt as though he had grasped a handful of red-hot coals. Both his kid +gloves were split right across the palms, and the smart of his hands was +so great that, in spite of his efforts to restrain them, unbidden tears +sprang to his eyes. + +A shout of laughter arose from the spectators of this practical lesson; +but Dave Carncross, running up to him and recovering the dropped ball, +said, cheerily: "Never mind those duffers, young un. They couldn't do +any better themselves once, and you'll do better than any of them some +time. First lessons in experience always come high, and have to be paid +for on the spot; but they are worth the price, and you'll know better +next time than to stop a hot ball with stiff arms. What you want to do +is to let 'em give with the ball. See, like this." + +Here Dave picked up a bat, struck the ball straight up in the air until +it seemed to be going out of sight, and running under it as it +descended, caught it as deftly and gently as though it had been a wad of +feathers. + +"There," said he, "you have learned by experience the wrong way of +catching a ball, and seen the right way. I can't stop to teach you any +more now, for our game is waiting. What you want to do, though, is to go +down town and get a ball--a 'regulation dead,' mind--take it home, and +practise catching until you have learned the trick and covered your +hands with blisters. Then come back here, and I will show you something +else. Good-bye--so long!" + +With this the good-natured fellow ran off to take his place in the +pitcher's box, leaving Alaric filled with gratitude, and glowing with +the first thrill of real boyish life that he had ever known. For a while +he stood and watched the game, his still-tingling hands causing him to +appreciate as never before the beauty of every successful catch that was +made. He wondered if pitching a ball could be as difficult as catching +one, or even any harder than it looked. It certainly appeared easy +enough. He admired the reckless manner in which the players flung +themselves at the bases, sliding along the ground as though bent on +ploughing it with their noses; while the ability to hit one of those +red-hot balls with a regulation bat seemed to him little short of +marvellous. In fact, our lad was, for the first time in his life, +viewing a game of baseball through his newly discovered loophole of +experience, and finding it a vastly different affair from the same scene +shrouded by an unrent veil of ignorance. + +After he had driven away from the fascinating game, his mind was still +so full of it that when, in passing the children's playground, he was +invited by Miss Sue Barker, sister of red-headed Reg, to join in a game +of croquet, he declined, politely enough, but with such an unwonted tone +of contempt in his voice as caused the girl to stare after him in +amazement. + +He procured a regulation baseball before going home, and then practised +with it in the court-yard behind the Todd palace until his hands were +red and swollen. Their condition was so noticeable at dinnertime that +his father inquired into the cause. When the boy confessed that he had +been practising with a baseball, his brother John laughed loud and long, +and asked him if he intended to become a professional. + +His sister only said, "Oh, Allie! How can you care to do anything so +common? And where did you pick up the notion? I am sure you never saw +anything of the kind in France." + +"No," replied the boy; "I only wish I had." + +His father said, "It's all right, my son, so long as you play gently; +but you must be very careful not to over-exert yourself. Remember your +poor weak heart and the consequences of too violent exercise." + +"Oh, bother my weak heart!" cried the boy, impatiently. "I don't believe +my heart's any weaker than anybody else's heart, and the doctor who said +so was an old muff." + +At this unheard-of outbreak on the part of the long-suffering youngest +member of the family, John and Margaret glanced significantly at each +other, as though they suspected his mind was becoming affected as well +as his body; while his father said, soothingly, as though to an ailing +child: + +"Well, well, Allie, let it go. I am sorry that you should forget your +manners; but if the subject is distasteful to you, we won't talk of it +any more." + +"But I want to talk of it, father. I am sorry that I spoke as I did just +now; but you can't know what an unhappy thing it is to be living on in +the way I am, without doing anything that amounts to anything, or will +ever lead to anything. Won't you let me go on to a ranch, or somewhere +where I can learn to be a man?" + +"Of course, my boy," replied Amos Todd, still speaking as soothingly as +he knew how. "I will let you go anywhere you please, and do what you +please, just as quickly as I can find the right person to take care of +you, and see that you do nothing injurious. How would you like to go to +France with Margaret and me this summer? I am thinking of making the +trip." + +"I would rather go to China, or anywhere else in the world," replied the +boy, vehemently. "I am tired to death of France and Germany and +Switzerland and Italy, and all the other wretched European places, with +their _bads_ and _bains_ and _spas_ and Herr Doctors and _malades_. I +want to go into a world of live people, and strong people, and people +who don't know whether they have any hearts or not, and don't care." + +"Well, well, son, I will try and arrange something for you, only don't +get excited," said Amos Todd, at the same time burying himself in his +evening paper so as to put an end to the uncomfortable interview. + +In spite of the unsatisfactory ending of this conversation, Alaric felt +greatly encouraged by it, and during the week that followed he devoted +himself as assiduously to learning to catch a baseball as though that +were the one preparation needful for plunging into a world of live +people. Morning, noon, and evening he kept his groom so busy passing +ball with him that the exercising of the ponies was sadly neglected in +consequence. With all this practice, and in spite of bruised hands and +lame fingers, he at length became so expert that he began to think of +hunting up his friend Dave Carncross, and presenting himself for an +examination in the art of ball-catching. + +Every now and then he asked his father if he had not thought of some +plan for him, and the invariable answer was: "It's all right, Allie; +I've got a scheme on foot that's working so that I can tell you about it +in a few days." + +In the meantime the date of Amos Todd's departure for Europe with his +daughter was fixed. Shortly before its arrival the former called Alaric +aside, and, with a beaming face, announced that he had at length +succeeded in making most satisfactory arrangements. + +"You said you wanted to go to China, you know," he continued; "so I have +laid out a fine trip for you to China, and India, and Egypt, and all +sorts of places, and persuaded a most excellent couple, a gentleman and +his wife, to go along and take care of you. He is a professor and she is +a doctor, so you will be well looked after, and won't have the least bit +of responsibility or worry." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE "EMPRESS" LOSES A PASSENGER + + +Professor Maximus Sonntagg, a big man with a beard, and his wife, Mrs. +Dr. Ophelia Sonntagg, who was thin and mysterious, had come out of the +East to seek their fortunes in the Golden City about a year before, but +up to this time without any great amount of success. The former was a +professor of almost everything in the shape of ancient and modern art, +languages, history, and a lot of other things, concerning all of which +he wrote articles for the papers, always signing his name to them in +full. The Mrs. Doctor had learned the art of saying little, looking +wise, and shaking her head as she felt the pulse of her patients. + +These people had managed to scrape an acquaintance with Amos Todd, whom +the Professor declared to be the only patron of art in San Francisco +worth knowing, and to whom he gave some really valuable advice +concerning the purchase of certain paintings. Thus it happened that when +the busy millionaire, in seeking to provide a safe and congenial +amusement for the son whom he firmly believed to be an invalid, +conceived the idea of sending him around the world by way of China, he +also thought of the Sonntaggs as most suitable travelling companions for +him. Where else could he find such a combination of tutor and physician, +a man of the world to take his place as father, and a cultivated woman +to act as mother to his motherless boy? + +When he proposed the plan to the Sonntaggs, they declared that they +would not think of giving up the prosperous business they had +established in San Francisco, even for the sake of obliging their dear +friend Mr. Amos Todd. With this the millionaire made them an offer of +such unheard-of munificence that, with pretended reluctance, they +finally accepted it, and he went on his way rejoicing. + +The next evening the Sonntaggs dined at Amos Todd's house for the +purpose of making Alaric's acquaintance. The Professor patted him on the +shoulder, and, in a patronizing manner, hoped they should learn much and +enjoy much together. The Mrs. Doctor surveyed him critically, and held +his hand until the boy wondered if she would ever let it go. Finally she +shook her head, sighed deeply, and, turning to his father, said: + +"I understand the dear boy's case thoroughly. What he needs is +intelligent treatment and motherly care. I can give him both, and +unhesitatingly promise to restore him to you at the end of a year, if +nothing occurs to prevent, strong, well, and an ornament to the name of +Todd." + +Alaric found no difficulty in forming an opinion of the Sonntaggs, and +wondered if going to France with his father and sister would not be +preferable to travelling in their company. So occupied was he with this +question that he hardly ate a mouthful of the sumptuous dinner served in +honor of the guests--a fact that was noted with significant glances by +all at the table. + +It was planned that very evening that the Pacific should be crossed in +one of the superb steamships sailing from Vancouver, in British +Columbia, and a despatch was sent off at once to engage staterooms. The +journey was to be begun two days later, for that was the date on which +Amos Todd and his daughter were to start for France; and though the +_Empress_ would not sail from Vancouver for a week after that, the house +would be closed, and it was thought best for Alaric to travel up the +coast by easy stages. + +During those two days of grace the poor lad's mind was in a ferment. He +had no desire to go to China or anywhere else outside of his own +country. Having travelled nearly all his life, he was so tired of it +that travelling now seemed to him one of the most unpleasant things a +boy could be compelled to undertake. He did not want to go to France, of +course, and decided that even China in company with the Sonntaggs would +be better than Europe. + +Still, he tried to escape from going away at all, and asked his brother +John to let him stay with him and go to work in the bank; but John Todd +answered that he was too busy a man to have the care of an invalid, and +that their father's plan was by far the best. Then, as a last resort, +Alaric went to the park, hoping to meet Dave Carncross, and determined, +if he did, to lay the whole case before him, and ask his advice. Even +here fate seemed against him; for, from a strange boy of whom he made +inquiry, he learned that Carncross had left the city a day or two +before, though where he had gone the boy did not know. + +So preparations for the impending journey went busily forward, and +Alaric, who felt very much like a helpless victim of misfortune, could +find no excuse for delaying them. Even in the preparations being made +for his own comfort he was given no active part. Everything that he was +supposed to need and did not already possess was procured for him. His +father presented him with a superb travelling-bag, fitted with all +possible toilet accessories in silver and cut glass, but the boy would +infinitely have preferred a baseball bat, and a chance to use it. + +At length the day for starting arrived, and, with as great reluctance as +he had ever felt in his life, Alaric entered the carriage that was to +convey the Todds to the Oakland ferry. Crossing the bay, they found the +Sonntaggs awaiting them on the other side, where the whole party entered +Amos Todd's palatial private car that was attached to the Overland +Express. In this way they travelled together as far as Sacramento, where +Alaric bade his father and sister good-bye. Then he and his newly +appointed guardians boarded the special car provided for them, and in +which they were to proceed by the famous Shasta route to the far North. + +Up to this point the Sonntaggs had proved very attentive, and had +striven by every means to make themselves agreeable to their +fellow-travellers. From here on, however, the Professor spent most of +his time in smoking and sleeping, while his wife devoted herself to +reading novels, a great stack of which had been provided for the +journey. Alaric, thus left to his own devices, gazed drearily from the +car window, rebelling inwardly at the lonely grandeur with which he was +surrounded, and wishing with all his heart that he were poor enough to +be allowed to travel in one of the ordinary coaches, in which were +several boys of his own age, who seemed to be having a tantalizingly +good time. They were clad in flannels, knickerbockers, and heavy +walking-shoes, and Alaric noted with satisfaction that they wore gray +Tam o' Shanter caps, such as he had procured at Esther Dale's +suggestion, and was now wearing for the first time. + +They left the train at Sisson, and Alaric, standing on the platform of +his car, gathered from their conversation that they were about to climb +Mount Shasta, the superb rock-ribbed giant that lifted his snow-crowned +head more than fourteen thousand feet in the air a few miles from that +point. What wouldn't he give to be allowed to join the merry party and +make the adventurous trip with them? He had been familiar with mountains +by sight all his life, and had always longed to climb one, but had never +been given the opportunity. + +It was small consolation to notice one of the boys draw the attention of +the others to him, and overhear him say: "Look at that chap travelling +in a special car like a young millionaire. I say, fellows, that must be +great fun, and I'd like to try it just for once, wouldn't you?" + +The others agreed that they would, and then the group passed out of +hearing, while Alaric said to himself: "I only wish they could try +travelling all alone in a special car, just to find out how little fun +there is in it." + +The following morning Portland, Oregon, was reached, and here the car +was side-tracked that its occupants might spend a day or two in the +city. The Sonntaggs seemed to have many acquaintances here, for whom +they held a reception in the car, gave a dinner at the Hotel Portland, +and ordered carriages in which to drive about, all at Amos Todd's +expense. In these diversions Alaric was at liberty to join or not, as he +pleased, and he generally preferred to remain behind or to wander about +by himself. + +The same programme was repeated at Tacoma and Seattle, in the State of +Washington, and at Vancouver, in British Columbia. In the last-named +place Alaric's chief amusement lay in watching the lading of the great +white ship that was to bear him away, and the busy life of the port, +with its queer medley of Yankees and Britishers, Indians and Chinamen, +tourists, sailors, and stevedores. The last-named especially excited his +envious admiration--they were such big men, and so strong. + +[Illustration: ALARIC MAKES HIS FIRST DECISION] + +At length the morning of sailing arrived, and as the mighty steamship +moved majestically out of the harbor, and, leaving the brown waters of +Burrard Inlet behind, swept on into the open blue of the Gulf of +Georgia, the boy was overwhelmed with a great wave of homesickness. +Standing alone at the extreme after end of the promenade-deck, he +watched the fading land with strained eyes, and felt like an outcast and +a wanderer on the face of the earth. + +After a while the ship began to thread a bewildering maze of islands, in +which Professor Sonntagg made a slight effort to interest his moody +young charge; but finding this a difficult task, he quickly gave it up, +and joined some acquaintances in the smoking-room. + +Alaric had not known that the _Empress_ was to make one stop before +taking her final departure from the coast. So when she was made fast to +the outer wharf at Victoria, on the island of Vancouver, the largest +city in British Columbia, and its capital, he felt like one who receives +an unexpected reprieve from an unpleasant fate. + +As it was announced that she would remain here two hours, the Sonntaggs, +according to their custom, at once engaged a carriage to take them to +the most interesting places in the city. This plan had been suggested by +Amos Todd himself, who had bidden them spare no expense or pains to show +his son all that was worth seeing in the various cities they might +visit; and that the boy generally declined to accompany them on these +excursions was surely not their fault--at least, they did not regard it +so. + +The truth was that Alaric had taken a dislike to these pretentious +people from the very first, and it had grown so much stronger on closer +acquaintance that now he was willing to do almost anything to avoid +their company. Thus on this occasion he allowed them to drive off +without him, while he strolled alone to the head of the wharf, tossing +his beloved baseball, which he had carefully brought with him on this +journey, from hand to hand as he walked. + +"Hello! Give us a catch," shouted a cheery voice; and, looking up, +Alaric saw a merry-faced, squarely built lad of his own age standing in +an expectant attitude a short distance from him. Although he was roughly +dressed, he had a bright, self-reliant look that was particularly +attractive to our young traveller, who without hesitation tossed him the +ball. They passed it back and forth for a minute, and then the stranger +lad, saying, "Good-bye; I must be getting along; wish I could stop and +get better acquainted, though," ran on with a laugh, and disappeared in +the crowd. + +An hour later Alaric was nearly half a mile from the wharf, when the +steamer's hoarse whistle sounded a warning note that signified a speedy +departure. He turned and began to walk slowly in that direction, and a +few minutes later a carriage containing the Sonntaggs dashed by without +its occupants noticing him. + +At sight of them Alaric paused. A queer look came into his face; it grew +very pale, and then he deliberately sat down on a log by the way-side. +There came another blast of the ship's whistle, and then the tall masts, +which he could just see, began slowly to move. The _Empress_, with the +Sonntaggs on board, had started for China, and one of her passengers was +left behind. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +FIRST MATE BONNY BROOKS + + +Alaric Todd's sensations as he sat on that log and watched the ship, in +which he was supposed to be a passenger, steam away without him were +probably as curious as any ever experienced by a boy. He had +deliberately abandoned a life of luxury, as well as a position that most +people are striving with all their energies to obtain, and accepted in +its place--what? He did not know, and for the moment he did not care. He +only knew that the Sonntaggs were gone beyond a chance of return at +least for some weeks, and that during that time there was no possible +way in which they could reach him or communicate with his family. + +He realized that he was in a strange city, not one of whose busy +population either knew or cared to know a thing about him. But what of +that? If they did not know him they could never call him by the hated +name of "Allie." If he succeeded in making friends, it would be because +of himself, and not on account of his father's wealth. Above all, those +now about him did not know and should never know, if he could keep it, +that he was thought to be possessed of a weak heart. Certainly if +excitement could injure his heart, it ought to be completely ruined at +the present moment, for he had never been so excited in his life, and +doubted if he ever should be again. + +With it all the lad was filled with such an exulting sense of liberty +that he wanted to jump and shout and share with every passer-by the +glorious news that at length he was free--free to be a boy among boys, +and to learn how to become a man among men. He did not shout, nor did he +confide his happiness to any of those who were coming up from the wharf, +where they had just witnessed the departure of the great ship; but he +did jump from the log on which he had been sitting and fling his +baseball high in the air. As it descended and he caught it with +practised skill, he was greeted by the approving remark: "Good catch! +Couldn't do it better myself!" and looking round he saw the lad with +whom he had passed ball a short time before. + +"It seems mighty good," continued the stranger, "to see a baseball +again, and meet a fellow who knows how to catch one. These chaps over +here don't know anything about it, and I've hardly seen a ball since I +left Massachusetts. You don't throw, though, half as well as you catch." + +"No," replied Alaric, "I haven't learned that yet. You see, I've only +just begun." + +"That so? Wish I had a chance to show you something about it, then, for +I used to play on the nine at home." + +"I wish you could, for I want awfully to learn. Why can't you?" + +"Because I don't live here, and, do you know, I didn't think you did, +either. When I saw you awhile ago, I had a sort of idea that you +belonged aboard the _Empress_, and were going in her to China, and I've +been more than half envying you ever since. Funny, wasn't it?" + +"Awfully!" responded Alaric. "And I'm glad it isn't true, for I don't +know of anything I should hate more than to be going to China in the +_Empress_. But I say, let's stop in here and get something to eat, for +I'm hungry--aren't you?" + +"Of course I am," laughed the other; and with this the two boys, who +were already strolling towards the city together, turned into the little +road-side bake-shop that had just attracted Alaric's attention. Here he +ordered half a sheet of buns, two tarts, and two glasses of milk. These +being served on a small table, Alaric paid for them, and the newly made +acquaintances sat down to enjoy their feast at leisure. + +"What I want to do," said Alaric, continuing their interrupted +conversation, "is to get back to the States as quickly as possible." + +"That's easy enough," replied the other, holding his tart in both hands +and devouring it with infinite relish. "There's a steamer leaves here at +eight o'clock this evening for Seattle and Tacoma. But you don't live +here then, after all?" + +"No, I don't live here, nor do I know any one who does, and I want to +get away as quickly as I can; for I am looking for work, and should +think the chances for finding it were better in the States than here." + +"_You_ looking for work?" said the other, slowly, and as though doubting +whether he had heard aright. At the same time he glanced curiously at +Alaric's white hands and neatly fitting coat. "You don't look like a +fellow who is looking for work." + +"I am, though," laughed Alaric; "and as I have just spent the last cent +of money I had in the world, I must find something to do right away. +That's the reason I want to get back to the States; but I don't know +about that steamer. I suppose they'd charge something to take me, +wouldn't they?" + +"Well, rather," responded the other. "But I say, Mister--By-the-way, +what is your name?" + +"Dale--Rick Dale," replied Alaric, promptly, for he had anticipated +this question, and was determined to drop the Todd part of his name, at +least for the present. "But there isn't any Mister about it. It's just +plain Rick Dale." + +"Well, then, plain Rick Dale," said the other, "my name is Bonny +Brooks--short for Bonnicastle, you know; and I must say that you are the +most cheerful-appearing fellow to be in the fix you say you are that I +ever met. When I get strapped and out of a job I sometimes don't laugh +for a whole day, especially if I don't have anything to eat in that +time." + +"That's something I never tried, and I didn't know any one ever did for +a whole day," remarked Alaric. "How queer it must seem!" + +"Lots of people try it; but they don't unless they have to, and it don't +seem queer at all," replied Bonny, soberly. "But what kind of work are +you looking for, and what pay do you expect?" + +"I am looking for anything I can find to do, and will work for any pay +that is offered." + +"It would seem as if a fellow ought to get plenty to do on those terms," +said Bonny, "though it isn't so easy as you might think, for I've tried +it. How do you happen to be looking for work, anyway? Where is your +home, and where are your folks?" + +"My mother is dead," replied Alaric, "and I suppose my father is in +France, though just where he is I don't know. Our home was in San +Francisco, and before he left he tried to fix things all right for me; +but they turned out all wrong, and so I am here looking for something to +do." + +"If that don't beat anything I ever heard of!" cried Bonny Brooks, in a +tone of genuine amazement. "If I didn't know better, I should think you +were telling my story, or that we were twins; for my mother is dead, and +my father, when last heard from, was on his way to France. You see, he +was a ship captain, and we lived in Sandport, on Cape Cod, where, after +my mother died, he fixed up a home for me with an aunt, and left money +enough to keep me at school until he came back from a voyage to South +America and France. We heard of his reaching Brazil and leaving there, +but never anything more; and when a year passed Aunt Nancy said she +couldn't support me any longer. So she got me a berth as cabin-boy on a +bark bound to San Francisco, and then to the Sound for lumber to China. +I wanted to go to China fast enough, but the captain treated me so badly +that I couldn't stand it any longer, and so skipped just before the ship +sailed from Port Blakely. The meanest part of it all was that I had to +forfeit my pay, leave my dunnage on board, and light out with only what +I had on my back." + +"That's my fix exactly," cried Alaric, delightedly. "I mean," he added, +recollecting himself, "that my baggage got carried off, and as I haven't +heard from it since, I don't own a thing in the world except the +clothing I have on." + +"And a baseball," interposed Bonny. + +"Oh yes, a baseball, of course," replied Alaric, soberly, as though that +were a most matter-of-fact possession for a boy in search of employment. +"But what did you do after your ship sailed away without you?" + +"Starved for a couple of days, and then did odd jobs about the river for +my grub, until I got a chance to ship as one of the crew of the sloop +_Fancy_, that runs freight and passengers between here and the Sound. +That was only about a month ago, and now I'm first mate." + +"You are?" cried Alaric, at the same time regarding his young companion +with a profound admiration and vastly increased respect. "Seems to me +that is the most rapid promotion I ever heard of. What a splendid sailor +you must be!" + +Although the speaker was so ignorant of nautical matters that he did not +know a sloop from a schooner, or from a full-rigged ship, for that +matter, he had read enough sea stories to realize that the first mate of +any vessel was often the most important character on board. + +"Yes," said Bonny, modestly, "I do know a good deal about boats; for, +you see, I was brought up in a boating town, and have handled them one +way and another ever since I can remember. I haven't been first mate +very long, though, because the man who was that only left to-day." + +"What made him?" asked Alaric, who could not understand how any one, +having once attained to such an enviable position, could willingly give +it up. + +"Oh, he had some trouble with the captain, and seemed to think it was +time he got paid something on account of his wages, so that he could buy +a shirt and a pair of boots." + +"Why didn't the captain pay him?" + +"I suppose he didn't have the money." + +"Then why didn't the man get the things he wanted, and have them +charged?" + +"That's a good one," laughed Bonny. "Because the storekeeper wouldn't +trust him, of course." + +"I never heard of such a thing," declared Alaric, indignantly. "I +thought people could always have things charged if they wanted to. I'm +sure I never found any trouble in doing it." + +"Didn't you?" said Bonny. "Well, I have, then," and he spoke so queerly +that Alaric realized in a moment that he had very nearly betrayed his +secret. Hastening to change the subject, he asked: + +"If you took the mate's place, who took yours?" + +"Nobody has taken it yet, and that's what I'm after now--hunting for a +new hand. The captain couldn't come himself, because he's got rheumatism +so bad that it's all he can do to crawl out on deck and back again. +Besides, it's the first mate's place to ship the crew, anyhow." + +"Then," asked Alaric, excitedly, "why don't you take me? I'll work hard +and do anything you say?" + +"You?" cried Bonny, regarding his companion with amazement. "Have you +ever sailed a boat or helped work a vessel?" + +"No," replied Alaric, humbly; "but I am sure I can learn, and I +shouldn't expect any pay until I did." + +"I should say not," remarked the first mate of the _Fancy_, "though most +greenhorns do. Still, that is one thing in your favor. Another is that +you can catch a ball as well as any fellow I ever knew, and a chap who +can do that can learn to do most anything. So I really have a great mind +to take you on trial." + +"Do you think the captain will agree to it?" asked Alaric, anxiously. + +"Of course he will, if I say so," replied Bonny Brooks, confidently; +"for, as I just told you, the first mate always hires the crew." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +PREPARING TO BE A SAILOR + + +During the conversation just recorded the boys by no means neglected +their luncheon, for both of them had been very hungry, and by the time +they arrived at an understanding in regard to Alaric's engagement not a +crumb of food nor a drop of milk was left before them. While to Bonny +Brooks this had proved a most welcome and enjoyable repast, to Alaric it +marked a most important era of his life. To begin with, it was the first +meal he had ever paid for out of his own pocket, and this alone was +sufficient to give it a flavor that he had never discovered in the rich +food by which his appetite had heretofore been tempted. + +Then during this simple meal he had entered upon his first friendship +with a boy of his own age, for the liking that he had already taken for +Bonny Brooks was evidently returned. Above all, during that brief +lunch-hour he had conducted his first independent business operation, +and now found himself engaged to fill a responsible position in active +life. To be sure, he was only taken on trial, but if good intentions and +a determination to do his very best could command success, then was his +position assured. How fortunate he was, after all! An opening, a chance +to prove what he could do, was all that he had wanted, and behold! it +was his within the first hour of his independent life. How queer that it +had come through his baseball too, and how strangely one thing seemed +to lead to another! + +Now Alaric was impatient for a sight of the vessel that was to be the +scene of his future labors, and anxious to begin them. He had so little +idea of what a sloop was that he even wondered if it would be propelled +by sails or steam. He was inclined to think that it must be the latter, +for Bonny had spoken of his craft as carrying passengers, and Alaric had +never known any passenger boats except such as were driven by steam. So +he pictured the _Fancy_ as a steamer, not so large as the _Empress_, of +course, but fairly good-sized, manned by engineers, stokers, stewards, +and a crew of sailors. With this image in his mind, he regarded his +companion as one who had indeed attained a lofty position. + +So busy was our hero with these thoughts that for a full minute after +the lads left the bake-shop he did not utter a word. Bonny Brooks was +also occupied with a line of thought that caused him to glance +reflectively at his companion several times before he spoke. Finally he +broke out with: + +"I say, Rick Dale, I don't know about shipping you for a sailor, after +all. You see, you are dressed altogether too fine. Any one would take +you for the captain or maybe the owner if you were to go aboard in those +togs." + +"Would they?" asked Alaric, gazing dubiously down at his low-cut +patent-leather shoes, black silk socks, and light trousers accurately +creased and unbagged at the knees. Besides these he wore a vest and +sack-coat of fine black serge, an immaculate collar, about which was +knotted a silk neck-scarf, and a narrow-striped cheviot shirt, the cuffs +of which were fastened by gold sleeve-links. Across the front of his +vest, from pocket to pocket, extended a slender chain of twisted gold +and platinum, at one end of which was his watch, and at the other a gold +and platinum pencil-case. + +"Yes, they would," answered Bonny, with decision; "and you've got to +make a change somehow, or else our bargain must be called off, for you +could never become a sailor in that rig." + +Here was a difficulty on which Alaric had not counted, and it filled him +with dismay. "Couldn't I change suits with you?" he asked, anxiously. "I +shouldn't think mine would be too fine for a first mate." + +"Not if I know it," laughed Bonny. "They'd fit me too much one way and +not enough another. Besides, they are shore togs any way you look at +'em, and not at all the things to go to sea in. The cap'n would have a +fit if you should go aboard dressed as you are. So if you want to ship +with us, I'm afraid you'll have to buy a new outfit." + +"But I haven't any money, and you say they won't charge things in this +town." + +"Of course they won't if they don't know you; but you might spout your +ticker, and make a raise that way." + +"Might what?" + +"Shove up your watch. Leave it with your uncle, you know, until you +earned enough to buy it back." + +"Do you mean sell it?" + +"No. They'd ask too many questions if you tried to sell it, and wouldn't +give much more, anyway. I mean pawn it." + +"All right," replied Alaric. "I'm willing, only I don't know how." + +"Oh, I'll show you quick enough, if you really want to do it." + +As Alaric insisted that he was willing to do almost anything to procure +that coveted sailor's outfit, Bonny led him to a mean-looking shop, +above the door of which hung three golden balls. The dingy windows were +filled with a dusty miscellany of watches, pistols, and all sorts of +personal property, while the opening of the door set loose a musty odor +of old clothing. As this came pouring forth Alaric instinctively drew +back in disgust; but with a sudden thought that he could not afford to +be too fastidious in the new life he had chosen, he conquered his +repugnance to the place and followed Bonny inside. + +A gaunt old Hebrew in a soiled dressing-gown stood behind a small +counter. As Alaric glanced at him hesitatingly, Bonny opened their +business by saying, briskly: + +"Hello, uncle! How are you to-day? My friend here wants to make a raise +on his watch." + +"Let's see dot vatch," replied Mr. Isaacs, and Alaric handed it to him, +together with the chain and pencil-case. It was a fine Swiss +chronometer, with the monogram A.D.T. engraved on its back; and as the +pawnbroker tested the quality of its case and peered at the works, +Alaric noted his deliberate movements with nervous anxiety. Finally the +man said: + +"I gifs you den tollars on dot vatch mit der chain und pencil trown in." + +Alaric would have accepted this offer at once, but Bonny knew better. + +"Ten nothings!" he said. "You'll give us fifty dollars, uncle, or we'll +take it down to Levi's." + +"Feefty tollar! So hellup me grashus! I vould be alretty bankrupted of I +gif feefty tollars on effery vatch. Vat you dake me for?" + +"Take you for an old fraud," replied the unabashed first mate of the +_Fancy_. "Of course you would be bankrupted, as you ought to have been +long ago, if you gave fifty dollars on every turnip that is brought in; +but you could well afford to advance a hundred on this watch, and you +know it." + +"Veil, I tell you; I gifs t'venty-fife." + +[Illustration: "'VELL, I TELL YOU. I GIFS YOU TVENTY-FIFE'"] + +"Fifty," said Bonny, firmly. + +"Dirty, und nod von cend more, so hellup me." + +"Fifty." + +"Dirty-fife?" + +"We'll split the difference, and call it forty-five." + +"I gifs you fordy oud of charidy, seeing you is so hart up." + +"It's a bargain," cried Bonny. "Hand over your cash." + +"How could you talk to him that way?" asked Alaric, admiringly, as the +boys left the shop, he minus his watch and chain, but with forty dollars +and a pawn-ticket in his pocket. + +"I couldn't once," laughed Bonny; "but it's one of the things poor folks +have to learn. If you are willing to let people impose on you they'll be +mighty quick to do it, and the only way is to bluff 'em from the start." + +The next place they entered was a sailor's slop-shop, in which were kept +all sorts of seafaring garments and accessories. Here, advised by Bonny, +Alaric invested fourteen dollars and seventy-five cents in a blue knit +jersey, or sweater, a pair of stout woollen trousers, two flannel +shirts, two suits of heavy underclothing, several pairs of cotton socks, +and a pair of canvas shoes. + +Expressing a desire to make a change of clothing at once, he was shown a +retired corner where he might do so, and from which he emerged a few +minutes later so altered in appearance that it is doubtful if his own +father would have recognized him. + +"That's something like it!" cried Bonny. + +"Isn't it?" replied Alaric, surveying himself with great satisfaction in +a mirror, and fully convinced that he now looked so like a sailor that +no one could possibly mistake him for anything else. "Don't you think, +though, that I ought to have the name of the sloop embroidered across +the front of this sweater? All the sailors I have ever seen had theirs +fixed that way." + +"I suppose it would be a good idea," replied Bonny, soberly, though +filled with inward laughter at the suggestion. "But perhaps you'd better +wait until you see if the ship suits you, and whether you stay with us +or not." + +"Oh, I'll stay," asserted Alaric. "There's no fear but what I will, if +you'll only keep me." + +"Going yachting, sir?" asked the shopkeeper, politely, as he carefully +folded Alaric's discarded suit of fine clothing. + +"No, indeed," replied the boy, scornfully; "I'm going to be a sailor on +the sloop _Fancy_, and I wish you would send those things down to her at +once." + +Ere the man could recover from his astonishment at this request +sufficiently to make reply, Bonny interrupted, hastily: + +"Oh no, Rick! we'll take them with us. There isn't time to have 'em +sent." + +"I should guess not," remarked the shopkeeper, in a very different tone +from the one he had used before. "But say, young feller, if you're going +to be a sailor you'll want a bag, and I've got a second-hand one here +almost as good as new that I'll sell cheap. It come to me with a lot of +truck from the sale of a confiscated sealer; and seeing that it's got +another chap's name painted on it, I'll let you have it for one bob +tuppence-ha'penny, and that'll make even money between us." + +Thus saying, the man produced a stout canvas bag, such as a sailor uses +in place of a trunk. The name plainly painted across it, in black +letters, was "Philip Ryder", but Alaric said he didn't mind that, so he +took the bag, thrust his belongings, including his cherished baseball, +into it, and the two boys left the shop. + +"By-the-way," asked Alaric, hesitatingly, "don't I need to get some +brushes and things?" + +"What for?" + +"Why, to brush my hair, and--" + +"Oh no," interrupted the other. "There's a comb on board, and, besides, +we can't stop for anything more. I've been gone so long now that I +expect the old man is madder'n a wet hen by this time." + +So Bonny led the way to the wharves, and to a narrow slip between two of +them that just then was occupied by but a single craft. She was a small +sloop, not over forty feet long, though of good beam, evidently very +old, and so dingy that it was hard to believe she had ever been painted. +Her sails, hanging unfurled in lazy jacks, were patched and discolored; +her running rigging was spliced, the standing rigging was sadly in need +of setting up, her iron-work was rusted, and her spars were gray with +age. + +"There's the old packet," said Bonny, cheerfully. + +"Where?" asked Alaric, gazing vaguely down the slip and utterly ignoring +the disreputable craft close at hand. + +"Why, right here," answered the other, a trifle impatiently. "Don't you +see the name '_F-A-N-C-Y_' on her stern? She isn't much to look at, I +know, but she's a hummer to go, and a mighty good sea-boat. She's +awfully comfortable, too. Come aboard and I'll show you." + +With this the cheery young fellow, who had actually come to a belief +that the shabby old craft was all he claimed for her, tossed his +friend's recent purchase to the deck of the sloop, and began to clamber +after it down a rickety ladder. + +With all his bright visions of a minute before rudely dispelled, and +with a heart so heavy that he could find no words to express his +feelings, Alaric followed him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CAPTAIN DUFF, OF THE SLOOP "FANCY" + + +As the newly engaged crew of the sloop _Fancy_ slowly and awkwardly +descended the slippery ladder leading down to his ship, he experienced +his first regrets at the decisive step he had taken, and doubts as to +its wisdom. The real character of the sloop as shown by a single glance +was so vastly different from his ideal, that for a moment it did not +seem as though he could accept the disreputable old craft as even a +temporary home. Never before had he realized how he loathed dirt and +disorder, and all things that offended his delicately trained senses. +Never before had he appreciated the cleanly and orderly forms of living +to which he had always been accustomed. He could not imagine it possible +to eat, sleep, or even exist on board such a craft as lay just beneath +him, and his impulse was to fly to some remote place where he should +never see nor hear of the _Fancy_ again. But even as he was about to do +this the sound of Bonny's reassuring voice completely changed the +current of his thoughts. + +Was not the lad who had brought him to this place a very picture of +cheerful health, and just such a strong, active, self-reliant boy as he +longed to become? Surely what Bonny could endure he could! Perhaps +disagreeable things were necessary to the proper development of a boy. +That thought had never come to him before, but now he remembered how +much his hands had suffered before they were trained to catch a +regulation ball. + +Besides all this, had not Bonny hesitated before consenting to give him +a trial, and had he not insisted on coming? Had he not also confidently +asserted that all he wanted was a chance to show what he was good for, +and that nothing save a dismissal should cause him to relinquish +whatever position was given him? After all, no matter how bad things +might prove on the sloop, there would always be plenty of fresh air and +sunshine, besides an unlimited supply of clean water. He could remember +catching glimpses, in foreign cities, of innumerable pestilential places +in which human beings were compelled to spend whole lifetimes, where +none of these things was to be had. + +Yes, he would keep on and make the best of whatever presented itself, +for perhaps things would not prove to be as bad as they seemed; and, +after all, he was willing to endure a great deal for the sake of +continuing the friendship just begun between himself and Bonny Brooks. +He remembered now having once heard his father say that a friendship +worth having was worth fighting for. If that were the case, what a +coward he would be to even think of relinquishing his first real +friendship without making an effort to retain it. + +By the time all these thoughts had flashed through the boy's mind he had +gained the sloop's deck, where he was startled by an angry voice that +sounded like the bellow of an enraged bull. Turning quickly, he saw his +friend Bonny confronted by a big man with a red face and bristling +beard. This individual, supported by a pair of rudely made crutches, was +standing beside the after companion-way, and glaring at the bag +containing his own effects that had been tossed down from the wharf. + +"Ye've got a hand, have ye?" roared this man, whom Alaric instinctively +knew to be the captain. "Is this his dunnage?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the first mate. "And I think--" + +"Never mind what you think," interrupted the captain, fiercely. "Send +him about his business, and pitch his dunnage back on the wharf or pitch +it overboard, I don't care which. Pitch it! d'ye hear?" + +"But Captain Duff, I think--" + +"Who asked ye to think? I do the thinking on board this craft. Don't ye +suppose I know what I'm talking about? I tell ye I had this Phil Ryder +with me on one cruise, and I'll never have him on another! An impudent +young puppy as ever lived, and a desarter to boot. Took off two of my +best men with him, too. Oh, I know him, and I'd Phil him full of his own +rifle-bullets ef I had the chance. I'd like to Ryder him on a rail, +too." + +"You are certainly mistaken, sir, this time, for--" + +"Who, I? You dare say I'm mistaken, you tarry young swab you!" roared +the man, his face turning purple with rage. "Oh, ef I had the proper use +of my feet for one minute I'd show ye! Put him ashore, I tell ye, and do +it in a hurry too, or you'll go with him without one cent of wages--not +one cent, d'ye hear? I'll have no mutiny where I'm cap'n." + +Poor Alaric listened to this fierce outbreak with mingled fear and +dismay. Now that the situation he had deemed so surely his either to +accept or reject was denied him, it again seemed very desirable. He was +about to speak up in his own behalf when the angry man's last threat +caused him to change his mind. He could not permit Bonny to suffer on +his account, and lose the position he had so recently attained. No, the +very first law of friendship forbade that; and so, stepping forward to +claim his bag, he said, in a low tone: "Never mind me, Bonny; I'll go." + +"No, you won't!" retorted the young mate, stoutly, "or, if you do, I'll +go with you; and I'll have my wages too, Captain Duff, or know the +reason why." + +Without paying the slightest attention to this remark, the man was +staring at Alaric, whom he had not noticed until this moment. "Who is +that land-lubber togged out like a sporty salt?" he demanded. + +"He's the crew I hired, and the one you have just bounced," replied +Bonny. + +"What's his name?" + +"Rick Dale." + +"What made you say it was Phil Ryder, then?" + +"I didn't, sir. You--" + +"Don't contradict me, you unlicked cub! Can he shoot?" + +"No, sir," replied Alaric, as Bonny looked at him inquiringly. + +"All right. I wouldn't have him aboard if he could. Why don't he take +his thundering dunnage and go for'ard, where he belongs, and cook me +some grub when he knows I haven't had anything to eat sence sunup? Why +don't he, I say?" + +With this Captain Duff turned and clumped heavily to the other side of +the deck; while Bonny, hastily picking up the bag that had been the +innocent cause of all this uproar, said, in a low voice: "Come on, Rick; +it's all right." + +As they went forward together he dropped the bag down a tiny forecastle +hatch. Then, after asking Alaric to cut some kindlings and start a fire +in the galley stove, which was housed on deck, he dove into the cabin to +see what he could find that could be cooked for dinner. + +When he reappeared a minute later he found his crew struggling with an +axe and a chunk of hard wood, from which he was vainly attempting to +detach some slivers. He had already cut two deep gashes in the deck, and +in another moment would probably have needed crutches as badly as the +captain himself. + +"Hold on, Rick!" cried the young mate, catching the axe-helve just as +the weapon was making another erratic descent. "I find those grocery +chaps haven't sent down any stores. So do you just run up there. It's +two doors this side of Uncle Isaac's, you know, and hurry them along. +I'll 'tend to the fire while you are gone." + +Gladly exchanging his unaccustomed, and what he considered to be very +dangerous, task of wood-chopping for one that he felt sure he could +accomplish creditably, Alaric hastened away. He found the grocer's +easily enough, and demanded of the first clerk he met why the stores for +the sloop _Fancy_ had not been sent down. + +"Must have been the other clerk, sir, and I suppose he forgot all about +'em; but I'll attend to the order at once, sir," replied the man, who +took in at a glance Alaric's gentlemanly bearing and the newness of his +nautical garb. "Have 'em right down, sir. Hard bread, salt junk, rice, +and coffee, I believe. Anything else, sir?" + +"I'm sure I don't know," replied Alaric. + +"Going to take a run on the _Fancy_ yourself, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"Then of course you'll want some soft bread, a few tins of milk, half a +dozen jars of marmalade, and a dozen or so of potted meats?" + +"I suppose so," assented the boy. + +"Step this way, sir, and let me show you some of our fine goods," +suggested the clerk, insinuatingly. + +In another part of the building he prattled glibly of pâté-de-foie-gras, +and Neufchâtel cheese, truffles, canned mushrooms, Albert biscuit, +anchovy paste, stuffed olives, Wiesbaden prunes, and a variety of +things--all of which were so familiar to the millionaire's son, and had +appeared so naturally on all the tables at which he had ever sat, that +he never for a moment doubted but what they must be necessities on the +_Fancy_ as well. Of ten million boys he was perhaps the only one +absolutely ignorant that these luxuries were not daily articles of food +with all persons above the grade of paupers; and as he was equally +without a knowledge of their cost, he allowed the clerk to add a dozen +jars of this, and as many pots of that, to his list, until even that +wily individual could think of nothing else with which to tempt this +easy-going customer. So, promising that the supplies just ordered should +be sent down directly, he bowed Alaric out of the door, at the same time +trusting that they should be honored with his future patronage. + +Bethinking himself that he must have a toothbrush, and that it would +also be just as well to have his own comb, in spite of Bonny's assurance +that the ship's comb would be at his service, the lad went in search of +these articles. When he found them he was also tempted to invest in what +he regarded as two other indispensables--namely, a cake of fine soap and +a bottle of eau-de-Cologne. + +He had gone quite a distance for these things, and occupied a full +half-hour in getting them. As he retraced his steps towards the wharves +he passed the slop-shop in which his first purchases of the day had been +made, and was greeted by the proprietor with an inquiry as to whether +old Duff had taken aboard his cargo of "chinks and dope" yet. Not +understanding the question, Alaric did not answer it; but as he passed +on he wondered what sort of a cargo that could be. + +By the time he regained the wharf to which the _Fancy_ was moored the +flooding tide had raised her to a level with it, and on her deck Alaric +beheld a scene that filled him with amazement. The stores that he had +ordered had arrived. The wagon in which they had come stood at one side, +and they had all been taken aboard. One of the two men who had brought +them was exchanging high words and even a shaking of fists with the +young first mate of the sloop, while the other was presenting a bill to +the captain and insisting upon its payment. + +Captain Duff, foaming at the mouth and purple in the face, was +speechless with rage, and could only make futile passes with one of his +crutches at the man with the bill, who dodged each blow with great +agility. As Alaric appeared this individual cried out: + +"Here's the young gent as ordered the goods now!" + +"Certainly," said Alaric, advancing to the sloop's side. "I was told to +order some stores, and I did so." + +"Oh, you did, did ye! you thundering young blunderbuss?" roared Captain +Duff, finding his voice at last. "Then suppose you pay for 'em." + +"Very well," replied the lad, quietly, thinking this an official command +that must be obeyed. + +A minute later peace was restored, Captain Duff was gasping, and his +first mate was staring with amazement. The bill had been paid, the wagon +driven away, and Alaric was again without a single cent in his pockets. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AN UNLUCKY SMASH + + +Captain Duff's first order after peace was thus restored and he had +recovered the use of his voice, temporarily lost through amazement at +the spectacle of a sailor before the mast paying out of his own pocket +for a ship's stores, and stores of such an extraordinary character as +well, was that the goods thus acquired should be immediately transferred +to his own cabin. So Bonny, with Alaric to assist, began to carry the +things below. + +The cabin was very small, dirty, and stuffy. It contained two wide +transom berths, one on each side, a table bearing the stains of +innumerable meals and black with age, and two stools. There was a clock +nailed to the forward bulkhead; beneath it was fastened a small, cheap +mirror, and beside this, attached to a bit of tarred twine, hung the +ship's comb. + +One of the two berths was overlaid with a mattress, several soiled +blankets, and a tattered quilt. It formed the captain's bed, and it also +served as a repository for a number of tobacco-boxes and an assortment +of well-used pipes. In the other berth was a confusion of old clothing, +hats, boots, and whatever else had been pitched there to get it out of +the way. Here the captain proposed to have stored the providential +supply of food that had come to him as unexpectedly as that furnished by +the ravens to the prophet Elijah. + +The air of the place was so pervaded with a combination odor of stale +tobacco smoke, mouldy leather, damp clothing, bilge-water, kerosene, +onions, and other things of an equally obtrusive nature, that poor +Alaric gasped for breath on first descending the short but steep flight +of steps leading to it. He deposited his burden and hurried out as +quickly as possible, in spite of the fact that Captain Duff, who sat on +his bunk, had begun to speak to him. + +On his next trip below the lad drew in a long breath of fresh air just +before entering the evil-smelling cabin, and determined not to take +another until he should emerge from it. In his haste to execute this +plan he dropped his armful of cans, and, without waiting to stow them, +had gained the steps before realizing that the captain was ordering him +to come back. + +Furious at hearing his command thus disregarded, the man reached out +with one of his crutches, caught it around the boy's neck, and gave him +a violent jerk backward. + +The startled lad, losing his foothold, came to the floor with a crash +and a loud escaping "Ah!" of pent-up breath. At the same moment the +cabin began to be pervaded with a new and unaccustomed odor so strong +that all the others temporarily withdrew in its favor. + +"Oh murder! Let me out," gasped Captain Duff, as he scrambled for the +companion-way and a breath of outer air. "Of all the smells I ever +smelled that's the worst!" + +"What have you broken, Rick?" asked Bonny, anxiously, thrusting his head +down the companion-way. He had been curiously reading the unfamiliar +labels on the various jars, pots, and bottles, and now fancied that his +crew had slipped down the steep steps with some of these in his arms. + +"Whew! but it's strong!" he continued, as the penetrating fumes greeted +his nostrils. "Is it the truffles or the pate grass or the cheese?" + +"I'm afraid," replied Alaric, sadly, as he slowly rose from the cabin +floor and thrust a cautious hand into one of his hip-pockets, "that it +is a bottle of eau-de-Cologne." + +"Cologne!" cried Bonny, incredulously, as he caught the word. "If these +foreign kinds of grub are put up in cologne, it's no wonder that I never +heard of them before. Why, it's poison, that's what it is, and nothing +less. Shall I heave the rest of the truck overboard, sir?" + +"Hold on!" cried Alaric, emerging with rueful face from the cabin in +time to catch this suggestion. "It isn't in them. It was in my pocket +all by itself." + +"I wish it had stayed there, and you'd gone to Halifax with it afore +ever ye brought the stuff aboard this ship!" thundered the captain. +"Avast, ye lubber! Don't come anigh me. Go out on the end of the dock +and air yourself." + +So the unhappy lad, his clothing saturated with cologne, betook himself +to the wharf, where, as he slowly walked up and down, filling the air +with perfume, he carefully removed bits of broken glass from his moist +pocket, and disgustedly flung them overboard. + +While he was thus engaged, the first mate, under the captain's personal +supervision, was fumigating the cabin by burning in it a bunch of oakum +over which was scattered a small quantity of tobacco. When the +atmosphere of the place was thus so nearly restored to its normal +condition that Captain Duff could again endure it, Bonny finished +stowing the supplies, and then turned his attention to preparing supper. + +Meanwhile Alaric had been joined in his lonely promenade by a stranger, +who, with a curious expression on his face as he drew near the lad, +changed his position so as to get on the windward side, and then began a +conversation. + +"Fine evening," he said. + +"Is it?" asked Alaric, moodily. + +"I think so. Do you belong on that sloop?" + +"Yes." + +"Able looking craft, and seems to have good accommodations. Where does +she run to from here?" + +"The Sound," answered Alaric, shortly, for he was not in a humor to be +questioned. + +"What does she carry?" + +"Passengers and cargo." + +"Indeed. And may I ask what sort of a cargo?" + +"You may." + +"Well, then, what sort?" persisted the stranger. + +"Chinks and dope," returned Alaric, glancing up with the expectation of +seeing a look of bewilderment on his questioner's face. But the latter +only said: + +"Um! About what I thought. Good-paying business, isn't it?" + +"If it wasn't we wouldn't be in it," replied the boy. + +"No, I suppose not; and it must pay big since it enables even the +cabin-boy to drench himself with perfumery. Good-night; you're too +sweet-scented for my company." + +Ere Alaric could reply the stranger was walking rapidly away, and Bonny +was calling him to supper. + +The first mate apologized for serving this meal on deck, saying that the +sloop's company generally ate together in the cabin, but that Captain +Duff objected to the crew's presence at his table on this occasion. +"So," said Bonny, "I told him he might eat alone, then, for I should +come out and eat with you." + +"I hope he will always feel the same way," retorted Alaric, "for it +doesn't seem as though I could possibly stay in that cabin long enough +to eat a meal." + +"Oh, I guess you could," laughed Bonny. "Anyway, it will be all right by +breakfast-time, for the smell is nearly gone now. But I say, Rick Dale, +what an awfully funny fellow you are anyway! What in the world made you +pay for all that truck? It must have taken every cent you had." + +"So it did," replied Alaric. "But what of that? It was the easiest way +to smooth things over that I knew of." + +"It wouldn't have been for me, then," rejoined Bonny, "for I haven't +handled a dollar in so long that it would scare me to find one in my +pocket. But why didn't you let them take back the things we didn't +need?" + +"Because, having ordered them, we were bound to accept them, of course, +and because I thought we needed them all. I'm awfully tired of such +things myself, but I didn't know you were." + +"What! olives and mushrooms and truffles, and the rest of the things +with queer names? I never tasted one of them in my life, and don't +believe the captain did, either." + +"That seems odd," reflected Alaric. + +"Doesn't it?" responded Bonny, quizzically. "And that cologne, too. What +ever made you buy it?" + +"I don't know exactly. Because I happened to see it, I suppose, and +thought it would be a useful thing to have along. A little of it is nice +in your bath, you know, or to put on your handkerchief when you have a +headache." + +"My stars!" exclaimed Bonny. "Listen to that, will you! Why, Rick, to +hear you talk, one would think you were a prince in disguise, or a +bloated aristocrat of some kind!" + +"Well, I'm not," answered Alaric, shortly. "I'm only a sailor on board +the sloop _Fancy_, who has just eaten a fine supper and enjoyed it." + +"Have you, really?" asked the other, dubiously. "It didn't seem to me +that just coffee without any milk, hard bread, and fried salt pork were +very fine, and I was afraid that perhaps you wouldn't like 'em." + +"I do, though," insisted Alaric. "You see, I never tasted any of those +things before, and they are first-class." + +"Well," said Bonny, "I don't think much of such grub, and I've had it +for more than a year, too; but, then, every one to his liking. Now, if +you are all through, let's hustle and clear away these dishes, for we +are going to sail to-night, you know, and I've got to notify our +passengers. You may come with me and learn the ropes if you want to." + +"But we haven't any cargo aboard," objected Alaric. + +"Oh, that won't take long. A few minutes will fix the cargo all right." + +Alaric wondered what sort of a cargo could be taken aboard in a few +minutes, but wisely concluded to wait and see. + +So the dishes were hastily washed in a bucket of sea-water and put away. +Then, after a short consultation with Captain Duff in the cabin, Bonny +reappeared, and, beckoning Alaric to follow him, both lads went ashore +and walked up into the town. + +Although it was now evening, Bonny did not seek the well-lighted +business streets, but made his way to what struck Alaric as a peculiarly +disreputable neighborhood. The houses were small and dingy, and their +windows were so closely shuttered that no ray of light issued from them. + +At length they paused before a low door, on which Bonny rapped in a +peculiar manner. It was cautiously opened by a man who held a dim lamp +over his head, and who evidently regarded them with suspicion. He was +reassured by a few words from the young mate; the door was closed behind +them, and, with the stranger leading the way, while Alaric, filled with +curiosity, brought up the rear, all three entered a narrow and very dark +passage, the air of which was close and stifling. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"CHINKS" AND "DOPE" + + +The dark passage into which the lads had just been ushered was short, +and was ended by a door of heavy planking before Alaric found a chance +to ask his companion why they had come to such a very queer and +mysterious place. The opening of that second door admitted them to +another passage equally narrow, but well-lighted, and lined with a +number of tiny rooms, each containing two bunks arranged like berths one +above the other. By the dim light in these rooms Alaric could see that +many of these berths were occupied by reclining figures, most of whom +were Chinamen, though a few were unmistakably white. Some were smoking +tiny metal-bowled pipes with long stems, while others lay in a +motionless stupor. + +The air was heavy with a peculiarly sickening odor that Alaric +recognized at once. He had met it before during his travels among the +health resorts of Continental Europe, in which are gathered human wrecks +of every kind. Of them all none had seemed to the lad so pitiable as the +wretched victims of the opium or morphine habit, which is the most +degrading and deadly form of intemperance. + +This boy, so ignorant of many of the commonest things of life, and yet +wise far beyond his years concerning other phases, had often heard the +opium habit discussed, and knew that the hateful drug was taken in many +forms to banish pain, cause forgetfulness of sorrow, and produce a +sleep filled with beautiful dreams. He knew, too, of the sad awakenings +that followed--the dulled senses, the return, with redoubled force, of +all the unhappiness that had only been driven away for a short time, and +the cravings for other and yet larger doses of the deadly stuff. + +He had heard his father say that opium, more than any other one thing, +was the curse of China, and that one of the principal reasons why the +lower grades of Chinese ought to be excluded from the United States was +that they were introducing the habit of opium smoking, and spreading it +abroad like a pestilence. + +Knowing these things, Alaric was filled with horror at finding himself +in a Chinese opium den, and wondered if Bonny realized the true +character of the place. In order to find out he gained his comrade's +side, and asked, in a low tone: "Do you know, Bonny, what sort of a +place this is?" + +"Yes, of course. It is Won Lung's joint." + +"I mean, do you know what the men in those bunks are doing?" + +"Certainly," replied Bonny, cheerfully. "They're hitting the pipe." + +Perplexed as he was by these answers, Alaric still asked another +question. + +"But do you know what they are smoking in those pipes?" + +"To be sure I do," answered the other, a trifle impatiently. "It's dope. +Most any one would know that. Didn't you ever smell it before?" + +"Dope!" Once before had Alaric heard the word during that eventful day, +and he had even used it himself, without knowing its meaning. Now it +flashed across him. Dope was opium, and that hateful drug was to form +the sloop's cargo. The idea of such a thing was so repugnant to him that +he might have entered a protest against it then and there, had not a +sudden change of scene temporarily diverted his attention from the +subject. + +The passage they had been traversing ended in an open court, so foreign +in its every detail that it appeared like a bit from some Chinese city +lifted bodily and transported to the New World. The dingy buildings +surrounding it were liberally provided with balconies, galleries, and +odd little projecting windows, all of which were occupied by Chinamen +gazing with languid interest at the busy scene below. From most of the +galleries hung rows of gayly colored paper lanterns, which gave the +place a very quaint and festive aspect. + +On the pavement were dozens of other Chinamen, with here and there a +demure-looking little woman and a few children. Heaps of queer-looking +luggage, each piece done up in matting and fastened with narrow strips +of rattan, were piled in the corners. At one side was an immense stove, +or rather a huge affair of brick, containing a score or more of little +charcoal stoves, each fitted for the cooking of a single kettle of rice +or pot of tea. About this were gathered a number of men preparing their +evening meal. Many of the others were comparing certificates and +photographs, a proceeding that puzzled Alaric more than a little, for he +was so ignorant of the affairs of his own country that he knew nothing +of its Chinese Exclusion Law. + +He began to learn something about it right there, however, and +subsequently discovered that while Chinese gentlemen, scholars, and +merchants are as freely admitted to travel, study, or reside in the +United States as are similar classes from any other nation, the lower +grades of Chinese, rated as laborers, are forbidden by law to set foot +on American soil. This is because there are such swarming millions of +them willing to work for very small wages, and live as no +self-respecting white man could live; that, were they allowed to enter +this country freely, they would quickly drive white laborers from the +field and leave them to starve. Then, too, they bring with them and +introduce opium-smoking, gambling, lotteries, and other equally +pernicious vices. Besides all this, the Chinese in the United States, +with here and there an exception, have no desire to become citizens, or +to remain longer than is necessary to scrape together the few hundreds +of dollars with which they can return to their own land and live out the +rest of their days in luxury. + +Many thousands of Chinese laborers had come to the United States before +the exclusion law was passed, and these, by registering and allowing +themselves to be photographed for future identification, obtain +certificates which, while not permitting them to return if they once +leave the country, allow them to remain here undisturbed. Any Chinaman +found without such a protection is liable to be arrested and sent back +to his own land. + +These certificates, therefore, are so valuable that Chinamen going home +with no intention of ever returning to this country find no difficulty +in selling their papers to others, who propose to try and smuggle +themselves into the United States from Canada or Mexico. There are +always plenty who are anxious to make this attempt, for if they once get +a foothold they can earn better wages here than anywhere else in the +world. Of course, the purchaser of a certificate must look something +like the attached photograph, and correspond to the personal description +contained in it. To do this a Chinaman will scar his features with cuts +or burns if necessary, and will make himself up to resemble any +particular photograph as skilfully as a professional actor. + +This, then, is what many of those whom Alaric and Bonny now encountered +were doing, for the place into which they had come was a Chinese hotel +in which all newly arrived Chinamen found shelter while waiting for work +or for a chance to smuggle themselves into the United States, which is +what ninety-nine out of every one hundred of them propose to do if +possible. + +As the lads stood together on the edge of this novel scene, while their +guide went from group to group making to each a brief announcement, +Alaric, seizing this first opportunity for acquiring definite +information, asked: "What on earth are we here for, Bonny?" + +"To find out how many passengers are ticketed for to-night's boat and +get them started," was the reply. + +"You don't mean that our passengers are to be Chinamen?" + +"Yes, of course. I thought I told you so first thing this morning when +you asked me what the sloop carried." + +"No. You only said passengers and freight." + +"I ought to have said 'chinks.' But what's the odds? 'Chinks' are +passengers, aren't they?" + +"Do you mean Chinamen? Are 'chinks' Chinamen?" + +"That's right," replied Bonny. + +"Well," said Alaric, who had been on the Coast long enough to imbibe all +a Californian's contempt for natives of the Flowery Kingdom, "if I'd +known that 'chinks' meant Chinamen, and dope meant opium, I should have +been too much ashamed of what the _Fancy_ carried ever to tell any one +about it." + +"I hope you won't," responded Bonny. "There isn't any necessity for you +to that I know of." + +"But I have already. There was a man on the wharf while I was getting +aired who asked me what our cargo was. Just to see what he would say I +told him 'chinks and dope,' though I hadn't the slightest idea of what +either of them meant." + +"My! but that's bad!" cried Bonny, with an anxious look on his face. "I +only hope he wasn't a beak. They've been watching us pretty sharp +lately, and I know the old man is in a regular tizzy-wizzy for fear +we'll get nabbed." + +Before Alaric could ask why they should be nabbed, Won Lung, the +proprietor of the establishment, who also acted as interpreter, came to +where they were standing, greeted Bonny as an old acquaintance, looked +curiously at Alaric, and announced that thirty-six of his boarders had +procured tickets for a passage to the Sound on the _Fancy_. + +"We can't take but twenty of 'em on this trip," said the young mate, +decidedly. "And with their dunnage we'll have to stow 'em like sardines, +anyway. The others must wait till next time." + +"Mebbe you tlake some man in clabin, some mebbe in fo'c's'le," suggested +Won Lung, blandly. + +"Mebbe we don't do anything of the kind," replied Bonny. "The trip may +last several days, and I know I for one am not going to be crowded out +of my sleeping-quarters. So, Mr. Lung, if you send down one man more +than twenty he goes overboard. You savey that?" + +"Yep, me sabby. Allee same me no likee." + +"Sorry, but I can't help it. And you want to hustle 'em along too, for +we are going to sail in half an hour. Got the stuff ready?" + +"Yep, all leddy. Two hun'l poun'." + +"Good enough. Send it right along with us." + +A few minutes later our lads had left Won Lung's queer hotel and were +out in the quiet streets accompanied by two Chinese coolies, who bore +heavy burdens slung from the ends of stout bamboo poles carried across +their shoulders. + +As Bonny seemed disinclined to talk, Alaric refrained from asking +questions, and the little party proceeded in silence through +unfrequented streets to the place where their sloop lay. Here the +burdens borne by the coolies were transferred to the cabin, where this +part of the cargo was left with Captain Duff, and Alaric had no +knowledge of where it was stowed. + +While the captain was thus busy below, Bonny was giving the crew his +first lesson in seamanship by pointing out three ropes that he called +jib, throat, and peak halyards, showing him how to make them fast about +their respective belaying-pins, and impressing upon him the importance +of remembering them. + +Shortly after this the score of long-queued passengers arrived with +their odd-looking packages of personal belongings, were taken aboard in +silence, and stowed in the hold until Alaric wondered if they were piled +on top of one another like sticks of cord-wood. + +Then the mooring-lines were cast off, and the _Fancy_ drifted +noiselessly out of the slip with the ebbing tide. Once clear of it the +jib was hoisted, and she began to glide out of the harbor before a +gentle, off-shore breeze. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +PUGET SOUND SMUGGLERS + + +The great landlocked body of salt water known as Puget Sound, +penetrating for nearly one hundred miles the northwestern corner of +Washington, the Northwest State, is justly termed a smuggler's paradise. +It pierces the land in every direction with a perfect net-work of +inlets, channels, and bays lined with endless miles of forest, frowning +cliffs, and snuggly hidden harbors. The upper end of the Sound, where +its width entitles it to be called a gulf, is filled with an archipelago +of rugged islands of all sizes and shapes, thinly settled, and offering +innumerable secure hiding-places for small boats. Here and there along +the shores of the Sound are Indian reservations uncleared and unoccupied +save by dwindling remnants of the once populous coast tribes. These +Indians, though retaining their tribal names among themselves, are all +known to the whites under the one designation of "Siwash," a corruption +of the French _sauvage_. + +On the eastern side of the Sound are the important American cities of +Seattle and Tacoma; while at its extreme southern end stands Olympia, +Washington's capital. On its western side, and just north of the Strait +of Juan de Fuca, that connects the Sound with the ocean, is located the +Canadian city of Victoria, from which all the smuggling operations of +these waters are conducted. + +From Victoria to the American island of San Juan on the east, the +largest of the archipelago already mentioned, the distance is only +twelve miles, while it is but twenty miles across the Strait of Fuca to +the American mainland on the south. These two points being so near at +hand, it is easy enough to run a boat-load of opium or Chinamen over to +either of them in a night. For such a passage each Chinaman is compelled +to pay from fifteen to twenty dollars, while opium yields a profit of +four or five dollars a pound. Smuggling from Victoria is thus such a +lucrative business that many men of easy conscience are engaged in it. + +Both the island route and that by way of the strait present the serious +drawbacks of having their landing-places so remote from railroads and +cities that, though the frontier has been passed, there is still a +dangerous stretch of territory to be crossed before either of these can +be reached. In view of this fact, it occurred to one of the more +enterprising among the Victoria smugglers to undertake a greater risk +for the sake of greater profits, and run a boat nearly one hundred miles +up the Sound to some point in near vicinity to one of its large cities. + +He had just the craft for the purpose, and finally secured a captain +who, having recently lost a schooner through seizure by the American +authorities for unlawful sealing in Bering Sea, was reckless and +desperate enough for the new venture. As this man undertook the run for +a share of the profits, he was inclined to reduce all expenses to their +very lowest limits, and had already made a number of highly successful +trips. Although the fare to each Chinaman by this new line was +twenty-five dollars, it offered such superior advantages as to be +liberally patronized, and the boat was always crowded. + +In the meantime the American authorities had discovered that much +illegal opium and many illegal Chinamen were entering their country +through a new channel that seemed to lead to the vicinity of Tacoma. The +recently appointed commander of a United States revenue-cutter +determined to break up this route, and capture, if possible, these +boldest of all the Sound smugglers. For some weeks he watched in vain, +overhauled and examined a number of innocent vessels, and with each +failure became the more anxious to succeed. At length he sent his third +lieutenant to Victoria, of course out of uniform, to gain what +information he could concerning any vessel that seemed likely to be +engaged in smuggling. + +This officer, after spending several days in the city without learning +anything definite, was beginning to feel discouraged, when one +afternoon, as he was strolling near the docks, he noticed two lads +walking ahead of him who looked something like sailors. One of them had +evidently just purchased a new outfit of clothing, and carried a canvas +bag on which his name was painted in black letters. Making a mental note +of this name, the officer followed the lads, out of curiosity to see +what kind of a craft they would board. + +When he saw the _Fancy_ he said to himself: "Tough-looking old packet. I +wonder if that young chap with the bag can be one of her crew?" + +Without approaching the sloop so closely as to attract attention, he +lingered in her vicinity until Alaric went up-town to procure supplies, +when the officer still kept him in sight. He even entered the store in +which the lad was dealing, and here his curiosity was stimulated by the +young sailor's varied and costly order. + +"That sloop must make an extraordinary amount of money somehow," he +reflected. + +So interested had he now become that he even followed Alaric while the +lad made his subsequent purchases. Finally he found himself again near +the sloop just as the lad who had excited his curiosity was ordered to +the wharf to air himself after his unfortunate experience with the +bottle of cologne. At length the officer addressed him, and by dint of +persistent questions became confirmed in his suspicions that the dingy +old sloop cruised to the Sound with Chinamen and opium. + +Having gained the information he wanted thus easily and unexpectedly, +the officer returned to his hotel for supper and to write a despatch +that should go by that night's boat. After delivering this on board the +steamer, he determined to take one more look at the suspected sloop; +and, strolling leisurely in that direction, reached the wharf just in +time to see her glide out from the slip and head for the open sea. + +Here was an emergency that called for prompt action; and, running back +to the hotel, the young man paid his bill, secured his bag, and gained +the steamer just as that fine American-built vessel was about to take +her departure for ports of the upper Sound. Shortly afterwards, a little +beyond the harbor mouth, the big, brilliantly lighted steamer swept past +a small dimly outlined craft, on whose deck somebody was waving a +lantern so that she might not be run down. + +Of course it has been understood long ere this that the sloop _Fancy_ +was a smuggler. She was not only that, but was also the boldest, most +successful, and most troublesome smuggler on Puget Sound. The one person +at all acquainted with the shabby old craft and as yet unaware of her +true character was Alaric Todd. His slight knowledge of smugglers +having been gained through books, he thought of them as being only a +sort of half pirates, either Spanish or French, who flourished during +the last century. Thus, although he did not approve of either the +sloop's passengers or cargo, it did not occur to him that they were +being carried in defiance of law until about the time that the steamer's +lights were disappearing in the distance. + +The boy's hands were still smarting from an unaccustomed hauling on +ropes that had resulted in hoisting the big main-sail, and now he lay on +deck well forward, where he had been told to keep a sharp lookout and +report instantly any vessel coming within his range of vision. Before a +fresh beam wind the _Fancy_ was slipping rapidly through the water, with +Captain Duff steering, Bonny doing odd jobs about deck, and the +passengers confining themselves closely to the hold. After the young +mate had waved his signal lantern to the steamer, he extinguished both +it and the side lights that had been burning until now, leaving the +binnacle lamp carefully shaded as the only light on board. With nothing +more to do at present, he threw himself down beside Alaric, and the boys +began a low-voiced conversation. + +"What made you put out those lights?" asked the latter. "I thought all +ships carried lights at night." + +"We don't," laughed Bonny. "They'd give us away to the cutters, and we'd +be picked up in less'n no time. I'm mighty glad that steamer isn't a +revenue-boat." + +"Why?" + +"Because she's so fast. There's only one craft on the Sound can beat +her, and that's the _Flyer_, running between Tacoma and Seattle. This +_City of Kingston_ is a good one, though. She used to be a crack Hudson +River boat, and came out here around the Horn; or, rather, not exactly +that, but through the Strait of Magellan. That's a tough place, I can +tell you." + +"I suppose it is," replied Alaric. "But, Bonny, tell me something more +about those cutters. Why should they want to catch us?" + +"For running 'chinks' and 'dope.'" + +"What harm is there in that? Is it against the law?" + +"I should rather say it was. There's a duty of ten dollars a pound on +one, and the others aren't allowed in at any price." + +"Then I don't see how we are any different from regular smugglers." + +"That's what some folks call us," replied Bonny, with a grin. "They are +mostly on the other side, though. In Victoria they call us +free-traders." + +"It doesn't make any difference what anybody calls us," retorted Alaric, +vehemently, "so long as we ourselves know what we are. It was a mean +thing, Bonny Brooks, that you didn't tell me this before we started." + +"Look here, Rick Dale! do you pretend you didn't know after seeing the +'chinks' and the 'dope' and all that was going on? Oh, come, that's too +thin!" + +"I don't care whether it's thin or thick," rejoined Alaric, stoutly. "I +didn't know that I was shipping to become a pirate, or you may be very +certain I'd have sat on that log till I starved before going one step +with you." + +"What do you mean by calling me a pirate?" demanded Bonny, indignantly. +"I'm no more a pirate than you are, for all your fine airs." + +In his excitement Bonny had so raised his voice that it reached the ears +of Captain Duff, who growled out, fiercely: "Stow yer jaw, ye young +swabs, and keep a sharp lookout for'ard--d'ye hear?" + +"Aye, aye, sir," responded the young mate, rising as though to end the +unpleasant conversation, and peering keenly into the gloom. + +But Alaric was not inclined to let the subject drop; and, with an idea +of continuing their talk in so low a tone that it could not possibly +reach the captain's ears, he too started to rise. + +At that moment the sloop gave a quick lurch that caused him to plunge +awkwardly forward. He was only saved from going overboard by striking +squarely against Bonny, who was balancing himself easily in the very +eyes of the vessel, with one foot on the rail. The force of the blow was +too great for him to withstand. With a gasping cry he pitched headlong +over the bows and disappeared from his comrade's horrified gaze. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A VERY TRYING EXPERIENCE + + +"Stop her! Stop the boat, quick! Bonny is overboard" shouted Alaric, +frantically, as he realized the nature of the catastrophe that had just +occurred through his awkwardness. As he shouted he sprang to the +jib-halyard, and, casting it off, allowed the sail to come down by the +run, his sole idea of checking the headway of a sailing craft being to +reduce her canvas. + +He was about to let go both throat and peak halyards, and so bring down +the big main-sail also, when, with a bellow of rage and a marvellous +disregard of his lameness, Captain Duff rushed forward and snatched the +ropes from the lad's hands. + +"You thundering blockhead!" he roared. "What d'ye mean by lowering a +sail without orders? H'ist it again! H'ist it, d'ye hear?" + +"But Bonny is overboard!" cried Alaric. + +"And you want to leave him to drown, do ye? Don't ye know that if he's +alive he's drifted astarn by this time? Ef you had any sense you'd be +out in the dinghy looking fur him." + +Alaric knew that the dinghy was the small boat towing behind the sloop, +for he had heard the young mate call it by that name, and now he needed +no further hint as to his duty. He had pushed Bonny overboard, and he +must save him if that might still be done. If not, he was careless of +what happened to himself. Nothing could be worse than, or so bad as, to +go through life with the knowledge that he had caused the death of a +fellow-being--one, too, whom he had already come to regard as a dear +friend. + +Thus thinking, he ran aft, cast loose the painter of the dinghy, drew +the boat to the sloop's stern, and, dropping into it, drifted away in +the darkness. He had never rowed a boat, nor even handled a pair of +oars, but he had seen others do so, and imagined that it was easy +enough. + +It is not often that a first lesson of this kind is taken alone, at +midnight, amid the tossing waters of an open sea, and it could not have +happened now but for our poor lad's pitiful ignorance of all forms of +athletics, including those in which every boy should be instructed. + +Without a thought for himself, nor even a comprehension of his own +peril, Alaric fitted the oars that he found in the bottom of the boat to +their row-locks, and began to pull manfully in what he supposed was the +proper direction. He pulled first with one oar and then with the other; +then making a wild stroke with both oars that missed the water entirely, +he tumbled over backwards. Recovering himself, he prepared more +cautiously for a new effort, and this time, instead of beating the air, +thrust his oars almost straight down in the water. Then one entered it, +while the other, missing it by a foot or so, flew back and struck him a +violent blow. + +Up to this time the lad had kept up a constant shouting of "Bonny! Oh, +Bonny!" or "Hello, Bonny!" but that blow bereft him of so much breath +that for a minute he had none left with which to shout. + +Now, too, for the first time, he gained a vague idea of his own perilous +situation. There was nothing in sight and nothing to be heard save the +ceaseless dashing of waters and a melancholy moaning of wind. The sky +was so overcast that not even a star could extend to him a cheery ray of +light. The boy's heart sank, and he made another attempt at a shout, as +much to raise his own spirits as with any hope of being heard. Only a +husky cry resulted, for his voice was choked, and he again strove to +row, with the thought that any form of action would be better than +idleness amid such surroundings. + +If his oars seemed vicious before, they were doubly so now that he was +wearied, and they stubbornly resisted his efforts to make them work as +he knew they could and ought. At length he let go of one of them for an +instant, while he wiped the trickling perspiration from his eyes. The +moment it was released, the provoking bit of wood, as though possessed +of a malicious instinct, slid from its rowlock, dropped into the water, +and floated away. Alaric made a wild but ineffectual clutch after it +that allowed a quantity of water to slop into the boat, and gave him the +idea that it was sinking. + +With an access of terror the poor lad sprang to his feet, and, forgetful +of the object that had brought him into his present situation, screamed: +"Bonny! Oh, Bonny! Save me! Don't leave me here to drown!" + +Then a spiteful wave so buffeted the boat that he was toppled over and +fell sprawling in the bottom. That was the blackest and most despairing +moment of his life; but even as it came to him he fancied he heard a +whispered answer to his call, and lifted his head to listen. Yes, he +heard it again, so faint and uncertain that it might be only the mocking +scream of some sea-bird winging a swift flight through the blackness. +Still the idea filled him with hope, and he called again with a cry so +shrill and long-drawn that its intensity almost frightened him. Now the +echoing hail was certain, and it came to him with the unmistakable +accents of a human voice. + +Again he shouted: "Bonny! Oh, Bonny!" and again came the answer, this +time much nearer: + +"Hello, Rick Dale! Hello!" + +"Hello, Bonny! Hello!" + +How could it be that Bonny had kept himself afloat so long? What +wonderful powers of endurance he must possess! How should he reach him? +There was but a single oar left, and surely no one could propel a boat +with one oar. He tried awkwardly to paddle, but after a few seconds of +fruitless labor gave this up in despair. What could he do? Must he sit +there idle, knowing that his friend was drowning within sound of his +voice, and for want of the aid that he could give if he only knew how? +It was horrible and yet inevitable. He was helpless. Once more was his +own peril forgotten, and his sole distress was for his friend. Again he +shouted, with the energy of despair: + +"Bonny! Oh, Bonny! Can't you get to me? I'm in a boat." + +Then came something so startling and so astonishing that he was almost +petrified with amazement. Instead of a weak, despairing answer, coming +from a long distance, there sounded a cheery hail from close at hand: +"All right, old man! I'm coming. Cheer up." + +What had happened? Was his friend endowed with supernatural powers that +enabled him to traverse the sea at will? + +Alaric gazed about him on all sides, almost doubting the evidence of his +senses. Then, with a flutter of canvas and a rush of water from under +her bows, the tall form of the sloop loomed out of the blackness almost +beside him. + +"Sing out, Rick. Where are you?" + +"Here I am. Oh, Bonny, is it you?" + +"Yes, of course. Look out! Catch this line." + +The end of a rope came whizzing over the boat, and Alaric, catching it, +held on tightly. He was seated on the middle thwart, and the moment a +strain came on the line the boat turned broadside to it, heeled until +water began to pour in over her gunwale, and Alaric, unable to hold on +an instant longer, let go his hold. + +He heard an exclamation of "Thundering lubber!" in Captain Duff's voice, +and then the sloop was again lost to sight. + +Again Alaric was in despair, though he could still hear the shouting of +orders and a confused slatting of sails. After a little the sloop was +put about, and a shouting to determine the locality of the drifting boat +was recommenced. Still it seemed to Alaric a tedious while before she +approached him for a second time, and Bonny once more sung out to him to +stand by and catch a line. + +"Make it fast in the bow this time," he called, as he flung the coil of +rope. + +Again Alaric succeeded in catching it, and, obeying instructions, he +scrambled into the bow of the boat, where he knelt and clung to the line +for dear life, not knowing how to make it fast. + +In a moment there came a jerk that very nearly pulled him overboard; and +the boat, with its bow low in the water from his weight, while its stern +was in the air, took a wild sheer to one side. Again water poured in +until she was nearly swamped, and again was the line torn from Alaric's +grasp. + +"You blamed idiot!" roared Captain Duff. "You don't desarve to be saved! +I'll give ye just one more try, and ef you don't fetch the sloop that +time we'll leave ye to navigate on your own hook." + +As the previous manoeuvres were repeated for a third time, poor +Alaric, sitting helplessly in his waterlogged dinghy, shivered with +apprehension. How could he hold on to that cruel line that seemed only +fitted to drag him to destruction? This time it took longer to find him, +and he was hoarse with shouting before the _Fancy_ again approached. + +"He don't know enough to do anything with a line, Cap'n Duff," said +Bonny. "So if you'll throw the sloop into the wind and heave her to, +I'll bring the boat alongside." + +With this, and without waiting for an answer, the plucky young sailor, +who had already divested himself of most of his clothing, sprang into +the black waters and swam towards the vaguely discerned boat. In another +minute he had gained her, clambered in, and was asking the amazed +occupant for the other oar. + +"It's lost overboard," replied Alaric, gloomily, feeling that the case +was now more desperate than ever. "Oh, Bonny! Why--?" + +"Never mind," cried the other, cheerily. "I can scull, and that will +answer just as well as rowing. Perhaps better, for I can see where we +are headed." + +Alaric had deemed it impossible to propel a boat with a single oar; but +now, to his amazement, Bonny sculled the dinghy ahead almost as rapidly +as he could have rowed. The sloop was out of sight, but the flapping of +her sails could be plainly heard, and five minutes later the young mate +laid his craft alongside. + +Captain Duff was too angry for words, and fortunately too busy in +getting his vessel on her course to pay any attention just then to the +lad whose awkwardness and ignorance had caused all this trouble and +delay. + +"Skip for'ard," said Bonny, in a low tone, "and I'll come directly." + +As Alaric, with a thankful heart, obeyed this injunction, he marvelled +at the size and steadiness of the sloop, and wondered how he could ever +have thought her small or unstable. + +A few minutes later Bonny, only half dressed, joined him, and said, "If +you'll lend me your trousers, old man, you can turn in for the rest of +the night, and I'll stand your watch; mine are too wet to put on just +yet, and I think you'll be safer below than on deck, anyway." + +Like a person in a dream, and without asking one of the many questions +suggesting themselves, Alaric obeyed. Earlier in that most eventful day +he had regarded that dark and stuffy forecastle with disgust, and vowed +he would never sleep in it. Now, as he snuggled shivering between the +blankets of the first mate's own bunk, it seemed to him one of the +coziest, warmest, and most comfortable sleeping-apartments he had ever +known. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A LESSON IN KEDGING + + +For a long time Alaric lay awake in his narrow bunk, listening to the +gurgle of waters parted by the sloop's bow, but a few inches from his +head, and reflecting upon the exciting incidents of the past hour. It +had all been so terrible and yet so unreal. On one thing he determined. +Never again would he enter a boat alone without having first learned how +to row, and to swim also. How splendidly Bonny had come to his rescue, +and yet how easily! What was it he had called making a boat go with only +one oar? Alaric could not remember; but at any rate it was a wonderful +thing to do, and he determined to master that art as well. What a lot he +had to learn, anyhow, and how important it all was! He had longed for +the ability to do such things, but never until now had he realized their +value. + +How well Bonny did them, and what a fine fellow he was, and how the +heart of the poor rich boy warmed towards this self-reliant young friend +of a day! Could it be but one day since their first meeting? It seemed +as though he had known Bonny always. But how had the young sailor +regained the sloop after being knocked overboard? That was +unaccountable, and one of the most mysterious things Alaric had ever +heard of. He longed for Bonny to come below, that he might ask just that +one question; but the mate was otherwise engaged, and the crew finally +dropped asleep. + +Through the remainder of the night the sloop sailed swiftly on her +course; but she could not make up for that lost hour, and by dawn, +though she had passed the light on Admiralty Head, and was well to the +southward of Port Townsend, the very stronghold of her enemies, for it +is the port of entry for the Sound, she was still far from the +hiding-place in which her captain had hoped to lie by for the day. +However, he knew of another nearer at hand, though not so easy of +access, and to this he directed the vessel's course. + +It did not seem to Alaric that he had been asleep more than a few +minutes when he was rudely awakened by being hauled out of his bunk and +dropped on the forecastle floor. At the same time he became conscious of +a voice, saying: + +"Wake up! Wake up, Rick Dale! I've been calling you for the last five +minutes, and was beginning to think you were dead. Here it is daylight, +with lots of work waiting, and you snoozing away as though you were a +young man of elegant leisure. So tumble out in a hurry, or else you'll +have the cap'n down on you, and he's no light-weight when he's as mad as +he is this morning." + +Never before in all his luxurious life had Alaric been subjected to such +rough treatment, and for a moment he was inclined to resent it; but a +single glance at Bonny's smiling face, and a thought of how deeply he +was indebted to this lad, caused him to change his mind and scramble to +his feet. + +"Here are your trousers," continued the young mate, "and the quicker you +can jump into them the better, for we've a jolly bit of kedging to +attend to, and need your assistance badly." + +Filled with curiosity as to what a "jolly bit of kedging" might be, and +also pleased with the idea that he was not considered utterly useless, +Alaric hastily dressed and hurried on deck. There the sight of a number +of Chinamen recalled with a shock the nature of the craft on which he +was shipped, and for an instant he was tempted to refuse further service +as a member of her crew. A moment's reflection, however, convinced him +that the present was not the time for such action, as it could only +result in disaster to himself and in extra work being thrown upon Bonny. + +The sun had not yet risen, and on one side a broad expanse of water was +overlaid with a light mist. On the other was a bold shore covered with +forest to the water's edge, and penetrated by a narrow inlet, off the +mouth of which the sloop lay becalmed. + +Bonny was already in the dinghy, which held a coil of rope having a +small anchor attached to one end. The other end was on board the sloop +and made fast to the bitts. + +"When I reach the end of the line and heave the kedge overboard, you +want to haul in on it," said the young mate, "and when the sloop is +right over the kedge, let go your anchor. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, I think so." + +The tide had just turned ebb, and was beginning to run out from the +inlet as Bonny dropped the kedge-anchor overboard, and Alaric, beginning +to pull with a hearty will on that long, wet rope, experienced the first +delights of kedging. Captain Duff, puffing at a short black pipe, sat by +the tiller and steered, while the Chinese passengers, squatted about the +deck, watched the lad's efforts with a stolid interest. + +At length the end of the rope was reached, and Alaric, with aching back +and smarting hands, but beaming with the consciousness of a duty well +performed, imagined his task to be ended. + +"Let go your anchor," ordered Captain Duff. + +When this was done, and the cable made fast so that the sloop should +not drift back when the kedge was lifted, Bonny heaved up the latter and +got it into the dinghy. Then he sculled still farther into the inlet +until the end of the long line was once more reached, when he again +dropped the small anchor overboard, and poor Alaric found, to his +dismay, that the whole tedious operation was to be repeated. In addition +to what he had done before, the heavy riding anchor was now to be lifted +from the bottom. + +As the boy essayed to haul in its cable with his hands, Captain Duff, +muttering something about a "lubberly swab," stumped forward, and +showing him how to use the windlass for this purpose, condescended to +hold the turn while the perspiring lad pumped away at the iron lever. +When the anchor was lifted, he was directed to again lay hold of the +kedge-line and warp her along handsomely. + +Alaric made signs to the Chinamen that they should help him; but they, +being passengers who had paid for the privilege of idleness on this +cruise, merely grinned and shook their heads. So the poor lad tugged at +that heart-breaking line until his strength was so exhausted that the +sloop ceased to make perceptible headway. + +At this Captain Duff, who was again nodding over the tiller, suddenly +woke up, rushed among his passengers with brandished crutch, roaring an +order in pidgin English that caused them to jump in terror, lay hold of +the line, and haul it in hand over hand. + +Three times more was the whole weary operation repeated, until at length +the sloop was snugly anchored behind a tree-grown point that effectually +concealed her from anything passing in the Sound. + +"Nice, healthy exercise, this kedging," remarked Bonny, cheerfully, as +he came on board. + +"You may call it that," responded Alaric, gloomily, "but I call it the +most killing kind of work I ever heard of, and if there is any more of +it to be done, somebody else has got to do it. I simply won't, and +that's all there is about it." + +"Oh phsaw!" laughed the young mate, as he lighted a fire in the galley +stove and began preparations for breakfast. "This morning's job was only +child's play compared with some you'll have before you've been aboard +here a month." + +"Which I never will be," replied Alaric, "for I'm going to resign this +very day. I suppose this is the United States and the end of the voyage, +isn't it?" + +"It's the States fast enough; but not the end of the run by a good bit. +We've another night's sail ahead of us before we come to that. But you +mustn't think of resigning, as you call it, just as you are beginning to +get the hang of sailoring. Think how lonely I should be without you to +make things lively and interesting--as you did last night, for +instance." + +"I shall, though," replied Alaric, decidedly, "just as quick as we make +a port; for if you think I'm going to remain in the smuggling business +one minute longer than I can help, you're awfully mistaken. And what's +more, you are going with me, and we'll hunt for another job--an honest +one, I mean--together." + +"I am, am I?" remarked Bonny. "After you calling me a pirate, too. I +shouldn't think you'd care to associate with pirates." + +"But I do care to associate with you," responded Alaric, earnestly, "for +I know I couldn't get along at all without you. Besides, after the +splendid way you came to my rescue last night, I don't want to try. But +I say, Bonny, how did you ever manage to get back on board after +tumbling--I mean, after I knocked you--into the water? It seems to me +the most mysterious thing I ever heard of." + +"Oh, that was easy enough!" laughed the young mate, lifting the lid of +a big kettle of rice, that was boiling merrily, as he spoke. "You see, I +didn't wholly fall overboard. That is, I caught on the bob-stay, and was +climbing up again all right when you let the jib down on top of me, +nearly knocking me into the water and smothering me at the same time. +When I got out from under it you were gone, and a fine hunt we had for +you, during which the old man got considerably excited. But all's well +that ends well, as the Japs said after the war was over; so now if +you'll make a pot of coffee, I'll get the pork ready for frying." + +"But I don't know how to make coffee." + +"Don't you? I thought everybody knew that. Never mind, though; I'll make +the coffee while you fry the meat." + +"I don't know how to do that, either." + +"Don't you know how to cook anything?" + +"No. I don't believe I could even boil water without burning it." + +"Well," said Bonny, "you certainly have got more to learn than any +fellow old enough to walk alone that I ever knew." + +The sloop remained in her snug hiding-place all that day, during which +her captain and first mate devoted most of their time to sleeping. The +Chinamen spent the greater part of the day on shore, while Alaric, +following Bonny's advice, made his first attempt at fishing. So long as +he only got bites he had no trouble; but when he finally caught an +enormous flounder his occupation was gone, for he had no second hook, +and could not imagine how the fish was to be removed from the one to +which it was attached. So he let it carefully down into the water again, +and made the line fast until Bonny should wake. When that happened, and +he triumphantly hauled in his line, he found, to his dismay, that his +hook was bare, and that the fish had solved his problem for him. + +In the meantime there was much activity that day on board a certain +revenue-cutter stationed in the upper Sound, and shortly after dark, +about the time the smuggler _Fancy_ was again getting under way, several +well-manned boats left the government vessel to spend the night in +patrolling certain channels. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +CHASING A MYSTERIOUS LIGHT + + +The commander of the revenue-cutter had received from his lieutenant a +detailed description of the sloop _Fancy_, together with what other +information that officer had gathered concerning her destination, +lading, and crew. As a result of this interview it was determined to +guard all passages leading to the upper Sound; and during the hours of +darkness the cutter's boats, under small sail, cruised back and forth +across the channels on either side of Vashon Island, one of which the +sloop must take. They showed no lights, and their occupants were not +allowed to converse in tones louder than a whisper. While half of each +crew got what sleep they might in the bottom of the boat, the others +were on watch and keenly alert. In the stern-sheets of each boat sat an +officer muffled in a heavy ulster as a protection against the chill +dampness of the night. + +The night was nearly spent and dawn was at hand when the weary occupants +of one of these patrol-boats were aroused into activity by two bright +lights that flashed in quick succession for an instant well over on the +western side of their channel, which was the one known as Colvos +Passage. + +"It is a signal," said the officer, as he headed his boat in that +direction. "Silence, men! Have your oars ready for a chase." + +Shortly afterwards another light appeared on the water in the same +general direction, but farther down the channel. It showed steadily for +a minute, and was then lost to view, only to reappear a few moments +later. After that its continued appearance and disappearance proved most +puzzling, until the officer solved the problem to his own satisfaction +by saying: + +"The careless rascals have come to anchor, and are sending their stuff +ashore in a small boat. That light is the lantern they are working by; +but I wouldn't have believed even they could be so reckless as to use +it. Douse that sail and unship the mast. So. Now, out oars! Give 'way!" + +As the boat sprang forward under this new impulse, its oars, being +muffled in the row-locks, gave forth no sound save the rhythmic swish +with which they left the water at the end of each stroke. + +The row was not a long one, and within five minutes the boat was close +to the mysterious light. No sound came from its vicinity, nor was there +any loom of masts or sails through the blackness. Were they close to it, +after all? Might it not be brighter than they thought, and still at a +distance from them? Its nature was such that the officer could not +determine even by standing up, and for a few moments he was greatly +puzzled. He could now see that the land was at a greater distance than a +smuggler would choose to cover with his small boats when he might just +as well run his craft much closer. What could it mean? + +Suddenly he gave the orders: "'Way enough! In oars! Look sharp there +for'ard with your boat-hook!" + +The next moment the twinkling light was alongside, and its mystery was +explained. It was an old lantern lashed to a bit of a board that was in +turn fastened across an empty half-barrel. A screen formed of a shingle +darkened one side of the lantern, so that, as the floating tub was +turned by wind or wave, the light alternately showed and disappeared at +irregular intervals. + +That the lieutenant who was the victim of this simple ruse was angry +goes without saying. He was furious, and could he have captured its +author just then, that ingenious person might have met with rough usage. +But there seemed little chance of capturing him, for although the +officer felt certain that this tub had been launched from the very +smuggler he was after, he had no idea of where she now was, or of what +direction she had taken. All he knew was that somebody had warned her of +danger in that channel, and that she had cleverly given him the slip. He +could also imagine the "chaff" he would receive from his brother +officers on the cutter when they should learn of his mortifying +experience. + +When, after cruising fruitlessly during the brief remainder of the +night, he returned to his ship and reported what had taken place, he was +chaffed, as he expected, but was enabled to bear this with equanimity, +for he had made a discovery. On the shingle that had shaded the old +lantern he found written in pencil as though for the passing of an idle +half-hour, and apparently by some one who wished to see how his name +would look if he were a foreigner: + +"Philip Ryder, Mr. Philip Ryder, Monsieur Philippe Ryder, Signor Filipo +Ryder, Señor Félipe Ryder, and Herr Philip Ryder." + +"It's the name of the young chap who led me such a chase in Victoria, +and finally gave me the information I wanted concerning the sloop +_Fancy_," said the lieutenant to his commanding officer, in reporting +this discovery. + +"Which would seem to settle the identity of the sloop we are after, and +prove that she is now somewhere close at hand," replied the commander. + +"Yes, sir; and it also discloses the identity of the young rascal who is +responsible for this trick, though from his looks I wouldn't have +believed him capable of it. He is the one I told you of who was so +scented with cologne as to be offensive. I remember well seeing the name +Philip Ryder on his dunnage-bag." + +The sun was just rising, and at this moment a report was brought to the +cabin, from a masthead lookout, to the effect that a small sloop was +disappearing behind a point a few miles to the southward. + +"It may be your boat, and it may be some other," said the commander to +the third lieutenant. "At any rate, it is our duty to look him up. So +you will please get under way again with the yawl, run down to that +point, and see what you can find. If you meet with your young friend +Ryder either afloat or ashore, don't fail to arrest and detain him as a +witness, for in any case his testimony will be most important." + +The _Fancy_ had hauled out of her snug berth soon after sunset that same +night, and fanned along by a light breeze, held her course to the +southward. Both our lads were stationed forward to keep a sharp lookout, +though with a grim warning from Captain Duff that if either of them fell +overboard this time, he might as well make up his mind to swim ashore, +for the sloop would not be stopped to pick him up. + +"Cheerful prospect for me," muttered Alaric. "Never mind, though, Mr. +Captain, I'm going to desert, as did the Phil Ryder of whom you seem so +fond. I am going to follow his example, too, in taking your first mate +with me." + +As on the previous night, the lads found an opportunity to talk in low +tones; and filled with the idea of inducing Bonny to leave the sloop +with him, Alaric strove to convince him of the wickedness of smuggling. + +"It is breaking a law of your country," he argued; "and any one who +breaks one law will be easily tempted to break another, until there's no +saying where he will end." + +"If we didn't do it, some other fellows would," replied Bonny. "The +chinks are bound to travel, and folks are bound to have cheap dope." + +"So _you_ are breaking the law to save some other fellow's conscience?" + +"No, of course not. I'm doing it for the wages it pays." + +"Which is as much as to say that you would break any law if you were +paid enough." + +"I never saw such a fellow as you are for putting things in an +unpleasant way," retorted the young mate, a little testily. "Of course +there are plenty of laws I couldn't be hired to break. I wouldn't steal, +for instance, even if I were starving, nor commit a murder for all the +money in the world. But I'd like to know what's the harm in running a +cargo like ours? A few Chinamen more or less will never be noticed in a +big place like the United States. Besides, I think the law that says +they sha'n't come in is an unjust one, anyway. We haven't any more right +to keep Chinamen out of a free country than we have to keep out Italians +or anybody else." + +"So you claim to be wiser than the men who make our laws, do you?" asked +Alaric. + +Without answering this question, Bonny continued: "As for running in a +few pounds of dope, we don't rob anybody by doing that." + +"How about robbing the government?" + +"Oh, that don't count. What's a few dollars more or less to a government +as rich as ours?" + +"Which is saying that while you wouldn't steal from any one person, you +don't consider it wicked to steal from sixty millions of people. Also, +that it is perfectly right to rob a government because it is rich. +Wouldn't it be just as right to rob Mr. Vanderbilt or Mr. Astor, or even +my--I mean any other millionaire? They are rich, and wouldn't feel the +loss." + +"I never looked at it in that way," replied Bonny, thoughtfully. + +"I thought not," rejoined Alaric. "And there are some other points about +this business that I don't believe you ever looked at, either. Did you +ever stop to think that every Chinaman you help over the line at once +sets to work to throw one of your own countrymen out of a job, and so +robs him of his living?" + +"No; I can't say I ever did." + +"Or did it ever occur to you that every cargo of opium you help to bring +into the country is going to carry sorrow and suffering, perhaps even +ruin, to hundreds of your own people?" + +"I say, Rick Dale, it seems to me you know enough to be a lawyer. At any +rate, you know too much to be a sailor, and ought to be in some other +business." + +"No, Bonny, I don't know half enough to be a sailor; but I do know too +much to be a smuggler, and I am going to get into some other business as +quick as I can. You are too, now that you have begun to think about it, +for you are too honest a fellow to hold your present position any longer +than you can help. By-the-way, what would happen if a cutter should get +after us to-night?" + +"That depends," replied the first mate, sagely, glad to feel that there +were some legal questions concerning which he was wiser than his +companion. "They might fire on us, if we didn't stop quick enough to +suit 'em, and blow us out of the water. They might capture us, clap us +into irons, and put us into a dark lock-up on bread and water. The most +likely thing is that we would all be sent to the government prison on +McNeil's Island. From there the chinks would be hustled back to +Victoria, and the old man would get out on bond; but you and I would be +held as witnesses until a court was ready to condemn the vessel and +cargo. That would probably take some months, perhaps a year. Then the +case would be appealed, and we'd be kept in prison for another year or +so. + +"And I suppose if we ever got out we would always be watched and +suspected," suggested Alaric, who had listened to all this with almost +as much dismay as though it were an actual sentence. "Well, I'll never +be caught, that's all. I'll drift away in the dinghy first." In saying +this the boy threatened to do the very most desperate thing he could +think of. + +"I believe I'd go with you," said Bonny. "Now, though, I must go and get +ready our private signal, for we are getting close to the most dangerous +place." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +BONNY'S INVENTION, AND HOW IT WORKED + + +Bonny walked aft, exchanged a few words with Captain Duff, and then +disappeared in the cabin, where he remained for some minutes. When he +again came on deck he bore a box in which was a lighted lamp provided +with a bright reflector. Only one side of the box was open, and this +space the lad carefully shielded with his hat. The sloop was just +entering Colvos Passage, between Vashon Island and the mainland, and was +nearer the western shore than the other. + +Holding his box as far down as he could reach over the landward side of +the vessel, Bonny turned its opening towards the shore, and allowed the +bright light to stream from it for a single second. Then by quickly +reversing the box the light was made to disappear. A moment later it was +shown again, this time with a piece of red glass held in the front of +the lamp. This red light, after appearing for a single second, was also +made to vanish, and another quick flash of white light took its place. A +minute or so later the whole operation was repeated, and the white, red, +and white signal was again flashed to the wooded shore. At the fourth +time of displaying the signal it was answered by two white flashes from +the shore. + +There was a moment of suspense, and then Bonny exclaimed, in a low tone, +"Great Scott! They're after us!" + +Extinguishing his light, he again dived below, this time into the +forecastle. When he reappeared he bore the float and lighted lantern +already described. Alaric had noticed this queer contrivance the day +before, and, while wondering at its object, had amused himself by idly +scribbling on a smooth shingle that he found inside the tub. Now this +same shingle was hastily lashed to the lantern, and the whole affair was +launched overboard. At the same time the sloop was put about, and +leaving this decoy light floating and bobbing behind her as though it +were in a boat, she sped away towards the eastern side of the channel. + +When Bonny rejoined Alaric at the lookout station he asked, with a +chuckle: "What do you think of that for a scheme, Rick? It's my own +invention, and I've been longing for a chance to try it every trip; but +this is the very first time we have needed anything of the kind. I only +hope the light won't get blown out, or the whole business get capsized +before the beaks capture it. My! how I'd like to see 'em creeping up to +it, and hear their remarks when they find out what it really is!" + +"What does all this flashing of lights and setting lanterns adrift mean, +anyway?" asked Alaric, who was much puzzled by what had just taken +place. + +"Means there's a revenue-boat of some kind waiting for us in the +channel, and that we are dodging him. The lights I showed made our +private signal, and asked if the coast was clear. Skookum John didn't +get on to 'em at first, or maybe he wasn't in a safe place for +answering. When he saw us and got the chance, though, he flashed two +lights to warn us of trouble. Three would have meant 'All right, come +ahead'; but two was a startler. It was the first time we've had that +signal; also it's the first chance I've had to test my invention." + +[Illustration: "BONNY'S INVENTION STARTED ON ITS JOURNEY"] + +"Do you mean that you actually expect that floating lantern to attract +the revenue people, so they will go to examine it, instead of coming +after us?" + +"Attract 'em! Of course it will. They'll go for it the same as June bugs +go for street electrics, and then they'll wish they had spent their time +hunting for us instead." + +Ever since leaving the dancing light Bonny had not been able to take his +eyes from it, so anxious was he to discover whether or not it served the +purpose for which it was intended. It grew fainter and smaller as the +sloop gained distance on her new course. Then all at once it seemed to +rise from the water, and an instant later disappeared. + +"They've got it, and lifted it aboard!" cried Bonny, delightedly. And in +his exultation he called out, "The beaks have doused the glim, Cap'n +Duff!" + +"Douse your tongue, ye swab, and keep your eyes p'inted for'ard!" was +the ungracious reply muttered out of the after darkness. + +"What an old bear he is!" murmured Alaric, indignantly. + +"Yes; isn't he?--a regular old sea-bear? But I don't mind him any more +than I would a rumble of imitation thunder. I say, though, Rick, isn't +this jolly exciting?" + +"Yes," admitted the other, "it certainly is." + +"And you want me to quit it for some stupid shore work that'll make a +fellow think he's got about as much life in him as a clam?" + +"No, I don't; for I am certain there are just as exciting things to be +done on shore as at sea; and if you'll only promise to come with me I'll +promise to find something for you to do as exciting as this, and lots +honester." + +"I've a mind to take you up," said Bonny, "and I would if I thought you +had any idea how hard it is to find a job of any kind. You haven't, +though, and because you got this berth dead easy you think you'll have +the same luck every time. But we must look sharp now for another light +from Skookum John." + +By this time the sloop had again tacked, and was headed diagonally for +the western shore. + +"Who is Skookum John?" asked Alaric. + +"Skookum? Why, he's our Siwash runner, who is always on the lookout for +us, and keeps us posted." + +"What is a Siwash?" + +"Well, if you aren't ignorant! 'Specially about languages. Why, Siwash +is Chinook for Indian. There's his light now! See? One, two, three. Good +enough! We've given 'em the slip once more, and everything is working +our way." + +By the time Bonny had reported this bit of news to Captain Duff, and +held the tiller while the old sea-dog cautiously lighted the pipe he had +not dared smoke all night, dawn was breaking, and the skipper began to +look anxiously for the harbor he had hoped to make by sunrise. + +As it grew lighter Bonny pointed out the now distant masts of the cutter +they had so successfully passed a short time before, and said, with a +cheerful grin: "There's the old kettle that thought she could clip the +_Fancy's_ wings, and bring her to with a round turn. But she missed it +this time, as she will many another if I'm not mistaken." + +Captain Duff also sighted the far-away cutter, and, nervous as an owl at +being caught outside his hiding-place by daylight, laid all the blame of +their late arrival on poor Alaric. + +"If it hadn't been for your fool antics of two nights ago," he said, +"we'd made this port a good hour afore sun this morning. You're as +wuthless as ye look, and ye look to be the most wuthless young swab I +ever had aboard ship, barring one. He was another just such white-faced, +white-handed, mealy-mouthed specimen as you be. Couldn't eat ship's +victuals till I starved him to it, and finally got me into the wust +scrape of my life. Now I shouldn't be one mite surprised ef you'd put me +into another hole mighty nigh as deep. So you want to quit your nonsense +and 'tend strictly to business, or I'll make ye jump. D'ye hear? I'll +make ye jump, I say." + +Alaric acknowledged that he heard, and then walked forward to light the +galley fire and set a kettle of water on to boil, for he was very +hungry, and proposed to have some breakfast as quickly as possible. + +The sloop rounded a long point and came to anchor in a wooded cove, +apparently as wild as though they were its discoverers. A couple of +Chinamen, who had evidently camped there all night, waited to greet +their countrymen on the beach, to which Bonny at once began to transfer +his passengers, a few at a time, in the dinghy. As fast as they were +landed they were led back into the woods and started towards Tacoma, +which was but a few miles distant. + +Alaric, who was determined not to remain aboard the sloop longer than +was necessary to get the breakfast to which he felt entitled after his +night's work, managed to get his canvas bag on deck unseen by Captain +Duff, and slip it into the dinghy as the boat was about to make its last +trip. + +"Hide it on shore for me, Bonny," he said. + +"All right; I will if you'll promise not to skip until we've had another +talk on the subject." + +"Of course I promise; for I'm not going without you." + +"Then perhaps you won't go at all," laughed Bonny. + +So the bag was taken ashore and concealed in a thicket a little to one +side, and Bonny came back to prepare breakfast, for which Alaric had the +water already boiling. + +When this meal was nearly ready, and as the boys were sniffing hungrily +at the odors of coffee and frying meat, Captain Duff suddenly appeared +on deck. + +"Go up on that point, you foremast hand--I can't remember your +thundering name--and watch the cutter while me and the mate eats. After +that one of us 'll relieve ye. Ef she moves, or even shows black smoke, +you let me know, d'ye hear?" + +Wishing to rebel, but not daring to, and feeling that he should surely +starve if kept from his breakfast many minutes longer, Alaric obeyed +this order. He managed to secure a couple of hard biscuit with which to +comfort his lonely watch, and then Bonny set him ashore. + +Picking up his bag and carrying it with him, the boy clambered to the +point, and, selecting a place from which he could plainly see the +cutter, began his watch, at the same time munching his dry biscuit with +infinite relish. Much of the water intervening between him and the +cutter was hidden from view by near-by undergrowth, and the necessity +for scanning it never occurred to him. + +After a while Bonny came to relieve him and allow him to go to +breakfast. + +"Have you really made up your mind to desert the ship?" asked the young +mate, noticing that Alaric had his bag with him. + +"Yes, I really have," answered the other; "and you will come with me, +won't you, Bonny?" + +"I don't know," replied the latter, undecidedly. "Somehow I can't make +it seem right to desert Captain Duff and leave him in a fix. Seems to me +we ought to stay with him until he gets back to Victoria, anyway. +Besides, I'd lose my wages, and there must be nearly thirty dollars due +me by this time. But you go along to your breakfast, and after that +we'll talk it all over. Haven't seen anything, have you?" + +"No, not a sign, but--Hello! What's that?" + +"Caught, as sure as you're born!" cried Bonny, in a tone of suppressed +excitement. + +Then, the two lads, peering through the bushes, watched a boat, flying +the flag of the United States Revenue Marine and filled with sturdy +bluejackets, enter the cove and dash alongside the smuggler _Fancy_. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +CAPTURED BY A REVENUE-CUTTER + + +The sight of that armed boat making fast to the sloop, and its agile +occupants springing on board, was so startling to the two lads taking in +its every detail from their point of vantage on shore, that if +excitement could have affected Alaric Todd's heart it would certainly +have done so at that moment. As it was, he did not even realize that his +heart was beating unusually fast. His mind was too full of other +thoughts just then for him to remember that he had a heart. He only +realized that the vessel of which he had formed the crew had fallen into +the clutches of outraged law, and that for the present at least her +career as a smuggler was at an end. Now that she was really captured, he +was conscious of a regret that after successfully eluding her enemies so +long she should, after all, fall into their hands. He even felt sorry +for Captain Duff, surly old bear that he was. + +At the same time he was thankful not to be on board the captured craft, +and rejoiced in the thought that this sudden change of affairs would +sweep away all Bonny's scruples, and leave him free to seek some +occupation other than that of being a smuggler. + +As for that young sailor himself, his feelings were equally +contradictory with those of his companion, though his sympathies leaned +more decidedly towards the side of the law-breaker. + +"Poor Cap'n Duff!" he exclaimed, in a low tone. "This is tough luck for +him; and I must say, Rick Dale, that the whole thing is pretty much your +fault, too. If you'd kept a half-way decent lookout you'd have seen that +yawl when she was two miles off. Then we could have got under way, and +given her the slip as easy as you please. Now you and I have lost our +job, while Cap'n Duff will lose his and his boat besides. I'll never see +my wages, either; and, worst of all, in spite of my invention working so +smooth, these revenue fellows have got the laugh on us. I say it's too +bad, though to be sure it does let us out of the smuggling business. I +expect it will be a long time, though, before I get another job as first +mate, or any other kind of a job that will be worth having." + +"But, Bonny," interposed Alaric, anxious to defend his own reputation, +"I wasn't told to look out for boats, but only to watch the cutter, and +I hardly took my eyes off of her until you came." + +"That's all right; only by the time you've knocked round the world as +much as I have you'll find out that any fellow who expects to get +promoted has got to do a heap of things besides those he's told to do. +What he is told to do is generally only a hint of what he is expected to +do. But just listen to the old man. Isn't he laying down the law to +those chaps, though?" + +The voices of those on the sloop came plainly to the ears of the hidden +lads, and above them all roared and bellowed that of Captain Duff, as +though he expected to overwhelm his enemies by sheer force of bluster. + +"Chinamen!" he shouted--"Chinamen! No, sir, you won't find no Chinamen +about this craft, nor nothing else onlawful. + +"Smell 'em, do ye? Smell 'em! So do I now, and hev ever sence you +revenooers come aboard. Seems like ye can't get the parfume out of your +clothing. + +"Going to seize the sloop anyway, be ye? Wal, ye kin do it, seeing as +I'm all alone and a cripple. There'll come a day of reckoning, though--a +day of reckoning, d'ye hear? I'm a free-born American citizen, and I'll +protest agin this outrage till they hear me clear to Washington." + +"He's heard over a good part of Washington this minute," whispered +Bonny. "But what are they talking about now?" + +"Phil Ryder!" the captain was shouting. "Philip Ryder! No, sir, there +ain't no one of that name aboard this craft, nor hain't ever been as I +know of. I did know a Phil Ryder once, but--What's that ye say? That'll +do? Wa'l, it won't do, ye gold-mounted swab, not so long as I choose to +keep on talking. Look out there, or I'll brain ye sure as guns! Look +out, I--" + +This last exclamation was directed to a couple of sturdy bluejackets, +who, obeying a significant nod from their officer, seized the irate +captain by either arm, hustled him down into his own cabin, and drew the +slide. Then leaving these two aboard the _Fancy_, the others re-entered +their boat and began to pull towards shore, with the evident intention +of making a search for the missing members of the sloop's crew as well +as for her recent passengers. + +"Hello!" cried Bonny, softly, "this thing is beginning to get rather too +interesting for us, and the sooner we light out the better." + +So the lads started on a run, and had gone but a few rods when Alaric, +catching his toe on a projecting root, was tripped up and fell heavily. +With such force was he flung to the ground that for several minutes he +was too sick and dizzy to rise. When he finally regained his feet, and +expressed a belief that he could again run, it was too late. The boat's +crew were already scattering through the woods, and one man detailed to +search the point was coming directly towards the place where the boys +were concealed. + +It seemed inevitable that they should be discovered, and Alaric, already +giving himself up for lost, was beginning to see visions of the +government prison on MacNeil's Island, when Bonny spied one avenue of +escape that was still open to them. + +"Scrooch low!" he whispered, "and follow me as softly as you can." + +Alaric obeyed, and the young sailor began to move as rapidly as possible +towards the beach. With inexcusable carelessness the lieutenant had left +his boat hauled up on the shore without a man to guard her. Bonny +noticed this, and also that the sloop's dinghy still lay where he had +left it. If they could only reach the dinghy unobserved they would stand +a much better chance of making an escape by water than by land. + +So the boys crept cautiously through the undergrowth without attracting +the attention of their only near-by pursuer, until they reached the +beach, where a cleared space of about one hundred feet intervened +between them and their coveted goal, and this they must cross, exposed +to the full view of any who might be looking that way. They paused for +an instant, drew long breaths, and then made a dash into the open. + +Almost with the first sound of rattling pebbles beneath their feet came +a yell from behind. The bluejacket had discovered them, and was leaping +down the steep slope in hot pursuit. + +"Run, Rick! You've got to run!" panted Bonny. "Give me the bag." +Snatching the canvas bag from Alaric's hand as he spoke, the active +young fellow darted ahead and flung it into the dinghy. "Now shove!" he +cried. "Shove, with all your might!" + +It was all they could do to move the boat, for the tide had fallen +sufficiently to leave it hard aground, and with their first straining +shove they only gained a couple of feet; the next put half her length in +the water, and with a third effort she floated free. + +"Tumble in!" shouted Bonny, and Alaric obeyed literally, pitching head +foremost across the thwarts with such violence that but for his +comrade's hold on the opposite side the boat would surely have been +capsized. + +With the water above his knees, Bonny gave a final shove that sent the +boat a full rod from shore, and in turn tumbled aboard. + +He was none too soon; for at that moment the sailor reached the spot +they had just left, and, rushing into the water, began to swim after +them with splendid overhand strokes. Bonny snatched up the dinghy's +single oar, and, seeing that they would be overtaken before he could get +the boat under way, brandished it like a club, threatening to bring it +down on the man's head if he came within reach. + +A single glance at the lad's resolute face convinced the swimmer that he +was in dead earnest, and realizing his own helplessness, he wisely +turned back. Then with a shout of derision Bonny began to scull the +dinghy towards open water, while the sailor strove with unavailing +efforts to launch the heavy yawl. + +Without troubling themselves any further about him, the lads turned +their attention to the sloop, which they were now approaching. The two +men left in charge had watched with great interest the scene just +enacted so close to them, but in which, having no boat at their +disposal, they were unable to participate. Now one of them shouted: +"Come aboard here, you young villains! What do you mean by running off +with government property?" + +"What do you mean by eating my breakfast?" replied Alaric, hungrily, as +he noticed the men making a hearty meal off the food they had discovered +in the sloop's galley. + +"Your breakfast, is it, son? So you belong to this craft, do you? Come +aboard and get it, then." + +"Don't you wish we would?" retorted Bonny, jeeringly, as he stopped +sculling and allowed the dinghy to drift just beyond reach from the +sloop. "I say, though, you might toss us a couple of hardtack." + +"What? Feed you young pirates with rations that's just been seized by +the government? Not much. I'm in the service, I am." + +Just then a bright object flashed from one of the little round cabin +windows and fell in the dinghy. It was a box of sardines. Tins of potted +meat, mushrooms, and other delicacies followed in quick succession. One +or two fell in the water and were lost; but most of them reached their +destination, and were deftly caught by Alaric, whose baseball experience +was thus put to practical use. So before the bewildered guards fully +realized what was taking place the dinghy was fairly well provisioned. +At length one of them seemed to comprehend the situation, and sprang in +front of the open port just in time to stop with his legs a flying +tumbler of raspberry jam. As it broke and streamed down over his white +duck trousers the boys in the dinghy shouted with laughter, and nearly +rolled overboard in their irrepressible mirth. + +All at once there came a hoarse shout from the same cabin port. "Look +astarn, ye lubbers! Look astarn!" + +So occupied had the lads been with the sloop that they had given no +thought to what might be taking place on shore, but at this warning a +startled glance in that direction filled them with dismay. + +Another sailor, attracted by the shouts on the beach, had returned to +the assistance of his mate, and together they had succeeded in launching +the yawl. Then, pulling very softly, they had slipped up on the unwary +lads, until they were so close that one of them had quit rowing, and +crept forward to the bow, where he crouched with an outstretched +boat-hook, that in another second would be caught over the dinghy's +sternboard. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW + + +The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the +sloop were already shouting derisively at them. Alaric caught another +mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart +experienced an instant of despair. He was still standing and holding the +oar that he had used in sculling. Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as +the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he +struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it +whirling from the sailor's grasp. With a second quick motion the lad set +his oar against the stem of the yawl, that was within four feet of him, +and gave a vigorous shove. The slight headway of the heavy craft was +checked, and the lighter dinghy forged ahead. + +"Oh, you will, will you, you young rascal?" cried the sailor, angrily, +as he leaped back to his thwart, and bent to his oar with furious +energy. His companion followed his example, and under the impetus of +their powerful strokes the yawl sprang forward. At the same time Bonny, +facing backward, and working his oar with both hands, was sculling so +sturdily that the dinghy rocked from side to side until it seemed to +Alaric that she must certainly capsize. She was making such splendid +headway, though, that the much heavier yawl could not gain an inch. Its +crew, unable to see the fugitive dinghy without turning their heads, and +having no one to steer for them, were placed at a disadvantage that +Bonny was quick to detect. + +Watching his opportunity, he caused his craft to swerve sharply to one +side, and the yawl, holding her original course for some seconds before +his manoeuvre was discovered, his lead was thus materially increased. + +Although not a very swift race, this novel chase proved as close and +exciting a contest as had ever been seen on the Sound. The men on the +sloop yelled with delight; and Alaric, filled with renewed hopes of +escape on seeing that the distance between dinghy and yawl was not +diminished, thrilled with excitement and shouted encouraging words to +his comrade. + +In spite of all this, Bonny's strength and powers of endurance were so +much less than those of the sturdy fellows in the yawl that he realized +the impossibility of maintaining his position much longer. With strained +muscles, and his breath coming in panting gasps, he glanced wildly about +like a hunted animal in search of some avenue of escape. There was none +other than that he was taking; and with a sinking heart he knew that, +unless some miracle were interposed in their behalf, he and his +companion must speedily be captured. + +But the miracle was interposed, and in the simplest possible manner; for +just as Bonny was ready to drop his oar from exhaustion a shrill, +long-drawn whistle sounded from the now distant beach. Its effect on the +crew of the yawl was magical. They stopped rowing, looked at each other, +and consulted. Then they gazed at the retreating dinghy and hesitated. +They felt it to be their duty to continue the pursuit, but they also +knew the penalty for disobeying an order from a superior, and that +whistle was an unmistakable order for them to go back. + +The cutter's third lieutenant had returned from his expedition into the +woods with three wretched Chinamen, whom, despite their eagerly produced +certificates, he had seen fit to make prisoners. He was amazed to find +the yawl gone from where he had left it, and the details of the chase in +which it was engaged being hidden from him by the intervening sloop, he +gave the whistle signal for its immediate return. + +As the crew of the yawl hesitated between duty and obedience, the +peremptory whistle order was repeated louder and shriller than before. +This decided the wavering sailors, and, reluctantly turning their boat, +they began to pull towards shore, one of them shaking his fist at the +boys as they went. + +As for the fugitives, they could hardly believe the evidence of their +senses. Was the chase indeed given over, and were they free to go where +they pleased? It seemed incredible. Just as they were on the point of +being captured, too, for Bonny now confided to Alaric that he couldn't +have held out at that pace one minute longer. As he said this the tired +lad sat down for a short rest. + +Almost immediately he again sprang to his feet, and, thrusting his oar +overboard, began to scull with one hand. "It won't do for us to be +loafing here," he explained, "for I expect those fellows have been +called back so that the whole crowd can chase us in the sloop." + +"Oh, I hope not," said Alaric; "I'm awfully tired of running away." + +"So am I," laughed Bonny--"tired in more ways than one; but if fellows +bigger than we are will insist on chasing us, I don't see that there is +anything for us to do but run. There! thank goodness we've rounded the +point at last, and got out of sight of them for a while at any rate." + +"Where are you going now, and what do you propose to do next?" asked +Alaric, who, fully realizing his own helplessness in this situation, was +willing to leave the whole scheme of escape to his more experienced +companion. + +"That's what I'm wondering. Of course it won't do to stay out here very +long, for in less than fifteen minutes the sloop will be shoving her +nose around that point. Nor it wouldn't be any use to try and get to +Tacoma--at least, not yet a while--for that's where they'll be most +likely to hunt for us. So I think we'd better cross the channel, turn +our boat adrift, and make our way overland to Skookum John's camp. It +isn't very sweet-smelling, and they don't feed you any too well--that +is, not according to our ideas--but just because it is such a mean kind +of a place no one will ever think of looking for us there. Besides, +Skookum's a very decent sort of a chap, and he'll keep us posted on all +that happens in the bay. So if you don't mind roughing it a bit--" + +"No, indeed," interrupted Alaric, eagerly. "I don't mind it at all. In +fact, that is just what I want to do most of anything, and I've always +wished I could live in a real Indian camp. The only Indians I ever saw +were in the Wild West Show, in Paris." + +"Have you been to Paris?" asked Bonny, wonderingly. + +"Yes, of course, I was there for--I mean yes, I've been there. But, +Bonny, what makes you think of turning this boat adrift? Wouldn't we +find her useful?" + +"I suppose we might; but she isn't our boat, you know, and you wouldn't +keep a boat that didn't belong to you just because it might prove +useful, would you?" + +"No, certainly not," replied Alaric, rather surprised to have his +companion take this view of the question. "I would try to hand her over +to the rightful owner." + +"So would I," agreed Bonny, "if I knew who he was; but after what has +just happened I don't know, and so I am going to turn her adrift in the +hope that he will find her. Besides, it wouldn't be safe to leave her on +shore, because she would show anybody who happened to be looking for us +just where we had landed." + +"That's a much better reason than the other," said Alaric. + +During this conversation the dinghy had been urged steadily across the +channel, and was now run up to a bold bank, where the boys disembarked. +After removing Alaric's bag and the several cans of provisions so +thoughtfully furnished them by Captain Duff, Bonny gave the boat a push +out into the channel, down which the ebbing tide bore her, with many a +twist and turn, towards the more open waters of the Sound. + +"To be left in this way in an unknown wilderness makes me feel as Cortez +must have done when he burned his ships," reflected Alaric, as he +watched the receding craft. + +"I don't think I ever heard about that," said Bonny, simply. "Did he do +it for the insurance?" + +"Not exactly," laughed Alaric; "and yet in a certain way he did, too. +I'll tell you all about it some time. Now, what are you going to do +next?" + +"Climb that bluff, lie down under those trees while you eat something, +and watch for the sloop," answered Bonny, as though his programme had +all been arranged beforehand. + +They did this, and Alaric was so hungry that he made away with a whole +box of sardines and a tin of deviled ham. He wondered a little if they +would not make him ill, but did not worry much, for he was rapidly +learning that while leading an out-of-door life one may eat with +impunity many things that would kill one under ordinary conditions. He +had just finished his ham, and was casting thoughtful glances towards a +bottle of olives, when Bonny exclaimed, "There she is!" + +Sure enough, the sloop, with the cutter's yawl in tow, was slowly +beating out past the point on the opposite side of the channel. She +stood well over towards the western shore, and the tide so carried her +down that when she tacked she was close under the bluff on which the +boys, stretched at full length and peering through a fringe of tall +grasses, watched her. She came so near that Alaric grew nervous, and was +certain her crew were about to make a landing at that very spot. With a +vision of MacNeil's Island always before him, he wanted to run from so +dangerous a vicinity and hide in the forest depths; but Bonny assured +him that the sloop would go about, and in another moment she did so, +greatly to Alaric's relief. + +They could see that Captain Duff was still confined below, and they even +heard one of the men sing out to the officer in command: "There it is +now, sir, about two miles down the channel. I can see it plain." + +"Very good," answered the lieutenant; "keep your eye on it, and note if +they make a landing. If they don't, we'll have them inside of half an +hour." + +"Yes, you will," said Bonny, with a grin. + +As the sloop passed out of hearing the lads crept back from the edge of +the bluff, gathered up their scanty belongings, and started through the +forest towards the place where Bonny believed Skookum John's camp to be +located. Although it lay somewhere down the coast in the same direction +as that taken by the sloop, it never occurred to either of them that +her new commander might stop there to make inquiries concerning them. + +Thus when, after an hour of hard travel, they came suddenly on the camp, +located beside a tumbling stream in a rocky hollow that opened directly +on the water, they were terrified at sight of the cutter's yawl lying in +the mouth of the creek, and the revenue-officer standing on shore +engaged in earnest conversation with Skookum John himself. As they +hastily drew back into the forest shadows they saw the former wave his +arm comprehensively towards the country lying back of the camp. Then he +shook hands with the Indian and stepped into his boat. Just as it was +about to shove off, a villanous cur, scenting the newcomers, darted +towards their hiding-place, barking furiously. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SAVED BY A LITTLE SIWASH KID + + +The attention of the departing revenue-officer being attracted by the +barking dog, he paused, and glanced inquiringly in that direction. It +was a critical moment for our lads, who knew not whether to run, which +would be to reveal their presence at once, or to try and kill the dog, +with probably the same result. Fortunately they were spared the +necessity of a decision, for a little girl, whom up to this moment they +had not noticed, though she was quietly at play with a family of +clam-shell dolls directly in front of them, took the matter into her own +hands. She had just arranged her score or so of dolls in _potlatch_ +order, with the most favored near at hand, when the dog, charging that +way, threatened to upset the whole company. To avert such a catastrophe +the child snatched up a stick, and springing forward in defence of her +property, began to belabor him with such a hearty will, and scream at +him so shrilly, as to entirely divert his attention from his original +object. + +Taking advantage of this diversion in their favor, the boys stole softly +away, and after making a long détour through the forest, cautiously +approached the coast a mile or more from Skookum John's camp, but where +they could command a wide view of the Sound. Here they had the +satisfaction of seeing the yawl, under sail, standing off shore, and a +full half-mile from it. The sloop was not visible, nor was the cutter. + +"How could he have known just where to look for us?" asked Alaric, who +had been greatly alarmed at the imminence of their recent danger. + +"He couldn't have known," replied Bonny. "It was only a good guess. I +suppose he overhauled our boat, and, finding her empty, made up his mind +that we had landed somewhere. Of course he couldn't tell on which shore +to look, but, noticing John's camp, thought it would be a good idea to +find out if the Indians had seen anything of us. Of course they hadn't, +and now that he has left, it will be safe enough for us to go back." + +"Do you really think so? Isn't there any other place to which we can +go?" asked Alaric, whose dread of being captured by the revenue-officers +was so great as to render him overcautious. + +"Plenty of them, but no other that I know of within reach, where we +could find food, fire to cook it, and a boat to carry us somewhere else; +for there aren't any white settlers or any other Indians that I know of +within miles of here." + +In spite of this assurance Alaric was so loath to venture that the boys +spent several hours in discussing their situation and prospects before +he finally consented to revisit Skookum John's camp. By this time the +day was drawing to its close, and the lengthening forest shadows, flung +far out over the placid waters of the Sound, were so suggestive of a +night of darkness and hunger amid all sorts of possible terrors as to +outweigh all other considerations. So the boys plunged into the twilight +gloom of the thick-set trees, and began the uncertain task of retracing +the way by which they had come. + +As neither of them was a woodsman, this soon proved more difficult than +they had expected. The trees all looked alike, and they made so many +turns to avoid prostrate trunks and masses of entangled branches that +within half an hour they came to a halt, and each read in the troubled +face of the other a confirmation of his own fears. They had certainly +lost their way, and could not even tell in which direction lay the +sea-shore they had so recently left. Bonny thought it was in front, +while Alaric was equally certain that it still lay behind them. + +"If we could only make a fire," said the former, "I wouldn't mind so +much staying right where we are till daylight; but I should hate to do +so without one. Haven't you any matches?" + +"Not one," replied Alaric; "but I thought you always carried them." + +"So I do; but I used them all on that old lantern last night. I almost +wish now I'd never invented that thing, and that they had caught us. +They wouldn't have starved us, at any rate, and perhaps the prison isn't +so very bad, after all." + +"I don't know about that," rejoined Alaric, stoutly. "To my mind a +prison is the very worst thing, worse even than starving. After all, +this doesn't seem to me so bad a fix as some from which I've already +escaped. Going to China, for instance, or drifting alone at night in a +small boat." + +"What do you mean by going to China?" asked Bonny, wonderingly. + +"Hark!" exclaimed the other, without answering this question. "Don't you +hear something?" + +"Nothing but the wind up aloft." + +"Well, I do. I hear some sort of a moaning, and it sounds like a child." + +"Maybe it's a bear or a wolf, or something of that kind," suggested +Bonny, whose notions concerning wild animals were rather vague. + +"Of course it may be," admitted Alaric; "but it sounds so human that we +must go and find out, for if it is a child in distress we are bound to +rescue it." + +"Yes, I suppose we are; only if it proves to be a bear, I wonder who +will rescue us." + +Alaric had already set off in the direction of the moaning; and ere they +had taken half a dozen steps Bonny also heard it plainly. Then they +paused and shouted, hoping that if the sound came from a bear the animal +would run away. As they could hear no evidences of a retreat, and as the +moaning still continued, they again pushed on. It was now so dark that +they could do little more than feel their way past trees, over logs, and +through dense beds of ferns. All the while the sound by which they were +guided grew more and more distinct, until it seemed to come from their +very feet. + +At this moment the moaning ceased, as though the sufferer were +listening. Then it was succeeded by a plaintive cry that went straight +to Alaric's heart. He could dimly see the outline of a great log +directly before him. Stooping beside it and groping among the ferns, his +hands came in contact with something soft and warm that he lifted +carefully. It was a little child, who uttered a sharp cry of mingled +pain and terror at being picked up by a stranger. + +"Poor little thing!" exclaimed the boy. "I am afraid it is badly +injured, and shouldn't be one bit surprised if it had broken a limb. I +must try and find out so as not to hurt it unnecessarily." + +"Well," said Bonny, in a tragic tone, "they say troubles fly in flocks. +I thought we were in a pretty bad fix before; but now we surely have run +into difficulty. Whatever are we to do with a baby?" + +"Bonny!" cried Alaric, without answering this question, "I do believe +it's the little Indian girl who drove away the dog, and something is +the matter with one of her ankles." + +"Skookum John's little Siwash kid!" exclaimed Bonny, joyfully. "Then we +can't be so very far from his camp. Now if we only knew in which +direction it lay." + +As if in answer to this wish there came a cry, far-reaching and long +drawn: "Nittitan! Nittitan! Ohee! Ohee!" + +For several hours Skookum John and his eldest son, Bah-die, had been +searching the woods for two white lads whom the third lieutenant of the +cutter claimed to have lost. He had promised the Indian a reward of +twenty-five dollars if he would bring them to the cutter, and Skookum +John had at once set forth with the idea of earning this money as +speedily as possible. + +Little Nittitan, his youngest daughter, whom he loved above all others, +noted his going, and after a while decided to follow him. When darkness +put an end to the Indian's fruitless search and he returned to his camp, +he found it in an uproar. Nittitan was missing, and no one could imagine +what had become of her. + +For a moment the bereaved father was stunned. Then he prepared several +torches, and, accompanied by Bah-die, set forth to find her. At the edge +of the forest he raised a mighty cry that he hoped would reach the +little one's ears. To his amazement it was answered by a cheery "Hello! +Hello there, Skookum John!" + +"Ohee! Ohee!" shouted the Indian. + +"Here's your _tenas klootchman_" (little woman), came the voice from the +forest, and the happy father knew that he who shouted had found the lost +child and was bringing her to him. + +[Illustration: THE ARRIVAL AT SKOOKUM JOHN'S] + +On the outskirts of his camp he stood and waited, with blazing torch +uplifted above his head, and an expectant group of women and half-grown +children huddled behind him. He was greatly perplexed when a few minutes +later a tall white lad whom he had never before seen emerged from the +forest bearing the lost child in his arms. There was another behind him, +though, who was promptly recognized, for Skookum John knew Bonny Brooks +well, and instantly it came to him that these were the boys whom the +revenue-man claimed to have lost. And they had found his little one. How +glad he was that his own search for them had been unsuccessful! But this +was not the time to be thinking of them. There was his own little +Nittitan. He must have her in his arms and hold her close before he +could feel that she was really safe. + +He stepped forward to take her, but the strange lad drew back, and Bonny +cried out: "_Kloshe nanitsh, Skookum. Tenas klootchman la pee, hyas +sick_," by which he conveyed the idea that the little woman had hurt her +foot quite badly. Then he added, "It's all right, Rick. He understands +that he must handle her gently." + +So Alaric relinquished his burden, and the swarthy father, rejoicing but +anxious, bore the child to a rude hut of brush and cedar mats, the open +front of which was faced by a brightly blazing fire. Here he laid her +gently down on a soft bear-skin and knelt beside her. + +Alaric, who seemed to consider the child as still under his care, knelt +on the opposite side and began to feel very carefully of one of the +little ankles. He had not spent all his life in company with doctors +without learning something of their trade, and after a brief examination +he announced to Bonny that there were no broken bones, but merely a +dislocation of the ankle-joint. + +"I don't know anything about it," said Bonny, "but I should think that +would be just as bad." + +"No, indeed! A dislocation is not serious if promptly attended to. You +explain to him that I am a sort of a doctor, and can make the child well +in a few seconds if he will let me. Then I want him to hold her while I +pull the joint into place." + +So Bonny explained that his friend was a _hyas doctin_ or great +medicine-man who could make Nittitan well _hyak_ (quick), and the +anxious father, having implicit faith in the white man's skill, +consented to allow Alaric to make the attempt. + +The little one uttered a sharp cry, as, with a quick wrench, the +dislocated bone was snapped into place, and Alaric, with flushed face, +but very proud of what he had done, regained his feet. + +"Now," he said, "let them bathe the ankle in water as hot as the child +can bear, and by to-morrow she'll be all right. And, Bonny, if you know +how to ask for anything to eat, for goodness' sake take pity on the +starving poor, and say it quick." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +LIFE IN SKOOKUM JOHN'S CAMP + + +Skookum John, which in Chinook means "Strong John," was a Makah, or Neah +Bay, Indian, whose home was at Cape Flattery, on the shore of the +Pacific, and at the southern side of the entrance to the superb strait +of Juan de Fuca. He was a _Tyhee_, or chief, among his people, for he +was not only their biggest man, being a trifle over six feet tall, while +very few of his tribe exceeded five feet nine inches in height, but he +was the boldest and most successful hunter of whales among them. This +alone would have given him high rank in the tribe, for to them the +whales that frequent the warm waters of the coast are what buffalo were +to the Indians of the great plains. + +The Makahs are fish-eaters, and while they catch and dry or smoke +quantities of salmon, halibut, and cod, they esteem the whale more than +all other denizens of the sea, because there is so much of him, because +he is so good to eat, and because he furnishes them with the oil which +they use on all their food, as we use butter, and which they trade for +nearly every other necessity of their simple life. + +They hunt the whale in big open canoes hewn from logs of yellow-cedar, +long-beaked and wonderfully carved, painted a dead black outside and +bright red within. Formerly they used sails of cedar matting, but now +they are made of heavy drilling or light duck. Eight men go in a +whaling-canoe--one to steer, one to throw the slender harpoons, and six +to wield the long paddles, the blades of which are wide at the upper end +and gradually narrow to a point below, which is the very best way to +make all paddles except those used for steering. In these canoes Skookum +John and his people chase whales far out to sea, sometimes following +them for days without returning to land. Every time they get near enough +to one of the monsters they hurl into him a harpoon, to the head of +which is attached, by a length of stout kelp, a float made of a whole +seal-skin sewn up and inflated. The heavy drag of these floats +eventually so tires the whale that he is at the mercy of his enemies, +and they tow him ashore in triumph. + +The big Siwash, being an expert whaleman, had much oil to trade, and +made frequent visits to Victoria for this purpose. Here, being an +intelligent man and keenly noticing all that he saw, he learned much +concerning the whites and their ways, besides picking up a fair +knowledge of their language. + +So it happened that when the smugglers who proposed to operate in the +upper Sound began to cast, about for some trustworthy person, who would +also be free from suspicion, to look out for their interests in that +section, and keep them posted as to the whereabouts of cutters, they +very wisely selected Skookum John, and offered him inducements that he +could not afford to refuse. He, of course, knew nothing of the laws they +proposed to violate, nor did he care, for political economy had never +been included in Skookum John's studies. + +So the Makah Tyhee closed his substantial house of hewn planks on Neah +Bay, and, with all his wives and children--of whom Bah-die was the +eldest and little Nittitan the youngest--and his dogs and canoes, and +much whale oil, and many mats, he made the long journey to the place in +which we find him. Here he established a summer camp of brush huts, and +ostensibly went into the business of fishing for the Tacoma market. He +had brought his big whaling-canoe, and the little paddling canoes in +which his children were accustomed to brave the Pacific breakers +apparently for the fun of being rolled over and over in the surf. Above +all, he had brought a light sailing-canoe which was fashioned with such +skill that its equal for speed and weatherly qualities had never been +seen among canoes of its size on the coast. It was in this swift craft +that he darted about the Sound at night to discover the movements of +revenue-men, watch for signals from incoming smugglers, and flash in +return the lights that told of safety or danger. + +Although not possessed of a high sense of honor, Skookum John was loyal +to his employers, because it paid him to be so, and because no one had +ever tempted him to be otherwise. At the same time he was not above +performing a service for the other side, provided it would also pay, and +so he did not hesitate to promise the cutter's third lieutenant that in +return for twenty-five dollars he would use every effort to find and +return to him the lost boys. As the lieutenant had not seen fit to +mention the capture of the smuggling sloop that morning, or to say that +the boys in question formed part of her crew, he had no idea that one of +them was the lad with whom he had arranged his entire system of night +signals. + +When he did learn of the blow that threatened to retire him from +business, and the reason why the revenue-men were so desirous of finding +the lost boys, he began to wish that he saw his way clear to the winning +of that reward, for twenty-five dollars is a large sum to be made so +easily. But the revenue-men wanted _two_ boys, and the only other one +besides Bonny at present available, was the young medicine-man, the +_hyas doctin_, who had not only found his dearly loved Nittitan in the +dark _hyas stick_ (forest), but had so marvellously mended what he +firmly believed to have been a broken leg. + +The old Siwash was not honorable, and he was very mercenary. At the same +time, he was grateful, and would have suffered much to prevent harm from +coming to the lad who had placed him under such obligations. He was also +superstitious, and rather afraid of the powers of a _hyas doctin_. So he +determined to make the boys as comfortable as possible, and keep them +with him until he could communicate with the _Tyhee_ of the _piah-ship_ +(steamer). If two lost boys were worth twenty-five dollars, one lost boy +must be worth at least half that sum; while it was just possible that he +might obtain the whole reward for one boy. In that case, Bonny must be +handed over to those who were willing to pay for him; for business is +business even among the Siwash, and charity begins at home all over the +world. Of course, Skookum John did not use these expressions, for he was +not acquainted with them, but what he thought meant exactly the same +thing. + +In consequence of these reflections, all of which passed the Indian's +mind in the space of a few seconds, Bonny had no time to make a request +for food before the very best that the camp afforded was placed before +them. There were small square chunks of whale-skin, as black and tough +as the heel of a rubber boot. It was expected that these would be chewed +for a moment, until the impossibility of masticating them was +discovered, and that they would then be swallowed whole. After them came +boiled fishes heads, of which the eyes were considered the chief +delicacy, and these were followed by several kinds of dried and smoked +fish, including salmon and halibut, besides bits of smoked whale looking +like so many pieces of dried citron. All of these were to be dipped in +hot whale oil before being eaten. + +Then came another course of fish--this time fresh and plain +boiled--which the Indians ate with a liberal supply of whale oil. Then +boiled potatoes which were also dipped in oil after each bite. The +crowning glory of the feast was a small quantity of hard bread, which +for a change was dipped in whale oil and eaten dripping, and with this +was served a mixture of huckleberries and oil beaten to a paste. + +In regard to this liberal use of oil it must be said that Skookum John's +whale oil was universally acknowledged to be the sweetest and most +skilfully prepared to prevent rancidity of any in the Neah Bay village, +and his family regarded it with the same pride that the proprietors of +the best Orange County dairy do the finest products of their churn. It +was therefore a great disappointment to them that Alaric did not +appreciate it, and after trying a small quantity on a bit of potato, +refused a further supply. He even seemed to prefer pâté-de-foie-gras, of +which the boys had a single jar. This he opened in honor of the +occasion, and with it to spread over his bread and potatoes, a liberal +helping of the boiled fish, and an innumerable number of smoked halibut +strips boiled after a manner taught him by Bonny, the millionaire's son +made a supper that he declared was one of the very best he had ever +eaten. + +In order that their new-found friends might not feel too badly over +Alaric's refusal to partake more liberally of their whale oil, Bonny +gave them to understand that it was not because he disliked it, but not +being accustomed to rich food, he was afraid of making himself ill if he +indulged in it too freely. + +At this meal the young sailor tasted both pâté-de-foie-gras and whale +oil for the first time, and after carefully considering the merits of +the two delicacies, declared that he could not tell which was the worse, +and that as it would be just as difficult to learn to like one as the +other, he thought he would devote his energies to the oil. + +After supper a rude shelter against the chill dampness of the night was +constructed of small poles covered with a number of the useful bark +mats, of which the Indian women of that coast make enormous quantities. +A few armfuls of spruce-tips were cut and spread beneath it, a couple of +mats were laid over these, two more were provided for covering, and +Alaric's first camp bed was ready for him. Both lads were so dead tired +that they needed no second invitation to fling themselves down on their +sweet-scented couch, and were asleep almost instantly. As Skookum John +and Bah-die had also been out all the night before, they were not long +in following the example of their guests, and so within an hour after +supper the whole camp was buried in a profound slumber. + +By earliest daylight of the next morning the older Indian was up and +stirring about very softly so as not to awaken the strangers. He was +about to make an effort to earn that twenty-five dollars, and believed +that by careful management it might be his before noon. He planned to +notify the commander of the cutter that while he could deliver one of +the desired lads into his hands, the other had taken a canoe and gone to +Tacoma, where he would no doubt be readily found. If the _Tyhee_ of the +_piah-ship_ agreed to pay him the offered reward or even half of it for +one lad, he would ask that a boat might be sent to the camp for him. In +the meantime he would return first and invite both boys to go out +fishing--Bonny in a canoe with him, and the other in a second canoe +with Bah-die, who would be instructed to take his passenger out of sight +somewhere up the coast. Then the cutter's boat would be allowed to +overtake his canoe, and Bonny would be handed over to those who wanted +him, without trouble. + +It was an admirably conceived plan, and the old Siwash chuckled over it +as he softly launched his lightest canoe, stepped into it, and paddled +swiftly away. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A TREACHEROUS INDIAN FROM NEAH BAY + + +To his great disappointment, Skookum John could not find the cutter that +he had heretofore so carefully avoided and was now so anxious to +discover. She no longer lay where he had seen her the day before. He +even went far enough into Commencement Bay to take a look at Tacoma +harbor and identify the several steamers lying at its wharves. The +cutter was not among them, and he made the long trip back to his own +camp in a very disgusted frame of mind. At the same time he was +determined to redouble his efforts to gain that reward, for with the +prospect of losing it it began to assume an increased value. + +With one source of income cut off, it was clearly his duty to provide +another. And how could he do this better than by securing the good-will +of those on board the white _piah-ship_? There was no danger of them +being captured and driven out of business, and if he could only get them +into the habit of paying him for doing things, he could see no reason +why they should not continue to do so indefinitely. + +The old Siwash had already persuaded himself that they would give him +twenty-five dollars for one _tenas man_ (boy), and by the same course of +reasoning he now wondered if they might not be induced to give him fifty +dollars for two boys. It was possible, and certainly worth trying for. +If they should consent, he could not see how, in justice to himself and +his family, he could refuse to give up the _hyas doctin_ (Alaric) along +with the _tenas shipman_ (young sailor). After all, the former had not +placed him under such a very great obligation, for he would have found +Nittitan himself in a very few minutes. As for curing her of her injury, +the hurt could not have been anything serious or she would not have gone +to sleep so quickly. Yes, for fifty dollars he would certainly deliver +both of his young guests to the _shipman Tyhee_. He would be a fool to +do otherwise, and Skookum John had never yet been called a fool. +Besides, it was not likely that the boys would come to any harm on board +the cutter, for the _Boston men_ (whites) were very good to those of +their own tribe, never treating them cruelly, as they did the poor +Siwash, whom they had even forbidden to kill and rob shipwrecked sailors +found on their coast. Yes, indeed, both boys must be given up, and that +fifty dollars reward received as quickly as possible. + +It was all a very rational process of reasoning, and one that even white +people sometimes employ to convince themselves that a thing they want to +do is the right thing to do, even though their consciences may assure +them to the contrary. + +So the cunning old Indian, having persuaded himself that his meditated +treachery was pure benevolence, reached his camp in good spirits in +spite of his disappointment, and determined to make the stay of the boys +so pleasant that they should offer no objection to remaining with him +until the return of the cutter to those waters. + +It was a glorious morning, and the dimpled Sound was flooded with +unclouded sunlight that even shot long golden shafts into the depths of +its bordering forest. Myriads of fish were leaping from the sparkling +water, cheerful voices sounded from the camp, and the smoke of burning +cedar filled the air with its delicate perfume. + +The boys had been awake and out for an hour, and Alaric was fairly +intoxicated with the glorious freedom of that wild life, of which this +was his first taste. Already had he taken a swimming-lesson, and +although in his ignorance he had recklessly plunged into water that +would have drowned him had not Bonny and Bah-die pulled him out, he was +confident that he had swum one stroke before going down. + +Upon Skookum John's return his guests sat down with him to a breakfast +which their ravenous appetites enabled them to eat with a hearty +enjoyment, though it consisted only of fish, fish, and yet more fish. + +"But it is such capital fish!" explained Alaric. + +"Isn't it?" replied Bonny, tearing with teeth and fingers at a great +strip of smoked salmon. "And the oil isn't half bad, either." + +After they had finished eating, and their host had lighted his pipe, he +told Bonny that his early morning trip had been taken out of his anxiety +for their safety, and to discover the whereabouts of their enemies, the +revenue-men. + +"_They mamook klatawa?_" (Have they gone away?) inquired Bonny. + +"_No; piah-ship mitlite Tacoma illahie_" (No; steamer stay in Tacoma). +"_Shipman Tyhee cultus wau wau_" (The sailor chief made much worthless +talk). + +"_Mesika wau wau Tyhee?_ (Did you talk to the captain?) inquired Bonny, +anxiously. + +"_Ah ah, me wau wau no klap tenas man. Alta piah-ship kopet Tacoma +illahie. Mesika mitlite Skookum John house._" + +By this sentence he conveyed to Bonny the idea that he had told the +captain the boys were not to be found. At the same time he extended to +them the hospitality of his camp for so long as the cutter should remain +at Tacoma. + +When Bonny repeated this conversation to Alaric, the latter exclaimed: +"Of course we would better stay here, where we are safe until the cutter +goes away, even if it is a week from now. I hope it will be as long as +that, for I think this camp is one of the jolliest places I ever +struck." + +"All right," replied Bonny. "If you can stand it, I can." + +So the boys settled quietly down and waited for something to happen, +though it seemed to Alaric as though something of interest and +importance were happening nearly all the time. To begin with, they built +themselves a brush hut under Bah-die's instruction, the steep-pitched +roof of which would shed rain. Then they both took lessons from the same +teacher in sailing and paddling a canoe. The supply of fish for the camp +had to be replenished daily, and this duty devolved entirely upon the +younger children, for Bah-die went always with his father to draw the +big seine net, in which they caught fish for market. As the lads were +anxious to earn their board, they sometimes went in the big boat, and +sometimes in the small canoes with the children, by which means they +learned all the different ways known to the Indians of catching fish. +With all this, Alaric's swimming-lessons were not neglected for a single +day, and he often took baths both morning and evening, so fascinated was +he with the novel sport. + +In return for what Bah-die taught him, he undertook to train the young +Siwash in the art of catching a baseball. The latter having watched him +and Bonny pass the ball and catch it with perfect ease, one day held +out his hands, as much as to say, "Here you go; give us a catch." + +Alaric, who held the ball at that moment, let drive a swift one straight +at him. When Bah-die dropped it, and clapped his smarting hands to his +sides with an expression of pained astonishment on his face, the white +lad knew just how he felt. He could plainly recall the sensations of his +own experience on that not-very-long-ago day in Golden Gate Park; and +while he sympathized with Bah-die, he could not help exulting in the +fact that he had discovered one boy of his own age more ignorant than he +concerning an athletic sport. Then he set to work to show the young +Siwash how to catch a ball just as Dave Carncross had shown him, and in +so doing he experienced a genuine pleasure. He was growing to be like +other boys, and the knowledge that this was so filled him with delight. + +Nearly every day Skookum John sailed over to Tacoma, ostensibly to carry +his fish, but really to discover whether or not the cutter had returned, +and each night he came back glum with disappointment. Bonny often asked +to be allowed to go to the city with him, as he was impatient to be +again at work; but the Indian invariably put him off on the plea that if +the cutter-men discovered one whom they were so anxious to capture in +his canoe, they would punish him for having afforded the fugitive a +shelter. + +The young sailor could not understand why the cutter remained so long in +one place, for he had never known her to do such a thing before, and +many a talk did he and Alaric have on the subject. + +"They must be waiting in the hope of catching us," Alaric would say, +"and the mere fact that they are so anxious to find us shows how +important it is for us to keep out of the way." + +So time wore on until our lads had spent two full weeks in the Siwash +camp, and had become heartily sick of it. To be sure, Alaric had grown +brown and rugged, besides becoming almost an adept in the several arts +he had undertaken to master. His hands were no longer white, and their +palms were covered with calloused spots instead of blisters. He was now +a fair swimmer, could paddle a canoe with some skill, and understood its +management under sail. He knew not only how to catch fish, but how to +detach them from the hook. He could catch a baseball nearly as well as +Dave Carncross himself, besides being able to throw one with swiftness +and precision. He was learning to cook certain things, mostly of a fishy +nature, in a rude way, and had gone through several trying experiences +in trying to wash his own underclothing. Having broken his comb into +half a dozen pieces by sitting down on it, he had allowed Bonny to cut +his hair as short as possible with a pair of scissors borrowed from one +of the squaws. The result, while wholly satisfactory to Alaric, who +fortunately had no mirror in which to see himself, was so unique that +Bonny was impelled to frequent laughter without apparent cause. + +Two things, however, distressed Alaric greatly, and one was his +clothing, which was not only ragged, but soiled beyond anything he had +ever dreamed of wearing. His canvas shoes, from frequent soakings and +much walking on rocks, were so broken that they nearly dropped from his +feet. His woollen trousers were shrunken and bagged at the knees, while +his blue sweater, besides being torn, had faded to a brownish red. With +all this he was comforted by the reflection that he still had a good +suit in reserve that he could wear whenever they should be free to go to +the city. + +His other great trial was the food of that Siwash camp. He had never +been particularly fond of fish, and now, after eating it alone three +times a day for two weeks, the very thought of fish made him ill. He +loathed it so that it seemed to him he would almost rather go to prison, +with a chance of getting something else to eat, than to remain any +longer on a fish diet. From both these trials Bonny suffered nearly as +much as his companion. + +One day when the boys had just decided that they could not stand this +sort of thing any longer, they were out fishing in the swift-sailing +canoe with Bah-die, Skookum John having gone in the larger boat to +Tacoma. While they gloomily pursued their now distasteful employment a +sail-boat containing two white men ran alongside to obtain bait. As +these were the first of their own race with whom the boys had found an +opportunity to talk since coming to that place, Bonny began to ply them +with questions. Among others he asked: + +"What is the revenue-cutter doing at Tacoma all this time? Has she +broken down?" + +"She isn't there," replied one of the men. + +"Isn't there?" repeated Bonny, incredulously. + +"No; nor hasn't been for upwards of two weeks. We are expecting her back +every day, though." + +Then the men sailed away, leaving our lads to stare at each other in +speechless amazement. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +AN EXCITING RACE FOR LIBERTY + + +"What do you suppose it all means?" asked Alaric, as the boat containing +the two white men sailed away. + +"If it is true, it means that somebody has been fooling us, and you know +who he is as well as I do," replied Bonny, who did not care to mention +names within Bah-die's hearing. "If I'm not very much mistaken, it means +also that he is trying to hold on to us until the cutter comes back. You +know they offered him a reward to find us." + +"Only twenty-five dollars," interposed Alaric, who could not imagine +anybody committing an act of treachery for so small a sum. + +"That would be a good deal to some people. I don't know but what it +would be to me just now." + +"If I had once thought he was after the money," continued Alaric, "I +would have offered him twice as much to deal squarely with us." + +"Would you?" asked Bonny, with a queer little smile, for his comrade's +remarks concerning money struck him as very absurd. "Where would you +have got it?" + +"I meant, of course, if I had it," replied the other, flushing, and +wondering at his own stupidity. "But what do you think we ought to do +now?" + +"Sail over to Tacoma as quick as we can, and see whether the cutter is +there or not. When we find that out we'll see what is to be done next." + +"But we may meet John on the way." + +"I don't care. That's a good idea, though. I've been wondering how we +should get our friend here to agree to the plan." Then turning to +Bah-die, and speaking in Chinook, Bonny suggested that as the fishing +was not very good and there was a fine breeze for sailing, they should +run out into the Sound and meet the big canoe on its way back from +Tacoma, to which plan the young Siwash unsuspectingly agreed. + +Half an hour later the swift canoe was dashing across the open Sound +before a rattling breeze that heeled her down until her lee gunwale was +awash, though her three occupants were perched high on the weather side. +The city was dimly visible in the distance ahead, and near at hand the +big canoe which they were ostensibly going to meet was rapidly +approaching. Bonny was steering, and Bah-die held the main-sheet, while +the jib-sheets were intrusted to Alaric. + +Skookum John had already recognized them, and as they came abreast of +him motioned to them to put about; but Bonny, affecting not to +understand, resolutely maintained his course. They were well past the +other craft, which was coming about as though to follow them, before +Bah-die realized that anything was wrong. Then obeying an angry order +shouted to him by his father, he let go the main-sheet without warning, +causing the canoe to right so violently as to very nearly fling her +passengers overboard, and attempted to wrest the steering-oar from +Bonny's hand. + +Seeing this, and with the desperate feeling of an escaped prisoner who +sees himself about to be recaptured, Alaric sprang aft, seized the young +Indian by the legs, and with a sudden output of all his recently +acquired strength, pitched him headlong into the sea. Then catching the +main-sheet, he trimmed it in. Down heeled the canoe until it seemed as +though she certainly must capsize; but Alaric, looking very pale and +determined, held fast to the straining rope, and would not yield an +inch. + +It was well that he had learned this lesson, and was possessed of the +courage to apply it, for the canoe did not gather headway an instant too +soon. Bah-die, emerging from his plunge furious with rage, was swimming +towards her, and made a frantic attempt to grasp the gunwale as she +slipped away. His clutching fingers only missed it by the fraction of an +inch, and before he could make another effort the quick-moving craft was +beyond his reach. He was too wise to attempt a pursuit, and turned, +instead, to meet the big canoe, which was approaching him. + +"That was a mighty fine thing to do, Rick Dale!" cried Bonny, +admiringly, "and but for you we should be on our way back to that +hateful camp at this very moment. Of course they may catch us yet with +that big boat, but we've got a show and must make the most of it. So +throw your weight as far as you can out to windward, and don't ease off +that sheet unless you see solid water pouring in over the gunnel." + +"All right," replied Alaric, shortly, almost too excited for words. + +Both lads realized that after what had just taken place it would be +nearly as unpleasant to fall into the hands of Skookum John as into +those of the revenue-men themselves, and both were determined that this +should not happen if they could prevent it. But could they? Fast as they +were sailing, it seemed to Alaric as though the big canoe rushing after +them was sailing faster. Bonny dared not take his attention from the +steering long enough to even cast a glance behind. Managing the canoe +was now more difficult than before, because they had lost one hundred +and fifty pounds of live ballast. + +When Alaric looked at the water flashing by them it seemed as though he +had never moved so fast in his life, while a glance at the big boat +astern almost persuaded him that they were creeping at a snail's pace. +It was certain that the long, wicked-looking beak of the pursuing craft +was drawing nearer. Finally it was so close at hand that he could +distinguish the old Indian's scowling features and the expression of +triumph on Bah-die's face. The lad's heart grew heavy within him, for +the city wharves were still far away, and with things as they were the +chase was certain to be ended before they could be reached. + +All at once an exclamation from Bonny directed his attention to another +craft coming up the Sound and bearing down on them as though to take +part in the race. It was a powerful sloop-yacht standing towards the +city from the club-house on Maury Island, and its crew were greatly +interested in the brush between the two canoes. + +Either by design or accident, the yacht, which was to windward of the +chase, stood so close to the big canoe as to completely blanket her, and +so take the wind from her sails that she almost lost headway. Then, as +though to atone for her error, the yacht bore away so as to run between +pursuer and pursued, and pass to leeward of the smaller canoe. As the +beautiful craft swept by our lads with a flash of rushing waters, +glinting copper, and snowy sails, a cheery voice rang out: "Well done, +plucky boys! Stick to it, and you'll win yet!" + +Alaric could not see the speaker, because of the sail between them, but +the tones were so startlingly familiar that for a moment he imagined the +voice to belong to the stranger who had talked with him on the wharf at +Victoria, and whom he now knew for a revenue-officer. If that were the +case, they were indeed hopelessly surrounded by peril. He was about to +confide his fears to Bonny, when like a flash it came to him that the +voice was that of Dave Carncross, whom he had not seen since that +memorable day in Golden Gate Park. + +Although he had no desire to meet this friend of the ball-field under +the present circumstances, he was greatly relieved to find his first +suspicion groundless, and again directed his attention to the big canoe, +which, although she had lost much distance, was again rushing after +them. The boy now noticed for the first time, not more than half a mile +astern of her, a white steamer with a dense column of smoke pouring from +her yellow funnel, and evidently bound for the same port with +themselves. + +Soon afterwards they had passed the smeltery, saw-mills, and +lumber-loading vessels of the old town, and were approaching the cluster +of steamships lying at the wharves of the Northern Pacific Railway, +which here finds its western terminus. Off these the yacht had already +dropped her jib and come to anchor. The big canoe was again overhauling +them, and looked as though she might overtake them, after all. A boat +from the yacht was making towards the wharves, and Bonny, believing that +it would find a landing-place, slightly altered his course so as to +follow the same direction. + +All at once Alaric, who was again gazing nervously astern, cried out: +"Look at that steamer! I do believe it is going to run down the big +canoe." + +Bonny glanced hastily over his shoulder, and uttered an exclamation of +dismay. + +"Great Scott! It's the cutter," he gasped. "And they are right on top of +us. Now we are in for it." + +"They are speaking to John, and he is pointing to us," said Alaric. + +"Never mind them now," said Bonny. "Ease off your sheet a bit, and 'tend +strictly to business. We've still a chance, and can't afford to make any +mistakes." + +A few minutes later, just as a yawl was putting off from the cutter's +side, the small canoe rounded the end of a wharf and came upon a +landing-stage. On it the yacht's boat had just deposited a couple of +passengers, who, with bags in their hands, were hastening up a flight of +steps. + +"Here, you!" cried Bonny to one of the yacht's crew who stood on the +float, "look out for this canoe a minute. We've got to overtake those +gentlemen. Come on, Rick." + +Without waiting to see whether this order would be obeyed, the boys ran +up the flight of steps and dashed away down the long wharf. They had no +idea of where they should go, and were only intent on finding some +hiding-place from the pursuers, whom they believed to be already on +their trail. + +As they were passing a great ocean steamer whose decks were crowded with +passengers, and which was evidently about to depart, a carriage drew up +in front of them, so close that they narrowly escaped being run over. As +its door was flung open a voice cried out: + +"Here, boys! Get these traps aboard the steamer. Quick!" + +With this a gentleman sprang out and thrust a couple of bags, a +travelling-rug, and a gun-case into their hands. A lady with a little +boy followed him. He snatched up the child, and the whole party ran up +the gang-plank of the steamer as it was about to be hauled ashore. + +Our lads had accepted this chance to board the steamer without +hesitation, and now ran ahead of the others. The clerk at the inner end +of the gang-plank allowed them to pass, thinking, of course, that they +would deposit their burdens on deck and immediately return to the wharf. + +With an instinct born of long familiarity with ocean steamers, Alaric +made his way through the throng of passengers to the main saloon, and +Bonny followed him closely. Here they placed their burdens on a table, +and, with Alaric still in the lead, disappeared through a door on the +opposite side. + +Two minutes later the great ship began to move slowly from the wharf, +and our lads, from a snug nook on the lower deck, watched with much +perturbation a revenue-officer, who had evidently just landed from the +cutter, come hurrying down the wharf. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY + + +The revenue-cutter whose appearance caused Alaric and Bonny so much +anxiety had, indeed, been absent from Tacoma for two weeks, as the man +in the sail-boat told them. On their first night in the Siwash camp she +had gone to Port Townsend to turn over the captured smuggler _Fancy_ to +the collector at that place. Knowing how important the testimony of her +crew would be during the proceedings against her, the commander of the +cutter intended to return to the upper Sound and to institute a thorough +search for them the very next day. Before he could carry out this plan +news was received that an American ship was ashore near Cape Flattery, +one hundred miles away in the opposite direction, and the cutter was +despatched to her assistance. + +Although the task of saving the ship was successfully accomplished, and +she was finally pulled off the reef on which she had struck, it was +nearly two weeks before the cutter was again at liberty to devote her +attention to smugglers. With only a slight hope of finding those whom he +so greatly wanted as witnesses, but thinking he might possibly gain some +information concerning them from Skookum John, the commander of the +cutter headed his vessel up the Sound, steamed through Colvos Passage, +and sent his third lieutenant ashore in the yawl to make inquiries at +the Siwash camp. + +This officer found only women and children at home, but learned that the +owner of the camp had gone to Tacoma. As he was about to depart without +having discovered anything concerning those of whom he was in search, +curiosity prompted him to glance into a hut that appeared newer and much +neater than the others. Here, to his amazement and great satisfaction, +the first object that caught his eye was the well-remembered canvas +dunnage-bag that he had seen in Victoria, and which still bore the name +"Philip Ryder" on its dingy surface. + +"Ho, ho! Master Ryder! So we are on your trail at last, are we?" +soliloquized the officer. "This is a clew of which we must not lose +sight, and so I guess I'll just take it along and hold on to it until we +can return it to you in person." + +Thus it happened that Alaric's bag was carried aboard the cutter, where +its contents excited a great deal of curiosity, and that vessel was +headed towards Tacoma in the hope of finding the lads, who were supposed +to be with Skookum John. + +The big canoe was discovered when in the very act of going about and +standing back towards the city, as though to escape from the approaching +cutter, and a full head of steam was instantly crowded on in pursuit. +Great was the disappointment when, on overtaking her, she was found to +contain only Indians. These, however, eagerly directed attention to a +smaller canoe ahead, in which could be distinguished two figures, +apparently those of white men, and the cutter renewed her chase. Before +she could overtake this second craft it was lost to sight behind a +wharf, and a lieutenant was hastily sent ashore in a boat to trace its +occupants. + +He found the empty canoe in charge of a yacht sailor, who said that +those who had come in her were somewhere up on the wharf, and without +waiting for further particulars the officer followed after them. + +When he reached the group of spectators assembled to witness the +departure of the great steamer that was just moving out, he asked one of +them if he had seen two persons running that way within a minute. One of +them, whom he mentioned as being the younger, he described as being a +tall, gentlemanly appearing and neatly dressed lad, while the other, he +said, was a sailor. It must be remembered that while the lieutenant had +noted Alaric's appearance very closely when in Victoria, he had never +seen Bonny's face, and did not even discover whether he had belonged to +the sloop or not. In fact, he afterwards had reason to believe that the +youth whom he saw with Alaric at that time could not have been mate of +the _Fancy_, for, to save their own credit, the sailors whom the lads +eluded on the morning of the sloop's capture described him as a fellow +of great size and unusual strength. + +Now the gentleman of whom he made inquiries answered that he had seen a +number of persons running just as the ship's moorings were cast off. +"There were a couple of young chaps," he said, "very ragged and +dirty-looking, who ran aboard the last thing, as if afraid of being +left; but I didn't see them come off again, and I expect they belong to +the ship. Then there was another couple who seemed in a great hurry, and +ran shouting after a carriage that was just starting up-town. They +stopped it, got in, and drove off. One of them was, as you say, a very +gentlemanly appearing lad, and the other was so evidently a sailor that +I expect they're the two you are looking for." + +"I shouldn't wonder if they were," replied the officer, delighted at +having thus quickly discovered the trail. "Did you happen to hear them +give the driver any directions?" + +"Yes. The young chap said, 'Hotel Tacoma.'" + +Thanking the gentleman for his information, the lieutenant hurried away, +boarded an up-town trolley-car, and a few minutes later stood in the +office of the great hotel scanning its register. A single glance was +sufficient, for the two last names on the page, so recently entered that +the ink was hardly dry, assured him that his search was successful. They +were both in the same handwriting, and read---- + + PHILIP RYDER, _Alaska_. + JALAP COOMBS, " + +"Pretty smart dodge," chuckled the lieutenant, as he walked away, "to +hail from such an indefinite place as Alaska. This Philip Ryder is +certainly a sharp chap. It is plain enough now that he left that bag in +the Siwash camp as a blind to throw us off the track. What a pile of +money those smugglers must make, though. Here is one of them, apparently +a simple deck-hand, who buys the choicest groceries to be had in +Victoria, bathes in cologne-water, throws away a suit of clothes so +handsome that I should be only too glad to wear them myself, and now +puts up at the swellest hotel in the city. It certainly is a great +business." + +While thinking these things the lieutenant was hurrying back towards the +cutter, to make report of what he had discovered to his superior +officer. After listening to all he had to say, that gentleman decided to +continue the investigation himself; and an hour later he, with his third +lieutenant, both out of uniform, appeared at the hotel, followed by a +sailor bearing a canvas dunnage-bag. + +Going into one of the small writing-rooms, which happened to be +unoccupied, the commander wrote a name on a plain card and sent it up +to Mr. Philip Ryder, with a request that the gentleman would consent to +see him on a matter of business. Then, with the canvas bag on the floor +beside him, he waited alone, having desired the lieutenant to keep out +of sight until sent for. + +Inside of three minutes a bell-boy ushered into the room a well-dressed, +squarely built youth, with a resolute face and honest blue eyes that +looked straight into those of the commander. + +"Mr. Ellery, I believe," he said, glancing at the card still held in his +hand. + +The commander bowed slightly, and then asked, "Is your name Philip +Ryder?" + +"It is." + +"Is this your property?" Here the commander indicated the canvas bag +that lay with its painted name uppermost. + +The youth stepped forward to get a better view of the article in +question, started as though surprised, and then answered, "Yes, sir, I +believe it is; but I must confess a great curiosity as to how it came +here." + +"Why so?" + +"Because when I last heard of it it was on board a vessel that had just +been seized by a revenue-cutter." + +"Exactly; and that vessel was seized for smuggling by a cutter under my +command." + +"Pardon me, sir, but I think you are mistaken," objected Phil, "for I am +intimately acquainted with the commander of the cutter in question, +while you are a stranger to me." + +"I beg leave to say that I think I know what I am talking about," +retorted the other, stiffly, "and I may as well inform you at once that +I not only was, but am still, in command of the cutter that seized your +smuggling craft some two weeks ago. I am here for the purpose of +causing the arrest and detention of yourself and the mate of that +vessel, both of whom will be wanted as witnesses for the government +during the forthcoming proceedings to be instituted against Captain +Duff." + +"And I, sir," replied Phil, hotly, "beg leave to say that you don't know +any more of what you are talking about than I do. Although I have sailed +with Captain Duff and know him well, I am not a smuggler, and never have +been. Moreover, I can summon witnesses this very minute who will +identify me and testify as to my character." + +With this Phil stepped to the bell, and rang it so violently that half a +dozen bell-boys came tumbling into the room at once. "Go to No. 20," +said the youth to one of these, "and ask the gentleman who is there to +kindly step down here for a minute." + +"And you, boy!" thundered the commander to another, his face flushed +with anger, "find the gentleman who came here with me, and inform him +that I desire his presence immediately." + +The lieutenant was the first to arrive. + +"Is this your Philip Ryder?" demanded the commander, at the same time +pointing to the youth who stood opposite. + +"No, sir, he is not," replied the lieutenant, promptly. + +"Who is he, then?" asked the other, staggered by this answer. + +"Begging the gentleman's pardon, this _is_ Mr. Philip Ryder, as I can +swear," interrupted a fourth individual, who had just entered. + +"Hello, Carncross! You here? And you know this young man?" + +"Certainly I do, sir. I met his father, Mr. John Ryder--the famous +mining expert, you know--at my father's house in San Francisco last +winter, and came to call on him here as soon as I heard of his arrival +in Tacoma. He and his son arrived on to-day's steamer from Alaska, where +Phil Ryder has just completed a most notable exploration on snow-shoes +and sledges of the Yukon Valley. By-the-way, he is also a friend of your +old friend Captain Matthews." + +"What! Not Israel Matthews, of the _Phoca_? You don't say so! Mr. Ryder, +allow me to shake hands with you, and offer my humble apologies for this +absurd mistake." + +With a general hand-shaking and exchange of introductions, they all sat +down for an hour of mutual explanations. During these it was discovered +that Phil and Jalap Coombs had remained at the wharf some time after the +others of their party left, to look after their numerous pieces of +baggage, and so did not come up to the hotel until just as the steamer +that had brought them was departing for Seattle. + +At the end of an hour the revenue-officers were as puzzled as ever over +the disappearance of the present owner of the famous Philip Ryder bag +and his companion. But suddenly Carncross exclaimed: + +"I think I know what became of them! I remember now seeing the two chaps +who came in that canoe run down the wharf and board the Alaska steamer +just as she was starting for Seattle, and I'll warrant you that's where +they are at this minute. Tough-looking young customers they were, too." + +"In that case," said the commander, rising, "I must be getting under way +for Seattle as quickly as possible. I only wish that I might have you +both down to dine with me this evening; but business before pleasure. +And so, hoping for a future opportunity of extending the hospitality of +the ship, I will wish you both a very good night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ALARIC TODD'S DARKEST HOUR + + +"Hello, Rick Dale! Hold on!" was the hail that caused Alaric to halt in +his flight from the most recent of the chasings that were becoming so +common a feature of his life. + +It was Bonny who called, and who now came running up to him. "Where have +you been all this time?" he asked. "I've waited and watched for you ever +since we got in, a good two hours ago, and was getting mighty uneasy for +fear you'd fallen overboard or got left at Seattle, or something. You +see, I feel in a way responsible for you, seeing that I got you into all +this mess." + +"That's queer," said Alaric, with a faint smile, and sitting down +wearily on a huge anchor that lay beside one of the warehouses, "for +I've been thinking that all your troubles were owing to me. I'm awfully +sorry, though, I kept you waiting, but I suppose I must have been +asleep." + +"You had better luck than I did, then," growled Bonny, seating himself +beside his friend, "for I haven't had a wink of sleep since we left +Seattle. I was just getting into a doze when a miserable deck-hand +swashed a bucket of water over me. Then they found me out, and set me to +work cleaning decks and polishing brass. They kept me at it every minute +until we got here, and then fired me ashore." + +"Did they give you any breakfast?" inquired Alaric, with an interest +that betrayed the tendency of his thoughts. + +"Not much, they didn't. Have you had anything to eat?" + +"Not a bite; and do you know, Bonny, I think I am beginning to realize +what starving means." + +"I know I am, and what being utterly worn out means as well. Do you +suppose it's just hunger that makes a fellow feel sick and light-headed +and weak as a cat, the way I do now, or is it that he is really in for +something serious, like a fever or whooping-cough or one of the things +with big names?" + +"I expect it's hunger, and nothing else," replied Alaric, "for I feel +just that way myself, and I've been really ill times enough to know the +difference." + +"Then it must be starvation, and something has got to be done about it," +exclaimed Bonny, starting to his feet with a resolute air, "for I don't +believe any two fellows are going to be allowed to starve to death in +this city of Tacoma. So I'm going to get something for us to eat, even +if I have to steal." + +"Oh no, Bonny, don't steal. We haven't quite come to that," objected +Alaric. "Did you say this was Tacoma, though?" + +"Yes, of course. Didn't you recognize it?" + +"No, I didn't, for I wasn't given much chance to get acquainted with it +last evening, you know. But if this is Tacoma, I've an idea that I +believe will bring us some money. So suppose we separate for a while? +You can go one way looking for something to eat, and I'll go another in +search of that which will mean the same thing. When the whistles blow +for noon we'll both come back here and compare notes." + +"All right," agreed Bonny. "I'll do it, and if I don't bring back +something to eat, it will be because the whole city is starving, that's +all." + +So the two set forth in opposite directions, Bonny taking a course that +would lead him among the shipping, and Alaric walking up the long easy +grade of Pacific Avenue towards the city proper. His pride, which no +personal suffering nor discomfort could overthrow, had given way at last +before the wretchedness of his friend. "It is I who am the cause of it," +he said to himself, "and so I am bound to help him out by the only way I +can think of. I hate to do it, for it will be owning up that I am not +fit to care for myself or able to fight my own way in the world. I know, +too, just how John and the others will laugh at me, but I've got to do +something at once, and there doesn't seem to be anything else." + +The scheme that Alaric so dreaded to undertake, and was yet determined +to execute, was the telegraphing to his brother John for funds. Of +course John would report the matter to their father, who had probably +been already notified of his younger son's disappearance, and our lad +would be ordered to return home immediately. Or perhaps John would come +to fetch him back, like a runaway child. It would all be dreadfully +humiliating, and on his own account he would have undergone much greater +trials than those of the present rather than place himself in such a +position. But for the sake of the boy who had befriended him and +suffered with him, it must be done. + +The only telegraph-office in the city of which Alaric knew was in the +Hotel Tacoma, where he had passed a day on his northward journey, and +thither he bent his steps. As he entered its open portal and crossed the +spacious hall in which was located the telegraph-station, the +well-dressed guests who paced leisurely to and fro or lounged in +easy-chairs stared at him curiously. And well they might, for a more +tattered, begrimed, unkempt, and generally woe-begone youth had never +been seen in that place of luxurious entertainment. Had Alaric +encountered a mirror, he would have stared at himself and passed by +without recognition; but for the moment his mind was too busy with other +thoughts to allow him to consider his appearance. + +The box-like telegraph-office was occupied by a fashionably attired +young woman, who was just then absorbed in an exciting novel. After +keeping Alaric waiting for several minutes, or until after she had +finished a chapter, she took the despatch he had written, and read it +aloud: + + "_To Mr. John Todd, Amos Todd Bank, San Francisco_: + + "DEAR JOHN,--Please send me by wire one hundred dollars. Will + write and explain why I need it. ALARIC." + +"Dollar and a half," said the young woman, tersely, and without looking +up. + +Although many telegrams had been forwarded at various times and from +distant parts of the world in Alaric Todd's name, he had never before +attempted to send one in person. Now, therefore, although somewhat +startled by the request for a dollar and a half, he replied, calmly: + +"Send it collect, please. It will be paid for at the other end." + +"Can't do it; 'gainst the rules," retorted the young woman, sharply, now +glancing at the lad before her, and contemptuously scanning him from +head to foot. + +"But," pleaded poor Alaric, "this is so very important. The money that I +ask for is sure to come, and then I will pay for it a dozen times over, +if you like. It will certainly be paid for, though, in San Francisco, at +the Amos Todd Bank, for my name is Todd--Alaric Todd." + +"It wouldn't make any difference," remarked the young woman, "if your +name were George Washington or John Jacob Astor; you couldn't send a +despatch through this office without paying for it. So if you haven't +any money you might as well make up your mind not to waste any more of +my time." + +With this she resumed the reading of her novel, while Alaric moved +slowly away, stunned and despairing. Now was he indeed cut off from his +home, his people, and from all hope of assistance. He hadn't even money +enough to pay for a postage-stamp with which to send a letter. As he +realized these things, the reaction from his confidence of a few moments +before, that his present trouble would be speedily ended, was so great +that he grew faint, and mechanically sank into a leather-cushioned chair +that stood close at hand. + +He had hardly done so when an alert porter stepped up, touched him on +the shoulder, and pointed significantly to the door. + +The boy understood, and obeyed the gesture without remonstrance. Thus it +came to pass that a son of Amos Todd, the richest man on the Pacific +coast, was driven from a hotel of which his father was one of the +principal owners, and in spite of the fact that he had just acknowledged +his own identity. + +Once outside, Alaric walked irresolutely, and as though unconscious of +what he was doing, for a short distance, and then found himself seated +on an iron bench at the edge of a broad asphalted driveway. Here he +tried to think, and could not. He closed his eyes and wondered vaguely +if he were going to die, or, if not, how much longer he could live +without food. It wasn't worth worrying about, though, one way or the +other. He had made such a complete failure of life that no one would +care if he did die. Of course Bonny might feel badly about it for a +little while, but even he would get along much better alone. + +From such terrible thoughts as these the lad was aroused by the sound of +cheery voices; and glancing listlessly in their direction, he saw a +well-dressed young fellow, apparently not much older than himself, a +little boy in his first suit of tiny knickerbockers, and a big dog. They +had just come from the hotel and were playing with a ball. It was Phil +Ryder with little Nel-te, an orphan whom he had rescued from the Yukon +wilderness, and big Amook, one of his Eskimo sledge dogs that he was +carrying back to New London as a curiosity. + +While Alaric watched them, wondering how it must seem to be as free from +both hunger and anxiety as that happy-looking chap evidently was, the +ball tossed to Nel-te escaped him and rolled under the iron bench. As +the child came running up, the lad recovered it and handed it to him. + +"Fank you, man," said the little chap, and then ran away. + +After a while the ball again came in the same direction, and, as the +child did not follow it, Alaric picked it up and tossed it to Phil. + +"Hello!" cried the latter. "It seems mighty good to be catching a +baseball again. Give us another, will you?" With this he threw the ball +to Alaric, who caught it deftly and flung it back. + +The ball was one that had been found in a certain canvas dunnage-bag the +evening before, and begged by Phil Ryder as a souvenir of his experience +as a smuggler. After a few passes back and forth Alaric became so dizzy +from weakness that, with a very pale face, he was again forced to sit +down. + +"What's the matter?" asked Phil, anxiously, coming up to the trembling +lad. "Not ill, I hope?" + +"No; I'm not ill. It's only a little faintness." + +"Do you know," said Phil, as he noted closely the lad's mean dress and +hollow cheeks, "that you look to me as though you were hungry. Tell me +honestly if you have had any breakfast this morning." + +"No," replied Alaric, in a low tone. + +"Or any supper last night?" + +"No." + +"Did you have any dinner yesterday?" + +"I can't exactly remember, but I don't think I did." + +"Why, man," cried tender-hearted Phil, horror-stricken at this +revelation, "you are starving! And I've been keeping you here playing +ball! What a heedless brute I am! Never mind; just you wait until I can +carry this little chap inside, and don't you stir from that seat until I +come back." + +With this Phil, picking up Nel-te and bidding Amook follow him, hurried +away, leaving Alaric still holding the baseball, and filled with a very +queer mixture of conflicting emotions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +PHIL RYDER PAYS A DEBT + + +In a very few minutes Phil Ryder hastened back to where Alaric awaited +him. "Now you come with me," he said, cheerily, "and we'll end this +starvation business in a hurry. I won't take you to the hotel, for those +swell waiters are too slow about serving things, and when a fellow is +hungry he don't care so much about style as he does about prompt +attention to his wants. I know, for I've been there myself. There's a +little restaurant just around the corner on the avenue that looks as +though it would exactly fill the bill. Here we are." + +Almost before he realized what was happening Alaric found himself seated +before the first regular breakfast-table that he had seen in weeks, +while the young stranger facing him, who had so unexpectedly become his +host, was ordering a meal that seemed to embrace pretty nearly the whole +bill of fare. + +"Bring the coffee and oatmeal first," he said to the waiter, "and see +that there is plenty of cream. If they burn your fingers, so much the +better, for you never saw any one in quite so much of a hurry as we are. +After that you may rush along the other things as fast as you please." + +Alaric attempted a feeble protest against the munificence of the order +just given, but Phil silenced him with: + +"Now, my friend, don't you fret; I know what you need and what you can +get away with better than you do, for I've experimented considerably +with starving during the past year. As for obligation, there isn't any. +I am only paying a debt that I've owed for a long time." + +"I don't remember ever meeting you before," said Alaric, looking up in +surprise from a dish of oatmeal and cream that seemed the very best +thing he had ever tasted. + +"No, of course not, and I don't suppose we have ever been within a +thousand miles of each other until now; but I have been in your debt, +all the same. Just about a year ago I was in Victoria without a cent in +my pocket, no friend or even acquaintance that I knew of in the whole +city, and so hungry that it didn't seem as though I had ever eaten +anything in my life. Just as I was most desperate and things were +looking their very blackest, an angel travelling under the name of Serge +Belcofsky came along, and spent his last dollar in feeding me. I vowed +then that I'd get even with him by feeding some other hungry fellow, and +this is the first chance I've run across since. You needn't be afraid, +though, that I am spending my last dollar on you, glad as I would be to +do so if it were necessary. That it isn't is owing to one of the best +fathers in the world, who hasn't had a chance to keep me in funds for so +long a time that he is now trying to make up for lost opportunities." + +"You must be very fond of him," said Alaric, who was now at work on +beefsteak and fried potatoes. + +"Well, rather," replied Phil, earnestly, "though I never knew how much a +good father was to a boy until I lost him, and had to fight my way alone +through a whole year before I found him again. It's a wonder my hair +didn't turn gray with anxiety while I was hunting him up in the +interior of Alaska; but it's all over now, and I have him safe at last +right here in Tacoma, along with my aunt Ruth and little Nel-te and +Jalap----" + +"Is he the dog?" asked Alaric, beginning an attack on the omelette. + +"Who?" + +"Jalap." + +"Not much he isn't a dog," laughed Phil. "He is one of the dearest of +sailormen. He's one of the wisest, too, only he lays all of his wisdom +to his old friend Kite Roberson. Besides all that, he is one of the most +comical chaps that ever lived, though he doesn't mean to be, and it's +better than a circus to see him on snow-shoes driving a sledge team of +dogs. I should have brought him over here to cheer you up, only he's off +somewhere among the ships this morning. He says he's got the salt-water +habit so badly that he can't keep away from them. Are you ready now for +the buckwheats? Here are half a dozen hot ones to top off with, and +maple-syrup too. Don't they look good, though! I say, waiter, you may as +well bring me a plate of those buckwheats. I forgot to have any at +breakfast-time." + +So Phil rattled on, talking of all sorts of things to keep his guest +amused, and allow him ample opportunity to attend strictly to the +business of eating, without feeling obliged to answer questions or +sustain any part of the conversation. + +And how poor, heart-sick, hungry Alaric was cheered by the thoughtful +kindness of this strange lad who had so befriended him in his hour of +sorest need! + +How grateful he was, and how, with each mouthful of food, strength and +courage and hope came back to him, until, when the wonderful meal was +finished, he was ready once more to face the world with a brave +confidence that it should never again get the better of him! He tried to +put some of his gratitude into words, but was promptly interrupted by +his host, who said: + +"Nonsense! You've nothing to thank me for. I told you I owed you this +breakfast, and besides, though I haven't eaten very much myself, I have +certainly enjoyed it as much as any meal of my life. Now we have a few +minutes left before I must go, and I want you to tell me something of +yourself. What is your name? Where is your home? And how did you happen +to get into this fix?" + +"My name is Rick Dale," began Alaric, who did not feel that he could +disclose his real identity under the circumstances, "and my home is in +San Francisco; but it is closed now. My mother is dead. I don't know +just where my father is, and I was left with some people whom I disliked +so much that I just--" Here he hesitated, and Phil, noting his +embarrassment, hastened to say: + +"Never mind the particulars. I had no business to ask such questions, +anyway." + +"Well," continued Alaric, "the result of it all is that I am here +looking for work. I had a job, but it didn't pay anything, and I lost it +about two weeks ago. Now I am trying to find another." + +"What kind of a job do you want?" + +"Anything, so long as it is honest work that will provide food, +clothing, and a place to sleep." + +"In that case," said Phil, thoughtfully, "I don't know but what I can +put you in the way of one, though--" + +"It must be a job for two of us," interposed Alaric, "for I have a +friend who is in the same fix as myself." + +"I only wish I had known that in time to have him breakfast with us," +said Phil; "but the job I am thinking of, if it can be had at all, will +serve for two of you as well as for one. You see, it is this way. There +is a Frenchman over at the hotel whose name is Filbert, and who--" + +Just here both lads started at the sound of a shrill whistle announcing +the hour of noon. + +"I had no idea it was so late," explained Phil, "and I must run; for we +leave here on the one-o'clock train." + +"I must hurry too, for I promised to meet Bonny at noon," said Alaric. + +"Who is Bonny?" + +"The friend I told you of." + +"Then I want you to give this to him from me, for fear he may not have +found any breakfast." So saying, Phil slipped something hard and round +into Alaric's hand. "Now good-bye, Rick Dale," he said. "I hope we may +meet again sometime. At any rate, be sure to call on Monsieur Filbert at +the hotel this afternoon. I guess you can get a job from him; but even +if you don't, always remember that, as my friend Jalap Coombs says, +'It's never so dark but what there's a light somewhere.'" + +Then the lads parted, one filled with the happiness that results from an +act of kindness, and the other cheered and encouraged to renewed effort. + +With grateful and loving glances Alaric watched Phil Ryder until he +disappeared in the direction of the hotel, and then hastened to keep his +appointment with Bonny. On the road leading to the wharves he passed a +tall, lank figure, whose whole appearance was that of a sailor. His +shrewd face was weather-beaten and wrinkled, but so kindly and smiling +that Alaric could not help but smile from sympathy as they met. + +He found Bonny impatiently awaiting him, and in such cheerful spirits as +to be hardly recognizable for the despondent, half-starved lad of two +hours before. + +"Hello, Rick!" he shouted, as his friend approached. "I know you've had +good luck, for I see it in your face." + +"Indeed I have!" replied Alaric; "and, what's more, I've had the best +breakfast I ever ate in my life." + +"That's what I meant by luck; and I've had the same." + +"What's more," continued Alaric, "I have brought something that was sent +especially to you, for fear you hadn't found anything to eat." Thus +saying, he handed over a big bright silver dollar. + +"Well, if that don't beat the owls!" exclaimed Bonny at sight of the +shining coin, "for here is his twin-brother that was handed me to give +to you, or rather to the first fellow I met who needed it more than I +did." + +"I must be the one, then," said Alaric, joyously, "for I haven't a cent +to my name, and as you now have two dollars, I'm willing to divide with +you. But who gave it to you, and how did he happen to?" + +"The queerest and dearest old chap I ever saw. You know how badly I was +feeling when we separated. Well, that was nothing to what came +afterwards. I set out to board every ship in port until I should find a +cook or steward who would fill me up and let me have something extra to +bring to you. On the first half-dozen or so I was treated worse than a +dog, and fired ashore almost before I opened my mouth. It made me feel +meaner than dirt, and but for thinking of how disappointed you would be +if I came back as miserable as I went, I should have given up in +despair. I must say, though, that all the fellows who treated me that +way were Dagoes, Dutch, or Chinamen. + +"At length I boarded a Yankee bark that carried an Irish steward, and +the minute I said I was hungry he cried out: 'Don't spake a wurrud, lad, +for ye couldn't do yer looks justice. Jist be aisy, and come wid me.' + +"With that he led me to a sort of a cuddy at the forward end of the +after deck-house, and set me down to such a spread as I haven't seen +since I left Cape Cod. There was cold roast beef, corned beef, potatoes, +bread and butter, pie, pickles, coffee, and--well, it would be no use +trying to tell all the things that steward gave me to eat, for you just +wouldn't believe it. He laid 'em all out, told me to pitch in, and then +went off, so, as he said, I'd be free to act according to nature. + +"I sat there and ate until I hadn't room for as much as a huckleberry. +As I was looking at the last piece of squash pie, and thinking what a +pity it was that it must be left, I heard a chuckle behind me, and +turned around in a hurry. There stood one of the mates and the dear old +chap I was just telling you about. + +"'Why don't you eat it, son?' says the mate. + +"'Reason enough,' says I, 'because I can't; but if you don't mind, sir, +I'd like awfully to take it to my partner in starvation,' meaning you. + +"'Who is he? And how does he happen to be starved?' says the dear old +chap. Then I up and told them the whole story of our experience on the +_Fancy_, being chased by the revenue-men, and all, and it tickled 'em +most to death. + +"When I got through, the stranger, who was just down visiting the +vessel, slipped a dollar into my hand, and told me to give it to the +first chap I met who needed it more than I did. He said he used to know +Cap'n Duff, and told me a lot of yarns about him as we walked back here +together." + +"Was his name Jalap Coombs?" asked Alaric. + +"I expect it must have been, for he had a lot to say about somebody +named Kite Roberson, who allus useter call him 'Jal.' Why? Do you know +him?" + +"Yes. That is, I feel as if I did. But, Bonny, I mustn't stop to tell +you of my experiences now, for I have made an important business +engagement for both of us up-town, and we must attend to it at once." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +ENGAGED TO INTERPRET FOR THE FRENCH + + +"Where did you get that baseball?" asked Bonny Brooks, referring to one +that Alaric was unconsciously tossing from hand to hand as they walked +up-town together. + +At this the latter stopped short and looked at the ball in question, as +though now seeing it for the first time. + +"Do you know," he said, "I have been so excited and taken up with other +things that I actually forgot I had this ball in my hands. It belongs to +the fellow who gave me that breakfast and your dollar, besides telling +me where to look for something to do. Not only that, but I really +believe if it hadn't been for this ball he would never have paid any +attention to me. You see, we got to passing it; and when I became so +dizzy that I had to sit down, he asked me what was the matter. So he +found out somehow that I was hungry, though I don't remember telling +him, and then insisted on giving me a breakfast." + +"Who is he? I mean, what is his name?" + +"I don't know. I never thought to ask him. And he doesn't live here +either, but has just come down from Alaska, and was going off in the +one-o'clock train. I do know, though, that he is the very finest chap I +ever met, and I only hope I'll have a chance some time to pay back his +kindness to me by helping some other poor boy." + +"It is funny," remarked Bonny, meditatively, "that your friend and my +friend should both have just come from Alaska." + +"Isn't it?" replied Alaric; "but then they are travelling together, you +know." + +"I didn't know it, though I ought to have suspected it, for they are the +kind who naturally would travel together--the kind, I mean, that give a +fellow an idea of how much real goodness there is in the world, after +all--a sort of travelling sermon, only one that is acted instead of +being preached." + +"That's just the way I feel about them," agreed Alaric; "but I wish I +hadn't been so careless about this ball. It may be one that he values +for association's sake, just as I did the one we left in that Siwash +camp." + +"Let me have it a moment," said Bonny, who was looking curiously at the +ball. + +Alaric handed it to him, and he examined it closely. + +"I do believe it is the very one!" he exclaimed. "Yes, I am sure it is. +Don't you remember, Rick, the burned place on your ball that came when +Bah-die dropped it into the fire the first time you threw it at him, and +how you laughed and called it a sure-enough red-hot ball? Well, here's +the place now, and this is certainly the very ball that introduced us to +each other in Victoria." + +"How can it be?" asked Alaric, incredulously. + +"I don't know, but it surely is." + +"Well," said Alaric, finally convinced that his comrade was right, "that +is the very most unexplainable thing I ever came across, for I don't see +how it could possibly have come into his possession." + +While discussing this strange happening, the lads approached the hotel +in which one of them had been made to suffer so keenly a few hours +before. He dreaded the very thought of entering it again, but having +made up his mind that he must, was about to do so, when his attention +was attracted to a curious scene in front of the main entrance. + +A small, wiry-looking man, evidently a foreigner, was gesticulating, +stamping, and shouting to a group of grinning porters and bell-boys who +were gathered about him. As our lads drew near they saw that he held a +small open book in his hand, from which he was quoting some sentence, +while at the same time he was rapidly working himself into a fury. It +was a French-English phrase-book, in which, under the head of +instructions to servants, the sentence "_Je désire un fiacre_" was +rendered "Call me a hansom," and it was this that the excited Frenchman +was demanding, greatly to the amusement and mystification of his +hearers. + +"Call me a hansom! Call me a hansom! Call me a hansom!" he repeated over +and over, at the top of his voice. "_C'est un fiacre--fiacre--fiacre!_" +he shouted. "_Oh, là, là! Mille tonnerres!_ Call me a hansom!" + +"He must be crazy," said Bonny; "for he certainly isn't handsome, and +even if he were, he couldn't expect people to call him so. I wonder why +they don't send for the police." + +Instead of answering him, Alaric stepped up to the laughing group and +said, politely, "_Pardon, monsieur. C'est Monsieur Filbert, n'est-ce +pas?_" + +"_Oui, oui. Je suis Filbert!_ Call me a hansom." + +"He wants a carriage," explained Alaric to the porters, who stared +open-mouthed at hearing this young tramp talk to the foreigner in his +own "lingo." + +"_Vous voulez une voiture, n'est-ce pas?_" he added, turning to the +stranger. + +"Oh, my friend!" cried M. Filbert, in his own language, flinging away +the perplexing phrase-book as he spoke, and embracing Alaric in his joy +at finding himself once more comprehended. "It is as the voice of an +angel from heaven to hear again my own language in this place of +barbarians!" + +"Have a care, monsieur," warned Alaric, "how you speak of barbarians. +There are many here who can understand perfectly your language." + +"I care not for them! I do not see them! They have not come to me! You +are the first! Can it be that I may engage you to remain and interpret +for me this language of distraction?" Here the speaker drew back, and +scanned Alaric's forlorn appearance hopefully. + +"That is what I came to see you about, monsieur," answered Alaric. "I am +looking for employment, and shall be happy----" + +"It is enough!" interrupted the other, vehemently. "You have found it. I +engage you now, at once. Come, the carriage is here. Let us enter." + +"But," objected the lad, "I have a friend whom I cannot leave." + +"Let him come! Let all your friends come! Bring your whole family if you +will, but only stay with me yourself!" cried the Frenchman, impetuously. +"I am distracted by my troubles with this terrible language, and but for +you I shall go crazy. You are my salvation. So enter the carriage, and +your friend. _Après vous, monsieur._ Do you also speak the language of +the beautiful France? No? It is a great pity." + +"Does his royal highness take us for dukes?" questioned the bewildered +Bonny, who, not understanding one word of the foregoing conversation, +had, of course, no idea why he now found himself rolling along the +streets of Tacoma in one of its most luxurious public carriages. + +"Not exactly," laughed Alaric; "but he takes us for interpreters--that +is, he wants to engage us as such." + +"Oh! Is that it? Well, I'm agreeable. I suppose you told him that I was +pretty well up on Chinook? But what language does he talk himself?" + +"French, of course," replied Alaric, "seeing that he is a Frenchman." + +"Are you a Frenchman too?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Well, I didn't know but what you were, seeing that you talk the same +language he does, and just as well, for all that I can make out. Really, +Rick Dale, it is growing interesting to find out the things you know and +can do." + +"And the things I still have to learn," laughed Alaric. + +Having thus satisfied his curiosity, and learned that he was an +interpreter, the last position in the world for which he would have +applied, Bonny folded his arms, assumed what he considered a proper +attitude for the occasion, and entered upon a calm enjoyment of the +first regular carriage-ride of his life. Nor did he allow the animated +conversation taking place between M. Filbert and Alaric to disturb him +in the least, though by it the whole future course of his life was to be +changed. + +Under Alaric's direction the carriage first bore them to the +railway-station, where a number of strange-looking boxes and packages, +all belonging to M. Filbert, were gathered in one place, and given in +charge of a porter, who was instructed to receive and care for any +others that might come marked with the same name. Then the carriage was +again headed up-town, and driven to shop after shop until it seemed as +though the entire resources of the city were to be drawn upon to supply +the multitudinous needs of the mysterious Frenchman. + +Among the things thus purchased and ordered sent down to the station +were provisions, cooking utensils, axes, medicines, alcohol, tents, +blankets, ammunition, and clothing. + +"I don't know what's up," reflected Bonny, "and I don't care, so long as +Rick says everything is all right; but I should think we were either +going to make war on the Siwash or take a trip to the North Pole." + +Of course Alaric accompanied M. Filbert into each store, where his +knowledge of languages was invaluable in conducting the various +negotiations; but the Chinook interpreter, as he called himself, finding +that his services were not yet in demand, was content to remain +luxuriously seated in the carriage. Here he discussed the whole +remarkable performance with the driver, who was certain that the +Frenchman was either going prospecting for gold, or for a new town-site +on which to settle a colony of his countrymen. + +During the whole afternoon M. Filbert talked incessantly with his +new-found interpreter, and Alaric seemed almost as excited as he. At +length the former, casting a dubious glance at the lads, asked, with an +apologetic manner, if they were well provided with clothing. + +"Only what you see, monsieur," answered Alaric. "Everything else we have +lost." + +"Ah! is it so? Then must you be provided with the habiliments necessary. +If you will kindly give the instructions?" + +So the carriage was ordered to a shoe-shop and an outfitting +establishment, where both lads, to Bonny's further bewilderment, were +provided with complete suits of rough but warm and serviceable clothing, +including two pairs of walking-boots, one of which was very heavy and +had hob-nailed soles. + +These last purchases were not concluded until after sunset, and with +them the business of the day was ended. With many parting injunctions to +Alaric, and a polite _bon nuit_ to both lads, M. Filbert was driven back +to the hotel, leaving his newly engaged assistants to their own devices +for the time being. + +"Now," said Bonny, "if you haven't forgotten how to talk United States, +perhaps you will explain what all this means--what we are engaged to do, +what our wages are to be, and where we are bound? Are we to turn +gold-hunters or Indian-fighters, or is it something in the exploring +line?" + +"I expect," laughed Alaric, "it is to be more in the climbing line." + +"Climbing?" + +"Yes. Do you see that mountain over there?" Here Alaric pointed to the +lofty snow-capped peak of Mount Rainier, still rose-tinted with +sunlight, and rising in awful grandeur high above all other summits of +the Cascade range, nearly fifty miles from where they stood. + +"Certainly. I can't help seeing it." + +"Do you think you could climb it?" + +"Of course I could, if it came in my line of business." + +"Would you undertake it for thirty dollars a month and all expenses?" + +"Rick Dale, I'd undertake to climb to the moon on those terms. But you +are surely joking. The Frenchman will never pay that just for the fun of +seeing us climb." + +"Yes he will, though, and I have agreed that we shall start with him for +the top of that mountain to-morrow morning." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +PREPARING FOR AN ASCENT + + +Monsieur Jean Puvis Filbert was a Frenchman of wealth, a distinguished +member of the Alpine Club, an enthusiastic mountain-climber, and had for +an especial hobby the making of botanical collections from high +altitudes. He was now on a leisurely tour around the world, and had +recently arrived in Tacoma on one of the Northern Pacific steamships +from Japan. This was his first visit to America, and he was filled with +enthusiasm by the superb mountain scenery that greeted him on all sides +as his ship steamed through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and up the +glorious waterways of Puget Sound. He gazed longingly at the +snow-crowned Olympics, and went into ecstasies over a distant view of +Mount Baker, the most northerly peak of the Cascade range. When grand +old Rainier, loftiest of all, appeared on the southeastern horizon, +lifting its hoary head more than 14,000 feet above the level of the +intervening plain, he became silent with adoration, and determined that +his first achievement in America should be to gain that glorious summit. + +As his knowledge of English was very limited, our mountain-climber began +his preparations for this arduous undertaking by engaging an +interpreter. The only one whom he could find was a Canadian, who spoke +French nearly as badly as he did English, and whom his employer was +quickly obliged to discharge for drunkenness and utter incompetence. +Then it seemed as though the expedition on which M. Filbert had set his +heart must be given up, and he was in despair. At this critical moment +Alaric Todd appeared on the scene seeking employment, though never +dreaming that it would come to him through his knowledge of French, and +was received literally with open arms. + +Of course he was engaged at once, and was able to secure a situation for +Bonny Brooks as well, though the precise nature of the young sailor's +duties were not defined. Thus Bonny was allowed to regard himself as +also holding the rank of interpreter, whose services would be invaluable +in the event of an encounter with Indians, who, for all he knew, might +contest every foot of their way up the great mountain. + +To this young man the climbing of a mountain seemed a very foolish and +profitless undertaking, for, as he said, "The only thing we can do when +we get up there is to turn around and come down again. But you mustn't +think, Rick, that I'm trying to back out. No, siree. Just so long as I +am paid to climb I'll climb, even if it comes to shinning up the North +Pole and interpreting the Constitution to the polar bears." + +M. Filbert wished the boys to spend the night with him at the hotel, but +Alaric was still so sore over his morning's experience that he begged to +be excused. So when they were left to themselves they carried their +recently acquired belongings down to the railway-station, and persuaded +the agent to allow them to sleep in that corner of the baggage-room +devoted to their employer's collection of chattels. Here they put on +their new suits, and then, feeling once more intensely respectable, and +well content with their own appearance, each invited the other to dine +with him. Had they not two whole dollars between them, and was not that +enough to make them independent of the world? + +They procured a bountiful dinner in the restaurant where Alaric had +breakfasted, and with it ate up one of their dollars. The place was so +associated in their minds with the fine young fellow to whom they owed +all their present good fortune that they thought and talked much of him +during the meal. Recalling what he had said concerning his father +reminded Alaric of his own parent, and caused him to wonder if he were +yet aware that his younger son was not travelling around the world with +the Sonntaggs as he had planned. + +"If the dear old dad has heard of my disappearance," reflected the boy, +"he must be a good deal worried, for he has no idea of how well I can +take care of myself. I believe I would write to him if I only knew his +address. He said to send all letters to the bank; but I can't do that, +because John, who must have heard from the Sonntaggs by this time, would +be certain to recognize the handwriting and open it. I know what, +though. I'll write to Cousin Esther, and ask her to tell dad all about +me. She is sure to see him on his way home, for he always visits Uncle +Dale's when he is in Boston." + +So after supper, Alaric, who was beginning to have a lively appreciation +of the value of money, as well as of fathers, cautiously invested four +cents in a sheet of paper, an envelope, and a stamp, all of which he was +able to procure from the proprietor of the restaurant. The boy smiled, +as he carefully pocketed his one cent of change, to think on what a +different scale he would have made a similar purchase less than a month +before. Then he would have ordered a box of note-paper, another of +envelopes, and a whole sheet of stamps. As for the change, why, there +wouldn't have been any, for he would simply have said, "Charge it, +please," and it would have been charged to his father's account. + +When Bonny saw that Alaric was about to write a letter, he decided to +write one to his aunt Nancy at the same time. "For," said he, "she +probably imagines that I am in China by now, and would never think of +sending word to me here in case she got any news of father." So Bonny +also invested four cents in stationery; and the restaurant man +good-naturedly allowing them to use a table, besides loaning them pens +and a bottle of ink, they sat down to compose their respective epistles. +When Alaric's letter was finished it read as follows: + + "DEAR COUSIN ESTHER,--I have taken your advice and run + away--that is, I have done what amounts to the same thing, for + I just sat still and let the other folks run away. By this time + I expect they are in China, while I am here in the very place + you said you would be if you were a boy. I wish you were one so + you could be here with me now, for I think you would make a + first-class boy. I am learning to be one as fast as I can, a + real truly boy, I mean, and not a make-believe. I have already + learned how to smuggle, and catch a baseball, besides a little + batting, and to swim, sail a boat, paddle a canoe, talk some + Siwash, and have had a good deal of experience besides. + + "Now I am an interpreter and engaged in the mountain-climbing + business. We start to-morrow. + + "I have a partner who is a splendid chap, about my age, and + named Bonny Brooks. I know you would like him, for he is such a + regular boy, and knows just how to do things. + + "When you see my dear dad, please give him my warmest love, and + tell him I think more of him now than I ever did. Please make + him understand that it was the Sonntaggs who ran away, and not + I. Tell him that when I am through experimenting with my heart, + and have become a genuine boy like Bonny, I am coming back to + him, to learn how to be a man--that is, I will if I can afford + to pay my way to San Francisco. But you have no idea how much + money it takes to travel, especially when you have to earn it + yourself, and so far I haven't earned any. Still I have not + starved--that is, not very often--so far, and am in hopes of + having plenty to eat from this time on. Now I must say + good-bye because we are going to sleep in the station to-night, + and it closes early. + + "Ever your loving cousin, + + "RICK." + + "P.S.--The principal reason I let the Sonntaggs go was because + they called me 'Allie.' Please tell this to dad." + +Bonny's letter was not so long as Alaric's, but it described the +situation with equal vagueness. He wrote: + + "DEAR AUNT NANCY,--I am not in China, as you may suppose, + having quit the sea after rising to be first mate. Have also + been a smuggler, but am not any more. Am now engaged by the + French as interpreter, and so far like the business very well. + Have also gone into the climbing trade. We are to do our first + mountain to-morrow. Have for a chum one of the cleverest chaps + you ever saw. He can talk most any language except Chinook, and + is a daisy ball-catcher. His name is Rick Dale, and I am trying + hard to be just like him. If you have any news from father, + please let me know. You can send a letter in care of Mr. P. + Bear, Hotel Tacoma, which is our headquarters. + + "Ever your loving nephew, + + "B. BROOKS, Interpreter." + +Both these letters were sent to Massachusetts, Alaric's being addressed +to Boston, and Bonny's to Sandport. After they were posted, and our lads +were on their way back to the railway station, they began for the first +time to realize how very tired and sleepy they were. They were so +utterly weary that as they snuggled down in their corner of the +baggage-room, on a bed made of M. Filbert's tents and blankets, Alaric +remarked: + +"This is what I call solid comfort." + +"Yes," replied Bonny, "we certainly have struck a big streak of luck. Do +you remember how we were feeling about this time last night?" + +"No," answered Alaric, "I can't remember. It's too long ago. +Good-night." And in another minute both boys were fast asleep. + +They had taken "through tickets," as Bonny would have said, and slept so +soundly that they hardly stirred until the agent flung open the +baggage-room door at six o'clock the following morning, and caused them +to spring from their blankets in a hurry by shouting, "All aboard!" A +dash of cold water from the hydrant outside drove all traces of sleep +from their eyes, and so filled them with its fresh vigor that they raced +all the way up-town to the restaurant. Here, although their appetites +were keen as ever, they managed to satisfy them with a ninety-cent +breakfast, "and left the place with money still in their pockets," as +Alaric expressed it. + +"That's so," responded Bonny. "We've just one cent apiece. Let's toss up +to see who will have them both." + +"No," said Alaric, "for that would be gambling; and I promised my mother +long ago at Monte Carlo never to gamble. She said more fortunes were +lost and fewer won in that way than by any other." + +"But one cent isn't a fortune," objected Bonny. + +"Why not? A man's fortune is all that he has, and if you have but one +cent, then that is your fortune." + +"I guess you are right, Rick Dale," laughed Bonny. "I hate gambling as +much as you do; but it never seemed to me before that tossing pennies +was gambling. I expect it is, though, so I'll just keep my fortune in my +pocket, and not risk it on any such foolishness." + +As the lads hastened back to the station, where they were to meet their +employer, the glorious mountain that was now the goal of their ambition +reared its mighty crest, radiant with sunlight, directly before them. +So wonderfully clear was the atmosphere that it did not seem ten miles +away, and Bonny, shaking a fist at it, cried, cheerfully: "Never you +mind, old fellow, we'll soon have you under foot." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +BONNY COMMANDS THE SITUATION + + +Our lads had barely time to do up the tents and blankets they had used +for bedding into compact bundles before M. Filbert arrived, with his +servant François, and a carriage full of packages, including a bundle of +iron-shod alpenstocks. He was clad in what appeared to Bonny and the +idlers about the station a very curious costume, though to Alaric, who +had often seen its like in Switzerland, it did not seem at all out of +the way. It consisted of a coat and knee-breeches of dark green +velveteen, a waistcoat of scarlet cloth, stout yarn stockings patterned +in green and scarlet and folded over at the knees, the heaviest of laced +walking-boots with hob-nailed soles, and a soft Tyrolese hat, in which +was stuck a jaunty cock's feather. + +He was full of excited bustle, and the moment he caught sight of Alaric +began to shower questions and directions upon him with bewildering +rapidity. At length, thanks to Alaric's clear head and Bonny's practical +common-sense, confusion was reduced to order, and everything was got on +board the train that was to carry the expedition to Yelm Prairie, a +station about twenty miles south of Tacoma, from which the real start +was to be made. + +The arrival at Yelm Prairie produced an excitement equal to that of a +circus, and our friends had hardly alighted from the train before they +were surrounded by a clamorous throng of would-be guides, packers, +teamsters, owners of saddle-animals or pack-ponies, and a score of +others, who were loud in declaring that without their services the +expedition would surely come to grief. + +In vain did the bewildered Frenchman storm and rave, and stamp his feet +and gesticulate. Not one word that he said could be understood by the +crowd, who, in their efforts to attract his attention, only shouted the +louder and pressed about him more closely. Finally the poor man, turning +to Alaric and saying, "Do what you will. Everything I leave to you," +clapped his hands to his ears, broke through the uproarious throng, and +started on a run for the open prairie. + +"He leaves everything to us," said Alaric, who was almost as bewildered +by the clamor and novelty of the situation as was M. Filbert himself. + +"Good enough!" cried Bonny. "Now we will be able to do something. I take +it that on this cruise you are first mate and I am second. So if you'll +just give the word to go ahead, I'll settle the business in a hurry." + +"I only wish you would," returned Alaric, "for it looks as though we +were going to be mobbed." + +Armed with this authority, Bonny sprang on a packing-case that lifted +him well above his surroundings, and shouted: "Fellow-citizens!" + +Instantly there came a hush of curious expectancy. + +"I reckon all you men are looking for a job?" + +"That's about the size of it," answered several voices. + +"Very well; I'll give you one that'll prove just about the biggest +contract ever let out in Yelm Prairie. It is to shut your mouths and +keep quiet." + +Here the speaker was greeted by angry murmurs and cries of "None of yer +chaff, young feller!" "What are you giving us?" and the like. + +Nothing daunted, Bonny continued: "I'm not fooling. I'm in dead earnest. +What we are after is quiet, and the prince out there, whom you have +scared away with your racket, is so bound to have it that he's willing +to pay handsomely for it. He's got the money, too, and don't you forget +it. He wants to hire several guides and packers, also a lot of +saddle-horses and ponies, but a noisy, loud-talking chap he can't abide, +and won't have round. He has left the whole business to my partner here +and me to settle, seeing that we are his interpreters, and we are going +to do it the way he pays us to do it and wants it done. So, according to +the rule we've laid down in all our travellings and mountain-climbings +up to date, the man who speaks last will be hired first, and the fellow +who makes the most noise won't be given any show at all. Sabe? As an +example, we want a team to take our dunnage to the river, and I'm going +to give the job to that fellow sitting in the wagon, who hasn't so far +spoken a word." + +"Good reason why! He's deaf and dumb!" shouted a voice. + +"All the better," replied Bonny, in no wise abashed. "That's the kind we +want. There are two more chaps who haven't said anything that I've +heard, and I'm going to give them the job of pitching camp for us. I +mean those two Siwash at the end of the platform." + +"They are quiet because they can't speak any English," remonstrated some +of those who stood near by. + +"We don't mind that, though we are French," replied Bonny, cheerfully. +"You see, the prince looked out for such things when he engaged us +interpreters, and now we are ready to talk to every man in his own +language, including Chinook and United States. Now the only other thing +I've got to say is that we won't be ready to consider any further +business proposals until two o'clock this afternoon, and anybody coming +to our camp before that time will lose his chance. After that we shall +be glad to see you all, and the fellows that make the least talk will +stand the best show of getting a job." + +The effect of this bold proposition was surprising. Instead of exciting +wrath and causing hostile demonstrations, as Alaric feared, its quieting +influence was magical. Times were hard in Yelm Prairie, and a well-paid +trip up the mountain, or the chance to obtain a dollar a day for the +hire of a pony, was not to be despised. + +So Bonny was allowed to engage the deaf-and-dumb teamster by signs, and +the two Indians by a few words of Chinook, without hinderance. All these +worked with such intelligence and expedition that within an hour one of +the neatest camps ever seen in that section was ready for occupancy +beside the white waters of the glacier-fed Nisqually. + +When M. Filbert, who spied it from afar, came in soon afterwards, with +hands and pockets full of floral specimens, he found a comfortably +arranged tent and a bountiful camp dinner awaiting him. At sight of +these things his peace of mind was fully restored, and he congratulated +himself on having secured such skilful interpreters of both his words +and wishes as the lads through whom they had been accomplished. + +Promptly at the hour named by Bonny a motley but orderly throng of men, +mules, and ponies presented themselves at the camp, and the whole +afternoon was spent in making a selection of animals and testing the +skill of packers. Both Alaric and Bonny were inexperienced riders, but +neither of them hesitated when invited to mount and try the steeds +offered for their use. A moment later Bonny was sprawling on the +ground, with his pony gazing at him demurely, while Alaric was flying +over the prairie at a speed that quickly carried him out of sight. It +was nearly an hour before he returned, dishevelled and flushed with +excitement, but triumphant, and with his pony cured of his desire for +bolting--at least, for a time. + +By nightfall the selections and engagements had been made, and the +expedition was strengthened by the addition of two white men to act as +packers, two Indians who were to serve as guides and hunters, five +saddle-ponies, and as many pack-animals. + +That night our lads slept under canvas for the first time, and as they +lay on their blankets discussing the novelty of the situation, Bonny +said: + +"I tell you what, Rick, this mountain-climbing is a more serious +business than some folks think. When you first told me what our job was +to be I had a sort of an idea that we could get to the top of old +Rainier easy enough in one day and come back the next. So I couldn't +imagine why Mr. Bear should want to engage us by the month. Now, though, +it begins to look as though we were in for something of a cruise." + +"I should say so," laughed Alaric, who had learned a great deal about +mountain-climbing in Switzerland. "It would probably take the best part +of a week to go from here straight to the summit and back again. But we +shall be gone much longer than that, for we are to make a camp somewhere +near the snow-line, and spend a fortnight or so up there collecting +flowers and things." + +"Flowers?" said Bonny, inquiringly. + +"Yes. M. Filbert is a botanist, you know, and makes a specialty of +mountain flora. But I say, Bonny, what makes you call him 'Mr. Bear'?" + +"Because I thought that was his name. I know you call him 'Phil Bear,' +but I never was one to become familiar with a cap'n on short +acquaintance." + +"Ho! ho!" Alaric laughed; "that's a good one. Why, Bonny, Filbert is the +surname. F-i-l-b-e-r-t--the same as the nut, you know, only the French +pronounce things differently from what we do." + +"I should say they did if that's a specimen, and I'm glad I'm not +expected to talk in any such language. Plain Chinook and every-day North +American are good enough for me. I suppose he would say 'Rainy' for +Rainier?" + +"Something very like it. I see you are catching the accent. We'll make a +Frenchman of you yet before this trip is ended." + +"Humph!" ejaculated Bonny. "Not if I know it, you won't." + +Sunrise of the following morning found the horsemen of the expedition +galloping over the brown sward of the park-like prairie towards the +forest that for hundreds of miles covers the whole western slope of the +Cascade range like a vast green blanket. The road soon entered the +timber and began a gradual ascent, winding among the trunks of stately +firs and gigantic cedars that often shot upward for more than one +hundred feet before a branch broke their column-like regularity. + +By noon they were at Indian Henry's, twenty miles on their way, and at +the end of the wagon-road. That night camp was pitched in the dense +timber, and our lads had their first taste of life in the forest. How +snugly they were walled in by those close-crowding tree-trunks, and how +they revelled in the roaring camp-fire, with its leaping flames, showers +of dancing sparks, and perfume of burning cedar! What a delight it was +to lie on their blankets just within its circle of light and warmth, +listening to its crisp cracklings! Mingled with these was the cheery +voice of a tumbling stream that came from the blackness beyond, and the +soft murmurings of night winds among the branches far above them. + +Another day's journey through the same grand forest, only broken by the +verdant length of Succotash Valley, and by the rocky beds of many +streams, brought them to Longmire's Springs and the log cabins of the +hardy settler who had given them his name. At this point, though they +had been steadily ascending ever since leaving Yelm Prairie, they were +still less than three thousand feet above the sea, and the real work of +climbing was not yet begun. After an evening spent in listening to +Longmire's thrilling descriptions of the difficulties and dangers +awaiting them, Bonny admitted to Alaric that he had never before +entertained even a small idea of what a mountain really was. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +ON THE EDGE OF PARADISE VALLEY + + +From the springs a four-mile scramble through the woods and up the rocky +beds of ancient waterways brought the party to a place where the +Nisqually River must be crossed. Here a single giant tree had been +felled so as to span the torrent, and its upper surface roughly hewn to +a level. A short distance above the rude bridge rose the frowning front +of a glacier. Although its ice was mud-stained and honeycombed by +countless rivulets that poured from its upper surface in tiny cascades, +it still formed an inspiring spectacle, and one that filled Bonny with +wondering admiration, for it was his first glacier. + +From an arched ice cavern at its base poured the milk-white river, with +a hollow roaring, and such force that fair-sized bowlders were swept +down its channel as though they were so many sticks of wood. The whole +scene was of such fascinating interest that it very nearly brought poor +Bonny to grief. + +He had dismounted, and was preparing to follow M. Filbert and Alaric, +who had already led their ponies in safety across the narrow bridge. +These animals had crossed so readily that he supposed his would do the +same, and, as he stepped out on the great log, was paying far more +attention to the glacier than to it. Suddenly he was jerked violently +backward, pitched headlong down the bank, and barely saved himself from +the icy torrent by clutching at a friendly bush. At the same moment his +pony, who had no confidence in mountain bridges, dashed into the roaring +stream, was instantly swept from his footing, rolled over and over, and +borne struggling away towards what seemed certain destruction. By the +good fortune that attends all fools, animals as well as human, he +managed to escape both drowning and broken bones, and finally regained +his feet on a friendly reef that projected into the river a quarter of a +mile below the bridge. There he stood trembling, bruised, and dripping +when Bonny and one of the Indians, who had hastened down the bank to +discover his fate, found him a few minutes later. From that time forth +he was the meekest and most docile pony imaginable, suffering himself +not only to be led over the log bridge without remonstrance, but +wherever else his young master desired. + +[Illustration: "BONNY WAS JERKED VIOLENTLY BACKWARD"] + +From the scene of this incident a hard scramble up a heavily timbered +slope, so precipitous that it could only be overcome by a series of +zigzags, lifted the expedition a thousand feet above the glacier, and +carried them into a park-like meadow so carpeted and fringed with +flowers as to throw M. Filbert into an ecstasy of delight. The remainder +of that day's ride led through many more of these exquisite, +flower-decked mountain meadows separated by belts of timber, and rising +one above the other, after the manner of terraces. + +Largest and most beautiful of them all was Paradise Valley, a broad +sweep of flower-painted sward dotted with graceful clumps of alpine firs +and hemlocks, and nestled at the base of a mighty frowning cliff. It was +bisected by a rippling stream that entered its upper end by a shimmering +fall of nearly one thousand feet in height. + +High above this lovely valley, and close to the line where snow and +timber met, M. Filbert called a halt, and ordered the permanent camp to +be pitched. Although this point was less than half-way to the top of the +mountain, or only 6500 feet above sea-level, the ponies could climb no +higher, and, after being unladen, were sent back in charge of the +packers into Paradise Valley, where they might fatten on its juicy +grasses until needed for the return trip. + +From here, then, the rugged slope of ice, snow, and rock that stretched +indefinitely upward towards the far-away shining summit must be +traversed on foot or not at all. But this was not to be done now, nor +for days to come, during which the camp just pitched was to be the base +of a wide-spread series of explorations. + +A few straggling hemlocks, so bent by the ice-laden winds that swept +down the mountain-side in winter that they looked like decrepit old men, +furnished shelter, fuel, and bedding. An ice-cold stream supplied water, +the Indian hunters provided fresh meat, bringing in now a mountain-goat +or a few brace of ptarmigan, and occasionally fetching up a deer from +one of the flowery meadows a few thousand feet below. The supplies of +other kinds of food, of warm clothing and bedding, were ample, and so, +in spite of its lofty and solitary situation, that mountain-camp seemed +to our lads one of the pleasantest and most comfortable places they had +ever known. + +"It beats the sloop away out of sight," remarked Bonny. + +"Or Skookum John's," said Alaric. + +"Yes, or being chased and starved." + +"The best of it all is that up here I seem to amount to something," +added Alaric. + +This was, after all, the true secret of our lads' content; for, in spite +of its novelty, the present situation would quickly have grown wearisome +had they not been constantly and happily occupied. Every day that the +weather would permit they tramped from early morning until dark over +snow-fields and glaciers, scaled cliffs, scrambled down into valley-like +meadows set like green jewels in the grim mountain-side, threaded their +way amid the fantastic forms of stunted forests, toiled slowly up lofty +heights, or slid with the speed of toboggans down gleaming slopes. Each +day they gained in agility and daring, and each night they returned to +that cheery camp with its light, warmth, and abounding comforts, so +healthfully tired and so ravenously hungry that it is no wonder they +grew to look upon it as a home, and a very pleasant one. + +Both lads developed specialties in which they became expert. Alaric's +was photography, an art that he had acquired in France, and had +practised at intervals for more than a year. As soon as M. Filbert +discovered this knowledge on the part of his young interpreter, he +intrusted him with the camera, and never had the lad devoted himself to +anything with such enthusiasm as he now did to the capturing of views. +His greatest triumph came through hours of tedious and noiseless +creeping over a rough ice-field that finally placed him within twenty +yards of a couple of mountain-goats. + +Although the wind was blowing strongly from them to him, the timid +creatures were already alarmed, and were sniffing the air suspiciously +when a click of the camera's shutter sent them off like a flash. But the +shot had been successful, as was shown by the development of a perfect +plate that evening. M. Filbert was jubilant over this feat, which he +said had never before been accomplished, and complimented the lad in +flattering terms upon the skilful patience that had led to it. + +Bonny's specialty lay in the collecting of flowers, to which he had +devoted himself assiduously ever since learning that they were what the +little Frenchman most desired. Keen-eyed, nimble-footed, and tireless, +he discovered and secured many a rare specimen that but for him would +have been passed unnoticed. + +Thus the leader of the expedition found reason to value the good +qualities of his young assistants more highly with each day, and was +already planning to have them accompany him on his entire American tour, +during which he proposed to ascend at least a dozen more mountains. +Bonny was jubilant over the prospect of such a trip, and was now as +eager to learn French, in order to qualify himself for it, as he had +formerly been scornful of the language. + +With all this open-air life and splendid physical exercise, the one-time +pale-faced and slender Alaric was broadening and developing beyond +belief. His cheeks were now a ruddy brown, his eyes were clear, his +muscles hard, and his step as springy as that of a mountain-goat. Above +everything else in his own estimation he was learning to swing an axe +with precision, and could now chop a log in two almost as neatly as +Bonny himself. + +For all that they were so constantly and agreeably occupied, the boys +were possessed of a great and ever-increasing longing to stand on the +lofty but still distant summit, with the general aspect of which they +had become so familiar during their stay in the timber-line camp. Thus, +when one evening M. Filbert decided to make a start towards it on the +morrow, they hailed the announcement with joy. One of the Indians was to +accompany them as guide, while his fellow was to be left with François +to keep camp. + +The greater part of the following morning was devoted to making +preparations for the climb and what was thought might prove a three +days' absence from camp: the hobnails of their walking-boots, worn +smooth by friction, were replaced by a fresh set; alpenstocks were +tested until it was certain that each of those to be taken would bear +the weight of the heaviest of the party; provisions were cooked and +packs laid out. Each was to carry a canvas-covered blanket sleeping-bag, +inside of which would be rolled provisions for three days, a tin plate, +and a cup. Each was also provided with a sheath-knife and a supply of +matches. Besides these things M. Filbert was to carry a barometer, a +thermometer, a compass, and a collecting-case. Alaric was intrusted with +the camera and two dozen plates. Bonny's extras were a hatchet and a +fifty-foot coil of stout rope; while the Indian was to carry an ice-axe +and pack a burden of fire-wood. + +It was nearly noon when, fortified by a hearty lunch, they left their +home-like camp, and, facing resolutely upward, began a tedious climb +over the limitless expanse of snow that they struck within the first +hundred yards. The sky was overcast, and they had hardly started ere a +dense cloud-bank swept down and enveloped them in its chill vapors. An +hour later they passed above it, though the clouds still rolled thick +below them, and emerged into sunlight. Glad as they were to see this, it +was so distressingly bright that they were obliged to protect their eyes +from its blinding glare with snow-goggles. + +Wherever a ledge of rock projected above the snow they found blooming +flowers and busy insects. Even butterflies hovered about these spots of +verdure, and seemed as much at home amid their arctic surroundings as in +the warm valleys far below. + +The climb of that afternoon was hot, in spite of the snow that crunched +beneath their feet, tedious, and only mildly exciting, for all the +perils of the ascent were to come on the morrow. + +Shortly before the sun sank into the sea of cloud that spread in fleecy +undulations beneath them, they reached the base of the Cleaver, a +gigantic ridge that seemed to bar their further progress. Here, on a +small plat of nearly level ground from which they dug away the snow, +they made a fire over which to boil water for a pot of tea, ate supper, +and prepared to pass the night. They were four thousand feet above +timber-line, and two miles higher than the waters of Puget Sound. + +As soon as supper was over the entire party crawled into their +sleeping-bags for protection against the bitter cold of the night, and +for a while the two boys, nestling together, talked in low tones. Then +Bonny fell asleep; but for nearly an hour Alaric lay awake, listening to +the awful silence of that lofty solitude, or startled by the occasional +thunderous rush of some plunging bowlder hurled from its bed by the +resistless leverage of frost. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +MOUNT RAINIER PLACED UNDERFOOT + + +The summit of Mount Rainier has only been gained by way of its southern +slope, the much steeper and more dangerous northern face having never +been scaled. Even over the comparatively easy slope of the south side +but one practicable trail has been discovered, and it leads by way of +the Cleaver. This gigantic ridge of rock, like the backbone of some +colossal monster, forms a divide between the upper Nisqually and Cowlitz +glaciers. Its sides are overlaid with confused masses of bowlders and +treacherous gravel, through which appear at intervals sheer cliffs and +bare ledges of solid rock. The Cleaver leads to a mighty mass of +granite, a mountain in itself, that is fittingly called the Gibraltar of +Mount Rainier. It bars a further passage to all save the strongest +climbers, and to these it affords the only means of access to the lofty +realms beyond. Here is the most perilous part of the ascent, and, with +Gibraltar once passed, the summit is almost certain of attainment. + +It seemed to our weary lads that they had barely fallen asleep when they +were wakened by a rude shaking and the voice of their Siwash guide, +exclaiming: + +"Come, come, lazy boy! Wake up! wake up! Mos' _sitkum sun_ (noon). +Breakfus! breakfus!" + +"'Most noon!" growled Bonny, crawling reluctantly from his sleeping-bag, +rubbing his eyes, and shivering in the bitter cold. "'Most midnight, +more likely." + +"Alle same, _sitkum sun_ some place; don't he?" queried the Indian; +laughing at his own joke. + +By the time they had swallowed a cup of tepid tea, and lightened their +packs by making a hearty meal of cold meat and hard bread, dawn was +breaking, and there was light enough to pick their way up the +treacherous slope of the Cleaver. As they cautiously advanced, many a +bowlder slipped from beneath their feet and bounded with mighty leapings +into the depths behind them. Dodging these, sliding in the loose +gravels, lifting and pulling each other up rocky faces from one narrow +ledge to another, and ever looking upward, they finally gained the +summit of the mighty ridge. + +From here they could gaze down the opposite slope nearly a thousand feet +to the gleaming surface of the great Cowlitz glacier, with so much of +its ruggedness smoothed away by distance that it looked a river of milk +with a line of black drift in its centre, flowing swiftly through a +rock-walled cañon and pouring into a sea of cloud. On the far southward +horizon could be seen the glistening cone of Mount Hood, kissed by +earliest sunbeams, and in the middle distance the volcanic peaks of St. +Helens and Adams. Near at hand, pinnacles of the Tatoosh range were +breaking through the clouds like rocky islets in a billowy sea. Before +them the rugged backbone of the Cleaver, stripped of every particle of +its earthy flesh, stretched away in quick ascent to the frowning mass of +Gibraltar. + +The Cleaver carried them half-way up the sombre face of this mighty +rock, and from that point a narrow ledge creeping diagonally up the +precipice at a steep angle was the trail they must follow. Not only was +this rocky pathway steep and narrow, but it shelved away from the wall, +and in many places afforded only a treacherous foothold. At any point +along its length a slip, a misstep, or an attack of dizziness would mean +almost certain destruction. + +Foot by foot and yard by yard M. Filbert's little party ascended this +perilous way, here walking, and trusting to their alpenstocks for +support; there crawling on hands and knees. Sometimes one would go +cautiously ahead over a place of peculiar danger, with an end of the +rope firmly knotted beneath his arms, while his companions, with firm +bracings, retained the other part, ready to haul him up if by chance he +should plunge over the verge and dangle above the abyss at the end of +his slender tether. + +At the terminus of the ledge they were confronted by a sloping wall of +solid ice, in which they must cut steps and grip-holes for feet and +hands. As they slowly and painfully worked their way up this precarious +ladder, they were continually pelted by pebbles and good-sized stones +loosened by the sun from an upper cliff of frozen gravel. + +At length the toilsome ascent was safely accomplished, and, with a +panting shout from Alaric and a hurrah from Bonny, the whole party stood +on the summit of that mountain Gibraltar. Here they rested and lunched; +then, full of eager impatience, pushed on over the narrow causeway +connecting the mighty rock with the vastly mightier snow-cap beyond. + +This snow, that had looked so faultlessly smooth from below, was found +to be drifted and packed into high ridges, over which they slowly +toiled, frequently pausing for breath and inhaling the rarefied air with +quick gaspings. At length a bottomless crevasse yawned before them, +spanned only by a narrow ledge of snow. With an end of the rope knotted +beneath his arms, Bonny, being the lightest, essayed to cross it. +Before he reached the farther side the treacherous support broke beneath +him, and, with a frightened cry, Alaric saw his comrade plunge out of +sight in the yawning chasm. He brought up with a heavy jerk at the end +of the rope, and they cautiously drew him back to where they stood. + +As he reappeared above the edge of the opening his face was very pale, +but he called out, cheerfully: "It's all right, Rick! Don't fret!" + +After a long search they discovered another bridge, and it bore them +across in safety, one at a time, but all securely roped together. +Finally, late in the afternoon, the longed-for summit was attained, and, +though nearly toppled over by a furious wind, they stood triumphant on +the rocky rim of its ancient crater. This was half a mile in diameter, +and filled with snow, but its opposite or northern side was the highest. +So to it they made their weary way, following the rocky path afforded by +the rim, and barely able to hold their footing against the wind. + +When they at last attained the point of their ambition, a reading of the +barometer showed them to be standing at a height of 14,444 feet above +sea-level, and with exulting hearts they realized that, as Bonny +expressed it, they had put the highest peak of the Cascade range beneath +their feet. + +The view that greeted them from that lofty outlook was so wonderful and +far-reaching that for a while they gazed in awed silence. Mount Baker, +two hundred miles away, close to the British line, was clearly visible, +as were the notable peaks to the southward, even beyond the distant +Columbia and over the Oregon border. + +"_C'est grand! c'est magnifique! c'est terrible!_" exclaimed M. Filbert, +at length breaking the silence. + +As for Alaric! To have achieved that summit was the greatest triumph of +his life; but his heart was too full for utterance, and he could only +gaze in speechless delight. + +The Indian too gazed in silence as, leaning on his ice-axe, he +contemplated the outspread empire that but a few years before had +belonged solely to the people of his race. + +Bonny was as deeply impressed as either of his companions, but found it +necessary to express his feelings in words. "This must be the top of the +world!" he cried; "and I do believe we can see it all. I tell you what +it is, Rick Dale, I've learned something about mountains this day, and +now I know that they are the grandest things in all creation." + +At their feet the rock wall dropped so sheer and smooth that no man +might climb it, and then came the snow, sweeping steeply downward for +miles apparently without a break. Far beyond lay the vast sea of forest, +seeming to cover the whole earth with its green mantle. The gleaming +glaciers, looking like foaming cascades frozen into rigidity, were +swallowed by it and hidden. It rolled in billows over the mighty +mountain flanks that radiated from where they stood like the spokes of a +colossal wheel, and dipped into the intervening valleys. Nowhere was it +broken, save by the few bald peaks that struggled above it and by the +thread-like waters of Puget Sound. Even on the west there was no ocean, +for the volcanic, snow-crowned Olympics, one of which was smoking, as +though in eruption, hid it from view. + +Our lads could have gazed entranced for hours on the crowding marvels +outspread before them had they been warmed and fed and rested and +sheltered from the fierce blasts of icy wind that threatened to hurl +them from the parapet on which they stood. As it was, night was at hand, +they were faint and trembling from weariness, and wellnigh perished with +the stinging cold. It was high time to turn from gazing and seek +shelter. + +Inside the crater's rim numerous steam jets issued from fissures in the +rocky wall, and these had carved out caverns from the adjacent ice. Here +there were roomy chambers, steam-heated and storm-proof, awaiting +occupancy, and to one of these M. Filbert led the way. + +In this place of welcome shelter numbed fingers were thawed to further +usefulness by the grateful steam, a small fire was lighted, packs were +opened, and in less than an hour a bountiful supper of hot tea, venison +frizzled over the coals, toasted hard-bread, and prunes was being +enjoyed by as hungry and jubilant a party as ever bivouacked on the +summit of Mount Rainier. + +After supper the Frenchman lighted a cigarette, the Indian puffed, with +an air of intense satisfaction, at an ancient pipe, our lads toasted +their stockinged feet before the few remaining embers of the fire, and, +in various languages, all four discussed the adventures of the day. + +Although they had much to say, their conversation hour was soon ended by +their weariness and by the ever-increasing cold, which even a jet of +volcanic steam could not exclude from that chamber of ice. So they +speedily slipped into their sleeping-bags, and, lying close together for +greater warmth, prepared to spend a night under the very strangest +conditions that Alaric and Bonny, at least, had ever encountered. + +Some hours later the occupants of the ice-cave became conscious of the +howlings of a storm that shrieked and roared above their heads with the +fury of ten thousand demons; but, knowing that it could not penetrate +their retreat, they gave it but slight heed, and quickly dropped again +into the sleep of weariness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +BLOWN FROM THE RIM OF A CRATER + + +When our lads next awoke they were oppressed with a sense of suffocation +and uncomfortable warmth. It was still dark, and M. Filbert was striking +a match in order to look at his watch. + +"Seven o'clock!" he cried, incredulously. "How can it be?" + +"_Cole snass!_" (snow) exclaimed the Indian, to whom the flare of light +had instantly disclosed the cause of both darkness and suffocation. The +cave was much smaller than when they entered it, and was also full of +steam. Its walls were covered with moisture, and rivulets of water +trickled over the floor. + +"_Cultus snow!_ Heap plenty! Too much! _Mamook ilahie_" (must dig), +continued the Indian, springing to his feet, and making an attack on the +drifted snow that had completely choked the cavern's mouth. When he had +excavated a burrow the length of his body, Bonny took his place, while +Alaric and M. Filbert removed the loosened snow to the back of the cave, +where they packed it as closely as possible. + +Although a faint light soon appeared in the tunnel, it was a full hour +before it was dug to the surface of the tremendous drift and a rush of +cold air was admitted. + +A glance outside showed that, while no snow was falling at that moment, +the day was dark and gloomy, and the mountain was enveloped in clouds +that were driven in swirling eddies by fierce gusts of wind. + +In spite of the threatening weather, M. Filbert declared that they must +begin their retreat at once, as they had but one day's supply of food +left, while the storm might burst upon them again at any minute and +continue indefinitely. So, after a hasty meal of biscuits and cold meat, +the little party sallied forth. The Indian, having no longer a burden of +fire-wood, relieved Alaric of his camera, and led the way. M. Filbert +followed, then came Alaric; while Bonny, with a coil of rope hung over +his shoulder, brought up the rear. + +Oh, how cold it was! and how awful! To be sure, the dangers surrounding +them were hidden by impenetrable clouds, but they had already seen them, +and knew of their presence. As they started to traverse the rocky crater +rim that still rose slightly above the snow, the entire summit was +visible; but a few minutes later a furious gust of wind again shrouded +it in clouds so dense as to completely hide objects only a few feet +away. + +Just then Alaric tripped on one of his boot-lacings that had become +unfastened, and very nearly fell. That was no place for tripping, and +such a thing must not happen again. So he paused to secure the loosened +lacing, and, as he stooped over it, Bonny cried impatiently from behind: + +"Hurry up, Rick! the others are already out of sight, and it will never +do to lose them in this fog." + +The necessity for haste only caused the lad's numbed fingers to fumble +the more awkwardly, and several precious minutes were thus wasted. + +With the task completed, Alaric, full of nervous dread, started to run +after his vanished companions, slipped on a bit of glare ice at a place +where the narrow path slanted down and out, and pitched headlong. Bonny +saw his danger, sprang to his assistance, slipped on the same +treacherous ice, and in another moment both lads had plunged over the +outer verge of the sheer wall. There was a stifled cry, drowned by the +roaring blast, and then, without leaving a trace behind them, they were +lost to sight in the crowding mists. So complete was their disappearance +that when, one minute later, M. Filbert and the Indian passed back over +that very place in anxious search of their young companions, they could +neither see nor hear aught to tell them of what had happened. + +Neither Alaric nor Bonny could ever afterwards tell whether they fell +twenty feet or two hundred in that terrible, breathless plunge. Almost +with the first knowledge of their situation they found themselves +struggling in a drift of soft, fresh-fallen snow, and a moment +afterwards rolling, bounding, and shooting with frightful velocity down +an icy, roof-like slope of interminable length. Breathless, battered, +bruised, expecting with each instant to be dashed over some awful brink, +as ignorant of their surroundings as though stricken with blindness, the +poor lads still tried, with outstretched arms and clutching fingers, to +check their wild flight. + +While they realized in a measure the desperate nature of the situation, +its worst features were mercifully concealed from them by the clinging +clouds. Had these lifted ever so little, they would have seen that their +perilous coast was down a ridge so narrow that the alpenstocks flung +from them as they plunged over the rim of the crater had fallen on +either side into yawning chasms. + +At length, after what seemed an eternity of this terrible experience, +though in reality it lasted but a few minutes, they were flung into a +narrow, snow-filled valley that cut their course at a sharp angle, and +found themselves lying within a few feet of each other, dazed and sorely +bruised, but apparently with unbroken bones, and certainly still alive. + +As they slowly gained a sitting posture and gazed curiously at each +other, Bonny said, impressively: + +"Rick Dale, before we go any farther, I want to take back all I ever +said about the life of a sailor being exciting, for it isn't a +circumstance to that of an interpreter." + +"Oh, Bonny, it is so good to hear your voice again! Wasn't it awful? And +how do you suppose we can ever get back?" + +"Get back!" cried the other. "Well, if we had wings we might fly back; +but there's no other way that I know of. We must be a mile from our +starting-point, and even to reach the foot of the place where we dove +off we'd have to cut steps in the ice every inch of the way. That would +probably take a couple of days, and when we got there we'd have to turn +around and come down again, for nothing except a bird could ever scale +that wall." + +"Then what shall we do?" + +"Keep on as we have begun, I suppose, only a little slower, I hope, +until we reach the timber-line, and then try and follow it to camp." + +"I wonder if we can?" + +"Of course we can, for we've got to." + +Painfully the lads gained their feet, and with cautious steps began to +explore their surroundings. They walked side by side for a few yards, +and then each clutched the other as though to draw him back. They were +on the brink of a precipice, over which another step would have carried +them. + +While they hesitated, not knowing which way to turn nor what to do, the +clouds below them rolled away, though above and back of them they +remained as dense as ever, and a view of what lay before them was +unfolded. + +Rocks, ice, and snow; sheer walls rising on either side of them, and a +precipitous slope forming an almost vertical descent of a thousand feet +in front. There were but three things to do: Go back the way they had +come, which was so wellnigh impossible that they did not give it a +second thought; remain where they were, which meant a certain and speedy +death; or make their way down that rocky wall. They crept to its brink +and looked over, anxiously scanning its every feature and calculating +their chances. The first thirty feet were sheer and smooth. Then came a +narrow shelf, below which they could see others at irregular intervals. + +"There is only one way to do it," said Bonny, "and that is by the rope. +I will go first, and you must follow." + +"I'll try," replied Alaric, with a very pale face but a brave voice. + +So Bonny, with the knowledge of knots that he had learned on shipboard, +made a noose that would not slip in one end of their rope, tied half a +dozen knots along its length for hand-holds, and fastened its other end +about his body. Then he looped the noose over a jutting point of rock, +and, slipping cautiously over the brink, allowed himself to slide slowly +down. + +It made Alaric so giddy to watch him that he closed his eyes, nor did he +open them until a cheery "All right, Rick!" assured him of his comrade's +safety. Now came his turn, and as he hung by that slender cord he was +devoutly thankful for the strength that the past few weeks had put into +his arms. He too reached the ledge in safety, and then, with great +difficulty, on account of the narrowness of their foothold, they +managed to slip the noose off its resting-place. Now they _must_ go +forward, for there was no longer a chance of going back. In vain, +though, did they search that smooth ledge for a point that would hold +their noose. There was none, and the next shelf was twenty feet below. + +"We must climb it, Rick, and this time you must go first. Put the loop +under your arms, and I will do my best to hold you if you slip; but +don't take any chances, or count too much on me being able to do it." + +There were little cracks and slight projections. Bonny held the rope +reassuringly taut, and at length the feat was accomplished. Then Alaric +took in the slack of the rope as Bonny, tied to its other end, made the +same perilous descent. + +So, with strained arms, aching legs, and fingers worn to the quick from +clutching the rough granite, they made their slow way from ledge to +ledge, gaining courage and coolness as they successfully overcame each +difficulty, until they estimated that they had descended fully five +hundred feet. Now came another smooth face absolutely without a crevice +that they could discover, and the next ledge below was farther away than +the length of their dangling rope. There was, however, a projection +where they stood, over which they could loop the noose. + +"We've got to do it," said Bonny, stoutly, "and I only hope the drop at +the end isn't so long as it looks." Thus saying, he slipped cautiously +over the edge, let himself down to the end of the rope, dropped ten +feet, staggered, and seemed about to fall, but saved himself by a +violent effort. Alaric followed, and also made the drop, but whirled +half round in so doing, and but for Bonny's quick clutch would have gone +over the edge. + +There was now no way of recovering their useful rope; and fortunately, +though they sorely needed it at times, they found no other place +absolutely impossible without it. By noon, when they paused for rest and +a scanty lunch of chocolate and prunes, they were down one thousand +feet, and believed the worst of the descent to be accomplished. + +Now came a rude granite stairway with steps fit for a giant, and then a +long slope of loose bowlders, that rocked and rolled from beneath their +feet as they sprang from one to another. They crossed the rugged ice of +a glacier, whose innumerable crevasses intersected like the wrinkles on +an old man's face, and had many hair-breadth escapes from slipping into +their deadly depths of frozen blue. Then came a vast snow-field, over +which they tramped for miles with weary limbs but light hearts, for the +terrors of the mountain were behind them and the timber-line was in +sight. Darkness had already overtaken them when they came to a steep, +rock-strewn slope, down which they ran with reckless speed. They were +near its bottom when a bowlder on which Bonny had just leaped rolled +from under him, and he fell heavily on a bed of jagged rocks. + +As he did not regain his feet, Alaric sprang to his side. The poor lad +who had so stoutly braved the countless perils of the day was moaning +pitifully, and as his friend bent anxiously over him he said, in a +feeble voice: + +"I'm afraid, old man, that I'm done for at last, for it feels as though +every bone in my body was broken." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +A DESPERATE SITUATION + + +Of the many trying experiences through which our lads had passed since +their introduction to each other in Victoria, none had presented so many +hopeless features as the present. They were high up on a mighty +mountain, whose terrible wilderness of rock and glacier, precipice and +chasm, limitless snow-field and trackless forest, stretched for weary +leagues in every direction; beyond hope of human aid; only a mouthful of +food between them and starvation; with night so close at hand that +near-by objects were already indistinct in its gathering gloom; without +shelter; inexperienced in woodcraft; and one of them so seriously +injured that he lay moaning on the cruel rocks that had wounded him, +apparently incapable of moving. + +As all these details of the situation flashed into Alaric's mind he +became for a moment heart-sick and despairing at its utter hopelessness. +He was so exhausted with the exertions of the day, so unnerved by the +strain and anxiety of the perilous hours just passed, and so faint for +want of nourishment, that it is no wonder his strength was turned into +weakness, or that he could discover no ray of hope through the +all-pervading gloom. + +Suddenly and as clearly as though spoken by his side came the words: +"Always remember that, as my friend Jalap Coombs says, 'It is never so +dark but what there is light somewhere.'" The memory of Phil Ryder's +brave face as he uttered that sentence came to our poor lad like a +tonic, and instantly he was resolved to find the light that was shining +for him somewhere. + +With such marvellous quickness does the mind act in an emergency that +all these thoughts came to Alaric even as he bent anxiously over his +injured friend and began examining tenderly into the nature of his +hurts. As he lifted the left arm the sufferer uttered a cry of pain, and +its hand hung limp. The other limbs were sound, but Bonny said that +every breath was like a stab. + +"One arm broken, and I'm afraid something gone wrong inside," announced +Alaric at length; "but it might be ever so much worse," he continued, in +as cheerful a tone as he could command. "One of your legs might have +been broken, you know, and then we should be in a fix, for I couldn't +carry you, and we should have to stay right here. Now, though, I am sure +you can walk as far as the timber if you will only try. Of course it +will hurt terribly, but you must do it, for there is no other way." + +Very slowly, and with many a stifled cry of acute pain, Bonny gained his +feet. Then, with his right arm about Alaric's neck, and with the latter +stoutly supporting him, the injured lad managed to cross the few hundred +feet intervening between that place and the longed-for shelter of the +stunted hemlocks forming the timber-line. + +Both Bonny's weakness and the darkness, which was now that of night, +prevented their penetrating deep into the timber; but before the +sufferer sank to the ground, declaring that he could not take another +step, they had gone far enough to escape the icy blast that, sweeping +down from the upper snow-fields, had chilled them to the marrow. This +alone was a notable achievement, and already Alaric believed he could +perceive a glimmer of the light he had set out to find. + +Now for a fire, and how grateful they were for M. Filbert's forethought +that had provided each one of his party with matches! Feeling about for +twigs, and whittling a few shavings with his sheath-knife, Alaric +quickly started a tiny flame, and with its first cheery glow their +situation seemed robbed of half its terrors. An armful of sticks +produced a brave crackling blaze that drove the black forest shadows to +a respectful distance. + +With Bonny's hatchet Alaric next lopped off the branches from the lower +side of a thick-growing hemlock and wove them among those that were +left, so as to form a wind-break. An armful of the same flat boughs, cut +from other trees and strewn on the ground, formed a spring bed on which +to unfold the sleeping-bags, that by rare good fortune had remained +strapped to the lads' shoulders during all their terrible journey from +the summit camp of the night before. + +After making his comrade as comfortable as possible, Alaric hurried away +into the darkness. He was gone so long that Bonny, who did not know the +reason of his absence, began to grow very uneasy before he returned. +When he did reappear, he brought with him a quantity of snow that he had +gone back a quarter of a mile up the dark mountain-side to obtain. He +wanted water, and not hearing or finding any stream, had bethought +himself of snow as a substitute. + +In each of the packs they had so fortunately brought with them was a +handful of tea, for M. Filbert had insisted that all the provisions +should be divided among all the packs, as a precaution against just such +an emergency as had arisen. Therefore, Alaric now had the materials for +a longed-for and much-needed cup of the stimulating beverage. To make +it, an amount of the precious leaves equal to a teaspoonful was put into +one of their tin cups while snow was melted in the other. As soon as +this came to a boil it was poured over the tea leaves in cup number one, +which was allowed to stand for two minutes longer in a warm place to +"draw." + +While Bonny slowly sipped this, at the same time munching a handful of +hard biscuit, which, broken into small bits, was all the food they had +left, Alaric boiled another cup of water for himself. + +From all this it will be seen that our one-time helpless and dependent +"Allie" Todd was rapidly learning not only to care for himself under +trying conditions, but for others as well. + +As soon as Bonny had been thus strengthened and thoroughly warmed, +Alaric made a more thorough examination of his injuries than had been +possible out in the cold and darkness where the accident occurred. He +found that the left arm had sustained a simple fracture, fortunately but +little splintered, and also that two ribs on the left side were broken. +For these he could do nothing; but he managed to set the broken arm +after a fashion, bandage it with handkerchiefs torn into strips, and +finally to place it in a case formed of a trough-like section of +hemlock-bark, which he hung from Bonny's neck by straps. Then he helped +his patient into one of the sleeping-bags, encouraging him all the while +with hopeful suggestions of what they would do on the morrow. + +After thus making his charge as comfortable as circumstances would +permit, the lad busied himself for another hour in collecting such a +quantity of wood as should insure a good fire until morning. Then, +utterly fagged out, he crept into his own bed, and lay down beside his +friend. + +Despite the painful nature of his injuries, Bonny had already fallen +asleep, but Alaric lay awake from sheer weariness, and struggled against +gloomy thoughts of their future. He knew that the home-like camp in +which they had passed two weeks so happily, and which they had hoped to +regain by following the timber-line, was on the opposite side of the +mountain, many weary miles away. He knew also that between them and it +lay a region so rugged as to be wellnigh impassable to the sturdiest of +mountaineers, and absolutely so to one in Bonny's condition. It would be +a journey of two or more days under the most favorable circumstances; +but alone and without food he realized that even he could not accomplish +it. Besides, he could not leave Bonny in his present helpless condition. +Therefore, all thoughts of obtaining assistance from that direction must +be abandoned. Could they continue on down the mountain through the +trackless forest that on the upward journey they had occupied two whole +days in traversing on horseback, and with a clearly defined trail? +Certainly they could not, and to make the attempt would be worse than +folly. What, then, could they do? This question was so unanswerable that +the perplexed lad gave over struggling with it and fell asleep. + +He intended to replenish his fire several times during the night; but +when he next awoke daylight was already some hours old, the place where +the fire had burned was covered with dead ashes, and Bonny lay patiently +regarding him with wistful eyes. + +"I am thirsty, Rick," was all he said, though he had lain for hours +wide-awake and parched with fever, but heroically determined that his +wearied comrade should sleep until he woke of his own accord. + +"You poor fellow!" cried Alaric, remorsefully. "Why didn't you wake me +long ago?" + +"I couldn't bear to," replied Bonny; "but now if you will please get me +a drink." + +Only pausing to light a fresh fire, Alaric hastened away to the distant +snow-bank, returning as speedily as possible with as much of it as their +two tin plates would hold. A handful was given Bonny to cool his parched +tongue while the remainder was melting. + +So small a quantity of water could be procured at a time by this slow +process that in a very few minutes Alaric found he must go for more +snow. As he went he realized how faint he was for want of food. "I +wonder how much longer I shall be able to hold out?" he asked himself. +"How many more times can I make this trip before my strength is +exhausted?" A mental picture of Bonny begging for water, and he too weak +to fetch it, caused his eyes to fill with tears, and a black despair +again enfolded him. + +At this moment the voice of the previous night came again to him: "It is +never so dark but what there is light somewhere." "Of course there is," +he cried, "and as I found it last night, why shouldn't I to-day?" + +Even as the lad spoke he caught its first gleam in the form of a rivulet +of clear water that rippled merrily down from the snow only a few yards +from where he stood. Hastening to this, the lad drank long and deeply. +On lifting his head from the delicious water, he could hardly believe +his eyes as they rested on a solitary bird, that he knew to be a +ptarmigan, crouching beside a bowlder. Hoping against hope, and almost +unnerved by anxiety, he flung a stone, and in another minute the bird +was his. "Hurrah for breakfast!" he shouted, as he ran back to Bonny +with his trophy proudly displayed at arm's-length. + +Awkward as Alaric was at the business, he had that Heaven-sent bird +stripped of its feathers, cleaned, and spitted over a bed of glowing +coals within ten minutes of the time he had first spied it, and a little +later only its cleanly picked bones remained to tell of its existence. + +Bonny was disinclined to eat, but he drank two cups of hot tea, that +threw him into a perspiration, greatly to Alaric's satisfaction. As he +also seemed drowsy, Alaric encouraged him to sleep, while he should go +in search of more food and assistance, with one or both of which he +promised to return before noon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +HOW A SONG SAVED ALARIC'S LIFE + + +When Alaric made that promise he had no more idea of how it was to be +kept than he had of what was to become of Bonny and himself. He only +knew that active exertion of some kind was necessary to keep him from +utter despair. Besides, it was just possible that he might discover and +secure another bird, though not at all probable, as the one on which he +had breakfasted was the first that he had encountered since coming to +the mountain. + +By the time he emerged from the timber the morning clouds had rolled +away, the sun was shining brightly, and the whole vast sweep of gleaming +snow and tumultuous rock, from timber-line to distant summit, lay piled +in steep ascent before him. It was a wonderful sight, but as terrible as +it was grand, for in all its awful solitude there was no movement, no +voice, and no sign of life. Oppressed by the loneliness of his +surroundings, and having no reason for choosing one direction rather +than another, the lad mechanically turned to the right and began to make +his way along a bowlder-strewn slope, where every now and then he came +to the bleached skeletons of stunted trees, winter-killed, but still +standing, and seeming to stretch imploring arms to their retreating +brethren of the forest. + +He had not gone more than a mile when there came something to him that +caused him to halt and glance inquiringly on all sides. At the same +time he lifted his head and sniffed the air eagerly, like a hound on the +scent of game. He was certain that he had smelled smoke. Yes, there it +came again; a whiff so faint as to be almost imperceptible, but the +unmistakable odor of burning wood. + +Facing squarely the breeze that brought it to him, the lad pushed +forward, and a few minutes later stood on the verge of a little mountain +meadow, sun-warmed and rock-walled on all sides, save the one by which +he had approached. Here the slope was so gentle that he started down on +a run. He had thus gone but a short distance when he suddenly paused +with his eyes fixed on the ground where he was standing. + +He had been unconsciously following a path, faintly marked and hardly to +be distinguished, but nevertheless one that he felt certain had been +trodden by human feet. The discovery filled him with excitement, and he +bounded forward with redoubled speed. Halfway down the slope, at a point +commanding a lovely view of the flower-strewn valley, the trail ended at +a crystal spring that bubbled from among the roots of a tall young +hemlock. Other trees were grouped near-by, and beneath them stood a rude +hut built of poles and boughs, but having a rain-proof roof of thatch. +Before it smouldered a log fire, from which rose the thin column of +smoke that had directed Alaric's attention to the place. + +Filled with exultation and wild with joy over his discovery, the lad +gazed eagerly about for some sign of the proprietor or occupants of this +lonely camp, and at length, seeing no one, he began to shout. Receiving +no response, he entered the hut, and was surprised at the absence of +even the rude comforts common to such a place. There was a heap of white +goat-skins in one corner, and a quantity of meat, either smoked or +dried, hung from a rafter overhead. A kettle and a fry-pan lay outside +near the fire, an axe was driven into the trunk of one of the trees, +and, so far as Alaric could see, there was nothing else. But even these +things were enough to indicate that this was a place of at least +temporary human abode, and wherever its proprietor might be, he would +return to it sooner or later. Then, too, Alaric believed it to be the +camp of a white man; for though his knowledge of Indians was limited, it +in no way resembled that of Skookum John. + +"At any rate," he said to himself, "I will try and get Bonny here as +quickly as possible, for he will be a thousand times better off in this +place than where I left him." + +So, with a lighter heart than he had known since his comrade's accident, +Alaric started back over the trail by which he had come. Bonny was awake +and sitting up when he reappeared, and the sufferer's face brightened +wonderfully at the great news of at least one other human being, a camp, +and an abundance of food so near at hand. + +"Do you really think I can get there, though?" he asked, anxiously. + +"Yes," replied Alaric, "I know you can; for, as you said yesterday when +we were looking at that precipice, it is something that must be done. We +can't stay here without either food or shelter, and we don't dare wait +for the owner of that camp to come back and help us move, because he may +stay away several days. I know it is going to hurt you awfully to walk, +but I know too that you'll do it if you only make up your mind to." + +"All right, I'll try it; but, Rick, don't you forget that if I ever get +down from this mountain alive, never again will I climb another. No, +sir. Level ground will be good enough for me after this." + +As Alaric was doing up the sleeping-bags a familiar-looking baseball +rolled from his, and caught Bonny's eye. + +"If you aren't a queer chap!" he exclaimed. "Whatever made you bring +that ball along?" + +"Because," answered the other, "it means so much to me that I hated to +leave it behind, and then I thought perhaps it would be fun to have a +game on the very top of the mountain. When we reached there, though, I +forgot all about it." + +"Yes," said Bonny, grimly, "we did have something else to think of. +Ough, but that hurts!" + +This exclamation was called forth by the poor lad's effort to gain his +feet, which he found he was unable to do without assistance. + +Although Alaric carried both packs, and lent Bonny all possible support +besides, that one-mile walk proved the most difficult either of the lads +had ever undertaken. Brave and stout-hearted as Bonny was, he could not +help groaning with every step, and they were obliged to rest so often +that the little journey occupied several hours. At its end both lads +were utterly exhausted, and Bonny was suffering so intensely that he +hardly noticed the place to which he had been brought. The moment he +gained the hut he sank down on its pile of goat-skins with closed eyes, +and so white a face that he seemed about to faint. + +When Alaric was there before, he had mended the fire and set on a kettle +of water, with a view to just such an emergency as the present. The +water was still boiling, and so within three minutes he was able to give +his patient a cup of strong tea that greatly revived him. Food was the +next thing to be thought of, and Alaric did not hesitate to appropriate +one of the strips of goat's flesh that hung overhead. Not being quite +sure of the best way to cook this, he cut one portion into small bits, +put them into the kettle with a little water, and set the whole on the +fire to simmer. Another portion he sliced thin and laid in the fry-pan, +which he also set on the fire. Still a third bit he spitted on a long +stick and held close to a bed of coals, where it frizzled with such an +appetizing odor that he could not wait for it to be cooked before +cutting off small bits to sample. They were so good that he went to +offer some to Bonny; but finding the latter still lying with closed +eyes, thought best not to disturb him. So he sat alone and ate all the +frizzled meat, and all that was in the fry-pan, and was still so hungry +that he procured another strip of meat from the hut, and began all over +again. + +They had been nearly two hours in the camp before his ravenous appetite +was fully satisfied, and by that time the contents of the pot had +simmered into a sort of thick broth. At a faint call from Bonny, Alaric +carried some of this to him, and had the satisfaction of seeing him +swallow a whole cupful. Then, as night was again approaching, he helped +his patient into one of the sleeping-bags, which he underlaid with +several goat-skins, and sat by him until he fell into a doze. When this +happened Alaric went softly outside, and, to dispel the gathering gloom, +piled logs on the fire until it was in a bright blaze. Sitting a little +to one side, half in light and half in shadow, and having no present +occupation, the lad fell into a deep reverie. How was this strange +adventure to end? Who owned that camp, and why did he not return to it? +What would he think on finding strangers in possession? Had any boy ever +stepped from one life into another so entirely different as suddenly and +completely as he? One year ago at this time he was in France, surrounded +by every luxury that money could procure, carefully guarded from every +form of anxiety, and dependent upon others for everything. Now he was +thankful for the shelter of a hut, and a meal of half-cooked meat +prepared by his own hands. He not only had everything to do for himself, +but had another still more helpless dependent upon him for everything. +Was he any happier then than now? No. He could honestly say that he +preferred his present position, with its health, strength, and glorious +self-reliance, to the one he had resigned. + +Still there had been happy times in that other life. Two years ago, for +instance, when his mother and he had travelled leisurely through +Germany, halting whenever they chose, and remaining as long as places +interested them. Thoughts of his mother recalled the plaintive little +German folk-song of which she had been so fond. + +_Muss i denn._ Yes, that was it, and involuntarily Alaric began to hum +the air. Then the words began to fit themselves to it, and before he +realized what he was doing he was singing softly: + + "Muss i denn, muss i denn + Zum Städtele 'naus, Städtele 'naus: + Und du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier." + +So engrossed was the lad with his thoughts and with trying to recall the +words of the song running in his head that he heard nothing of a soft +footstep that for several minutes had been stealthily approaching the +fire-lit place where he sat. He knew nothing of the wild eyes that, +peering from a haggard face, were fixed upon him with the glare of +madness. He had no suspicion of the brown rifle-barrel that was slowly +raised until he was covered by its deadly aim. But now he had recalled +all the words of his song, and they rang out strong and clear: + + "Muss i denn, muss i denn + Zum Städtele 'naus, Städtele 'naus: + Und du--" + +At that moment there came a great cry behind him: "_Ach, Himmel! Wer ist +denn das?_" and the startled lad sprang to his feet in terror. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +LAID UP FOR REPAIRS + + +About the time when Alaric was pleasantly travelling with his mother in +Germany, Hans Altman, with Gretchen, his wife, and Eittel, his little +daughter, dwelt in a valley of the Harz Mountains. Although Hans was a +poor man, he found plenty of work with which to support his family in +comfort, but he could never forget that his father had been a +burgomeister, and much better off in this world's goods than he. +Thinking of this made him discontented and unhappy, until finally he +determined to sell what little they had and come to America, or, as he +called it, "the land of gold," with the hope of bettering his fortunes. +In vain did Gretchen protest that nowhere in the world could they be so +happy or so well off as in their own land and among their own people. +Even her tears failed to turn him from his purpose. So they came to this +country, and at length drifted to the far-away shores of Puget Sound, +where they stranded, wellnigh penniless, ignorant of the language and +customs of those about them, helpless and forlorn. With the distress of +mind caused by this state of affairs, Hans grew melancholy and +irritable, and when Eittel died he declared that he himself had killed +her. The faithful Gretchen soon followed her little daughter, and with +this terrible blow the poor man's mind gave way entirely. He not only +fancied himself a murderer, but believed officers of the law to be in +pursuit of him, and that if captured he would be hanged. + +Filled with this idea, he fled on the very night of his wife's death, +and having been born among mountains, now instinctively sought in them a +place of refuge. He carried an axe with him, and somewhere procured a +rifle with a plentiful supply of ammunition. Through the vast forest he +made his way far from the haunts of men, ever climbing higher and +penetrating more deeply among the friendly mountains, until finally he +reached a tiny valley, in which he believed himself safe from pursuit. +Here he built a rude hut, and became a hunter of mountain-goats. Their +flesh furnished him with food, their skins with bedding and clothing, +while from their horns he carved many a rude utensil. + +In this way he had lived for nearly two months, when our lost and sorely +perplexed lads stumbled upon his camp, and found in it a haven of +safety. In the peaceful quiet of those mountain solitudes the poor man +had become calmly content with his primitive mode of life, and was even +happy as he recalled how skilfully he had eluded a fancied pursuit, and +how impossible it had now become for those who sought his life to +discover his retreat. + +It was in this frame of mind that, on returning from a long day's hunt +with a body of a goat slung across his back, he saw, to his dismay, that +his hiding-place had been found, and that his camp was occupied by +strangers. Of course they were enemies who were now waiting to kill him. +He would fly so fast and so far that they could never follow. No; better +than that, he would kill them before they were even aware of his +presence. This was a grand idea, and the madman chuckled softly to +himself as it came to him. Laying his dead goat on the ground, and +whispering to it not to be afraid, for he would soon return, the man +crept stealthily forward towards the firelight. At length he spied the +form of what he believed to be one of his pursuers, sitting half hid in +the shadows and doubtless waiting for him. Ha! ha! How disappointed that +enemy would be when he found himself dead! and with a silent chuckle the +madman lifted his rifle. + +At that terrible moment the notes of Alaric's song were borne to him on +the still night air, and then came the words: + + "Muss i denn, muss i denn + + Und du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier." + +It was his Gretchen's song, and those were the very words she had sung +to him so often in their happy Harz Valley home. The uplifted arm +dropped as though palsied, and, like one who hears a voice from the +dead, the man uttered a mighty cry of mingled fear and longing; at the +same moment he stepped into the full glare of firelight and confronted +Alaric, at whom he poured a torrent of questions in German. + +"Who are you? How came you here? What do you want? Have you seen my +Gretchen? Where did you learn to sing '_Muss i denn_'?" + +"In Germany, of course, where everybody sings it," replied Alaric, +answering the last question first, and speaking in the man's own +language. "And I didn't think you would mind if we took possession of +your camp until your return; for, you see, we are in great trouble." + +"_Ach_, no! All who are in trouble should come with me; for I, too, have +many, many troubles," replied the man, his blue eyes losing their fierce +look and filling with tears. "But I never meant to do it. _Gott in +Himmel_ knows I never meant to do it." + +"Of course not," said Alaric, soothingly, anxious to quiet the man's +agitation, and suspecting that his mind was not quite right. "Nobody +thinks you did." + +"Yes, they do, the cruel men who would kill me; but you will stay and +drive them away if they come, will you not? You will be my friend--you, +to whom I can talk with the tongue of the fatherland?" + +"Certainly I will stay and be your friend, if you will help me care for +another friend who lies yonder very ill." + +"_Ja! ja!_ I will help you if you will stay and talk to me of Gretchen, +and sing to me '_Muss i denn_.'" + +"Very good," agreed Alaric. "It is, then, a contract between us." At the +same time he said to himself: "He is a mighty queer-looking chap to have +for a friend; but I suppose there are worse, and I guess I can manage +him. It's a lucky thing I know a little German, though, for he looked +fierce enough to kill me until I began to talk with him." + +The appearance of the man was certainly calculated to inspire +uneasiness, especially when taken in connection with his incoherent +words. He was an immense fellow, with shaggy hair and untrimmed beard. +On his head was perched a ridiculous little cloth cap, while over his +shoulders was flung a cloak of goat-skins, that added greatly to his +appearance of size and general shagginess. His lower limbs were covered +with leggings of the same hairy material. His ordinary expression was +the fierce look of a hunted animal, but now it was softened by the rare +pleasure of meeting one who could talk with him in his own language. + +From that first moment of strange introduction his eagerness to be with +Alaric and induce him to talk was pathetic. To him he poured out all his +sorrows, together with daily protests that he had never meant to kill +his Gretchen and little Eittel. For the sake of this companionship he +was willing to do anything that might add to the comfort of his guests. +He scoured forest and mountain-side in search of game, and rarely +returned empty-handed. He fetched amazing loads of wood on his back, +went on long expeditions after berries, set cunningly devised snares for +ptarmigan, and found ample recompense for all his labor in lying at full +length before the camp-fire at night and talking with Alaric. Bonny he +mistrusted as being one who could speak no German, and only bore with +him for the sake of his friend. + +Nor was he greatly liked by the lad, whose injuries compelled a long +acceptance of his hospitality. "I know he's good to us, and won't let +you do any work that he can help, and all that," Bonny would say; "but +somehow I can't trust him nor like him. He'll play us some mean trick +yet, see if he don't." + +"But he saved our lives; for if we hadn't found his camp we should +certainly have starved to death." + +"That's just it! We found his camp. He didn't find us, and never would +have. Anyhow, he's as crazy as a loon, and will bear a heap of +watching." + +For all this, Bonny did not allow his anxiety to interfere with a speedy +recovery from his injuries, and by the aid of youthful vigor, a splendid +constitution, complete rest, plenty of food, and the glorious mountain +air, his broken bones knit so rapidly that in one month's time he +declared himself to be mended and as good as new. + +Although Alaric insisted that he should carry his arm in a sling for a +while longer, they now began to plan eagerly for a continuance of their +journey down the mountain and a return to civilization. By this time +they were as heartily sick of goat-meat as they had ever been of fish in +Skookum John's camp, tired of the terrible loneliness of their +situation, and, more than all, tired of their enforced idleness, with +nothing to read and little to do. Alaric had beguiled many long hours +with his baseball, which he could now throw with astonishing precision +and catch with either hand in almost any position. As this ball, bought +in San Francisco, was the sole connecting-link between his present and +his former life, it always reminded him of his father, whom he now +longed to see, that he might relieve the anxiety he felt certain Amos +Todd must be suffering on his account. + +The boys often talked of M. Filbert, and wondered what had become of +him. At first Alaric made an earnest effort to induce Hans Altman to go +in search of the Frenchman's camp and notify him of their safety; but +the German became so excitedly angry at the mere mention of such a thing +that he was forced to relinquish the idea. He would gladly have +undertaken the trip himself, but could not leave Bonny. + +Their strange host became equally angry at any mention of their leaving +him, and refused to give any information concerning their present +locality or the nearest point at which other human beings might be +found. Nor did he ever evince the least curiosity as to where they had +come from. It was enough for him that they were there. + +When the time for them to depart drew so near that the boys could talk +of nothing else, Alaric made another effort to gain some information +from the German that would guide their movements, but in vain. He only +succeeded in arousing the man's suspicions to such an extent that he +grew morose, would not leave camp unless Alaric went with him, and +watched furtively every movement that the boys made. Bonny realized +this, and spoke of it to his comrade. "I believe this Dutchman regards +us as his prisoners, and has made up his mind not to allow us to escape +him," he said. But Alaric only laughed, and answered that he guessed +they would get away easy enough whenever they were ready to go. + +The two lads slept at one end of the hut with their host at the other, +and that very night something happened to confirm Bonny's worst fears +and fill him with such horror that he determined never again to sleep +within miles of that vicinity. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +CHASED BY A MADMAN + + +Bonny's bed was nearest the side of the hut, while Alaric lay beyond him +towards its centre. Morning was breaking when the former awoke from a +troubled dream, so filled with a presentiment of impending evil that his +forehead was bathed in a cold perspiration. For the space of a minute he +lay motionless, striving to reassure himself that his terror was without +foundation. All at once he became conscious that some one was talking in +a low tone, and, glancing in that direction, saw the form of their host, +magnified by the dim light into gigantic proportions, bending over +Alaric. The man held an uplifted knife, and was muttering to himself in +German; but at Bonny's cry of horror he leaped to his feet and +disappeared through the doorway. + +"What is the matter?" asked Alaric, sleepily, only half awakened by +Bonny's cry. "Been having bad dreams?" + +"Yes, and a worse reality," answered the other, huskily. "Oh, Rick! he +was going to kill you, and if I hadn't waked when I did we should both +have been dead by this time. He has made up his mind to murder us; I +know he has." + +A minute later Alaric had heard the whole story, and, as excited as +Bonny himself, was hurriedly slipping on his coat and boots. They knew +not which way to go, nor what to do, but both were eager to escape from +the hut into the open, where they might at least have a chance to run in +case of an attack. + +As they emerged from the doorway, casting apprehensive glances in every +direction, Alaric's baseball, that had been left in one of his +coat-pockets the evening before, slipped through a hole in the lining +and fell to the ground. Hardly conscious of what he was doing, the lad +stooped to pick it up. At that same instant came the sharp crack of a +rifle and the "ping" of a bullet that whistled just above his head. + +"He is shooting at us!" gasped Bonny. "Come, quick, before he can +reload." + +Without another word the lads dashed into the clump of trees sheltering +the camp, and down the slope on which it stood. They would have +preferred going the other way, but the rifle-shot had come from that +direction, and so they had no choice. Their movements being at first +concealed by the timber, there was no sign of pursuit until they gained +the open valley and started to cross it. Then came a wild yell from +behind, and they knew that their flight was discovered. + +Breathlessly they sped through the dewy meadow, sadly impeded by its +rank growth of grass and flowers, towards a narrow exit through the wall +bounding its lower end that Alaric had long ago discovered. Through this +a brawling stream made its way, and by means of its foaming channel the +boys hoped to effect an escape. + +As they gained the rocky portal Bonny glanced back and uttered a cry of +dismay, for their late host was in plain view, leaping down the slope +towards the meadow they had just crossed. He was then bent on overtaking +them, and the pursuit had begun in earnest. + +As there was no pathway besides that offered by the bed of the stream, +they were forced to plunge into its icy torrent and follow its +tumultuous course over slippery rocks, through occasional still pools +whose waters often reached to the waist, and down foaming cascades, with +a reckless disregard for life or limb. In this manner they descended +several hundred feet, and when from the bottom they looked up over the +way they had come they felt that they must surely have been upborne by +wings. But there was no time for contemplation, for at that moment a +plunging bowlder from above warned them that their pursuer was already +in the channel. + +Now they were in a forest, not of the giant trees they would find at a +lower altitude, but one of tall hemlocks and alpine-firs, growing with +such density that the panting fugitives could with difficulty force a +way between them. They stumbled over prostrate trunks, slipped on beds +of damp mosses, were clutched by woody fingers, from whose hold their +clothing was torn with many a grievous rent; and, with all their +efforts, made such slow progress that they momentarily expected to be +overtaken. Nor were their fears groundless, for they had not gone half a +mile ere a crashing behind them told that their pursuer was close at +hand. As they exchanged a despairing glance, Bonny said: "The only thing +we can do is hide, for I can't run any farther." + +"Where?" asked Alaric. + +"Here," replied Bonny, diving as he spoke into a bed of ferns. Alaric +followed, and as they flattened themselves to the ground, barely +concealed by the green tips nodding above their backs, the madman leaped +into the space they had just vacated, and stood so close to them that +they could have reached out and touched him. His cap had disappeared, +his hair streamed over his shoulders like a tawny mane; his clothing was +torn, a scratch had streaked his face with blood, and his deep-set eyes +shone with the wild light of insanity. He had flung away his rifle, but +his right hand clutched a knife, keen and long-bladed. The crouching +lads held their breath as he paused for an instant beside them. Then, +uttering a snarling cry, he dashed on, and with cautiously lifted heads +they watched him out of sight. + +"Whew!" ejaculated Bonny, "that was a close call. But I say, Rick, this +business of running away and being chased seems quite like old times, +don't it?" + +"Yes," answered Alaric, with a shuddering sigh of mingled relief and +apprehension, "it certainly does, and this is the worst of all. But what +shall we do now?" + +"I don't know of anything else but to keep right on downhill after going +far enough to one side to give his course a wide berth. I'd like awfully +to have some breakfast, but I wouldn't go back to that camp for it if it +were the only place in the world. I'd about as soon starve as eat +another mouthful of goat, anyway. We are sure to come out somewhere, +though, if we only stick to a downward course long enough." + +So the boys bore to the right, and within a few minutes had the +satisfaction of noting certain gleamings through the trees that +betokened some kind of an opening. Guided by these, they soon came to a +ridge of bowlders and gravel, forming one of the lateral moraines of a +glacier that lay in glistening whiteness beyond. + +"We might as well follow along its edge," suggested Bonny; "for all +these glaciers seem to run downhill, and, bad as the walking is over mud +and rocks, we can make better time here than through the woods." + +They had not gone more than a mile in this fashion, and, believing that +they had successfully eluded their pursuer, were rapidly recovering from +their recent fright, when they were startled by a cry like that of a +wild beast close at hand. Glancing up, they were nearly paralyzed with +terror to see the madman grinning horribly with delight at having +discovered them, and about to rush down the steep slope to where they +stood. + +[Illustration: "THEY WERE PARALYZED WITH TERROR TO SEE THE MADMAN +GRINNING HORRIBLY"] + +There was but an instant of hesitation, and then both lads sprang out on +the rugged surface of the glacier, and made a dash for its far-away +opposite side. It was a dangerous path, slippery, rough beyond +description, and beset with yawning crevasses; but they were willing to +risk all its perils for a slender chance of escaping the certain death +that was speeding towards the place they had just left. If they could +only gain the opposite timber, they might possibly hide as before. It +was a faint hope, but their only one. + +So they ran, slipped, stumbled, took flying leaps over the parted white +lips of narrow crevasses, and made détours to avoid such as were too +wide to be thus spanned. They had no time to look behind, nor any need. +The fierce cries of the madman warned them that he was in hot pursuit +and ever drawing nearer. At one place the ice rang hollow beneath their +feet, and they even fancied that it gave an ominous crack; but they +could not pause to speculate as to its condition. That it was behind +them was enough. + +Ere half the distance was passed they were drawing their breath with +panting sobs, and Bonny, not yet wholly recovered from his illness, +began to lag behind. Noting this, Alaric also slackened his speed; but +his comrade gasped: + +"No, Rick. Don't stop. Save yourself. I'm done for. You can't help me. +Good-bye." + +Thus saying, and too exhausted to run farther, the lad faced about to +meet their terrible pursuer, and struggle with him for a delay that +might aid the escape of his friend. To his amazement, there was no +pursuer, nor in all that white expanse was there a human being to be +seen save themselves. + +At his comrade's despairing words Alaric too had turned, with the +determination of sharing his fate; so they now stood side by side +breathing heavily, and gazing about them in wondering silence. + +"What has become of him?" asked Bonny at length, in an awed tone, but +little above a whisper. + +"I don't know," replied Alaric. "He can't have gone back, for there +hasn't been time. He can't be in hiding, for there is no place in which +he could conceal himself, nor have we passed any crevasse that he could +not leap. But if he has slipped into one! Oh, Bonny! it is too awful to +think of." + +"I heard him only a few seconds ago," said Bonny, in the same awed tone, +"and his voice sounded so close that with each instant I expected to be +in his clutches." + +"Bonny!" exclaimed Alaric, "do you remember a place that sounded +hollow?" + +"Yes." + +"We must go back to it, for I believe he has broken through. If it is in +our power to help him we must do it; if not, we must know what has +happened." + +They had to retrace their steps but a few yards before coming to a +fathomless opening with jagged sides and splintered edges, where the +thin ice that had afforded them a safe passage had given way beneath the +heavier weight of their pursuer. No sound save that of rushing waters +came from the cruel depths, nor was there any sign. + +The boys lingered irresolutely about the place for a few minutes, and +then fled from it as from an impending terror. + +For the remainder of that day, though no longer in dread of pursuit, +they made what speed they might down the mountain-side, following rough +river-beds, threading belts of mighty forest, climbing steep slopes, and +descending others into narrow valleys. + +The sun was near his setting, and our lads were so nigh exhausted that +they had seated themselves on a moss-covered log to rest, when they were +startled by a heavy rending crash that echoed through the listening +forest with a roar like distant thunder. + +The boys looked at each other, and then at what bits of sky they could +see through the far-away tree-tops. It was of unclouded blue, and the +sun was still shining. + +"Rick!" cried Bonny, starting to his feet, "I believe it was a falling +tree." + +"Well?" + +"I mean one that was made to fall by axe and saw." + +"Oh, Bonny!" was all that Alaric could reply; but in another instant he +was leading the way through tall ferns and along the stately forest +aisles in the direction from which had come the mighty crash. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +A GANG OF FRIENDLY LOGGERS + + +A perfect day of early September was drawing to its close, and the gang +of loggers belonging to Camp No. 10 of the Northwest Lumber Company, +which operated in the vast timber belt clothing the northern flanks of +Mount Rainier, were about to knock off work. From earliest morning the +stately forest, sweet-scented with the odors of resin, freshly cut +cedar, and crushed ferns, had resounded with their shouts and laughter, +the ring of their axes, the steady swish of saws, and the crash of +falling trees. To one familiar only with Eastern logging, where summer +is a time of idleness, and everything depends on the snows of winter, +followed by the high waters of spring, the different methods of these +Northwestern woodsmen would be matters of constant surprise. Their work +goes on without a pause from year's end to year's end. There is no +hauling on sleds, no vast accumulations of logs on the ice of rivers or +lakes, no river driving, no mighty jams to be cleared at imminent risk +of life and limb--nothing that is customary in the East. Even the mode +of cutting down trees is different. + +The choppers--or "fallers," as they are called in the Northwest--do not +work, as do their brethren of Maine or Wisconsin, from the ground, +wielding their axes first on one side and then on the other until the +tree falls. The girth of the mighty firs and cedars of that country is +so great at ordinary chopping height that two men working in that way +would not bring down more than two trees in a day, instead of the ten or +a dozen required of them. So, by means of what are known as +"spring-boards," they gain a height of eight or ten feet, and then begin +operations. + +The ingenious contrivances that enable them to do this are narrow boards +of tough vine maple, five or six feet long, and about one foot wide. +Each is armed at its inner end with a sharp steel spur affixed to its +upper side. This end being thrust into a notch opened in the tree some +four feet below where the cut is to be made, the weight of a man on its +outer end causes the spur to bite deep into the wood, and to hold the +board firmly in place. + +Having determined the direction in which the tree shall fall, and fixed +their spring-boards accordingly, two "fallers" mount them, and chop out +a deep under cut on the side that is to lie undermost. They work with +double-bitted or two-edged axes, and can so truly guide the fall by +means of the under cut that they are willing to set a stake one hundred +feet away and guarantee that the descending trunk shall drive it into +the ground. With the under cut chopped out to their satisfaction, they +remove their spring-boards to the opposite side, and finish the task +with a long, two-handled, coarse-toothed saw. + +As the mighty tree yields up its life and comes to the ground with a +grand, far-echoing crash, it is set upon by "buckers" (who saw its great +trunk into thirty-foot lengths), barkers, rigging-slingers, +hand-skidders, and teamsters, whose splendid horses, aided by tackle of +iron blocks and length of wire-rope, drag it out to the "skid-road." +This is a cleared and rudely graded track, set with heavy cross-ties, +over which the logs may slide, and it is provided with wire cables, +whose half-mile lengths are operated by stationary engines. By this +means "turns" of five or six of the huge logs, chained one behind the +other, are hauled down the winding skid-road through gulch and valley, +to a distant railway landing. There they are loaded on a long train of +heavy flat cars that departs every night for the mills on Puget Sound. +Here the sawed lumber is run aboard waiting ships, and sent in them to +all ports on both shores of the Pacific. + +So wastefully extravagant are the lumbermen of Washington that only the +finest trees are cut, and only that portion of the trunk which is free +from limbs is made into logs. All the remainder, or nearly half of each +tree, is left on the ground where it fell. Here it slowly decays, or, +turned into tinder, catches fire from some chance spark and leaps into a +sea of flame that sweeps resistlessly through the forest, destroying in +one day more timber than has been cut in a year. + +Thus, while thoughtless and ignorant persons declare the timber supply +of the Northwest to be inexhaustible, others, who have carefully studied +the subject, do not hesitate to say that within fifty years, at the +present rate of reckless destruction, the magnificent forests of +Washington will have disappeared forever. + +Such questions were far from troubling the light-hearted gang of loggers +whom we have just discovered in the act of quitting work for the day. If +any one of them were to be asked how long he thought the noble forests +from which he earned a livelihood would last, he would answer: + +"Oh, I don't know and don't care. They will last as long as I do, and +that's long enough for me." + +They were laughing and joking, lighting their pipes, picking up tools, +and beginning to straggle towards the road that led to camp, when +suddenly big Buck Ranlet, the head "faller," who was keener of hearing +than any of his mates, called out: + +"Hush up, fellows, and listen! I thought I heard a yell off there in the +timber." + +In the silence that followed they all heard a cry, faint and distant, +but so filled with distress that there was no mistaking its import. + +"There's surely somebody in trouble!" cried Ranlet. "Lost like as not. +Anyway, they are calling to us for help, and we can't go back on 'em. So +come on, men. You teamsters stay here with your horses, and give us a +yell every now and then, so we can come straight back; for even we don't +want to fool round much in these woods after dark. Hello, you out there! +Locate yourselves!" + +"Hello! Help!" came back faintly but clearly. + +"All right! We're coming! Cheer up!" + +So the calling and answering was continued for nearly ten minutes, while +the rescuing party, full of curiosity and good-will, plunged through the +gathering gloom, over logs and rocks, through beds of tall ferns and +banks of moss, in which they sank above their ankles, until they came at +length to those whom they were seeking--two lads, one standing and +calling to them, the other lying silent and motionless, where he had +fallen in a dead faint from utter exhaustion. + +"You see," explained Alaric, apologetically, half sobbing with joy at +finding himself once more surrounded by friendly faces, "he has been +very ill, and we've had a hard day, with nothing to eat. So he gave out. +I should have too, but just then I heard the sound of chopping, and knew +the light was shining, and--and--" Here the poor tired lad broke down, +sobbing hysterically, and trying to laugh at the same time. + +"There! there, son!" exclaimed Buck Ranlet, soothingly, but with a +suspicious huskiness in his voice. "Brace up, and forget your troubles +as quick as you can; for they're all over now, and you sha'n't go hungry +much longer. But where did you say you came from?" + +"The top of the mountain." + +"Not down the north side?" + +"Yes." + +"Great Scott! you are the first ever did it, then. How long have you +been on the way?" + +"I don't know exactly, but something over a month." + +"The poor chap's mind is wandering," said the big man to one of his +companions; "for no one ever came down the north side alive, and no one +could spend a whole month doing it, anyway. I've often heard, though, +that folks went crazy when they got lost in the woods." + +The men took turns, two at a time, in carrying Bonny, and Buck Ranlet +himself assisted Alaric, until, guided by the shouts of the teamsters, +they reached the point from which they had started. + +By this time Bonny had regained consciousness, and was wondering, in a +dazed fashion, what had happened. "Is it all right, Rick?" he asked, as +his comrade bent anxiously over him. + +"Yes, old man, it's all right; and the light I told you of is shining +bright and clear at last." + +"Queer, isn't it, how the poor lad's mind wanders?" remarked Ranlet to +one of the men. "He thinks he sees a bright light, while I'll swear no +one has so much as struck a match. We must hustle, now, and get 'em to +camp. Do you think you feel strong enough to set straddle of a horse, +son?" he asked of Alaric. + +"Yes, indeed," answered the boy, cheerfully. "I feel strong enough for +anything now." + +"Good for you! That's the talk! Give us a foot and let me h'ist you up. +Why, lad, you're mighty nigh barefooted! No wonder you didn't find the +walking good. Here, Dick, you lead the horse, while I ride Sal-lal and +carry the little chap." + +Thus saying, the big man vaulted to the back of the other horse, and, +reaching down, lifted Bonny up in front of him as though he had been a +child. + +Camp was a mile or more away, and as the brawny loggers escorted their +unexpected guests to it down the winding skid-road, they eagerly +discussed the strange event that had so suddenly broken the monotony of +their lives, though, with a kind consideration, they refrained from +asking Alaric any more questions just then. + +"Hurry on, some of you fellows," shouted Ranlet, "and light up my shack, +for these chaps are going to bunk in with me to-night. I claim 'em on +account of being the first to hear 'em, you know. Start a fire in the +square, too, so's the place will look cheerful." + +No one will ever know how cheerful and home-like and altogether +delightful that logging camp did look to our poor lads after their long +and terrible experience of the wilderness, for they could never +afterwards find words to express what they felt on coming out of the +darkness into its glowing firelight and hearty welcome. + +"Stand back, men, and give us a show!" shouted Ranlet, as they drew up +before his own little "shack," built of split cedar boards. "This isn't +any funeral; same time it ain't no circus parade, and we want to get in +out of the cold." + +The entire population of the camp, including the cook and his +assistants, the blacksmith with his helper, and the stable-boys, as well +as the logging gang, were gathered, full of curiosity to witness the +strange arrival. Besides these there were Linton, the boss, with his +wife, who was the only woman in that section of country. Her pity was +instantly aroused for Bonny, and when he had been tenderly placed in +Buck Ranlet's own bunk, she insisted on being allowed to feed and care +for him. She would gladly have done the same for Alaric, but he +protested that he was perfectly well able to feed himself, and was only +longing for the chance. + +"Of course you are, lad!" cried the big "faller," heartily, "and you +sha'n't go hungry a minute longer. So just you come on with me and the +rest of the gang over to Delmonico's." + +The place thus designated was a low but spacious building of logs, +containing the camp kitchen and mess-room. Ranlet sat at the head of the +long table, built of hewn cedar slabs, and laden with smoking dishes. +Alaric was given the place of honor at his right hand, and the rest of +the rough, hearty crowd ranged themselves on rude benches at either +side. + +The plates and bowls were of tin; the knives, forks, and spoons were +iron; but how luxurious it all seemed to the guest of the occasion! How +wonderfully good everything tasted, and how the big man beside him +heaped his plate with pork and beans, potatoes swimming in gravy, boiled +cabbage, fresh bread cut in slices two inches thick, and actually butter +to spread on it! After these came a huge pan of crullers and dozens of +dried-apple pies. + +How anxiously the men watched him eat, how often they pushed the tin can +of brown sugar towards him to make sure that his bowl of milkless tea +should be sufficiently sweetened, and how pleased they were when he +passed his plate for a second helping of pie! + +"You'll do, lad; you'll do!" shouted Buck Ranlet, delighted at this +evidence that the camp cookery was appreciated. "You've been brought up +right, and taught to know a good thing when you see it. I can tell by +the way you eat." + +After supper Alaric was conducted to a blanket-covered bench near the +big fire outside, and allowed to relate the outline of his story to an +audience that listened with intense interest, and then he was put to bed +beside Bonny, who was already fast asleep. When Buck Ranlet picked up +his guest's coat, that had fallen to the floor, and a baseball rolled +from one of its pockets, the big logger exclaimed, softly: + +"Bless the lad! He's a genuine out-and-out boy, after all! To think of +his travelling through the mountains with no outfit but a baseball! If +that isn't boy all over, then I don't know!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +IN A NORTHWEST LOGGING CAMP + + +The next day being Sunday, the camp lay abed so late that when Alaric +awoke from his long night of dreamless sleep the sun was more than an +hour high, and streaming full into the open doorway of Buck Ranlet's +shack. For nearly a minute the boy lay motionless, striving to recall +what had happened and where he was. Then, as it all came to him, and he +realized that he had escaped from the mountain, with its terrors, its +cold, and its hunger, and had reached a place of safety, good-will, and +plenty, he heaved a deep sigh of content. His sigh was echoed by another +close beside him, and then Bonny's voice said: + +"I'm so glad you are awake, Rick, for I want you to tell me all about +it. I've been trying to puzzle it out for myself, but can't be really +sure whether I know anything about last night or only dreamed it all. +Didn't somebody get us something to eat?" + +"I should say they did!" rejoined Alaric. "And not only something to +eat, but one of the finest suppers I ever sat down to. Don't you +remember the baked beans, and the apple-pie, and--Oh no, I forgot; you +weren't there; and, by-the-way, how do you feel this morning?" + +"Fine as a fiddle," replied Bonny, briskly; "and all ready for those +baked beans and pie; for somehow I don't seem to remember having +anything so good as those." + +"I don't believe you did," laughed Alaric, springing from the bunk as he +spoke; "for I'm afraid they only gave you gruel and soup, or tea and +toast." + +"Then no wonder I'm hungry," said Bonny, indignantly, as he too began to +dress, "and no wonder I want beans and things. But, I say, Rick, what a +tough-looking specimen you are, anyway!" + +"I hope I'm not so tough-looking as you," retorted the other, "for you'd +scare a scarecrow." + +Then the two boys scanned each other's appearance with dismay. How could +they ever venture outside and among people in the tattered, soiled, and +fluttering garments which were their sole possessions in the way of +clothing? Even their boots had worn away, until there was little left of +them but the uppers. Their hats had been lost during their flight +through the forest, their hair was long and unkempt, while their coats +and trousers were so rent and torn that the wonder was how they ever +held together. As they realized how utterly disreputable they did look, +both boys began to laugh; for they were too light-hearted that morning +to remain long cast down over trifles like personal appearance. At this +sound of merriment Buck Ranlet's good-humored face, covered with lather, +appeared in the doorway, and at sight of the ragged lads he too joined +in their laughter. + +"You are tramps, that's a fact!" he cried. "Toughest kind, too; such as +I'd never dared take in if I'd seen you by a good light. Never mind, +though," he added, consolingly; "looks are mighty easy altered, and +after breakfast we'll fix you up in such style that you won't recognize +yourselves." + +Bonny had baked beans and pie that morning as well as Alaric, for the +fare at that logger's mess-table, bountiful as it was, never varied. +After breakfast the boys found their first chance to take a good look +at the camp, which consisted of nearly twenty buildings, set in the form +of a square beside the skid-road, in a clearing filled with tall stumps +of giant firs and mammoth cedars. The two largest buildings were the +combined mess-hall and kitchen and the sleeping-quarters, containing +tiers of bunks, one for each man employed. Then came the store, which +held a small stock of clothing, boots, tobacco, pipes, knives, and other +miscellaneous articles. Close beside it stood Mr. Linton's house, built +of squared logs. In its windows both curtains and a few potted plants +showed that here dwelt the only woman of the camp. The blacksmith-shop, +engine-house, close beside the skid-road, and the stables beyond +completed the list of the company's buildings. All the others were +little single-room shacks, built in leisure moments by such of the men +as preferred having something in the shape of a house to sleeping in the +public dormitory. + +These tiny dwellings were constructed of sweet-smelling cedar boards, +split from splendid great logs, absolutely straight-grained and free +from knots. Walls, roof, floor, and rude furniture were all made of the +same beautiful wood. Some of the shacks had stone chimneys roughly +plastered with clay, others boasted small porches, and one or two had +both. Buck Ranlet's had the largest porch of any, with the added +adornment of climbing vines. This porch also contained seats, and was +considered very elegant; but every one knew that the head "faller" was +engaged to be married to a girl "back East," and said that was the +reason he had built so fine a house. Having little else to amuse them, +the men who put up these shacks labored over them with as much pleasure +as so many boys with their cubby-houses. + +Many of the men were anxious to hear a more detailed account of our +lads' recent adventures, but Buck Ranlet said: + +"Call round this afternoon. We've got something else on hand just now." + +When they returned to his picturesque little dwelling the big man led +the way inside, closed the door, and said: + +"Now, lads, sit down, and let's talk business. What do you propose to do +next?" + +"I don't think we know," responded Alaric. + +"Do you want to go to Tacoma or Seattle?" + +"I don't know why we should. We haven't any friends in either place, nor +any money to live on while we look for work." + +"None at all?" + +"Not one cent. There's a month's wages due us from the Frenchman who +hired us to go up the mountain, but I suppose he has left this part of +the country long ago." + +"I suppose he has; and you certainly are playing to such hard luck that +I don't see as you can do any better than stay right here. If you are +willing to work at whatever offers, I shouldn't wonder if the boss could +find something for you to do. At any rate, he might give you a chance to +earn a suit of clothes, and feed you while you were doing it." + +"I think we'd be only too glad to stay here and work," replied +Alaric--"wouldn't we, Bonny?" + +"Yes, I think we would, only I hope we can earn some money. I've worked +without wages so long now that it is growing very monotonous." + +"Well, I'll tell you what," said Ranlet: "You two stay right here while +I go over and see the boss." + +A few minutes later the big man returned with beaming face, and +announced that Mr. Linton had consented to take them both on trial, and +had promised to find something for them to do in the morning. Moreover, +they were to go down to the store at once, pick out the things they +needed, and have them charged to their account. + +All this Buck Ranlet told them; but he did not add that he had been +obliged to pledge his own wages for whatever bill they should run up at +the store, in case they should fail to work it out. The big-hearted +"faller" was willing to do this, for he had taken a great fancy to the +lads, and especially to Alaric. "That chap may be poor," he said, "and I +reckon he is; but he's honest--so are they both, for that matter; and +when a boy is honest, he can't help showing it in his face." These +preliminaries being happily settled, he said, "Now let's get right down +to business; and the first thing to be done is to let me cut your hair +before you buy any hats." + +The boys agreeing that this was necessary, the operation was performed +with neatness and despatch; for the big "faller" was equally expert at +cutting hair or trees. + +Then they went to the store, where Alaric and Bonny selected complete +outfits of coarse but serviceable clothing, including hats and boots, to +the amount of fifteen dollars each. + +"Now for a scrub," suggested Ranlet; "and I reckon I need one as much as +you do." With this he led his _protégés_ to a quiet pool in the creek +just back of camp. + +When at noon the boys presented themselves at the mess-room door, so +magical was the transformation effected by shears, soap and water, and +their new clothing, that not a man in the place recognized them, and +they had to be reintroduced to the whole jovial crowd, greatly to Buck +Ranlet's delight. By a very natural mistake he introduced Alaric, whom +he had only heard called "Rick," as Mr. Richard Dale, and the boy did +not find an opportunity for correcting the error just then. + +Later in the day, however, when most of the camp population were +gathered in front of Ranlet's shack listening with great interest to the +lads' account of their recent experiences, one of them addressed him as +"Richard," whereupon he explained that his name was not Richard, but +Alaric. + +"Alaric?" quoth Buck Ranlet; "that's a queer name, and one I never heard +before. It's a strong-sounding name too, and one that just fits such a +hearty, active young fellow as you. I should pick out an Alaric every +time for the kind of a chap to come tumbling down a mountain-side where +no one had ever been before. But where did your folks find the name, +son?" + +"I'll tell you," replied Alaric, flushing with pleasure at hearing that +said of him for which he had secretly longed ever since he could +remember; "but first I want to say that it was Bonny Brooks who showed +me how to come down the mountain, and but for him I should certainly +have perished up there in the snow." + +"Hold on!" cried Bonny. "Gentlemen, I assure you that but for Rick Dale +I should have had the perishing contract all in my own hands." + +"I expect you are a well-mated team," laughed Ranlet, "and I am willing +to admit that for whatever comes tumbling down a mountain there couldn't +be a better name than Bonny Brooks. But now let's have the yarn." + +So Alaric told them all he could remember of the mighty Visigoth who +invaded Italy at the head of his barbarian host, became master of the +world by conquering Rome when the Eternal City was at the height of its +magnificence, and whose tomb was built in the bed of a river +temporarily turned aside for the purpose. + +The rough audience grouped about him listened to the tale of a long-ago +hero with flattering interest, and when it was ended declared it to be a +rattling good yarn, at the same time begging for more of the same kind. +Alaric's head was crammed with such stories, for he had always delighted +in them, and now he was only too glad of an opportunity to repay in some +measure the kindly hospitality of the camp. So for an hour or more he +related legends of Old World history, and still older mythology, all of +which were as new to his hearers as though now told for the first time. +Finally he paused, covered with confusion at finding Mr. and Mrs. Linton +standing among his auditors, and waiting for a chance to invite him and +Bonny to tea. + +From that time forth Alaric's position as storyteller was established, +and there was rarely an evening during his stay in the camp, where books +were almost unknown, that he was not called upon to entertain an +interested group gathered about its after-supper open-air fire. + +Mr. Linton questioned the boys closely as to their capacity for work +while they were at tea with him, and finally said: "I think I can find +places for both of you, if you are willing to work for one dollar a day. +You, Brooks, I shall let 'tend store and help me with my accounts until +your arm gets stronger, while I think I shall place your friend in +charge of one of the hump-durgins." + +"What is that, sir?" asked Alaric. + +"What's what?" + +"A hump-durgin." + +"Oh! Don't you know? Well, you'll find out to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +WHAT IS A HUMP-DURGIN? + + +When the boys returned to Buck Ranlet's shack, which he had insisted +they should share with him until they could build one of their own, the +first question Alaric asked was in regard to his new employment. + +"What is a hump-durgin?" + +"Ho, ho! With all your learning, don't you know what a hump-durgin is? +Well, I am surprised, for it's one of the commonest things. Still, if +you don't really know, I'll tell you. A genuine hump-durgin is a sort of +a cross betwixt a boat and a mule." + +"A boat and a mule?" repeated Alaric, more perplexed than ever. + +"That's what I said. You see, it is something like a boat. I might say a +steamboat, or perhaps a canal-boat would be more like it, and it is +always sailing back and forth. It often rolls and pitches like it was in +a heavy sea; but at the same time it lives on dry land and never goes +near the water. It also rears and bucks, and jumps from side to side, +and tries its best to throw its rider, same as a mule does, and it +wouldn't look unlike one if it only had legs, and a tail, and ears, and +hair, and a bray." + +"Humph!" interposed Bonny, who had been an interested listener to this +vague description of a hump-durgin. "A log of wood might look like a +mule if it had all those things." + +"Right you are, son! A log of wood might look like a mule, and then +again it mightn't. Same time I've often thought that some hump-durgins +wasn't much better than logs of wood, after all. Anyway, now that I've +described the critter so that you know all about him, you can see why +the boss has decided to put our young friend here in charge of one." + +"I'm sure I can't," said Alaric, more puzzled than ever. + +"Because of your experience with both mules and boats," laughed the big +"faller" teasingly, and that was all the satisfaction the boys could get +from him that night. + +The next morning, bright and early, the occupants of the camp scattered +to their respective duties: the loggers trudging up the skid-road and +deep into the forest, there to resume their work of converting trees +into logs; the loading-gang going in the opposite direction, to the +distant railway landing, where they would spend the day loading logs on +to flat cars; the engineers with their firemen to their respective +engines; the road-gang up to the head of a side gulch where they were +constructing a branch skid-road; the blacksmiths to their ringing +anvils; Bonny to the store, where he was to take an account of stock; +and Alaric, in company with the man whose place he was to fill, after +receiving from him half a day's instruction in his new duties, to make +the acquaintance of his hump-durgin. They went a short distance down the +skid-road to where one of the relay engines was winding in a half-mile +length of wire cable over a big steel drum. This cable stretched its +shining length up the gulch and out of sight around a bend. Near the +engine-house, and at one edge of the skid-road, was a little siding, or +dock, protected by a heavy sheer-skid. In it lay what looked like a log +canoe, sharp pointed at both ends, and having a flat bottom. + +"There," said Alaric's guide, "is your hump-durgin." + +"That thing!" exclaimed the lad, gazing at the canoe-like object +curiously. "But I thought a hump-durgin went by steam?" + +"So it does," laughed the man, "when it goes at all. Just wait a minute, +and you'll see." + +Almost as he spoke there came a sound of bumping and sliding from up the +skid-road, and directly afterwards the end of an enormous log came into +sight around the bend, drawn by the cable the engine was winding in. As +this log rounded the bend and came directly towards them, another was +seen to be chained to it, then another, and another, until the "turn" +was seen to contain five of the woody monsters. Attached to the rear end +of the last log came another hump-durgin, in which a man was seated, and +to the after end of which was fastened a second wire cable that +stretched away for half a mile to the next engine above. + +Every log was made fast to the one ahead of it by two short chains, each +of which was armed at either end with a heavy steel spur having a sharp +point and a flat head. These are called "dogs," and, driven deep into +the logs, bind them together. The hump-durgin was also attached to the +rear log by a chain and "dog," and one of the principal duties of a +hump-durgin man is to see that none of these dogs pulls out. + +As the "turn" of logs stopped just above the station, the man who had +come with them knocked out his hump-durgin dog, while the man with +Alaric disconnected the cable that had drawn the logs down to that +point, and hooked on the upper end of another that stretched away out +of sight down the road. Then he waved to the engineer, who telephoned to +the next station down the line, and at the same time to the one above. +In another minute the hump-durgin that had just arrived was being pulled +back by its cable over the way it had come, and the "turn" of logs was +drawn forward by the new cable just attached to them. When the rear end +of the last log was passing Alaric's hump-durgin, the man with him +hammered its "dog" into the wood, the chain straightened with a jerk, +and the novel craft was under way. As it started, both the man and +Alaric jumped in, and away they went, bumping and sliding down the +skid-road, slewing around corners that were protected by sheer-skids, +and dragging behind them a half-mile length of cable attached to the +after end of their craft. + +In this way they were dragged half a mile down the gulch to a second +engine station, where a new relay of cable with a third hump-durgin +awaited the logs, and from which their own craft, laden with the chains +and dogs just brought up from below, was dragged back uphill to the +station from which they had started. + +Every now and then on their downward trip the man jumped from the +hump-durgin, and, maul in hand, ran along the whole length of the +"turn," giving a tap here and there to the "dogs" to make sure that none +of them was working loose. As the cables were only speeded to about four +miles an hour, he could readily do this; but after he had thus examined +one side he had to wait until the whole turn passed him, and then run +ahead to examine the other. Alaric asked why he did not run on the logs +themselves, and, by thus examining both sides at the same time, save +half his work. + +"Because I ain't that kind of a fool," replied the man. "There is them +as does it; but a chap has to be surer-footed and spryer than I be to +ride the logs, 'specially when they're slewing round corners. I reckon, +though, from all I hear of you, that you'll be jest one of the kind to +try it on; and all I can say is, I hope you'll be let off light when it +comes your time to be flung. Some gets killed, and others only comes +nigh it." + +The hump-durgin man at the lower relay station followed the first "turn" +of logs to the railway landing, and then went back to the extreme upper +end of the skid-road. With the second "turn" Alaric and his instructor +did the same thing. The next man above him followed the third "turn" to +its destination, while the man farthest up of all travelled the whole +length of the road with the fourth "turn," covering its two miles in +four different hump-durgins; and at length Alaric had a chance to do the +same thing. Thus each hump-durgin driver became familiar with every +section of the road, and made six round trips a day. + +At noon of that first day Alaric's instructor in the art of navigating a +hump-durgin bade him "so long," and left him in sole command of the +clumsy craft. The man had no sooner gone than his pupil began practising +the science of log-riding, and before night he had triumphantly ridden +the whole length of the road mounted on the backs of his unwieldy +charges. To be sure, he sat down most of the way, and was thrown twice +when attempting to walk the length of the "turn" while it was slewing +around corners. Fortunately he escaped each time with nothing more +serious than a few bruises, and that night he drove a number of hobnails +into the soles of his boots. These afforded him so good a hold on the +rough bark that he was never again flung, and within a week had become +so expert a log-rider that he could keep his feet over the worst "slews" +on the road. + +The hump-durgins brought up many things from the railway landing besides +chains and "dogs," for they were the sole conveyances by which supplies +of any kind could reach the camp. It often happened that they carried +passengers as well, and in this respect running a hump-durgin was, as +Alaric said, very much like driving a stage-coach--a thing that he had +always longed to do. + +Bonny was so envious of his comrade's job that on that very first day he +made application for the next hump-durgin vacancy, and two weeks later +was filled with delight at receiving the coveted appointment. + +By the time that both our lads became hump-durgin boys they were living +in their own shack, which stood just beyond Buck Ranlet's, and which +nearly every man in camp had helped them to build. So proud were they of +this tiny dwelling that they nearly doubled their bill at the store in +procuring bedding and other furnishings for it. + +Although thus amply provided with rude comforts, or, as Bonny expressed +it, "surrounded with all the luxuries of life," Alaric fully realized +that it would soon be time to exchange this mode of living for another. +He knew that he owed a duty to his father, as well as to the station of +life into which he had been born; and, having proved to his own +satisfaction that he was equally strong with other boys, and as well +able to fight his way through the world, he was more than willing to +return to his own home. Now that he felt competent to hold his own, +physically as well as mentally, with others of his age, he was filled +with a desire to go to college. On talking the matter over with Bonny he +found that the latter cherished similar aspirations, the only difference +being that the young sailor's longing was for a mechanical rather than +a classical education. "Though, of course," said Bonny, with a sigh, "I +shall always have to take it out in wishing, for I shall never have +money enough to carry me through a school of any kind, or at least not +until I am too old to go." + +At this Alaric only smiled, and bade his comrade keep on hoping, for +there was no telling when something might turn up. As he said this he +made up his mind that if ever he went to college Bonny should at the +same time go to one of the best scientific schools of the country. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +ALARIC AND BONNY AGAIN TAKE TO FLIGHT + + +For a full month had our hump-durgin boys occupied the little +cedar-built shack, which now seemed to them so much a home that it was +difficult to realize they had ever known any other. By this time, too, +they were exercising a very decided influence upon the character of the +camp into whose life they had been so unexpectedly thrown. Light-hearted +Bonny, with his cheery face and abounding good-nature, was as full of +amusing pranks as a young colt, and from every group that he joined +shouts of merriment were certain to arise within a few minutes. Thus +Bonny was very popular and always in demand. Nor was Alaric less so, for +he could tell so much concerning strange foreign countries and relate so +many curious Old World tales, that there was rarely an evening that he +was not called upon for something of the kind. He so often said that +most of his stories could be found in certain books, related a thousand +times better than he could tell them, that in the breasts of many of his +hearers he aroused a real longing for books, and a wider knowledge than +they could ever acquire without them. + +At the same time Alaric was not only appreciated for what he knew, but +for what he could do. No one in camp could ride a "turn" of logs, +swaying, bumping, and sliding down the skid-road, with such perfect +confidence and easy grace as he. Only one of them all could outrun him, +and none could catch or throw a baseball with the certainty and +precision that he exhibited, although ever since Buck Ranlet discovered +the ball in his young guest's coat-pocket the camp had practised with it +during all odd moments of daylight. + +So our lads made friends with and knew the personal history of every +occupant of the camp save one, and he was its boss. Since the night on +which they had taken tea in his house Mr. Linton had hardly spoken to +either of them; nor did he ever join with the men in their evening +gatherings to listen to Bonny's jokes or Alaric's tales. At first they +noticed this, and wondered what reason he had for avoiding them; but +they soon learned that it was only his way, and that he never talked +with any of the men except on matters of business. Buck Ranlet said it +was because he was a deputy United States marshal, and didn't know when +he might be called on to arrest any one of them for some offence against +the government. + +With all their present popularity the boys were growing weary of the +monotonous life they were leading, of their good-natured but rough and +narrow-minded associates, and of the deadly sameness of the food served +three times a day in the dingy mess-room. They also dreaded the +approaching winter, with its days and weeks of rain, during which the +work of getting out logs for the insatiable mills down on the Sound must +keep on without a moment of interruption. They listened with dismay to +tales of loggers who had not known the feeling of dry clothing for weeks +at a time; of "turns" of logs rushing down skid-roads slippery with wet, +like roaring avalanches of timber, threatening destruction to everything +in their course; and of long, dreary winter evenings when the steady +downpour forbade camp-fires and prevented all social out-of-door +gatherings. + +In view of these things, Alaric was determined that the end of another +month, or such time as his wages should be paid, should see him on his +way to San Francisco and home. He did not anticipate any difficulty in +persuading Bonny to go with him, for that young man had already remarked +that while hump-durgin riding was fun up to a certain point, he should +hate to do it for the remainder of his life. Oh yes, Bonny would go, of +course; and Alaric's only fear was that his father might not take a +fancy to the lad, or hold the same views regarding his future that he +did. Still, that was a matter which would arrange itself somehow, if +they could only reach San Francisco, and the "poor rich boy" now began +to long as eagerly for the time to come when he might return to his home +as he once had for an opportunity to leave it. + +One day, when matters stood thus, a stranger, past middle age, shabbily +dressed, and wearing a peculiarly dilapidated hat, appeared at the +railway log-landing, and asked Bonny, whose hump-durgin happened to be +there at the time, permission to ride with him to the end of the +skid-road. With a sympathetic glance at the man's forlorn appearance, +Bonny answered: + +"Certainly, sir; you may ride with me all day if you like, and I shall +be glad of your company." + +Thanking the lad, the stranger seated himself in the hump-durgin; and +after he had been warned to hold on tight and watch out for "slews," the +upward journey was begun. At one of the upper relay stations they waited +for a descending "turn" of logs to pass them. Here the stranger visited +the engine-house, and while he was talking with the engineer they came +in sight. Alaric, who happened to be in charge, was at that moment +walking easily forward along the backs of the swaying logs, presenting +as fine a specimen of youthful agility, strength, and perfect health as +one could wish to encounter. He was clad in jean trousers tucked into +boot-legs and belted about his waist; a blue flannel shirt, with a black +silk kerchief knotted at the throat, and a black slouch hat. + +"Isn't that extremely dangerous?" asked the stranger, regarding the +approaching lad with a curious interest. + +"Not for him it isn't, though it might be for some; but Dick Dale is so +level-headed and sure-footed that there isn't his equal for riding logs +in this outfit, nor, I don't believe, in any other," answered the +engineer. + +"What did you say his name was?" asked the stranger, with his gaze still +fixed on Alaric. + +"Dale--Richard Dale," replied the engineer, who had never happened to +hear the boy's real name. "Why? Do you think you know him?" + +"No. I don't know any one of that name; but the lad's resemblance to +another whom I used to know is certainly very striking." + +"Yes. It's funny how often people look alike who have never been within +a thousand miles of each other," remarked the engineer, carelessly, as +he stepped to the signal-box. In another minute Alaric had passed out of +sight, while Bonny and the stranger had resumed their upward journey. + +That evening Alaric remarked to his chum, "I noticed you had a passenger +to-day." + +"Yes," replied Bonny. "Seedy-looking chap, wasn't he; but one of the +nicest old fellows I ever met. Never saw any one take such an interest +in everything. I suspected what he was after, though, and finally we got +so friendly that I asked him right out if he wasn't looking for work." + +"Was he?" + +"Yes. He hesitated at first, and looked at me to see if I was joking, +and then owned up that he was hunting for something to do. I felt mighty +sorry for him, 'cause I know how it is myself; but I had to tell him +there wasn't a living show in this camp just now. He seemed mightily +taken with our shack here, and said he once had a house just like it, in +which he passed the happiest time of his life, but he was afraid he'd +never have another. I invited him to stay with us a few days if he +wanted to--just while he was looking for a job, you know--but he said he +guessed he'd better go on to some other camp. You'd been willing, +wouldn't you?" + +"Certainly," replied Alaric. "I've already been in hard luck enough to +be mighty glad of a chance to help any other fellow who's in the same +fix, especially an old man; for they don't have half the show that young +fellows do." + +"I told him you'd feel that way," exclaimed Bonny, triumphantly; "and he +said if there were more like us in the world it would be a happier place +to live in, but that he guessed he'd manage to scrape along somehow a +while longer without becoming a burden to others. I did insist on his +taking a hat, though." + +"A hat?" + +"Yes. We were down at the store, and he was asking the price of things, +and looking around so wistful that I couldn't help getting him a new hat +and having it charged; for the one he wore wasn't any good at all. He +hated to take it, but I insisted, and finally he said he would if I'd +keep his old one and let him redeem it some time. Of course I said I +would, just to satisfy him, and here it is." + +Alaric looked carelessly at the dilapidated hat as he said: "It was a +first-class thing to do, Bonny, and I only wish I had been here to give +him something at the same time. But, hello! this is a Paris hat, and +hasn't been worn very long, either. I wonder how he ever got hold of it? +Never mind, though; hang it up for luck, and to remind me to do +something for the next poor chap who comes along. By-the-way, I heard +to-day that the president of the company was in Tacoma, on his way to +make an inspection of all the camps." + +"Yes," replied Bonny. "They say he is an awful swell, too, and I heard +that he was coming in his private car. I only hope he is, and that I can +get a chance to look at it, for I have never seen a private car. Have +you?" + +"One or two," answered Alaric, with a smile. + +At noon of the following day, while a fifteen-minute game of baseball +was in progress after dinner, the boss of Camp No. 10 received a note +from the president of the company, requesting him to report immediately +in person at Tacoma, and bring with him the two hump-durgin boys Dale +and Brooks. + +Mr. Linton, being a man who kept his own business to himself as much as +possible, merely called our lads and bade them follow him. Of course +this order broke up the game they were playing, and as they hastened +after the boss, Bonny, in whose hands the baseball happened to be, +thrust it into one of his pockets. Although curious to know why they +were thus summoned, the boys learned nothing from Mr. Linton until they +reached the railway log-landing, when he told them that they were wanted +in Tacoma, and that he was instructed to bring them there at once. + +From the landing they proceeded by hand-car to Cascade Junction, where +they boarded a west-bound passenger train over the Northern Pacific. +Even now Mr. Linton was not communicative, and after sitting awhile in +silence he went forward into the smoking-car, leaving the boys in the +passenger coach next behind it. Now they began to discuss their +situation, and the more they considered it the more apprehensive they +became that something unpleasant was in store for them. + +"He's a United States marshal, remember," said Bonny. + +"Yes," replied Alaric; "I've been thinking of that. Do you suppose it +can have anything to do with that smuggling business?" + +"I'm awfully afraid so," replied Bonny. "Great Scott! Look there!" + +The train was just leaving Meeker, where a passenger had boarded their +car, and was now walking leisurely through it towards the smoker. It was +he who had attracted Bonny's attention, and at whom he now pointed a +trembling finger. + +Alaric instantly recognized the man as an officer of the revenue-cutter +that had so persistently chased them in the early summer. Without a +word, he left his seat and followed the new-comer to the smoking-car, +where a single glance through the open door confirmed his worst +suspicions. + +The officer had seated himself beside Mr. Linton, and they were talking +with great earnestness. + +"They are surely after us again," Alaric said, in a whisper, as he +regained his seat beside Bonny; "but I don't intend to be captured if I +can help it." + +"Same here," replied Bonny. + +Thus it happened that when, a little later, the train reached Tacoma, +and Mr. Linton returned to look for his lads, they were nowhere to be +found. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +BONNY DISCOVERS HIS FRIEND THE TRAMP + + +It was late in the afternoon when the train reached Tacoma, and the +logging boss discovered that the lads whom he had been especially +instructed to bring with him had disappeared. As he could not imagine +any reason why they should do such a thing, he was thoroughly +bewildered, and waited about the station for some minutes, expecting +them to turn up. He inquired of the train hands and other employés if +they had seen anything of such boys as he described, but could gain no +information concerning them. + +The revenue-officer was merely an acquaintance whom he had met by chance +on the train, and who now waited a few minutes to see how this affair +would turn out. Finally he said: + +"Well, Linton, I'm sorry I can't help you, but I really must be getting +along. I hope, though, you won't have any such trouble with your missing +lads as we had in trying to catch two young rascals of smugglers, whom +we lost right here in Tacoma last summer. We wanted them as witnesses, +and thought we had our hands on them half a dozen times; but they +finally gave us the slip, and the case in which they were expected to +testify was dismissed for want of evidence. Good-bye." + +Thus left to his own devices, the boss could think of nothing better +than to call upon the police to aid him in recovering the missing boys, +and so powerful was the name of the President of the Northwest Lumber +Company, which he did not hesitate to use, that within an hour every +policeman in Tacoma was provided with their description, and instructed +to capture them if possible. In the hope that they would speedily +succeed in so doing, Mr. Linton delayed meeting the president, and +telegraphed that he could not reach the hotel to which he had been +directed to bring the boys before eight o'clock that evening. + +In the meantime Alaric and Bonny, without an idea of the stir their +disappearance had created throughout the city, were snugly ensconced in +an empty freight-car that stood within a hundred yards of the railway +station. They had dropped from the rear end of their train when it began +to slow down, and slipped into the freight-car as a place of temporary +concealment while they discussed plans. + +"We've got to get out of this town in a hurry, that's certain," said +Alaric, "and I propose that we make a start for San Francisco. You know, +I told you that was my home, and I still have some friends there, who, I +believe, will help us. The only thing is that I don't see how we can +travel so far without any money." + +"That's easy enough," replied Bonny, "and I would guarantee to land you +there in good shape inside of a week. What worries me, though, is the +idea of going off and leaving all the money that is due us here. Just +think! there's thirty dollars owing to me as a hump-durgin driver, +thirty more as interpreter, and fully as much as that for being a +smuggler--nearly one hundred dollars in all. That's a terrible lot of +money, Rick Dale, and you know it as well as I do." + +"Yes," replied Alaric; "if we had it now, we'd be all right. But I'll +tell you, Bonny, what I'll do. If you will get me to San Francisco +inside of a week, I promise that you shall have one hundred dollars the +day we arrive." + +"I'll do it!" cried Bonny. "I know you are joking, of course, but I'll +do it just to see how you'll manage to crawl out of your bargain when we +get there. You mustn't expect to travel in a private car, though, with a +French cook, and three square meals a day thrown in." + +"Yes, I do," laughed Alaric, "for I never travelled any other way." + +"No, I know you haven't, any more'n I have; but, just for a change, I +think we'd better try freight-cars, riding on trucks, and perhaps once +in a while in a caboose, for this trip, with meals whenever we can catch +'em. We'll get there, though; I promise you that. Hello! I mustn't lose +that ball. We may want to have a game on the road." + +This last remark was called forth by Alaric's baseball which, becoming +uncomfortably bulgy in Bonny's pocket as he sat on the car floor, he had +taken out, and had been tossing from hand to hand as he talked. At +length it slipped from him, rolled across the car, and out of the open +door. + +Bonny sprang after it, tossed it in to Alaric, and was about to clamber +back into the car, when, through the gathering gloom, he spied a +familiar figure standing in the glare of one of the station lights. + +"Wait here a few minutes, Rick," he said, "while I go and find out when +our train starts." + +With this he darted up the track, and a moment later advanced, with a +smile of recognition and extended hand, towards the stranger whom he had +so pitied in the logging camp the day before. The man still wore a +shabby suit and the hat Bonny had given him. He started at sight of the +lad, and exclaimed: + +"How came you here so soon? I thought you weren't due until eight +o'clock." + +"How did you know we were coming at all?" asked Bonny, in amazement. + +"Oh, that's a secret," laughed the other, instantly recovering his +self-possession, and assuming his manner of the day before. "We tramps +have a way of finding out things, you know." + +"Yes, I've always heard so," replied Bonny, "and that's one reason why +I'm so glad to meet you again. I thought maybe you could help us." + +"Us?" repeated the stranger. "Who is with you?" + +"Only my chum, the other hump-durgin driver, you know." + +"You mean Richard Dale?" + +"Yes--only his name isn't Richard, but Alaric. I say, though, would you +mind stepping over in the shadow, where we won't be interrupted?" + +"Certainly not," replied the other, with a quiet chuckle. "I expect it +will be better, for I'm not anxious to be recognized myself just now." + +When they had reached what Bonny considered a safe place, he continued: + +"You see, it's this way. My chum and I did a little business in the +smuggling line last summer, and got chased for it by the 'beaks."' + +"Just like 'em," growled the other. + +"Yes," said Bonny, wrathfully. "We hadn't really done anything wrong, +you know; but they made us skip 'round lively, and came mighty near +catching us, too. We gave 'em the slip, though, and thought the whole +thing had blown over, till to-day, when they got after us again." + +"Who did?" + +"The revenue fellows. You see, the boss up at camp is one of 'em, and we +suspicioned something was wrong as soon as he told us we were wanted in +Tacoma. We were certain of it when we saw another revenue man, one of +the cutter's officers, join him on the train, and so we just gave them +the slip again, and have been hiding ever since over in that +freight-car." + +"Indeed!" remarked the stranger, interestedly. "And what do you propose +to do next?" + +"That's what I'm coming to, and what we want you to help us about. You +see, my chum's folks live in San Francisco, and I rather think he ran +away from 'em, though he hasn't ever said so. Anyhow, he wants to get +back there, and as we haven't any money, we've got to beat our way, so I +thought maybe you could put us up to the racket, or, at any rate, tell +us when the first south-bound freight would pull out. Of course, you +understand, we've got to start as quick as we can, for it isn't safe for +us to be seen around here." + +"Of course not," agreed the stranger, with another chuckle; for the +whole affair seemed to amuse him greatly. "But what are you going to do +for food? You'll be apt to get hungry before long." + +"I am already," acknowledged Bonny, "and that was another thing I was +going to ask you about. I thought maybe you wouldn't mind giving us some +pointers from your own experience in picking up your three little square +meals a day when you are on the road." + +At this point the stranger burst into what began like uncontrollable +laughter, but which proved to be only a severe fit of coughing. When it +was over, he said: "Your name is Bonny Brooks, isn't it?" + +"Yes; but don't speak so loud." + +"All right, I won't. But, Bonny Brooks, you were mighty kind to me +yesterday--kinder than any one else has been for a long time. +By-the-way, did you bring my old hat with you?" + +"No, of course not." + +"No matter. I said I would redeem it, and I am going to do so by putting +you on to a mighty soft snap. I'm bound to the southward myself, and, as +it happens, there is a sort of boarding-car going to pull out of here +for somewhere down the line in about half an hour. It is in charge of +the cook, and as he and I are on what you might call extra good terms, +he is going to let me ride with him as far as he goes. There won't be a +soul on board but him and me, unless I can persuade him to let you two +boys come along with us. I am pretty sure I can, though, for he is under +several obligations to me, and if you'll promise to stay quietly in this +freight-car until I come for you, I'll go this minute and see him. What +do you say?" + +"I say you are a trump, and if you'll only work that racket for us, I'll +share half the money with you that I'm to get from Rick as soon as we +reach San Francisco." + +"Oh ho! He is to give you money, is he?" + +"Yes; that is, he has promised me one hundred dollars to make up for the +wages I leave behind, if I'll only get him there. Of course that's all +his joke, though, for he is just as poor as I am." + +So Bonny clambered back into the car where he told Rick of the fine +arrangement he had just made; while for the next half-hour that shabbily +attired stranger was the busiest man in Tacoma, and kept a great many +other people busy at the same time. Finally, just as the boys were +beginning to think he had forgotten them, he appeared at the door of the +freight-car, and said, in a loud whisper: "Come, quick. I think they are +after you." + +As they scrambled out, he started on a run towards a single car that, +with an engine attached, stood on a siding in the darkest corner of the +railroad yard. Here he hurriedly whispered to the boys to crouch low on +its rear platform until it started, when the cook would open the door. +Then he disappeared. + +In another minute the car began to move, and directly afterwards its +door was opened. There seemed to be no light in the interior, and, +without seeing any one, the boys heard a strange voice, evidently that +of a negro, bidding them come in out of the cold. + +They entered the car, Alaric going first, and were led through a narrow +passage into what was evidently a large compartment. They heard their +guide retreating through the passage, and were beginning to feel rather +uneasy, when suddenly they were surrounded and dazzled by a great flood +of electric light. + + + + +CHAPTER XL + +A FLOOD OF LIGHT + + +As the brilliant light flooded the place where the boys stood, they were +for a minute blinded by its radiance. Bonny was bewildered and +frightened, and even Alaric was greatly startled. Gradually, as their +eyes grew accustomed to the brightness, they became aware of a single +figure standing before them, and regarding them curiously. Alaric +looked, rubbed his eyes, and looked again. Then he sprang forward with a +great shout. + +"Dad! you dear old dad! I never was so glad to see any one in my life!" + +"Rick! you young rascal!" cried Amos Todd. "How could you play your old +father such a trick? Never mind, though; you've won your game, and at +the same time made me the very happiest and proudest man on the coast +this night. Stand there, sir, and let me have a good look at you." + +With this the proud father held his stalwart son off at arm's-length and +gazed at him with loving admiration. + +"The very neatest trick I ever heard of--the most impudent, and the most +successful," he murmured. "But don't you ever be guilty of such a thing +again, you young smuggler." + +"Indeed I won't, dad, for I know I shall never have any reason or desire +to repeat it," replied Alaric, promptly, his voice trembling with joyful +excitement. "But, dad, you mustn't forget Bonny; for whatever I have +gained or learned this past summer I owe to him." + +"God bless the lad! Indeed I will never forget what he has done both for +you and for me," cried Amos Todd, stepping forward and seizing Bonny's +hand in a grasp that made him wince. + +Poor bewildered Bonny, standing amid the glitter of silver and +plate-glass, surrounded by furnishings of such luxurious character as he +had never imagined could exist in real life, vaguely wondered whether he +were under the spell of some beautiful enchantment or merely dreaming. +There must be some reality to it all, though, for the stranger in the +shabby garments, whom he had befriended only the day before, and still +wearing the same hat he had given him, was surely holding his hand and +saying very pleasant things. But who could he be? He certainly was not +acting like a tramp, or one who was greatly in need of charity. + +Alaric came to the puzzled lad's relief. "He is my father, Mr. Amos +Todd," he cried. "And, Bonny, you will forgive me, won't you, for not +telling you before? You see, I was afraid to let even you know that I +was the son of a rich man, because I wanted you to like me for myself +alone." + +"You know I do, Rick Dale! You know I do!" exclaimed Bonny, impulsively, +finding his voice at last. "But, Rick," he added, almost in a whisper, +"are you sure there isn't any mistake about it all? Amos Todd, you know, +is President of the Northwest Company, and the richest man on the coast. +They do say he's a millionaire." + +"It's all right, Bonny. I expect he is a millionaire," answered Alaric, +joyously. "But we won't lay it up against him, will we? And we'll try +not to think any the less of him for it. I didn't know he was President +of the Northwest Company, though. Are you, dad?" + +"I believe I am," laughed Amos Todd. "And I certainly have cause to be +grateful that I hold the office, for it was while making my official +inspection of the camps yesterday that I ran across you boys. I didn't +know you, though, Rick--'pon my word, I didn't. You bore a faint +resemblance to my little 'Allie' as you came riding those logs down the +skid-road, but I knew you couldn't be he, for I was certain that he was +on the other side of the world by this time. And so you shook the +Sonntaggs, and let them run away from you. It was wrong, Rick, very +wrong, but I don't blame you--not one bit, I don't. I'd have done the +same thing myself." + +"But, dad, how did you come to find me out? I don't understand it at +all." + +"By your own letter to Esther, lad. She forwarded it to me in France; +but I had gone when it reached there, and so it was sent to San +Francisco. I left Margaret on the other side for the winter, and came +back by way of Montreal and the Canadian Pacific, intending to stop here +and inspect the lumber camps on my way home. I telegraphed John to send +this car and all my mail up here, and they came last night. As soon as I +read your letter I felt pretty certain that it was you whom I had seen +doing the circus act on those logs. I wasn't quite sure, though, and +didn't want to make any mistake, so I just sent word to Linton to fetch +you in, that I might take a good look at you." + +"So it was you who sent for us?" + +"Certainly. And you thought it was the revenue-officers, and so decided +to give 'em the slip, and beat your way home to claim protection of your +old dad--eh, you rascal? And Bonny here took me for a fellow-tramp who +could put him on to the racket. Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! Oh my! I shall +die of laughing yet at thinking of it. It was all the hat, though, +wasn't it, Bonny? I hated to cut it up, for I only bought it in Paris +the other day, and hadn't another with me; but I wanted to inspect the +camp without being known, and it was the only disguise I could think of. +But, boys, what do you say to supper? If you are as hungry as I am you +must be more than ready for it." + +Indeed, they were ready for supper, and when they sat down to that +daintily served meal, in the exquisitely appointed dining-room of +President Todd's own private car, Bonny at last understood why Alaric +had ordered that strange lot of supplies for the sloop _Fancy_. + +After supper they returned to the saloon, where Amos Todd lighted a +cigar, and listened to the wonderful story of trial and triumph, +privation and strange vicissitude, that had transformed his pale-faced +weakling into the strong, handsome, self-reliant youth upon whom he now +gazed so proudly. When the long story was ended, he asked, quietly: + +"How much have you earned by your summer's work, son; and what have you +to show for it?" + +"If you mean in money, dad, not one cent; and all I have to show, +besides what you've already noticed, is this." Here Alaric held out a +dilapidated baseball, at which his father gazed curiously. "With that +ball," continued Alaric, "I took my first lesson in being a boy, and it +has led me on from one thing to another ever since until, finally, this +very evening, it brought me back to you. So, dad, I should say that it +stood for my whole summer's work." + +"I am thankful, Rick, that you haven't earned any money, and that +through bitter want of it you have learned its value," said Amos Todd. +"I am thankful, too, that there is still one thing for which you have to +come to your old dad. More than all am I thankful for what you have +gained without his help, or, rather, in spite of him; and had I known +last spring what that baseball was to do for you, I would gladly have +paid a million of dollars for it." + +"You may have it now, dad, for one hundred, which is just the amount I +owe Bonny." + +"Done!" cried Amos Todd; and thus he came into possession of the +well-worn baseball that, set in a plate of silver and enclosed in a +superb frame, soon afterwards hung above his private desk in San +Francisco. + +Here our story properly ends, but we cannot help telling of two or three +things that happened soon after the disappearance of our hump-durgin +boys from Camp No. 10, and as a direct result of their having lived +there. To begin with, Mr. Linton felt himself so insulted by the manner +in which President Todd made his inspection that he resigned his +position, and, on the recommendation of Alaric, Buck Ranlet was given +his place. On the strength of this promotion the big "faller" went East +to marry the girl of his choice, and both Alaric and Bonny were present +at the wedding. + +Through the liberality of Amos Todd, the ex-hump-durgin boys were +enabled to present the camp with their shack, converted into a neat +little library building and filled with carefully selected books, in +which the occupants of the camp are greatly pleased to discover many of +the tales already told them by Rick Dale. + +A certain famous and badly used-up hat, carefully removed from the camp, +belongs to Bonny Brooks, and adorns a wall in one of a beautiful suite +of rooms that he and Alaric occupy together at Harvard. Here Alaric is +taking an academic course, while Bonny, whom Amos Todd regards almost as +an own son, is sturdily working his way through the mathematical and +mechanical labyrinths of a Manual Training School. They went to +Cambridge just one year after completing their studies as hump-durgin +boys; and while they were still Freshmen, the splendid baseball-player, +who, though only just entering his Junior year, was captain of the +'varsity nine, happened to be badly in need of a catcher. + +"I can tell you of one who can't be beat this side of the Rocky +Mountains," suggested his classmate and pitcher, Dave Carncross. + +"Who is he?" + +"Rick Todd, a Freshman." + +"Son of Amos Todd, your San Francisco millionaire?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I don't want him. Millionaires' sons are no good." + +"This one is, though," insisted Carncross; "and I ought to know, for I +taught him to catch his first ball. You just come over to Soldiers' +Field this afternoon and size him up." + +The captain needed a first-class man behind the bat so badly that, in +spite of his prejudices, he consented to do as his pitcher desired. He +was amazed, delighted, and enthusiastic. Never had he seen such an +exhibition of ball-catching as was given by that Freshman. Finally he +could contain himself no longer, and rushing up to his classmate, he +exclaimed: + +"Carncross, he's a wonder! Introduce me at once." + +"Rick Todd," said Dave Carncross, "permit me to present you to my +friend Phil Ryder, captain of the 'varsity nine." + +As the two lads grasped each other's hands there came a flash of +recognition into each face, and both remembered where they had met each +other last. + + +THE END + + + + +BOOKS BY KIRK MUNROE + + + CAMPMATES. Illustrated. + DORYMATES. Illustrated. + CANOEMATES. Illustrated. + RAFTMATES. Illustrated. + WAKULLA. Illustrated. + THE FLAMINGO FEATHER. Illustrated. + DERRICK STERLING. Illustrated. + CHRYSTAL, JACK & CO. Illustrated. + THE COPPER PRINCESS. Illustrated. + FORWARD, MARCH! Illustrated. + THE BLUE DRAGON. Illustrated. + FOR THE MIKADO. Illustrated. + UNDER THE GREAT BEAR. Illustrated. + THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH. Illustrated. + SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES. Illustrated. + RICK DALE. Illustrated. + THE PAINTED DESERT. Illustrated. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rick Dale, A Story of the Northwest +Coast, by Kirk Munroe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICK DALE *** + +***** This file should be named 35652-8.txt or 35652-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/6/5/35652/ + +Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Rick Dale, A Story of the Northwest Coast + +Author: Kirk Munroe + +Illustrator: William Allen Rogers + +Release Date: March 22, 2011 [EBook #35652] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICK DALE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>RICK DALE</h1> + +<h2><i>A STORY OF THE NORTHWEST COAST</i></h2> + +<h2>BY KIRK MUNROE</h2> + +<h3>AUTHOR OF "SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES" "THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH" THE "MATES" +SERIES ETC.</h3> + + +<h3>ILLUSTRATED BY W. A. ROGERS</h3> + +<h3>NEW YORK AND LONDON<br /> +HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>THE ICE ABOVE GIBRALTAR</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. <span class="smcap">A Poor Rich Boy</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">The Runaway</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">Alaric Takes a First Lesson</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">The "Empress" Loses a Passenger</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">First Mate Bonny Brooks</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">Preparing to be a Sailor</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. <span class="smcap">Captain Duff, of the Sloop "Fancy"</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <span class="smcap">An Unlucky Smash</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. <span class="smcap">"Chinks" and "Dope"</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. <span class="smcap">Puget Sound Smugglers</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. <span class="smcap">A Very Trying Experience</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. <span class="smcap">A Lesson in Kedging</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. <span class="smcap">Chasing a Mysterious Light</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. <span class="smcap">Bonny's Invention, and How It Worked</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. <span class="smcap">Captured by a Revenue-cutter</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. <span class="smcap">Escape of the First Mate and Crew</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. <span class="smcap">Saved by a Little Siwash Kid</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. <span class="smcap">Life in Skookum John's Camp</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. <span class="smcap">A Treacherous Indian from Neah Bay</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. <span class="smcap">An Exciting Race for Liberty</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI. <span class="smcap">A Case of Mistaken Identity</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII. <span class="smcap">Two Short but Exciting Voyages</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII. <span class="smcap">Alaric Todd's Darkest Hour</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV. <span class="smcap">Phil Ryder Pays a Debt</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV. <span class="smcap">Engaged to Interpret for the French</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI. <span class="smcap">Preparing for an Ascent</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII. <span class="smcap">Bonny Commands the Situation</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII. <span class="smcap">On the Edge of Paradise Valley</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX. <span class="smcap">Mount Rainier Placed Underfoot</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX. <span class="smcap">Blown from the Rim of a Crater</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI. <span class="smcap">A Desperate Situation</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII. <span class="smcap">How a Song Saved Alaric's Life</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII. <span class="smcap">Laid Up for Repairs</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV. <span class="smcap">Chased by a Madman</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV. <span class="smcap">A Gang of Friendly Loggers</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI. <span class="smcap">In a Northwest Logging Camp</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII. <span class="smcap">What is a Hump-durgin?</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CHAPTER XXXVIII. <span class="smcap">Alaric and Bonny again Take to Flight</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">CHAPTER XXXIX. <span class="smcap">Bonny Discovers His Friend the Tramp</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XL">CHAPTER XL. <span class="smcap">A Flood of Light</span></a><br /><br /> +<a href="#Books_by_KIRK_MUNROE">Books by KIRK MUNROE</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<p><a href="#illus1">THE ICE ABOVE GIBRALTAR</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus2">ALARIC MAKES HIS FIRST DECISION</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus3">"'VELL, I TELL YOU; I GIFS T'VENTY-FIFE'"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus4">BONNY'S INVENTION STARTED</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus5">THE ARRIVAL AT SKOOKUM JOHN'S</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus6">BONNY SEIZED A TRUCK, AND ALARIC A MATTRESS</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus7">"BONNY WAS JERKED BACKWARD"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus8">"THEY WERE PARALYZED WITH TERROR"</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>RICK DALE</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>A POOR RICH BOY</h3> + + +<p>Alaric Dale Todd was his name, and it was a great grief to him to be +called "Allie." Allie Todd was so insignificant and sounded so weak. +Besides, Allie was a regular girl's name, as he had been so often told, +and expected to be told by each stranger who heard it for the first +time. There is so much in a name, after all. We either strive to live up +to it, or else it exerts a constant disheartening pull backward.</p> + +<p>Although Alaric was tall for his age, which was nearly seventeen, he was +thin, pale, and undeveloped. He did not look like a boy accustomed to +play tennis or football, or engage in any of the splendid athletics that +develop the muscle and self-reliance of those sturdy young fellows who +contest interscholastic matches. Nor was he one of these; so far from +it, he had never played a game in his life except an occasional quiet +game of croquet, or something equally soothing. He could not swim nor +row nor sail a boat; he had never ridden horseback nor on a bicycle; he +had never skated nor coasted nor hunted nor fished, and yet he was +perfectly well formed and in good health. I fancy I hear my boy readers +exclaim:</p> + +<p>"What a regular muff your Alaric must have been! No wonder they called +him 'Allie'!"</p> + +<p>And the girls? Well, they would probably say, "What a disagreeable +prig!" For Alaric knew a great deal more about places and people and +books than most boys or girls of his age, and was rather fond of +displaying this knowledge. And then he was always dressed with such +faultless elegance. His patent-leather boots were so shiny, his +neckwear, selected with perfect taste, was so daintily arranged, and +while he never left the house without drawing on a pair of gloves, they +were always so immaculate that it did not seem as though he ever wore +the same pair twice. He was very particular, too, about his linen, and +often sent his shirts back to the laundress unworn because they were not +done up to suit him. As for his coats and trousers, of which he had so +many that it actually seemed as though he might wear a different suit +every day in the year, he spent so much time in selecting material, and +then in being fitted, and insisted on so many alterations, that his +tailors were often in despair, and wondered whether it paid to have so +particular a customer, after all. They never had occasion, though, to +complain about their bills, for no matter how large these were or how +extortionate, they were always paid without question as soon as +presented.</p> + +<p>From all this it may be gathered that our Alaric was not a child of +poverty. Nor was he; for Amos Todd, his father, was so many times a +millionaire that he was one of the richest men on the Pacific coast. He +owned or controlled a bank, railways, steamships, and mines, great +ranches in the South, and vast tracts of timber lands in the North. His +manifold interests extended from Alaska to Mexico, from the Pacific to +the Atlantic; and while he made his home in San Francisco his name was a +power in the stock-exchanges of the world. Years before he and his young +wife had made their way to California from New England with just money +enough to pay their passage to the Golden State. Here they had undergone +poverty and hardships such as they determined their children should +never know.</p> + +<p>Of these Margaret, the eldest, was now a leader of San Francisco +society, while John, who was eight years older than Alaric, had shown +such an aptitude for business that he had risen to be manager of his +father's bank. There were other children, who had died, and when Alaric +came, last of all, he was such a puny infant that there was little hope +of his ever growing up. Because he was the youngest and a weakling, and +demanded so much care, his mother devoted her life to him, and hovered +about him with a loving anxiety that sought to shield him from all rude +contact with the world. He was always under the especial care of some +doctor, and when he was five or six years old one of these, for want of +something more definite to say, announced that he feared the child was +developing a weak heart, and advised that he be restrained from all +violent exercise.</p> + +<p>From that moment poor little "Allie," as he had been called from the day +of his birth, was not only kept from all forms of violent exercise and +excitement, but was forbidden to play any boyish games as well. In place +of these his doting mother travelled with him over Continental Europe, +going from one famous medical spring, bath, or health resort to another, +and bringing up her boy in an atmosphere of luxury, invalids, and +doctors. The last-named devoted themselves to trying to find out what +was the matter with him, and as no two of them could agree upon any one +ailment, Mrs. Todd came to regard him as a prodigy in the way of +invalidism.</p> + +<p>Of course Alaric was never sent to a public school, but he was always +accompanied by tutors as well as physicians, and spent nearly two years +in a very select private school or <i>pension</i> near Paris. Here no rude +games were permitted, and the only exercise allowed the boys was a short +daily walk, in which, under escort of masters, they marched in a dreary +procession of twos.</p> + +<p>During all these years of travel and study and search after health +Alaric had never known what it was to wish in vain for anything that +money could buy. Whatever he fancied he obtained without knowing its +cost, or where the money came from that procured it. But there were +three of the chief things in the world to a boy that he did not have and +that money could not give him. He had no boy friends, no boyish games, +and no ambitions. He wanted to have all these things, and sometimes said +so to his mother; but always he was met by the same reproachful answer, +"My dear Allie, remember your poor weak heart."</p> + +<p>At length it happened that while our lad was in that dreary <i>pension</i>, +Mrs. Todd, worn out with anxieties, cares, and worries of her own +devising, was stricken with a fatal malady, and died in the great +château that she had rented not far from the school in which her life's +treasure was so carefully guarded. A few days of bewilderment and +heart-breaking sorrow followed for poor Alaric. Many cablegrams flashed +to and fro beneath the ocean. There was a melancholy funeral, at which +the boy was sole mourner, and then one phase of his life was ended. In +another week he had left France, and, escorted by one of his French +tutors, was crossing the Atlantic on his way to the far-distant San +Francisco home of which he knew so little.</p> + +<p>He had now been at home for nearly three months, and of all his sad life +they had proved the most unhappy period. His father, though always kind +in his way, was too deeply immersed in business to pay much attention to +the sensitive lad. He did not understand him, and regarded him as a +weakling who could never amount to anything in the world of business or +useful activity. He would be kind to the boy, of course, and any desire +that he expressed should be promptly gratified; at the same time he +could not help feeling that Alaric was a great trial, and wishing him +more like his brother John.</p> + +<p>This bustling, dashing elder brother had no sympathy with Alaric, and +rarely found time to give him more than a nod and a word of greeting in +passing, while his sister Margaret regarded him as still a little boy +who was to be kept out of sight as much as possible. So the poor lad, +left to himself, without friends and without occupation, found time +hanging very heavily on his hands, and wondered why he had ever been +born.</p> + +<p>Once he ventured to ask his father for a saddle-horse, whereupon Amos +Todd provided him with a pair of ponies, a cart, and a groom, which he +said was an outfit better suited to an invalid. Alaric accepted this +gift without a protest, for he was well trained to bearing +disappointments, but he used it so rarely that the business of giving +the horses their daily airing devolved almost entirely upon the groom.</p> + +<p>It was not until Esther Dale, one of the New England cousins whom he had +never seen, and a girl of his own age, made a flying visit to San +Francisco as one of a personally conducted party of tourists, that +Alaric found any real use for his ponies. Esther was only to remain in +the city three days, but she spent them in her uncle's house, which she +refused to call anything but "the palace," and which she so pervaded +with her cheery presence that Amos Todd declared it seemed full of +singing birds and sunshine.</p> + +<p>Both Margaret and John were too busy to pay much attention to their +young cousin, and so, to Alaric's delight, the whole duty of +entertaining her devolved on him. He felt much more at his ease with +girls than with boys, for he had been thrown so much more into their +society during his travels, and he thought he understood them +thoroughly; but in Esther Dale he found a girl so different from any he +had ever known that she seemed to belong to another order of beings. She +was good-looking and perfectly well-bred, but she was also as full of +life and frisky antics as a squirrel, and as tireless as a bird on the +wing.</p> + +<p>On the first morning of her visit the cousins drove out to the Cliff +House to see the sea-lions; and almost before Alaric knew how it was +accomplished he found Esther perched on the high right-hand cushion of +the box-seat in full possession of reins and whip, while he occupied the +lower seat on her left, as though he were the guest and she the hostess +of the occasion. At the same time the ponys seemed filled with an +unusual activity, and were clattering along at a pace more exhilarating +than they had ever shown under his guidance.</p> + +<p>After that Esther always drove; and Alaric, sitting beside her, listened +with wondering admiration to her words of wisdom and practical advice on +all sorts of subjects. She had never been abroad, but she knew +infinitely more of her own country than he, and was so enthusiastic +concerning it that in three days' time she had made him feel prouder of +being an American than he had believed it possible he ever would be. +She knew so much concerning out-of-door life, too—about animals and +birds and games. She criticised the play of the baseball nines, whom +they saw one afternoon in Golden Gate Park; and when they came to +another place where some acquaintances of Alaric's were playing tennis, +she asked for an introduction to the best girl player on the ground, +promptly challenged her to a trial of skill, and beat her three straight +games.</p> + +<p>During the play she presented such a picture of glowing health and +graceful activity that pale-faced Alaric sat and watched her with +envious admiration.</p> + +<p>"I would give anything I own in the world to be able to play tennis as +you can, Cousin Esther," he said, earnestly, after it was all over and +they were driving from the park.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you learn, then?" asked the girl, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Because I have a weak heart, you know, and am forbidden any violent +exercise."</p> + +<p>The boy hesitated, and even blushed, as he said this, though he had +never done either of those things before when speaking of his weak +heart. In fact, he had been rather proud of it, and considered that it +was a very interesting thing to have. Now, however, he felt almost +certain that Esther would laugh at him.</p> + +<p>And so she did. She laughed until Alaric became red in the face from +vexation; but when she noticed this she grew very sober, and said:</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Cousin Rick. I didn't mean to laugh; but you did look so +woe-begone when you told me about your poor weak heart, and it seems so +absurd for a big, well-looking boy like you to have such a thing, that I +couldn't help it."</p> + +<p>"I've always had it," said Alaric, stoutly; "and that is the reason +they would never let me do things like other boys. It might kill me if I +did, you know."</p> + +<p>"I should think it would kill you if you didn't, and I'm sure I would +rather die of good times than just sit round and mope to death. Now I +don't believe your heart is any weaker than mine is. You don't look so, +anyway, and if I were you I would just go in for everything, and have as +good a time as I possibly could, without thinking any more about whether +my heart was weak or strong."</p> + +<p>"But they won't let me," objected Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Who won't?"</p> + +<p>"Father and Margaret and John."</p> + +<p>"I don't see that the two last named have anything to do with it. As for +Uncle Amos, I am sure he would rather have you a strong, brown, +splendidly built fellow, such as you might become if you only would, +than the white-faced, dudish Miss Nancy that you are. Oh, Cousin Rick! +What have I said? I'm awfully sorry and ashamed of myself. Please +forgive me."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE RUNAWAY</h3> + + +<p>For a moment it seemed to Alaric that he could not forgive that +thoughtlessly uttered speech. And yet the girl who made it had called +him Cousin "Rick," a name he had always desired, but which no one had +ever given him before. If she had called him "Allie," he knew he would +never have forgiven her. As it was he hesitated, and his pale face +flushed again. What should he say?</p> + +<p>In her contrition and eagerness to atone for her cruel words Esther +leaned towards him and laid a beseeching hand on his arm. For the moment +she forgot her responsibility as driver, and the reins, held loosely in +her whip-hand, lay slack across the ponies' backs.</p> + +<p>Just then a newspaper that had been carelessly dropped in the roadway +was picked up by a sudden gust of wind and whirled directly into the +faces of the spirited team. The next instant they were dashing madly +down the street. At the outset the reins were jerked from Esther's hand; +but ere they could slip down beyond reach Alaric had seized them. Then, +with the leathern bands wrapped about his wrists, he threw his whole +weight back on them, and strove to check or at least to guide the +terrified animals. The light cart bounded and swayed from side to side. +Men shouted and women screamed, and a clanging cable-car from a cross +street was saved from collision only by the prompt efforts of its +gripman. The roadway was becoming more and more crowded with teams and +pedestrians. Alaric's teeth were clinched, and he was bareheaded, having +lost his hat as he caught the reins. Esther sat beside him, motionless +and silent, but with bloodless cheeks.</p> + +<p>They were on an avenue that led to the heart of the city. On one side +was a hill, up which cross streets climbed steeply. To keep on as they +were going meant certain destruction. All the strain that Alaric could +bring to bear on the reins did not serve to check the headlong speed of +the hard-mouthed ponies. With each instant their blind terror seemed to +increase. Several side streets leading up the hill had already been +passed, and another was close at hand. Beyond it was a mass of teams and +cable-cars.</p> + +<p>"Hold on for your life!" panted Alaric in the ear of the girl who sat +beside him.</p> + +<p>As he spoke he dropped one rein, threw all his weight on the other, and +at the same instant brought the whip down with a stinging cut on the +right-hand side of the off horse. The frenzied animal instinctively +sprang to the left, both yielded to the heavy tug of that rein, and the +team was turned into the side street. The cart slewed across the smooth +asphalt, lunged perilously to one side, came within a hair's-breadth of +upsetting, and then righted. Two seconds later the mad fright of the +ponies was checked by pure exhaustion half-way up the steep hill-side. +There they stood panting and trembling, while a crowd of excited +spectators gathered about them with offers of assistance and advice.</p> + +<p>"Do they seem to be all right?" asked Alaric.</p> + +<p>"All right, sir, far as I can see," replied one of the men, who was +examining the quivering animals and their harness.</p> + +<p>"Then if you will kindly help me turn them around, and will lead them to +the foot of the hill, I think they will be quiet enough to drive on +without giving any more trouble," said the boy.</p> + +<p>When this was done, and Alaric, after cordially thanking those who had +aided him, had driven away, one of the men exclaimed, as he gazed after +the vanishing carriage:</p> + +<p>"Plucky young chap that!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied another; "and doesn't seem to be a bit of a snob, like +most of them wealthy fellows, either."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Alaric was tendering the reins to the girl who had sat so +quietly by his side without an outcry or a word of suggestion during the +whole exciting episode.</p> + +<p>"Won't you drive now, Cousin Esther?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I will not, Alaric. I feel ashamed of myself for presuming to +take the reins from you before, and you may be certain that I shall +never attempt to do such a thing again. The way you managed the whole +affair was simply splendid. And oh, Cousin Rick! to think that I should +have called <i>you</i> a Miss Nancy! Just as you were about to save my life, +too! I can never forgive myself—never."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes you can," laughed Alaric, "for it is true—that is, it was true; +for I can see now that I have been a regular Miss Nancy sort of a fellow +all my life. That is what made me feel so badly when you said it. Nobody +ever dared tell me before, and so it came as an unpleasant surprise. +Now, though, I am glad you said it."</p> + +<p>"And you will never give anybody in the whole world a chance to say such +a thing again, will you?" asked the girl, eagerly. "And you will go +right to work at learning how to do the things that other boys do, won't +you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered Alaric, doubtfully. "I'd like to well enough; +but I don't know just how to begin. You see, I'm too old to learn from +the little boys, and the big fellows won't have anything to do with such +a duffer as I am. They've all heard too much about my weak heart."</p> + +<p>"Then I'd go away to some place where nobody knows you, and make a fresh +start. You might go out on one of your father's ranches and learn to be +a cowboy, or up into those great endless forests that I saw on Puget +Sound the other day and live in a logging camp. It is such a glorious, +splendid life, and there is so much to be done up in that country. Oh +dear! if I were only a boy, and going to be a man, wouldn't I get there +just as quickly as I could, and learn how to do things, so that when I +grew up I could go right ahead and do them?"</p> + +<p>"All that sounds well," said Alaric, dubiously, "but I know father will +never let me go to any such places. He thinks such a life would kill me. +Besides, he says that as I shall never have to work, there is no need +for me to learn how."</p> + +<p>"But you must work," responded Esther, stoutly. "Every one must, or else +be very unhappy. Papa says that the happiest people in the world are +those who work the hardest when it is time for work and play the hardest +in play-time. But where are you driving to? This isn't the way home."</p> + +<p>"I am going to get a new hat and gloves," answered the boy, "for I don't +want any one at the house to know of our runaway. They'd never let me +drive the ponies again if they found it out."</p> + +<p>"It would be a shame if they didn't, after the way you handled them just +now," exclaimed Esther, indignantly.</p> + +<p>Just then they stopped before a fashionable hat-store on Kearney +Street, and while Alaric was debating whether he ought to leave the +ponies long enough to step inside he was recognized, and a clerk +hastened out to receive his order.</p> + +<p>"Hat and gloves," said Alaric. "You know the sizes."</p> + +<p>The clerk answered, "Certainly, Mr. Todd," bowed, and disappeared in the +store.</p> + +<p>"See those lovely gray 'Tams' in the window, Cousin Rick!" said Esther. +"Why don't you get one of them? It would be just the thing to wear in +the woods."</p> + +<p>"All right," replied the boy; "I will."</p> + +<p>So when the clerk reappeared with a stylish derby hat and a dozen pair +of gloves Alaric put the former on, said he would keep the gloves, and +at the same time requested that one of the gray Tams might be done up +for him.</p> + +<p>As this order was filled, and the ponies were headed towards home, +Esther said: "Why, Cousin Rick, you didn't pay for your things!"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the boy, "I never do."</p> + +<p>"You didn't even ask the prices, either."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," laughed the other. "Why should I? They were things that +I had to have anyway, and so what would be the use of asking the prices? +Besides, I don't think I ever did such a thing in my life."</p> + +<p>"Well," sighed the girl, "it must be lovely to shop in that way. Now I +never bought anything without first finding out if I could afford it; +and as for gloves, I know I never bought more than one pair at a time."</p> + +<p>"Really?" said Alaric, with genuine surprise. "I didn't know they sold +less than a dozen pair at a time. I wish I had known it, for I only +wanted one pair. I've got so many at home now that they are a bother."</p> + +<p>That very evening the lad spoke to his father about going on a ranch and +learning to be a cowboy. Unfortunately his brother John overheard him, +and greeted the proposition with shouts of laughter. Even Amos Todd, +while mildly rebuking his eldest son, could not help smiling at the +absurdity of the request. Then, turning to the mortified lad, he said, +kindly but decidedly:</p> + +<p>"You don't know what you are asking, Allie, my boy, and I couldn't think +for a moment of allowing you to attempt such a thing. The excitement of +that kind of life would kill you in less than no time. Ask anything in +reason, and I shall be only too happy to gratify you; but don't make +foolish requests."</p> + +<p>When Alaric reported this failure to Esther a little later, she said, +very gravely:</p> + +<p>"Then, Cousin Rick, there is only one thing left for you to do. You must +run away."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>ALARIC TAKES A FIRST LESSON</h3> + + +<p>On the day following that of the runaway, Esther Dale resumed her +position as a personally conducted tourist, and departed from San +Francisco, leaving Alaric to feel that he had lost the first real friend +he had ever known. Her influence remained with him, however, and as he +thought of her words and example his determination to enter upon some +different form of life became indelibly fixed.</p> + +<p>That very day he drove again to the park, this time with only his groom +for company, and went directly to the place where the game of baseball +had been in progress the afternoon before. As he hoped, another was +about to begin, though there were not quite enough players to make two +full nines. Hearing one of the boys say this, and discovering an +acquaintance among them, Alaric jumped from his cart, and, going up to +him, asked to be allowed to fill one of the vacant positions.</p> + +<p>Reg Barker was freckle-faced and red-headed, clad in flannels, with +sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and was adjusting a catcher's mask to +his face when Alaric approached. As the latter made known his desire, +Reg Barker, who was extremely jealous of the other's wealth and fame as +a traveller, regarded him for a moment with amazement, and then burst +into a shout of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Hi, fellows!" he called, "here is a good one—best I ever heard! Here's +Allie Todd, kid gloves and all, wants to play first base. What do you +say—shall we give him a show?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," shouted one; "No," cried another, as the boys crowded about the +two, gazing at Alaric curiously, as though he belonged to some different +species.</p> + +<p>"We might make him captain of the nine," called out one boy, who had +just gone to the bat.</p> + +<p>"No, he'd do better as umpire," suggested Reg Barker. "Don't you see +he's dressed for it? I don't know, though; I'm afraid that would come +under the head of cruelty to children, and we'd have the society down on +us."</p> + +<p>As Alaric, with a crimson face and a choking in his throat, sought in +vain for some outlet of escape from his tormentors who surrounded him, +and at the same time longed with a bitter longing for the power to +annihilate them, a lad somewhat older than the others forced his way +through the throng and demanded to know what was the row. He was Dave +Carncross, the pitcher, and one of the best amateur players of his age +on the coast.</p> + +<p>"It's Miss Allie Todd," explained Reg Barker, "and her ladyship is +offering to show us how to play ball."</p> + +<p>"Shut up, Red Top," commanded the new-comer, threateningly. "When I want +any of your chaff I'll let you know." Then turning to Alaric, he said, +pleasantly, "Now, young un, tell me all about it yourself."</p> + +<p>"There isn't much to tell," replied the boy, in a low tone, and with an +instinctive warming of his heart towards the sturdy lad who had come to +his rescue. "I wanted to learn how to play ball, and knowing Reg Barker, +asked him to teach me; that's all."</p> + +<p>"And he insulted you, like the young brute he is. I see. Red Top, if +you won't learn manners any other way I shall have to thrash them into +you. So look out for yourself. Now, you new fellow, your name's Todd, +isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And your father is Amos Todd, the millionaire?"</p> + +<p>Alaric admitted that such was the case.</p> + +<p>"Well, I know you, or, rather, my father knows your father. In fact, I +think they have some business together; and after this whenever you +choose to come out here if I'm around I'll see that you are treated +decently. As for learning to play ball, the mere fact that you want to +shows that you are made of good stuff, and I don't mind giving you a +lesson right now. So, stand out here, and let's see if you can catch."</p> + +<p>Thus saying, the stalwart young pitcher, who held a ball in his hand, +ran back a few rods, and, with a seemingly careless swing of his arm, +threw the ball straight and swift as an arrow directly at Alaric, who +instinctively held out his hands.</p> + +<p>Had he undertaken to stop a spent cannon-ball the boy could hardly have +been more amazed at the result. As the ball dropped to the ground he +felt as though he had grasped a handful of red-hot coals. Both his kid +gloves were split right across the palms, and the smart of his hands was +so great that, in spite of his efforts to restrain them, unbidden tears +sprang to his eyes.</p> + +<p>A shout of laughter arose from the spectators of this practical lesson; +but Dave Carncross, running up to him and recovering the dropped ball, +said, cheerily: "Never mind those duffers, young un. They couldn't do +any better themselves once, and you'll do better than any of them some +time. First lessons in experience always come high, and have to be paid +for on the spot; but they are worth the price, and you'll know better +next time than to stop a hot ball with stiff arms. What you want to do +is to let 'em give with the ball. See, like this."</p> + +<p>Here Dave picked up a bat, struck the ball straight up in the air until +it seemed to be going out of sight, and running under it as it +descended, caught it as deftly and gently as though it had been a wad of +feathers.</p> + +<p>"There," said he, "you have learned by experience the wrong way of +catching a ball, and seen the right way. I can't stop to teach you any +more now, for our game is waiting. What you want to do, though, is to go +down town and get a ball—a 'regulation dead,' mind—take it home, and +practise catching until you have learned the trick and covered your +hands with blisters. Then come back here, and I will show you something +else. Good-bye—so long!"</p> + +<p>With this the good-natured fellow ran off to take his place in the +pitcher's box, leaving Alaric filled with gratitude, and glowing with +the first thrill of real boyish life that he had ever known. For a while +he stood and watched the game, his still-tingling hands causing him to +appreciate as never before the beauty of every successful catch that was +made. He wondered if pitching a ball could be as difficult as catching +one, or even any harder than it looked. It certainly appeared easy +enough. He admired the reckless manner in which the players flung +themselves at the bases, sliding along the ground as though bent on +ploughing it with their noses; while the ability to hit one of those +red-hot balls with a regulation bat seemed to him little short of +marvellous. In fact, our lad was, for the first time in his life, +viewing a game of baseball through his newly discovered loophole of +experience, and finding it a vastly different affair from the same scene +shrouded by an unrent veil of ignorance.</p> + +<p>After he had driven away from the fascinating game, his mind was still +so full of it that when, in passing the children's playground, he was +invited by Miss Sue Barker, sister of red-headed Reg, to join in a game +of croquet, he declined, politely enough, but with such an unwonted tone +of contempt in his voice as caused the girl to stare after him in +amazement.</p> + +<p>He procured a regulation baseball before going home, and then practised +with it in the court-yard behind the Todd palace until his hands were +red and swollen. Their condition was so noticeable at dinnertime that +his father inquired into the cause. When the boy confessed that he had +been practising with a baseball, his brother John laughed loud and long, +and asked him if he intended to become a professional.</p> + +<p>His sister only said, "Oh, Allie! How can you care to do anything so +common? And where did you pick up the notion? I am sure you never saw +anything of the kind in France."</p> + +<p>"No," replied the boy; "I only wish I had."</p> + +<p>His father said, "It's all right, my son, so long as you play gently; +but you must be very careful not to over-exert yourself. Remember your +poor weak heart and the consequences of too violent exercise."</p> + +<p>"Oh, bother my weak heart!" cried the boy, impatiently. "I don't believe +my heart's any weaker than anybody else's heart, and the doctor who said +so was an old muff."</p> + +<p>At this unheard-of outbreak on the part of the long-suffering youngest +member of the family, John and Margaret glanced significantly at each +other, as though they suspected his mind was becoming affected as well +as his body; while his father said, soothingly, as though to an ailing +child:</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Allie, let it go. I am sorry that you should forget your +manners; but if the subject is distasteful to you, we won't talk of it +any more."</p> + +<p>"But I want to talk of it, father. I am sorry that I spoke as I did just +now; but you can't know what an unhappy thing it is to be living on in +the way I am, without doing anything that amounts to anything, or will +ever lead to anything. Won't you let me go on to a ranch, or somewhere +where I can learn to be a man?"</p> + +<p>"Of course, my boy," replied Amos Todd, still speaking as soothingly as +he knew how. "I will let you go anywhere you please, and do what you +please, just as quickly as I can find the right person to take care of +you, and see that you do nothing injurious. How would you like to go to +France with Margaret and me this summer? I am thinking of making the +trip."</p> + +<p>"I would rather go to China, or anywhere else in the world," replied the +boy, vehemently. "I am tired to death of France and Germany and +Switzerland and Italy, and all the other wretched European places, with +their <i>bads</i> and <i>bains</i> and <i>spas</i> and Herr Doctors and <i>malades</i>. I +want to go into a world of live people, and strong people, and people +who don't know whether they have any hearts or not, and don't care."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, son, I will try and arrange something for you, only don't +get excited," said Amos Todd, at the same time burying himself in his +evening paper so as to put an end to the uncomfortable interview.</p> + +<p>In spite of the unsatisfactory ending of this conversation, Alaric felt +greatly encouraged by it, and during the week that followed he devoted +himself as assiduously to learning to catch a baseball as though that +were the one preparation needful for plunging into a world of live +people. Morning, noon, and evening he kept his groom so busy passing +ball with him that the exercising of the ponies was sadly neglected in +consequence. With all this practice, and in spite of bruised hands and +lame fingers, he at length became so expert that he began to think of +hunting up his friend Dave Carncross, and presenting himself for an +examination in the art of ball-catching.</p> + +<p>Every now and then he asked his father if he had not thought of some +plan for him, and the invariable answer was: "It's all right, Allie; +I've got a scheme on foot that's working so that I can tell you about it +in a few days."</p> + +<p>In the meantime the date of Amos Todd's departure for Europe with his +daughter was fixed. Shortly before its arrival the former called Alaric +aside, and, with a beaming face, announced that he had at length +succeeded in making most satisfactory arrangements.</p> + +<p>"You said you wanted to go to China, you know," he continued; "so I have +laid out a fine trip for you to China, and India, and Egypt, and all +sorts of places, and persuaded a most excellent couple, a gentleman and +his wife, to go along and take care of you. He is a professor and she is +a doctor, so you will be well looked after, and won't have the least bit +of responsibility or worry."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE "EMPRESS" LOSES A PASSENGER</h3> + + +<p>Professor Maximus Sonntagg, a big man with a beard, and his wife, Mrs. +Dr. Ophelia Sonntagg, who was thin and mysterious, had come out of the +East to seek their fortunes in the Golden City about a year before, but +up to this time without any great amount of success. The former was a +professor of almost everything in the shape of ancient and modern art, +languages, history, and a lot of other things, concerning all of which +he wrote articles for the papers, always signing his name to them in +full. The Mrs. Doctor had learned the art of saying little, looking +wise, and shaking her head as she felt the pulse of her patients.</p> + +<p>These people had managed to scrape an acquaintance with Amos Todd, whom +the Professor declared to be the only patron of art in San Francisco +worth knowing, and to whom he gave some really valuable advice +concerning the purchase of certain paintings. Thus it happened that when +the busy millionaire, in seeking to provide a safe and congenial +amusement for the son whom he firmly believed to be an invalid, +conceived the idea of sending him around the world by way of China, he +also thought of the Sonntaggs as most suitable travelling companions for +him. Where else could he find such a combination of tutor and physician, +a man of the world to take his place as father, and a cultivated woman +to act as mother to his motherless boy?</p> + +<p>When he proposed the plan to the Sonntaggs, they declared that they +would not think of giving up the prosperous business they had +established in San Francisco, even for the sake of obliging their dear +friend Mr. Amos Todd. With this the millionaire made them an offer of +such unheard-of munificence that, with pretended reluctance, they +finally accepted it, and he went on his way rejoicing.</p> + +<p>The next evening the Sonntaggs dined at Amos Todd's house for the +purpose of making Alaric's acquaintance. The Professor patted him on the +shoulder, and, in a patronizing manner, hoped they should learn much and +enjoy much together. The Mrs. Doctor surveyed him critically, and held +his hand until the boy wondered if she would ever let it go. Finally she +shook her head, sighed deeply, and, turning to his father, said:</p> + +<p>"I understand the dear boy's case thoroughly. What he needs is +intelligent treatment and motherly care. I can give him both, and +unhesitatingly promise to restore him to you at the end of a year, if +nothing occurs to prevent, strong, well, and an ornament to the name of +Todd."</p> + +<p>Alaric found no difficulty in forming an opinion of the Sonntaggs, and +wondered if going to France with his father and sister would not be +preferable to travelling in their company. So occupied was he with this +question that he hardly ate a mouthful of the sumptuous dinner served in +honor of the guests—a fact that was noted with significant glances by +all at the table.</p> + +<p>It was planned that very evening that the Pacific should be crossed in +one of the superb steamships sailing from Vancouver, in British +Columbia, and a despatch was sent off at once to engage staterooms. The +journey was to be begun two days later, for that was the date on which +Amos Todd and his daughter were to start for France; and though the +<i>Empress</i> would not sail from Vancouver for a week after that, the house +would be closed, and it was thought best for Alaric to travel up the +coast by easy stages.</p> + +<p>During those two days of grace the poor lad's mind was in a ferment. He +had no desire to go to China or anywhere else outside of his own +country. Having travelled nearly all his life, he was so tired of it +that travelling now seemed to him one of the most unpleasant things a +boy could be compelled to undertake. He did not want to go to France, of +course, and decided that even China in company with the Sonntaggs would +be better than Europe.</p> + +<p>Still, he tried to escape from going away at all, and asked his brother +John to let him stay with him and go to work in the bank; but John Todd +answered that he was too busy a man to have the care of an invalid, and +that their father's plan was by far the best. Then, as a last resort, +Alaric went to the park, hoping to meet Dave Carncross, and determined, +if he did, to lay the whole case before him, and ask his advice. Even +here fate seemed against him; for, from a strange boy of whom he made +inquiry, he learned that Carncross had left the city a day or two +before, though where he had gone the boy did not know.</p> + +<p>So preparations for the impending journey went busily forward, and +Alaric, who felt very much like a helpless victim of misfortune, could +find no excuse for delaying them. Even in the preparations being made +for his own comfort he was given no active part. Everything that he was +supposed to need and did not already possess was procured for him. His +father presented him with a superb travelling-bag, fitted with all +possible toilet accessories in silver and cut glass, but the boy would +infinitely have preferred a baseball bat, and a chance to use it.</p> + +<p>At length the day for starting arrived, and, with as great reluctance as +he had ever felt in his life, Alaric entered the carriage that was to +convey the Todds to the Oakland ferry. Crossing the bay, they found the +Sonntaggs awaiting them on the other side, where the whole party entered +Amos Todd's palatial private car that was attached to the Overland +Express. In this way they travelled together as far as Sacramento, where +Alaric bade his father and sister good-bye. Then he and his newly +appointed guardians boarded the special car provided for them, and in +which they were to proceed by the famous Shasta route to the far North.</p> + +<p>Up to this point the Sonntaggs had proved very attentive, and had +striven by every means to make themselves agreeable to their +fellow-travellers. From here on, however, the Professor spent most of +his time in smoking and sleeping, while his wife devoted herself to +reading novels, a great stack of which had been provided for the +journey. Alaric, thus left to his own devices, gazed drearily from the +car window, rebelling inwardly at the lonely grandeur with which he was +surrounded, and wishing with all his heart that he were poor enough to +be allowed to travel in one of the ordinary coaches, in which were +several boys of his own age, who seemed to be having a tantalizingly +good time. They were clad in flannels, knickerbockers, and heavy +walking-shoes, and Alaric noted with satisfaction that they wore gray +Tam o' Shanter caps, such as he had procured at Esther Dale's +suggestion, and was now wearing for the first time.</p> + +<p>They left the train at Sisson, and Alaric, standing on the platform of +his car, gathered from their conversation that they were about to climb +Mount Shasta, the superb rock-ribbed giant that lifted his snow-crowned +head more than fourteen thousand feet in the air a few miles from that +point. What wouldn't he give to be allowed to join the merry party and +make the adventurous trip with them? He had been familiar with mountains +by sight all his life, and had always longed to climb one, but had never +been given the opportunity.</p> + +<p>It was small consolation to notice one of the boys draw the attention of +the others to him, and overhear him say: "Look at that chap travelling +in a special car like a young millionaire. I say, fellows, that must be +great fun, and I'd like to try it just for once, wouldn't you?"</p> + +<p>The others agreed that they would, and then the group passed out of +hearing, while Alaric said to himself: "I only wish they could try +travelling all alone in a special car, just to find out how little fun +there is in it."</p> + +<p>The following morning Portland, Oregon, was reached, and here the car +was side-tracked that its occupants might spend a day or two in the +city. The Sonntaggs seemed to have many acquaintances here, for whom +they held a reception in the car, gave a dinner at the Hotel Portland, +and ordered carriages in which to drive about, all at Amos Todd's +expense. In these diversions Alaric was at liberty to join or not, as he +pleased, and he generally preferred to remain behind or to wander about +by himself.</p> + +<p>The same programme was repeated at Tacoma and Seattle, in the State of +Washington, and at Vancouver, in British Columbia. In the last-named +place Alaric's chief amusement lay in watching the lading of the great +white ship that was to bear him away, and the busy life of the port, +with its queer medley of Yankees and Britishers, Indians and Chinamen, +tourists, sailors, and stevedores. The last-named especially excited his +envious admiration—they were such big men, and so strong.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>ALARIC MAKES HIS FIRST DECISION</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>At length the morning of sailing arrived, and as the mighty steamship +moved majestically out of the harbor, and, leaving the brown waters of +Burrard Inlet behind, swept on into the open blue of the Gulf of +Georgia, the boy was overwhelmed with a great wave of homesickness. +Standing alone at the extreme after end of the promenade-deck, he +watched the fading land with strained eyes, and felt like an outcast and +a wanderer on the face of the earth.</p> + +<p>After a while the ship began to thread a bewildering maze of islands, in +which Professor Sonntagg made a slight effort to interest his moody +young charge; but finding this a difficult task, he quickly gave it up, +and joined some acquaintances in the smoking-room.</p> + +<p>Alaric had not known that the <i>Empress</i> was to make one stop before +taking her final departure from the coast. So when she was made fast to +the outer wharf at Victoria, on the island of Vancouver, the largest +city in British Columbia, and its capital, he felt like one who receives +an unexpected reprieve from an unpleasant fate.</p> + +<p>As it was announced that she would remain here two hours, the Sonntaggs, +according to their custom, at once engaged a carriage to take them to +the most interesting places in the city. This plan had been suggested by +Amos Todd himself, who had bidden them spare no expense or pains to show +his son all that was worth seeing in the various cities they might +visit; and that the boy generally declined to accompany them on these +excursions was surely not their fault—at least, they did not regard it +so.</p> + +<p>The truth was that Alaric had taken a dislike to these pretentious +people from the very first, and it had grown so much stronger on closer +acquaintance that now he was willing to do almost anything to avoid +their company. Thus on this occasion he allowed them to drive off +without him, while he strolled alone to the head of the wharf, tossing +his beloved baseball, which he had carefully brought with him on this +journey, from hand to hand as he walked.</p> + +<p>"Hello! Give us a catch," shouted a cheery voice; and, looking up, +Alaric saw a merry-faced, squarely built lad of his own age standing in +an expectant attitude a short distance from him. Although he was roughly +dressed, he had a bright, self-reliant look that was particularly +attractive to our young traveller, who without hesitation tossed him the +ball. They passed it back and forth for a minute, and then the stranger +lad, saying, "Good-bye; I must be getting along; wish I could stop and +get better acquainted, though," ran on with a laugh, and disappeared in +the crowd.</p> + +<p>An hour later Alaric was nearly half a mile from the wharf, when the +steamer's hoarse whistle sounded a warning note that signified a speedy +departure. He turned and began to walk slowly in that direction, and a +few minutes later a carriage containing the Sonntaggs dashed by without +its occupants noticing him.</p> + +<p>At sight of them Alaric paused. A queer look came into his face; it grew +very pale, and then he deliberately sat down on a log by the way-side. +There came another blast of the ship's whistle, and then the tall masts, +which he could just see, began slowly to move. The <i>Empress</i>, with the +Sonntaggs on board, had started for China, and one of her passengers was +left behind.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>FIRST MATE BONNY BROOKS</h3> + + +<p>Alaric Todd's sensations as he sat on that log and watched the ship, in +which he was supposed to be a passenger, steam away without him were +probably as curious as any ever experienced by a boy. He had +deliberately abandoned a life of luxury, as well as a position that most +people are striving with all their energies to obtain, and accepted in +its place—what? He did not know, and for the moment he did not care. He +only knew that the Sonntaggs were gone beyond a chance of return at +least for some weeks, and that during that time there was no possible +way in which they could reach him or communicate with his family.</p> + +<p>He realized that he was in a strange city, not one of whose busy +population either knew or cared to know a thing about him. But what of +that? If they did not know him they could never call him by the hated +name of "Allie." If he succeeded in making friends, it would be because +of himself, and not on account of his father's wealth. Above all, those +now about him did not know and should never know, if he could keep it, +that he was thought to be possessed of a weak heart. Certainly if +excitement could injure his heart, it ought to be completely ruined at +the present moment, for he had never been so excited in his life, and +doubted if he ever should be again.</p> + +<p>With it all the lad was filled with such an exulting sense of liberty +that he wanted to jump and shout and share with every passer-by the +glorious news that at length he was free—free to be a boy among boys, +and to learn how to become a man among men. He did not shout, nor did he +confide his happiness to any of those who were coming up from the wharf, +where they had just witnessed the departure of the great ship; but he +did jump from the log on which he had been sitting and fling his +baseball high in the air. As it descended and he caught it with +practised skill, he was greeted by the approving remark: "Good catch! +Couldn't do it better myself!" and looking round he saw the lad with +whom he had passed ball a short time before.</p> + +<p>"It seems mighty good," continued the stranger, "to see a baseball +again, and meet a fellow who knows how to catch one. These chaps over +here don't know anything about it, and I've hardly seen a ball since I +left Massachusetts. You don't throw, though, half as well as you catch."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Alaric, "I haven't learned that yet. You see, I've only +just begun."</p> + +<p>"That so? Wish I had a chance to show you something about it, then, for +I used to play on the nine at home."</p> + +<p>"I wish you could, for I want awfully to learn. Why can't you?"</p> + +<p>"Because I don't live here, and, do you know, I didn't think you did, +either. When I saw you awhile ago, I had a sort of idea that you +belonged aboard the <i>Empress</i>, and were going in her to China, and I've +been more than half envying you ever since. Funny, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Awfully!" responded Alaric. "And I'm glad it isn't true, for I don't +know of anything I should hate more than to be going to China in the +<i>Empress</i>. But I say, let's stop in here and get something to eat, for +I'm hungry—aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I am," laughed the other; and with this the two boys, who +were already strolling towards the city together, turned into the little +road-side bake-shop that had just attracted Alaric's attention. Here he +ordered half a sheet of buns, two tarts, and two glasses of milk. These +being served on a small table, Alaric paid for them, and the newly made +acquaintances sat down to enjoy their feast at leisure.</p> + +<p>"What I want to do," said Alaric, continuing their interrupted +conversation, "is to get back to the States as quickly as possible."</p> + +<p>"That's easy enough," replied the other, holding his tart in both hands +and devouring it with infinite relish. "There's a steamer leaves here at +eight o'clock this evening for Seattle and Tacoma. But you don't live +here then, after all?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't live here, nor do I know any one who does, and I want to +get away as quickly as I can; for I am looking for work, and should +think the chances for finding it were better in the States than here."</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> looking for work?" said the other, slowly, and as though doubting +whether he had heard aright. At the same time he glanced curiously at +Alaric's white hands and neatly fitting coat. "You don't look like a +fellow who is looking for work."</p> + +<p>"I am, though," laughed Alaric; "and as I have just spent the last cent +of money I had in the world, I must find something to do right away. +That's the reason I want to get back to the States; but I don't know +about that steamer. I suppose they'd charge something to take me, +wouldn't they?"</p> + +<p>"Well, rather," responded the other. "But I say, Mister—By-the-way, +what is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Dale—Rick Dale," replied Alaric, promptly, for he had anticipated +this question, and was determined to drop the Todd part of his name, at +least for the present. "But there isn't any Mister about it. It's just +plain Rick Dale."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, plain Rick Dale," said the other, "my name is Bonny +Brooks—short for Bonnicastle, you know; and I must say that you are the +most cheerful-appearing fellow to be in the fix you say you are that I +ever met. When I get strapped and out of a job I sometimes don't laugh +for a whole day, especially if I don't have anything to eat in that +time."</p> + +<p>"That's something I never tried, and I didn't know any one ever did for +a whole day," remarked Alaric. "How queer it must seem!"</p> + +<p>"Lots of people try it; but they don't unless they have to, and it don't +seem queer at all," replied Bonny, soberly. "But what kind of work are +you looking for, and what pay do you expect?"</p> + +<p>"I am looking for anything I can find to do, and will work for any pay +that is offered."</p> + +<p>"It would seem as if a fellow ought to get plenty to do on those terms," +said Bonny, "though it isn't so easy as you might think, for I've tried +it. How do you happen to be looking for work, anyway? Where is your +home, and where are your folks?"</p> + +<p>"My mother is dead," replied Alaric, "and I suppose my father is in +France, though just where he is I don't know. Our home was in San +Francisco, and before he left he tried to fix things all right for me; +but they turned out all wrong, and so I am here looking for something to +do."</p> + +<p>"If that don't beat anything I ever heard of!" cried Bonny Brooks, in a +tone of genuine amazement. "If I didn't know better, I should think you +were telling my story, or that we were twins; for my mother is dead, and +my father, when last heard from, was on his way to France. You see, he +was a ship captain, and we lived in Sandport, on Cape Cod, where, after +my mother died, he fixed up a home for me with an aunt, and left money +enough to keep me at school until he came back from a voyage to South +America and France. We heard of his reaching Brazil and leaving there, +but never anything more; and when a year passed Aunt Nancy said she +couldn't support me any longer. So she got me a berth as cabin-boy on a +bark bound to San Francisco, and then to the Sound for lumber to China. +I wanted to go to China fast enough, but the captain treated me so badly +that I couldn't stand it any longer, and so skipped just before the ship +sailed from Port Blakely. The meanest part of it all was that I had to +forfeit my pay, leave my dunnage on board, and light out with only what +I had on my back."</p> + +<p>"That's my fix exactly," cried Alaric, delightedly. "I mean," he added, +recollecting himself, "that my baggage got carried off, and as I haven't +heard from it since, I don't own a thing in the world except the +clothing I have on."</p> + +<p>"And a baseball," interposed Bonny.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, a baseball, of course," replied Alaric, soberly, as though that +were a most matter-of-fact possession for a boy in search of employment. +"But what did you do after your ship sailed away without you?"</p> + +<p>"Starved for a couple of days, and then did odd jobs about the river for +my grub, until I got a chance to ship as one of the crew of the sloop +<i>Fancy</i>, that runs freight and passengers between here and the Sound. +That was only about a month ago, and now I'm first mate."</p> + +<p>"You are?" cried Alaric, at the same time regarding his young companion +with a profound admiration and vastly increased respect. "Seems to me +that is the most rapid promotion I ever heard of. What a splendid sailor +you must be!"</p> + +<p>Although the speaker was so ignorant of nautical matters that he did not +know a sloop from a schooner, or from a full-rigged ship, for that +matter, he had read enough sea stories to realize that the first mate of +any vessel was often the most important character on board.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bonny, modestly, "I do know a good deal about boats; for, +you see, I was brought up in a boating town, and have handled them one +way and another ever since I can remember. I haven't been first mate +very long, though, because the man who was that only left to-day."</p> + +<p>"What made him?" asked Alaric, who could not understand how any one, +having once attained to such an enviable position, could willingly give +it up.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he had some trouble with the captain, and seemed to think it was +time he got paid something on account of his wages, so that he could buy +a shirt and a pair of boots."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't the captain pay him?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose he didn't have the money."</p> + +<p>"Then why didn't the man get the things he wanted, and have them +charged?"</p> + +<p>"That's a good one," laughed Bonny. "Because the storekeeper wouldn't +trust him, of course."</p> + +<p>"I never heard of such a thing," declared Alaric, indignantly. "I +thought people could always have things charged if they wanted to. I'm +sure I never found any trouble in doing it."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you?" said Bonny. "Well, I have, then," and he spoke so queerly +that Alaric realized in a moment that he had very nearly betrayed his +secret. Hastening to change the subject, he asked:</p> + +<p>"If you took the mate's place, who took yours?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody has taken it yet, and that's what I'm after now—hunting for a +new hand. The captain couldn't come himself, because he's got rheumatism +so bad that it's all he can do to crawl out on deck and back again. +Besides, it's the first mate's place to ship the crew, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Then," asked Alaric, excitedly, "why don't you take me? I'll work hard +and do anything you say?"</p> + +<p>"You?" cried Bonny, regarding his companion with amazement. "Have you +ever sailed a boat or helped work a vessel?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Alaric, humbly; "but I am sure I can learn, and I +shouldn't expect any pay until I did."</p> + +<p>"I should say not," remarked the first mate of the <i>Fancy</i>, "though most +greenhorns do. Still, that is one thing in your favor. Another is that +you can catch a ball as well as any fellow I ever knew, and a chap who +can do that can learn to do most anything. So I really have a great mind +to take you on trial."</p> + +<p>"Do you think the captain will agree to it?" asked Alaric, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Of course he will, if I say so," replied Bonny Brooks, confidently; +"for, as I just told you, the first mate always hires the crew."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>PREPARING TO BE A SAILOR</h3> + + +<p>During the conversation just recorded the boys by no means neglected +their luncheon, for both of them had been very hungry, and by the time +they arrived at an understanding in regard to Alaric's engagement not a +crumb of food nor a drop of milk was left before them. While to Bonny +Brooks this had proved a most welcome and enjoyable repast, to Alaric it +marked a most important era of his life. To begin with, it was the first +meal he had ever paid for out of his own pocket, and this alone was +sufficient to give it a flavor that he had never discovered in the rich +food by which his appetite had heretofore been tempted.</p> + +<p>Then during this simple meal he had entered upon his first friendship +with a boy of his own age, for the liking that he had already taken for +Bonny Brooks was evidently returned. Above all, during that brief +lunch-hour he had conducted his first independent business operation, +and now found himself engaged to fill a responsible position in active +life. To be sure, he was only taken on trial, but if good intentions and +a determination to do his very best could command success, then was his +position assured. How fortunate he was, after all! An opening, a chance +to prove what he could do, was all that he had wanted, and behold! it +was his within the first hour of his independent life. How queer that it +had come through his baseball too, and how strangely one thing seemed +to lead to another!</p> + +<p>Now Alaric was impatient for a sight of the vessel that was to be the +scene of his future labors, and anxious to begin them. He had so little +idea of what a sloop was that he even wondered if it would be propelled +by sails or steam. He was inclined to think that it must be the latter, +for Bonny had spoken of his craft as carrying passengers, and Alaric had +never known any passenger boats except such as were driven by steam. So +he pictured the <i>Fancy</i> as a steamer, not so large as the <i>Empress</i>, of +course, but fairly good-sized, manned by engineers, stokers, stewards, +and a crew of sailors. With this image in his mind, he regarded his +companion as one who had indeed attained a lofty position.</p> + +<p>So busy was our hero with these thoughts that for a full minute after +the lads left the bake-shop he did not utter a word. Bonny Brooks was +also occupied with a line of thought that caused him to glance +reflectively at his companion several times before he spoke. Finally he +broke out with:</p> + +<p>"I say, Rick Dale, I don't know about shipping you for a sailor, after +all. You see, you are dressed altogether too fine. Any one would take +you for the captain or maybe the owner if you were to go aboard in those +togs."</p> + +<p>"Would they?" asked Alaric, gazing dubiously down at his low-cut +patent-leather shoes, black silk socks, and light trousers accurately +creased and unbagged at the knees. Besides these he wore a vest and +sack-coat of fine black serge, an immaculate collar, about which was +knotted a silk neck-scarf, and a narrow-striped cheviot shirt, the cuffs +of which were fastened by gold sleeve-links. Across the front of his +vest, from pocket to pocket, extended a slender chain of twisted gold +and platinum, at one end of which was his watch, and at the other a gold +and platinum pencil-case.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they would," answered Bonny, with decision; "and you've got to +make a change somehow, or else our bargain must be called off, for you +could never become a sailor in that rig."</p> + +<p>Here was a difficulty on which Alaric had not counted, and it filled him +with dismay. "Couldn't I change suits with you?" he asked, anxiously. "I +shouldn't think mine would be too fine for a first mate."</p> + +<p>"Not if I know it," laughed Bonny. "They'd fit me too much one way and +not enough another. Besides, they are shore togs any way you look at +'em, and not at all the things to go to sea in. The cap'n would have a +fit if you should go aboard dressed as you are. So if you want to ship +with us, I'm afraid you'll have to buy a new outfit."</p> + +<p>"But I haven't any money, and you say they won't charge things in this +town."</p> + +<p>"Of course they won't if they don't know you; but you might spout your +ticker, and make a raise that way."</p> + +<p>"Might what?"</p> + +<p>"Shove up your watch. Leave it with your uncle, you know, until you +earned enough to buy it back."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean sell it?"</p> + +<p>"No. They'd ask too many questions if you tried to sell it, and wouldn't +give much more, anyway. I mean pawn it."</p> + +<p>"All right," replied Alaric. "I'm willing, only I don't know how."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll show you quick enough, if you really want to do it."</p> + +<p>As Alaric insisted that he was willing to do almost anything to procure +that coveted sailor's outfit, Bonny led him to a mean-looking shop, +above the door of which hung three golden balls. The dingy windows were +filled with a dusty miscellany of watches, pistols, and all sorts of +personal property, while the opening of the door set loose a musty odor +of old clothing. As this came pouring forth Alaric instinctively drew +back in disgust; but with a sudden thought that he could not afford to +be too fastidious in the new life he had chosen, he conquered his +repugnance to the place and followed Bonny inside.</p> + +<p>A gaunt old Hebrew in a soiled dressing-gown stood behind a small +counter. As Alaric glanced at him hesitatingly, Bonny opened their +business by saying, briskly:</p> + +<p>"Hello, uncle! How are you to-day? My friend here wants to make a raise +on his watch."</p> + +<p>"Let's see dot vatch," replied Mr. Isaacs, and Alaric handed it to him, +together with the chain and pencil-case. It was a fine Swiss +chronometer, with the monogram A.D.T. engraved on its back; and as the +pawnbroker tested the quality of its case and peered at the works, +Alaric noted his deliberate movements with nervous anxiety. Finally the +man said:</p> + +<p>"I gifs you den tollars on dot vatch mit der chain und pencil trown in."</p> + +<p>Alaric would have accepted this offer at once, but Bonny knew better.</p> + +<p>"Ten nothings!" he said. "You'll give us fifty dollars, uncle, or we'll +take it down to Levi's."</p> + +<p>"Feefty tollar! So hellup me grashus! I vould be alretty bankrupted of I +gif feefty tollars on effery vatch. Vat you dake me for?"</p> + +<p>"Take you for an old fraud," replied the unabashed first mate of the +<i>Fancy</i>. "Of course you would be bankrupted, as you ought to have been +long ago, if you gave fifty dollars on every turnip that is brought in; +but you could well afford to advance a hundred on this watch, and you +know it."</p> + +<p>"Veil, I tell you; I gifs t'venty-fife."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"'VELL, I TELL YOU. I GIFS YOU TVENTY-FIFE'"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"Fifty," said Bonny, firmly.</p> + +<p>"Dirty, und nod von cend more, so hellup me."</p> + +<p>"Fifty."</p> + +<p>"Dirty-fife?"</p> + +<p>"We'll split the difference, and call it forty-five."</p> + +<p>"I gifs you fordy oud of charidy, seeing you is so hart up."</p> + +<p>"It's a bargain," cried Bonny. "Hand over your cash."</p> + +<p>"How could you talk to him that way?" asked Alaric, admiringly, as the +boys left the shop, he minus his watch and chain, but with forty dollars +and a pawn-ticket in his pocket.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't once," laughed Bonny; "but it's one of the things poor folks +have to learn. If you are willing to let people impose on you they'll be +mighty quick to do it, and the only way is to bluff 'em from the start."</p> + +<p>The next place they entered was a sailor's slop-shop, in which were kept +all sorts of seafaring garments and accessories. Here, advised by Bonny, +Alaric invested fourteen dollars and seventy-five cents in a blue knit +jersey, or sweater, a pair of stout woollen trousers, two flannel +shirts, two suits of heavy underclothing, several pairs of cotton socks, +and a pair of canvas shoes.</p> + +<p>Expressing a desire to make a change of clothing at once, he was shown a +retired corner where he might do so, and from which he emerged a few +minutes later so altered in appearance that it is doubtful if his own +father would have recognized him.</p> + +<p>"That's something like it!" cried Bonny.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it?" replied Alaric, surveying himself with great satisfaction in +a mirror, and fully convinced that he now looked so like a sailor that +no one could possibly mistake him for anything else. "Don't you think, +though, that I ought to have the name of the sloop embroidered across +the front of this sweater? All the sailors I have ever seen had theirs +fixed that way."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it would be a good idea," replied Bonny, soberly, though +filled with inward laughter at the suggestion. "But perhaps you'd better +wait until you see if the ship suits you, and whether you stay with us +or not."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll stay," asserted Alaric. "There's no fear but what I will, if +you'll only keep me."</p> + +<p>"Going yachting, sir?" asked the shopkeeper, politely, as he carefully +folded Alaric's discarded suit of fine clothing.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," replied the boy, scornfully; "I'm going to be a sailor on +the sloop <i>Fancy</i>, and I wish you would send those things down to her at +once."</p> + +<p>Ere the man could recover from his astonishment at this request +sufficiently to make reply, Bonny interrupted, hastily:</p> + +<p>"Oh no, Rick! we'll take them with us. There isn't time to have 'em +sent."</p> + +<p>"I should guess not," remarked the shopkeeper, in a very different tone +from the one he had used before. "But say, young feller, if you're going +to be a sailor you'll want a bag, and I've got a second-hand one here +almost as good as new that I'll sell cheap. It come to me with a lot of +truck from the sale of a confiscated sealer; and seeing that it's got +another chap's name painted on it, I'll let you have it for one bob +tuppence-ha'penny, and that'll make even money between us."</p> + +<p>Thus saying, the man produced a stout canvas bag, such as a sailor uses +in place of a trunk. The name plainly painted across it, in black +letters, was "Philip Ryder", but Alaric said he didn't mind that, so he +took the bag, thrust his belongings, including his cherished baseball, +into it, and the two boys left the shop.</p> + +<p>"By-the-way," asked Alaric, hesitatingly, "don't I need to get some +brushes and things?"</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"Why, to brush my hair, and—"</p> + +<p>"Oh no," interrupted the other. "There's a comb on board, and, besides, +we can't stop for anything more. I've been gone so long now that I +expect the old man is madder'n a wet hen by this time."</p> + +<p>So Bonny led the way to the wharves, and to a narrow slip between two of +them that just then was occupied by but a single craft. She was a small +sloop, not over forty feet long, though of good beam, evidently very +old, and so dingy that it was hard to believe she had ever been painted. +Her sails, hanging unfurled in lazy jacks, were patched and discolored; +her running rigging was spliced, the standing rigging was sadly in need +of setting up, her iron-work was rusted, and her spars were gray with +age.</p> + +<p>"There's the old packet," said Bonny, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"Where?" asked Alaric, gazing vaguely down the slip and utterly ignoring +the disreputable craft close at hand.</p> + +<p>"Why, right here," answered the other, a trifle impatiently. "Don't you +see the name '<i>F-A-N-C-Y</i>' on her stern? She isn't much to look at, I +know, but she's a hummer to go, and a mighty good sea-boat. She's +awfully comfortable, too. Come aboard and I'll show you."</p> + +<p>With this the cheery young fellow, who had actually come to a belief +that the shabby old craft was all he claimed for her, tossed his +friend's recent purchase to the deck of the sloop, and began to clamber +after it down a rickety ladder.</p> + +<p>With all his bright visions of a minute before rudely dispelled, and +with a heart so heavy that he could find no words to express his +feelings, Alaric followed him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>CAPTAIN DUFF, OF THE SLOOP "FANCY"</h3> + + +<p>As the newly engaged crew of the sloop <i>Fancy</i> slowly and awkwardly +descended the slippery ladder leading down to his ship, he experienced +his first regrets at the decisive step he had taken, and doubts as to +its wisdom. The real character of the sloop as shown by a single glance +was so vastly different from his ideal, that for a moment it did not +seem as though he could accept the disreputable old craft as even a +temporary home. Never before had he realized how he loathed dirt and +disorder, and all things that offended his delicately trained senses. +Never before had he appreciated the cleanly and orderly forms of living +to which he had always been accustomed. He could not imagine it possible +to eat, sleep, or even exist on board such a craft as lay just beneath +him, and his impulse was to fly to some remote place where he should +never see nor hear of the <i>Fancy</i> again. But even as he was about to do +this the sound of Bonny's reassuring voice completely changed the +current of his thoughts.</p> + +<p>Was not the lad who had brought him to this place a very picture of +cheerful health, and just such a strong, active, self-reliant boy as he +longed to become? Surely what Bonny could endure he could! Perhaps +disagreeable things were necessary to the proper development of a boy. +That thought had never come to him before, but now he remembered how +much his hands had suffered before they were trained to catch a +regulation ball.</p> + +<p>Besides all this, had not Bonny hesitated before consenting to give him +a trial, and had he not insisted on coming? Had he not also confidently +asserted that all he wanted was a chance to show what he was good for, +and that nothing save a dismissal should cause him to relinquish +whatever position was given him? After all, no matter how bad things +might prove on the sloop, there would always be plenty of fresh air and +sunshine, besides an unlimited supply of clean water. He could remember +catching glimpses, in foreign cities, of innumerable pestilential places +in which human beings were compelled to spend whole lifetimes, where +none of these things was to be had.</p> + +<p>Yes, he would keep on and make the best of whatever presented itself, +for perhaps things would not prove to be as bad as they seemed; and, +after all, he was willing to endure a great deal for the sake of +continuing the friendship just begun between himself and Bonny Brooks. +He remembered now having once heard his father say that a friendship +worth having was worth fighting for. If that were the case, what a +coward he would be to even think of relinquishing his first real +friendship without making an effort to retain it.</p> + +<p>By the time all these thoughts had flashed through the boy's mind he had +gained the sloop's deck, where he was startled by an angry voice that +sounded like the bellow of an enraged bull. Turning quickly, he saw his +friend Bonny confronted by a big man with a red face and bristling +beard. This individual, supported by a pair of rudely made crutches, was +standing beside the after companion-way, and glaring at the bag +containing his own effects that had been tossed down from the wharf.</p> + +<p>"Ye've got a hand, have ye?" roared this man, whom Alaric instinctively +knew to be the captain. "Is this his dunnage?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the first mate. "And I think—"</p> + +<p>"Never mind what you think," interrupted the captain, fiercely. "Send +him about his business, and pitch his dunnage back on the wharf or pitch +it overboard, I don't care which. Pitch it! d'ye hear?"</p> + +<p>"But Captain Duff, I think—"</p> + +<p>"Who asked ye to think? I do the thinking on board this craft. Don't ye +suppose I know what I'm talking about? I tell ye I had this Phil Ryder +with me on one cruise, and I'll never have him on another! An impudent +young puppy as ever lived, and a desarter to boot. Took off two of my +best men with him, too. Oh, I know him, and I'd Phil him full of his own +rifle-bullets ef I had the chance. I'd like to Ryder him on a rail, +too."</p> + +<p>"You are certainly mistaken, sir, this time, for—"</p> + +<p>"Who, I? You dare say I'm mistaken, you tarry young swab you!" roared +the man, his face turning purple with rage. "Oh, ef I had the proper use +of my feet for one minute I'd show ye! Put him ashore, I tell ye, and do +it in a hurry too, or you'll go with him without one cent of wages—not +one cent, d'ye hear? I'll have no mutiny where I'm cap'n."</p> + +<p>Poor Alaric listened to this fierce outbreak with mingled fear and +dismay. Now that the situation he had deemed so surely his either to +accept or reject was denied him, it again seemed very desirable. He was +about to speak up in his own behalf when the angry man's last threat +caused him to change his mind. He could not permit Bonny to suffer on +his account, and lose the position he had so recently attained. No, the +very first law of friendship forbade that; and so, stepping forward to +claim his bag, he said, in a low tone: "Never mind me, Bonny; I'll go."</p> + +<p>"No, you won't!" retorted the young mate, stoutly, "or, if you do, I'll +go with you; and I'll have my wages too, Captain Duff, or know the +reason why."</p> + +<p>Without paying the slightest attention to this remark, the man was +staring at Alaric, whom he had not noticed until this moment. "Who is +that land-lubber togged out like a sporty salt?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"He's the crew I hired, and the one you have just bounced," replied +Bonny.</p> + +<p>"What's his name?"</p> + +<p>"Rick Dale."</p> + +<p>"What made you say it was Phil Ryder, then?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't, sir. You—"</p> + +<p>"Don't contradict me, you unlicked cub! Can he shoot?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," replied Alaric, as Bonny looked at him inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"All right. I wouldn't have him aboard if he could. Why don't he take +his thundering dunnage and go for'ard, where he belongs, and cook me +some grub when he knows I haven't had anything to eat sence sunup? Why +don't he, I say?"</p> + +<p>With this Captain Duff turned and clumped heavily to the other side of +the deck; while Bonny, hastily picking up the bag that had been the +innocent cause of all this uproar, said, in a low voice: "Come on, Rick; +it's all right."</p> + +<p>As they went forward together he dropped the bag down a tiny forecastle +hatch. Then, after asking Alaric to cut some kindlings and start a fire +in the galley stove, which was housed on deck, he dove into the cabin to +see what he could find that could be cooked for dinner.</p> + +<p>When he reappeared a minute later he found his crew struggling with an +axe and a chunk of hard wood, from which he was vainly attempting to +detach some slivers. He had already cut two deep gashes in the deck, and +in another moment would probably have needed crutches as badly as the +captain himself.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Rick!" cried the young mate, catching the axe-helve just as +the weapon was making another erratic descent. "I find those grocery +chaps haven't sent down any stores. So do you just run up there. It's +two doors this side of Uncle Isaac's, you know, and hurry them along. +I'll 'tend to the fire while you are gone."</p> + +<p>Gladly exchanging his unaccustomed, and what he considered to be very +dangerous, task of wood-chopping for one that he felt sure he could +accomplish creditably, Alaric hastened away. He found the grocer's +easily enough, and demanded of the first clerk he met why the stores for +the sloop <i>Fancy</i> had not been sent down.</p> + +<p>"Must have been the other clerk, sir, and I suppose he forgot all about +'em; but I'll attend to the order at once, sir," replied the man, who +took in at a glance Alaric's gentlemanly bearing and the newness of his +nautical garb. "Have 'em right down, sir. Hard bread, salt junk, rice, +and coffee, I believe. Anything else, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know," replied Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Going to take a run on the <i>Fancy</i> yourself, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then of course you'll want some soft bread, a few tins of milk, half a +dozen jars of marmalade, and a dozen or so of potted meats?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," assented the boy.</p> + +<p>"Step this way, sir, and let me show you some of our fine goods," +suggested the clerk, insinuatingly.</p> + +<p>In another part of the building he prattled glibly of pâté-de-foie-gras, +and Neufchâtel cheese, truffles, canned mushrooms, Albert biscuit, +anchovy paste, stuffed olives, Wiesbaden prunes, and a variety of +things—all of which were so familiar to the millionaire's son, and had +appeared so naturally on all the tables at which he had ever sat, that +he never for a moment doubted but what they must be necessities on the +<i>Fancy</i> as well. Of ten million boys he was perhaps the only one +absolutely ignorant that these luxuries were not daily articles of food +with all persons above the grade of paupers; and as he was equally +without a knowledge of their cost, he allowed the clerk to add a dozen +jars of this, and as many pots of that, to his list, until even that +wily individual could think of nothing else with which to tempt this +easy-going customer. So, promising that the supplies just ordered should +be sent down directly, he bowed Alaric out of the door, at the same time +trusting that they should be honored with his future patronage.</p> + +<p>Bethinking himself that he must have a toothbrush, and that it would +also be just as well to have his own comb, in spite of Bonny's assurance +that the ship's comb would be at his service, the lad went in search of +these articles. When he found them he was also tempted to invest in what +he regarded as two other indispensables—namely, a cake of fine soap and +a bottle of eau-de-Cologne.</p> + +<p>He had gone quite a distance for these things, and occupied a full +half-hour in getting them. As he retraced his steps towards the wharves +he passed the slop-shop in which his first purchases of the day had been +made, and was greeted by the proprietor with an inquiry as to whether +old Duff had taken aboard his cargo of "chinks and dope" yet. Not +understanding the question, Alaric did not answer it; but as he passed +on he wondered what sort of a cargo that could be.</p> + +<p>By the time he regained the wharf to which the <i>Fancy</i> was moored the +flooding tide had raised her to a level with it, and on her deck Alaric +beheld a scene that filled him with amazement. The stores that he had +ordered had arrived. The wagon in which they had come stood at one side, +and they had all been taken aboard. One of the two men who had brought +them was exchanging high words and even a shaking of fists with the +young first mate of the sloop, while the other was presenting a bill to +the captain and insisting upon its payment.</p> + +<p>Captain Duff, foaming at the mouth and purple in the face, was +speechless with rage, and could only make futile passes with one of his +crutches at the man with the bill, who dodged each blow with great +agility. As Alaric appeared this individual cried out:</p> + +<p>"Here's the young gent as ordered the goods now!"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Alaric, advancing to the sloop's side. "I was told to +order some stores, and I did so."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you did, did ye! you thundering young blunderbuss?" roared Captain +Duff, finding his voice at last. "Then suppose you pay for 'em."</p> + +<p>"Very well," replied the lad, quietly, thinking this an official command +that must be obeyed.</p> + +<p>A minute later peace was restored, Captain Duff was gasping, and his +first mate was staring with amazement. The bill had been paid, the wagon +driven away, and Alaric was again without a single cent in his pockets.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>AN UNLUCKY SMASH</h3> + + +<p>Captain Duff's first order after peace was thus restored and he had +recovered the use of his voice, temporarily lost through amazement at +the spectacle of a sailor before the mast paying out of his own pocket +for a ship's stores, and stores of such an extraordinary character as +well, was that the goods thus acquired should be immediately transferred +to his own cabin. So Bonny, with Alaric to assist, began to carry the +things below.</p> + +<p>The cabin was very small, dirty, and stuffy. It contained two wide +transom berths, one on each side, a table bearing the stains of +innumerable meals and black with age, and two stools. There was a clock +nailed to the forward bulkhead; beneath it was fastened a small, cheap +mirror, and beside this, attached to a bit of tarred twine, hung the +ship's comb.</p> + +<p>One of the two berths was overlaid with a mattress, several soiled +blankets, and a tattered quilt. It formed the captain's bed, and it also +served as a repository for a number of tobacco-boxes and an assortment +of well-used pipes. In the other berth was a confusion of old clothing, +hats, boots, and whatever else had been pitched there to get it out of +the way. Here the captain proposed to have stored the providential +supply of food that had come to him as unexpectedly as that furnished by +the ravens to the prophet Elijah.</p> + +<p>The air of the place was so pervaded with a combination odor of stale +tobacco smoke, mouldy leather, damp clothing, bilge-water, kerosene, +onions, and other things of an equally obtrusive nature, that poor +Alaric gasped for breath on first descending the short but steep flight +of steps leading to it. He deposited his burden and hurried out as +quickly as possible, in spite of the fact that Captain Duff, who sat on +his bunk, had begun to speak to him.</p> + +<p>On his next trip below the lad drew in a long breath of fresh air just +before entering the evil-smelling cabin, and determined not to take +another until he should emerge from it. In his haste to execute this +plan he dropped his armful of cans, and, without waiting to stow them, +had gained the steps before realizing that the captain was ordering him +to come back.</p> + +<p>Furious at hearing his command thus disregarded, the man reached out +with one of his crutches, caught it around the boy's neck, and gave him +a violent jerk backward.</p> + +<p>The startled lad, losing his foothold, came to the floor with a crash +and a loud escaping "Ah!" of pent-up breath. At the same moment the +cabin began to be pervaded with a new and unaccustomed odor so strong +that all the others temporarily withdrew in its favor.</p> + +<p>"Oh murder! Let me out," gasped Captain Duff, as he scrambled for the +companion-way and a breath of outer air. "Of all the smells I ever +smelled that's the worst!"</p> + +<p>"What have you broken, Rick?" asked Bonny, anxiously, thrusting his head +down the companion-way. He had been curiously reading the unfamiliar +labels on the various jars, pots, and bottles, and now fancied that his +crew had slipped down the steep steps with some of these in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Whew! but it's strong!" he continued, as the penetrating fumes greeted +his nostrils. "Is it the truffles or the pate grass or the cheese?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid," replied Alaric, sadly, as he slowly rose from the cabin +floor and thrust a cautious hand into one of his hip-pockets, "that it +is a bottle of eau-de-Cologne."</p> + +<p>"Cologne!" cried Bonny, incredulously, as he caught the word. "If these +foreign kinds of grub are put up in cologne, it's no wonder that I never +heard of them before. Why, it's poison, that's what it is, and nothing +less. Shall I heave the rest of the truck overboard, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Hold on!" cried Alaric, emerging with rueful face from the cabin in +time to catch this suggestion. "It isn't in them. It was in my pocket +all by itself."</p> + +<p>"I wish it had stayed there, and you'd gone to Halifax with it afore +ever ye brought the stuff aboard this ship!" thundered the captain. +"Avast, ye lubber! Don't come anigh me. Go out on the end of the dock +and air yourself."</p> + +<p>So the unhappy lad, his clothing saturated with cologne, betook himself +to the wharf, where, as he slowly walked up and down, filling the air +with perfume, he carefully removed bits of broken glass from his moist +pocket, and disgustedly flung them overboard.</p> + +<p>While he was thus engaged, the first mate, under the captain's personal +supervision, was fumigating the cabin by burning in it a bunch of oakum +over which was scattered a small quantity of tobacco. When the +atmosphere of the place was thus so nearly restored to its normal +condition that Captain Duff could again endure it, Bonny finished +stowing the supplies, and then turned his attention to preparing supper.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Alaric had been joined in his lonely promenade by a stranger, +who, with a curious expression on his face as he drew near the lad, +changed his position so as to get on the windward side, and then began a +conversation.</p> + +<p>"Fine evening," he said.</p> + +<p>"Is it?" asked Alaric, moodily.</p> + +<p>"I think so. Do you belong on that sloop?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Able looking craft, and seems to have good accommodations. Where does +she run to from here?"</p> + +<p>"The Sound," answered Alaric, shortly, for he was not in a humor to be +questioned.</p> + +<p>"What does she carry?"</p> + +<p>"Passengers and cargo."</p> + +<p>"Indeed. And may I ask what sort of a cargo?"</p> + +<p>"You may."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, what sort?" persisted the stranger.</p> + +<p>"Chinks and dope," returned Alaric, glancing up with the expectation of +seeing a look of bewilderment on his questioner's face. But the latter +only said:</p> + +<p>"Um! About what I thought. Good-paying business, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"If it wasn't we wouldn't be in it," replied the boy.</p> + +<p>"No, I suppose not; and it must pay big since it enables even the +cabin-boy to drench himself with perfumery. Good-night; you're too +sweet-scented for my company."</p> + +<p>Ere Alaric could reply the stranger was walking rapidly away, and Bonny +was calling him to supper.</p> + +<p>The first mate apologized for serving this meal on deck, saying that the +sloop's company generally ate together in the cabin, but that Captain +Duff objected to the crew's presence at his table on this occasion. +"So," said Bonny, "I told him he might eat alone, then, for I should +come out and eat with you."</p> + +<p>"I hope he will always feel the same way," retorted Alaric, "for it +doesn't seem as though I could possibly stay in that cabin long enough +to eat a meal."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess you could," laughed Bonny. "Anyway, it will be all right by +breakfast-time, for the smell is nearly gone now. But I say, Rick Dale, +what an awfully funny fellow you are anyway! What in the world made you +pay for all that truck? It must have taken every cent you had."</p> + +<p>"So it did," replied Alaric. "But what of that? It was the easiest way +to smooth things over that I knew of."</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't have been for me, then," rejoined Bonny, "for I haven't +handled a dollar in so long that it would scare me to find one in my +pocket. But why didn't you let them take back the things we didn't +need?"</p> + +<p>"Because, having ordered them, we were bound to accept them, of course, +and because I thought we needed them all. I'm awfully tired of such +things myself, but I didn't know you were."</p> + +<p>"What! olives and mushrooms and truffles, and the rest of the things +with queer names? I never tasted one of them in my life, and don't +believe the captain did, either."</p> + +<p>"That seems odd," reflected Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't it?" responded Bonny, quizzically. "And that cologne, too. What +ever made you buy it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know exactly. Because I happened to see it, I suppose, and +thought it would be a useful thing to have along. A little of it is nice +in your bath, you know, or to put on your handkerchief when you have a +headache."</p> + +<p>"My stars!" exclaimed Bonny. "Listen to that, will you! Why, Rick, to +hear you talk, one would think you were a prince in disguise, or a +bloated aristocrat of some kind!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not," answered Alaric, shortly. "I'm only a sailor on board +the sloop <i>Fancy</i>, who has just eaten a fine supper and enjoyed it."</p> + +<p>"Have you, really?" asked the other, dubiously. "It didn't seem to me +that just coffee without any milk, hard bread, and fried salt pork were +very fine, and I was afraid that perhaps you wouldn't like 'em."</p> + +<p>"I do, though," insisted Alaric. "You see, I never tasted any of those +things before, and they are first-class."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Bonny, "I don't think much of such grub, and I've had it +for more than a year, too; but, then, every one to his liking. Now, if +you are all through, let's hustle and clear away these dishes, for we +are going to sail to-night, you know, and I've got to notify our +passengers. You may come with me and learn the ropes if you want to."</p> + +<p>"But we haven't any cargo aboard," objected Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that won't take long. A few minutes will fix the cargo all right."</p> + +<p>Alaric wondered what sort of a cargo could be taken aboard in a few +minutes, but wisely concluded to wait and see.</p> + +<p>So the dishes were hastily washed in a bucket of sea-water and put away. +Then, after a short consultation with Captain Duff in the cabin, Bonny +reappeared, and, beckoning Alaric to follow him, both lads went ashore +and walked up into the town.</p> + +<p>Although it was now evening, Bonny did not seek the well-lighted +business streets, but made his way to what struck Alaric as a peculiarly +disreputable neighborhood. The houses were small and dingy, and their +windows were so closely shuttered that no ray of light issued from them.</p> + +<p>At length they paused before a low door, on which Bonny rapped in a +peculiar manner. It was cautiously opened by a man who held a dim lamp +over his head, and who evidently regarded them with suspicion. He was +reassured by a few words from the young mate; the door was closed behind +them, and, with the stranger leading the way, while Alaric, filled with +curiosity, brought up the rear, all three entered a narrow and very dark +passage, the air of which was close and stifling.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>"CHINKS" AND "DOPE"</h3> + + +<p>The dark passage into which the lads had just been ushered was short, +and was ended by a door of heavy planking before Alaric found a chance +to ask his companion why they had come to such a very queer and +mysterious place. The opening of that second door admitted them to +another passage equally narrow, but well-lighted, and lined with a +number of tiny rooms, each containing two bunks arranged like berths one +above the other. By the dim light in these rooms Alaric could see that +many of these berths were occupied by reclining figures, most of whom +were Chinamen, though a few were unmistakably white. Some were smoking +tiny metal-bowled pipes with long stems, while others lay in a +motionless stupor.</p> + +<p>The air was heavy with a peculiarly sickening odor that Alaric +recognized at once. He had met it before during his travels among the +health resorts of Continental Europe, in which are gathered human wrecks +of every kind. Of them all none had seemed to the lad so pitiable as the +wretched victims of the opium or morphine habit, which is the most +degrading and deadly form of intemperance.</p> + +<p>This boy, so ignorant of many of the commonest things of life, and yet +wise far beyond his years concerning other phases, had often heard the +opium habit discussed, and knew that the hateful drug was taken in many +forms to banish pain, cause forgetfulness of sorrow, and produce a +sleep filled with beautiful dreams. He knew, too, of the sad awakenings +that followed—the dulled senses, the return, with redoubled force, of +all the unhappiness that had only been driven away for a short time, and +the cravings for other and yet larger doses of the deadly stuff.</p> + +<p>He had heard his father say that opium, more than any other one thing, +was the curse of China, and that one of the principal reasons why the +lower grades of Chinese ought to be excluded from the United States was +that they were introducing the habit of opium smoking, and spreading it +abroad like a pestilence.</p> + +<p>Knowing these things, Alaric was filled with horror at finding himself +in a Chinese opium den, and wondered if Bonny realized the true +character of the place. In order to find out he gained his comrade's +side, and asked, in a low tone: "Do you know, Bonny, what sort of a +place this is?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course. It is Won Lung's joint."</p> + +<p>"I mean, do you know what the men in those bunks are doing?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied Bonny, cheerfully. "They're hitting the pipe."</p> + +<p>Perplexed as he was by these answers, Alaric still asked another +question.</p> + +<p>"But do you know what they are smoking in those pipes?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure I do," answered the other, a trifle impatiently. "It's dope. +Most any one would know that. Didn't you ever smell it before?"</p> + +<p>"Dope!" Once before had Alaric heard the word during that eventful day, +and he had even used it himself, without knowing its meaning. Now it +flashed across him. Dope was opium, and that hateful drug was to form +the sloop's cargo. The idea of such a thing was so repugnant to him that +he might have entered a protest against it then and there, had not a +sudden change of scene temporarily diverted his attention from the +subject.</p> + +<p>The passage they had been traversing ended in an open court, so foreign +in its every detail that it appeared like a bit from some Chinese city +lifted bodily and transported to the New World. The dingy buildings +surrounding it were liberally provided with balconies, galleries, and +odd little projecting windows, all of which were occupied by Chinamen +gazing with languid interest at the busy scene below. From most of the +galleries hung rows of gayly colored paper lanterns, which gave the +place a very quaint and festive aspect.</p> + +<p>On the pavement were dozens of other Chinamen, with here and there a +demure-looking little woman and a few children. Heaps of queer-looking +luggage, each piece done up in matting and fastened with narrow strips +of rattan, were piled in the corners. At one side was an immense stove, +or rather a huge affair of brick, containing a score or more of little +charcoal stoves, each fitted for the cooking of a single kettle of rice +or pot of tea. About this were gathered a number of men preparing their +evening meal. Many of the others were comparing certificates and +photographs, a proceeding that puzzled Alaric more than a little, for he +was so ignorant of the affairs of his own country that he knew nothing +of its Chinese Exclusion Law.</p> + +<p>He began to learn something about it right there, however, and +subsequently discovered that while Chinese gentlemen, scholars, and +merchants are as freely admitted to travel, study, or reside in the +United States as are similar classes from any other nation, the lower +grades of Chinese, rated as laborers, are forbidden by law to set foot +on American soil. This is because there are such swarming millions of +them willing to work for very small wages, and live as no +self-respecting white man could live; that, were they allowed to enter +this country freely, they would quickly drive white laborers from the +field and leave them to starve. Then, too, they bring with them and +introduce opium-smoking, gambling, lotteries, and other equally +pernicious vices. Besides all this, the Chinese in the United States, +with here and there an exception, have no desire to become citizens, or +to remain longer than is necessary to scrape together the few hundreds +of dollars with which they can return to their own land and live out the +rest of their days in luxury.</p> + +<p>Many thousands of Chinese laborers had come to the United States before +the exclusion law was passed, and these, by registering and allowing +themselves to be photographed for future identification, obtain +certificates which, while not permitting them to return if they once +leave the country, allow them to remain here undisturbed. Any Chinaman +found without such a protection is liable to be arrested and sent back +to his own land.</p> + +<p>These certificates, therefore, are so valuable that Chinamen going home +with no intention of ever returning to this country find no difficulty +in selling their papers to others, who propose to try and smuggle +themselves into the United States from Canada or Mexico. There are +always plenty who are anxious to make this attempt, for if they once get +a foothold they can earn better wages here than anywhere else in the +world. Of course, the purchaser of a certificate must look something +like the attached photograph, and correspond to the personal description +contained in it. To do this a Chinaman will scar his features with cuts +or burns if necessary, and will make himself up to resemble any +particular photograph as skilfully as a professional actor.</p> + +<p>This, then, is what many of those whom Alaric and Bonny now encountered +were doing, for the place into which they had come was a Chinese hotel +in which all newly arrived Chinamen found shelter while waiting for work +or for a chance to smuggle themselves into the United States, which is +what ninety-nine out of every one hundred of them propose to do if +possible.</p> + +<p>As the lads stood together on the edge of this novel scene, while their +guide went from group to group making to each a brief announcement, +Alaric, seizing this first opportunity for acquiring definite +information, asked: "What on earth are we here for, Bonny?"</p> + +<p>"To find out how many passengers are ticketed for to-night's boat and +get them started," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean that our passengers are to be Chinamen?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course. I thought I told you so first thing this morning when +you asked me what the sloop carried."</p> + +<p>"No. You only said passengers and freight."</p> + +<p>"I ought to have said 'chinks.' But what's the odds? 'Chinks' are +passengers, aren't they?"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean Chinamen? Are 'chinks' Chinamen?"</p> + +<p>"That's right," replied Bonny.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Alaric, who had been on the Coast long enough to imbibe all +a Californian's contempt for natives of the Flowery Kingdom, "if I'd +known that 'chinks' meant Chinamen, and dope meant opium, I should have +been too much ashamed of what the <i>Fancy</i> carried ever to tell any one +about it."</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't," responded Bonny. "There isn't any necessity for you +to that I know of."</p> + +<p>"But I have already. There was a man on the wharf while I was getting +aired who asked me what our cargo was. Just to see what he would say I +told him 'chinks and dope,' though I hadn't the slightest idea of what +either of them meant."</p> + +<p>"My! but that's bad!" cried Bonny, with an anxious look on his face. "I +only hope he wasn't a beak. They've been watching us pretty sharp +lately, and I know the old man is in a regular tizzy-wizzy for fear +we'll get nabbed."</p> + +<p>Before Alaric could ask why they should be nabbed, Won Lung, the +proprietor of the establishment, who also acted as interpreter, came to +where they were standing, greeted Bonny as an old acquaintance, looked +curiously at Alaric, and announced that thirty-six of his boarders had +procured tickets for a passage to the Sound on the <i>Fancy</i>.</p> + +<p>"We can't take but twenty of 'em on this trip," said the young mate, +decidedly. "And with their dunnage we'll have to stow 'em like sardines, +anyway. The others must wait till next time."</p> + +<p>"Mebbe you tlake some man in clabin, some mebbe in fo'c's'le," suggested +Won Lung, blandly.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe we don't do anything of the kind," replied Bonny. "The trip may +last several days, and I know I for one am not going to be crowded out +of my sleeping-quarters. So, Mr. Lung, if you send down one man more +than twenty he goes overboard. You savey that?"</p> + +<p>"Yep, me sabby. Allee same me no likee."</p> + +<p>"Sorry, but I can't help it. And you want to hustle 'em along too, for +we are going to sail in half an hour. Got the stuff ready?"</p> + +<p>"Yep, all leddy. Two hun'l poun'."</p> + +<p>"Good enough. Send it right along with us."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later our lads had left Won Lung's queer hotel and were +out in the quiet streets accompanied by two Chinese coolies, who bore +heavy burdens slung from the ends of stout bamboo poles carried across +their shoulders.</p> + +<p>As Bonny seemed disinclined to talk, Alaric refrained from asking +questions, and the little party proceeded in silence through +unfrequented streets to the place where their sloop lay. Here the +burdens borne by the coolies were transferred to the cabin, where this +part of the cargo was left with Captain Duff, and Alaric had no +knowledge of where it was stowed.</p> + +<p>While the captain was thus busy below, Bonny was giving the crew his +first lesson in seamanship by pointing out three ropes that he called +jib, throat, and peak halyards, showing him how to make them fast about +their respective belaying-pins, and impressing upon him the importance +of remembering them.</p> + +<p>Shortly after this the score of long-queued passengers arrived with +their odd-looking packages of personal belongings, were taken aboard in +silence, and stowed in the hold until Alaric wondered if they were piled +on top of one another like sticks of cord-wood.</p> + +<p>Then the mooring-lines were cast off, and the <i>Fancy</i> drifted +noiselessly out of the slip with the ebbing tide. Once clear of it the +jib was hoisted, and she began to glide out of the harbor before a +gentle, off-shore breeze.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>PUGET SOUND SMUGGLERS</h3> + +<p>The great landlocked body of salt water known as Puget Sound, +penetrating for nearly one hundred miles the northwestern corner of +Washington, the Northwest State, is justly termed a smuggler's paradise. +It pierces the land in every direction with a perfect net-work of +inlets, channels, and bays lined with endless miles of forest, frowning +cliffs, and snuggly hidden harbors. The upper end of the Sound, where +its width entitles it to be called a gulf, is filled with an archipelago +of rugged islands of all sizes and shapes, thinly settled, and offering +innumerable secure hiding-places for small boats. Here and there along +the shores of the Sound are Indian reservations uncleared and unoccupied +save by dwindling remnants of the once populous coast tribes. These +Indians, though retaining their tribal names among themselves, are all +known to the whites under the one designation of "Siwash," a corruption +of the French <i>sauvage</i>.</p> + +<p>On the eastern side of the Sound are the important American cities of +Seattle and Tacoma; while at its extreme southern end stands Olympia, +Washington's capital. On its western side, and just north of the Strait +of Juan de Fuca, that connects the Sound with the ocean, is located the +Canadian city of Victoria, from which all the smuggling operations of +these waters are conducted.</p> + +<p>From Victoria to the American island of San Juan on the east, the +largest of the archipelago already mentioned, the distance is only +twelve miles, while it is but twenty miles across the Strait of Fuca to +the American mainland on the south. These two points being so near at +hand, it is easy enough to run a boat-load of opium or Chinamen over to +either of them in a night. For such a passage each Chinaman is compelled +to pay from fifteen to twenty dollars, while opium yields a profit of +four or five dollars a pound. Smuggling from Victoria is thus such a +lucrative business that many men of easy conscience are engaged in it.</p> + +<p>Both the island route and that by way of the strait present the serious +drawbacks of having their landing-places so remote from railroads and +cities that, though the frontier has been passed, there is still a +dangerous stretch of territory to be crossed before either of these can +be reached. In view of this fact, it occurred to one of the more +enterprising among the Victoria smugglers to undertake a greater risk +for the sake of greater profits, and run a boat nearly one hundred miles +up the Sound to some point in near vicinity to one of its large cities.</p> + +<p>He had just the craft for the purpose, and finally secured a captain +who, having recently lost a schooner through seizure by the American +authorities for unlawful sealing in Bering Sea, was reckless and +desperate enough for the new venture. As this man undertook the run for +a share of the profits, he was inclined to reduce all expenses to their +very lowest limits, and had already made a number of highly successful +trips. Although the fare to each Chinaman by this new line was +twenty-five dollars, it offered such superior advantages as to be +liberally patronized, and the boat was always crowded.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the American authorities had discovered that much +illegal opium and many illegal Chinamen were entering their country +through a new channel that seemed to lead to the vicinity of Tacoma. The +recently appointed commander of a United States revenue-cutter +determined to break up this route, and capture, if possible, these +boldest of all the Sound smugglers. For some weeks he watched in vain, +overhauled and examined a number of innocent vessels, and with each +failure became the more anxious to succeed. At length he sent his third +lieutenant to Victoria, of course out of uniform, to gain what +information he could concerning any vessel that seemed likely to be +engaged in smuggling.</p> + +<p>This officer, after spending several days in the city without learning +anything definite, was beginning to feel discouraged, when one +afternoon, as he was strolling near the docks, he noticed two lads +walking ahead of him who looked something like sailors. One of them had +evidently just purchased a new outfit of clothing, and carried a canvas +bag on which his name was painted in black letters. Making a mental note +of this name, the officer followed the lads, out of curiosity to see +what kind of a craft they would board.</p> + +<p>When he saw the <i>Fancy</i> he said to himself: "Tough-looking old packet. I +wonder if that young chap with the bag can be one of her crew?"</p> + +<p>Without approaching the sloop so closely as to attract attention, he +lingered in her vicinity until Alaric went up-town to procure supplies, +when the officer still kept him in sight. He even entered the store in +which the lad was dealing, and here his curiosity was stimulated by the +young sailor's varied and costly order.</p> + +<p>"That sloop must make an extraordinary amount of money somehow," he +reflected.</p> + +<p>So interested had he now become that he even followed Alaric while the +lad made his subsequent purchases. Finally he found himself again near +the sloop just as the lad who had excited his curiosity was ordered to +the wharf to air himself after his unfortunate experience with the +bottle of cologne. At length the officer addressed him, and by dint of +persistent questions became confirmed in his suspicions that the dingy +old sloop cruised to the Sound with Chinamen and opium.</p> + +<p>Having gained the information he wanted thus easily and unexpectedly, +the officer returned to his hotel for supper and to write a despatch +that should go by that night's boat. After delivering this on board the +steamer, he determined to take one more look at the suspected sloop; +and, strolling leisurely in that direction, reached the wharf just in +time to see her glide out from the slip and head for the open sea.</p> + +<p>Here was an emergency that called for prompt action; and, running back +to the hotel, the young man paid his bill, secured his bag, and gained +the steamer just as that fine American-built vessel was about to take +her departure for ports of the upper Sound. Shortly afterwards, a little +beyond the harbor mouth, the big, brilliantly lighted steamer swept past +a small dimly outlined craft, on whose deck somebody was waving a +lantern so that she might not be run down.</p> + +<p>Of course it has been understood long ere this that the sloop <i>Fancy</i> +was a smuggler. She was not only that, but was also the boldest, most +successful, and most troublesome smuggler on Puget Sound. The one person +at all acquainted with the shabby old craft and as yet unaware of her +true character was Alaric Todd. His slight knowledge of smugglers +having been gained through books, he thought of them as being only a +sort of half pirates, either Spanish or French, who flourished during +the last century. Thus, although he did not approve of either the +sloop's passengers or cargo, it did not occur to him that they were +being carried in defiance of law until about the time that the steamer's +lights were disappearing in the distance.</p> + +<p>The boy's hands were still smarting from an unaccustomed hauling on +ropes that had resulted in hoisting the big main-sail, and now he lay on +deck well forward, where he had been told to keep a sharp lookout and +report instantly any vessel coming within his range of vision. Before a +fresh beam wind the <i>Fancy</i> was slipping rapidly through the water, with +Captain Duff steering, Bonny doing odd jobs about deck, and the +passengers confining themselves closely to the hold. After the young +mate had waved his signal lantern to the steamer, he extinguished both +it and the side lights that had been burning until now, leaving the +binnacle lamp carefully shaded as the only light on board. With nothing +more to do at present, he threw himself down beside Alaric, and the boys +began a low-voiced conversation.</p> + +<p>"What made you put out those lights?" asked the latter. "I thought all +ships carried lights at night."</p> + +<p>"We don't," laughed Bonny. "They'd give us away to the cutters, and we'd +be picked up in less'n no time. I'm mighty glad that steamer isn't a +revenue-boat."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because she's so fast. There's only one craft on the Sound can beat +her, and that's the <i>Flyer</i>, running between Tacoma and Seattle. This +<i>City of Kingston</i> is a good one, though. She used to be a crack Hudson +River boat, and came out here around the Horn; or, rather, not exactly +that, but through the Strait of Magellan. That's a tough place, I can +tell you."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is," replied Alaric. "But, Bonny, tell me something more +about those cutters. Why should they want to catch us?"</p> + +<p>"For running 'chinks' and 'dope.'"</p> + +<p>"What harm is there in that? Is it against the law?"</p> + +<p>"I should rather say it was. There's a duty of ten dollars a pound on +one, and the others aren't allowed in at any price."</p> + +<p>"Then I don't see how we are any different from regular smugglers."</p> + +<p>"That's what some folks call us," replied Bonny, with a grin. "They are +mostly on the other side, though. In Victoria they call us +free-traders."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't make any difference what anybody calls us," retorted Alaric, +vehemently, "so long as we ourselves know what we are. It was a mean +thing, Bonny Brooks, that you didn't tell me this before we started."</p> + +<p>"Look here, Rick Dale! do you pretend you didn't know after seeing the +'chinks' and the 'dope' and all that was going on? Oh, come, that's too +thin!"</p> + +<p>"I don't care whether it's thin or thick," rejoined Alaric, stoutly. "I +didn't know that I was shipping to become a pirate, or you may be very +certain I'd have sat on that log till I starved before going one step +with you."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by calling me a pirate?" demanded Bonny, indignantly. +"I'm no more a pirate than you are, for all your fine airs."</p> + +<p>In his excitement Bonny had so raised his voice that it reached the ears +of Captain Duff, who growled out, fiercely: "Stow yer jaw, ye young +swabs, and keep a sharp lookout for'ard—d'ye hear?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," responded the young mate, rising as though to end the +unpleasant conversation, and peering keenly into the gloom.</p> + +<p>But Alaric was not inclined to let the subject drop; and, with an idea +of continuing their talk in so low a tone that it could not possibly +reach the captain's ears, he too started to rise.</p> + +<p>At that moment the sloop gave a quick lurch that caused him to plunge +awkwardly forward. He was only saved from going overboard by striking +squarely against Bonny, who was balancing himself easily in the very +eyes of the vessel, with one foot on the rail. The force of the blow was +too great for him to withstand. With a gasping cry he pitched headlong +over the bows and disappeared from his comrade's horrified gaze.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>A VERY TRYING EXPERIENCE</h3> + + +<p>"Stop her! Stop the boat, quick! Bonny is overboard" shouted Alaric, +frantically, as he realized the nature of the catastrophe that had just +occurred through his awkwardness. As he shouted he sprang to the +jib-halyard, and, casting it off, allowed the sail to come down by the +run, his sole idea of checking the headway of a sailing craft being to +reduce her canvas.</p> + +<p>He was about to let go both throat and peak halyards, and so bring down +the big main-sail also, when, with a bellow of rage and a marvellous +disregard of his lameness, Captain Duff rushed forward and snatched the +ropes from the lad's hands.</p> + +<p>"You thundering blockhead!" he roared. "What d'ye mean by lowering a +sail without orders? H'ist it again! H'ist it, d'ye hear?"</p> + +<p>"But Bonny is overboard!" cried Alaric.</p> + +<p>"And you want to leave him to drown, do ye? Don't ye know that if he's +alive he's drifted astarn by this time? Ef you had any sense you'd be +out in the dinghy looking fur him."</p> + +<p>Alaric knew that the dinghy was the small boat towing behind the sloop, +for he had heard the young mate call it by that name, and now he needed +no further hint as to his duty. He had pushed Bonny overboard, and he +must save him if that might still be done. If not, he was careless of +what happened to himself. Nothing could be worse than, or so bad as, to +go through life with the knowledge that he had caused the death of a +fellow-being—one, too, whom he had already come to regard as a dear +friend.</p> + +<p>Thus thinking, he ran aft, cast loose the painter of the dinghy, drew +the boat to the sloop's stern, and, dropping into it, drifted away in +the darkness. He had never rowed a boat, nor even handled a pair of +oars, but he had seen others do so, and imagined that it was easy +enough.</p> + +<p>It is not often that a first lesson of this kind is taken alone, at +midnight, amid the tossing waters of an open sea, and it could not have +happened now but for our poor lad's pitiful ignorance of all forms of +athletics, including those in which every boy should be instructed.</p> + +<p>Without a thought for himself, nor even a comprehension of his own +peril, Alaric fitted the oars that he found in the bottom of the boat to +their row-locks, and began to pull manfully in what he supposed was the +proper direction. He pulled first with one oar and then with the other; +then making a wild stroke with both oars that missed the water entirely, +he tumbled over backwards. Recovering himself, he prepared more +cautiously for a new effort, and this time, instead of beating the air, +thrust his oars almost straight down in the water. Then one entered it, +while the other, missing it by a foot or so, flew back and struck him a +violent blow.</p> + +<p>Up to this time the lad had kept up a constant shouting of "Bonny! Oh, +Bonny!" or "Hello, Bonny!" but that blow bereft him of so much breath +that for a minute he had none left with which to shout.</p> + +<p>Now, too, for the first time, he gained a vague idea of his own perilous +situation. There was nothing in sight and nothing to be heard save the +ceaseless dashing of waters and a melancholy moaning of wind. The sky +was so overcast that not even a star could extend to him a cheery ray of +light. The boy's heart sank, and he made another attempt at a shout, as +much to raise his own spirits as with any hope of being heard. Only a +husky cry resulted, for his voice was choked, and he again strove to +row, with the thought that any form of action would be better than +idleness amid such surroundings.</p> + +<p>If his oars seemed vicious before, they were doubly so now that he was +wearied, and they stubbornly resisted his efforts to make them work as +he knew they could and ought. At length he let go of one of them for an +instant, while he wiped the trickling perspiration from his eyes. The +moment it was released, the provoking bit of wood, as though possessed +of a malicious instinct, slid from its rowlock, dropped into the water, +and floated away. Alaric made a wild but ineffectual clutch after it +that allowed a quantity of water to slop into the boat, and gave him the +idea that it was sinking.</p> + +<p>With an access of terror the poor lad sprang to his feet, and, forgetful +of the object that had brought him into his present situation, screamed: +"Bonny! Oh, Bonny! Save me! Don't leave me here to drown!"</p> + +<p>Then a spiteful wave so buffeted the boat that he was toppled over and +fell sprawling in the bottom. That was the blackest and most despairing +moment of his life; but even as it came to him he fancied he heard a +whispered answer to his call, and lifted his head to listen. Yes, he +heard it again, so faint and uncertain that it might be only the mocking +scream of some sea-bird winging a swift flight through the blackness. +Still the idea filled him with hope, and he called again with a cry so +shrill and long-drawn that its intensity almost frightened him. Now the +echoing hail was certain, and it came to him with the unmistakable +accents of a human voice.</p> + +<p>Again he shouted: "Bonny! Oh, Bonny!" and again came the answer, this +time much nearer:</p> + +<p>"Hello, Rick Dale! Hello!"</p> + +<p>"Hello, Bonny! Hello!"</p> + +<p>How could it be that Bonny had kept himself afloat so long? What +wonderful powers of endurance he must possess! How should he reach him? +There was but a single oar left, and surely no one could propel a boat +with one oar. He tried awkwardly to paddle, but after a few seconds of +fruitless labor gave this up in despair. What could he do? Must he sit +there idle, knowing that his friend was drowning within sound of his +voice, and for want of the aid that he could give if he only knew how? +It was horrible and yet inevitable. He was helpless. Once more was his +own peril forgotten, and his sole distress was for his friend. Again he +shouted, with the energy of despair:</p> + +<p>"Bonny! Oh, Bonny! Can't you get to me? I'm in a boat."</p> + +<p>Then came something so startling and so astonishing that he was almost +petrified with amazement. Instead of a weak, despairing answer, coming +from a long distance, there sounded a cheery hail from close at hand: +"All right, old man! I'm coming. Cheer up."</p> + +<p>What had happened? Was his friend endowed with supernatural powers that +enabled him to traverse the sea at will?</p> + +<p>Alaric gazed about him on all sides, almost doubting the evidence of his +senses. Then, with a flutter of canvas and a rush of water from under +her bows, the tall form of the sloop loomed out of the blackness almost +beside him.</p> + +<p>"Sing out, Rick. Where are you?"</p> + +<p>"Here I am. Oh, Bonny, is it you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course. Look out! Catch this line."</p> + +<p>The end of a rope came whizzing over the boat, and Alaric, catching it, +held on tightly. He was seated on the middle thwart, and the moment a +strain came on the line the boat turned broadside to it, heeled until +water began to pour in over her gunwale, and Alaric, unable to hold on +an instant longer, let go his hold.</p> + +<p>He heard an exclamation of "Thundering lubber!" in Captain Duff's voice, +and then the sloop was again lost to sight.</p> + +<p>Again Alaric was in despair, though he could still hear the shouting of +orders and a confused slatting of sails. After a little the sloop was +put about, and a shouting to determine the locality of the drifting boat +was recommenced. Still it seemed to Alaric a tedious while before she +approached him for a second time, and Bonny once more sung out to him to +stand by and catch a line.</p> + +<p>"Make it fast in the bow this time," he called, as he flung the coil of +rope.</p> + +<p>Again Alaric succeeded in catching it, and, obeying instructions, he +scrambled into the bow of the boat, where he knelt and clung to the line +for dear life, not knowing how to make it fast.</p> + +<p>In a moment there came a jerk that very nearly pulled him overboard; and +the boat, with its bow low in the water from his weight, while its stern +was in the air, took a wild sheer to one side. Again water poured in +until she was nearly swamped, and again was the line torn from Alaric's +grasp.</p> + +<p>"You blamed idiot!" roared Captain Duff. "You don't desarve to be saved! +I'll give ye just one more try, and ef you don't fetch the sloop that +time we'll leave ye to navigate on your own hook."</p> + +<p>As the previous manœuvres were repeated for a third time, poor +Alaric, sitting helplessly in his waterlogged dinghy, shivered with +apprehension. How could he hold on to that cruel line that seemed only +fitted to drag him to destruction? This time it took longer to find him, +and he was hoarse with shouting before the <i>Fancy</i> again approached.</p> + +<p>"He don't know enough to do anything with a line, Cap'n Duff," said +Bonny. "So if you'll throw the sloop into the wind and heave her to, +I'll bring the boat alongside."</p> + +<p>With this, and without waiting for an answer, the plucky young sailor, +who had already divested himself of most of his clothing, sprang into +the black waters and swam towards the vaguely discerned boat. In another +minute he had gained her, clambered in, and was asking the amazed +occupant for the other oar.</p> + +<p>"It's lost overboard," replied Alaric, gloomily, feeling that the case +was now more desperate than ever. "Oh, Bonny! Why—?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," cried the other, cheerily. "I can scull, and that will +answer just as well as rowing. Perhaps better, for I can see where we +are headed."</p> + +<p>Alaric had deemed it impossible to propel a boat with a single oar; but +now, to his amazement, Bonny sculled the dinghy ahead almost as rapidly +as he could have rowed. The sloop was out of sight, but the flapping of +her sails could be plainly heard, and five minutes later the young mate +laid his craft alongside.</p> + +<p>Captain Duff was too angry for words, and fortunately too busy in +getting his vessel on her course to pay any attention just then to the +lad whose awkwardness and ignorance had caused all this trouble and +delay.</p> + +<p>"Skip for'ard," said Bonny, in a low tone, "and I'll come directly."</p> + +<p>As Alaric, with a thankful heart, obeyed this injunction, he marvelled +at the size and steadiness of the sloop, and wondered how he could ever +have thought her small or unstable.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Bonny, only half dressed, joined him, and said, "If +you'll lend me your trousers, old man, you can turn in for the rest of +the night, and I'll stand your watch; mine are too wet to put on just +yet, and I think you'll be safer below than on deck, anyway."</p> + +<p>Like a person in a dream, and without asking one of the many questions +suggesting themselves, Alaric obeyed. Earlier in that most eventful day +he had regarded that dark and stuffy forecastle with disgust, and vowed +he would never sleep in it. Now, as he snuggled shivering between the +blankets of the first mate's own bunk, it seemed to him one of the +coziest, warmest, and most comfortable sleeping-apartments he had ever +known.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>A LESSON IN KEDGING</h3> + + +<p>For a long time Alaric lay awake in his narrow bunk, listening to the +gurgle of waters parted by the sloop's bow, but a few inches from his +head, and reflecting upon the exciting incidents of the past hour. It +had all been so terrible and yet so unreal. On one thing he determined. +Never again would he enter a boat alone without having first learned how +to row, and to swim also. How splendidly Bonny had come to his rescue, +and yet how easily! What was it he had called making a boat go with only +one oar? Alaric could not remember; but at any rate it was a wonderful +thing to do, and he determined to master that art as well. What a lot he +had to learn, anyhow, and how important it all was! He had longed for +the ability to do such things, but never until now had he realized their +value.</p> + +<p>How well Bonny did them, and what a fine fellow he was, and how the +heart of the poor rich boy warmed towards this self-reliant young friend +of a day! Could it be but one day since their first meeting? It seemed +as though he had known Bonny always. But how had the young sailor +regained the sloop after being knocked overboard? That was +unaccountable, and one of the most mysterious things Alaric had ever +heard of. He longed for Bonny to come below, that he might ask just that +one question; but the mate was otherwise engaged, and the crew finally +dropped asleep.</p> + +<p>Through the remainder of the night the sloop sailed swiftly on her +course; but she could not make up for that lost hour, and by dawn, +though she had passed the light on Admiralty Head, and was well to the +southward of Port Townsend, the very stronghold of her enemies, for it +is the port of entry for the Sound, she was still far from the +hiding-place in which her captain had hoped to lie by for the day. +However, he knew of another nearer at hand, though not so easy of +access, and to this he directed the vessel's course.</p> + +<p>It did not seem to Alaric that he had been asleep more than a few +minutes when he was rudely awakened by being hauled out of his bunk and +dropped on the forecastle floor. At the same time he became conscious of +a voice, saying:</p> + +<p>"Wake up! Wake up, Rick Dale! I've been calling you for the last five +minutes, and was beginning to think you were dead. Here it is daylight, +with lots of work waiting, and you snoozing away as though you were a +young man of elegant leisure. So tumble out in a hurry, or else you'll +have the cap'n down on you, and he's no light-weight when he's as mad as +he is this morning."</p> + +<p>Never before in all his luxurious life had Alaric been subjected to such +rough treatment, and for a moment he was inclined to resent it; but a +single glance at Bonny's smiling face, and a thought of how deeply he +was indebted to this lad, caused him to change his mind and scramble to +his feet.</p> + +<p>"Here are your trousers," continued the young mate, "and the quicker you +can jump into them the better, for we've a jolly bit of kedging to +attend to, and need your assistance badly."</p> + +<p>Filled with curiosity as to what a "jolly bit of kedging" might be, and +also pleased with the idea that he was not considered utterly useless, +Alaric hastily dressed and hurried on deck. There the sight of a number +of Chinamen recalled with a shock the nature of the craft on which he +was shipped, and for an instant he was tempted to refuse further service +as a member of her crew. A moment's reflection, however, convinced him +that the present was not the time for such action, as it could only +result in disaster to himself and in extra work being thrown upon Bonny.</p> + +<p>The sun had not yet risen, and on one side a broad expanse of water was +overlaid with a light mist. On the other was a bold shore covered with +forest to the water's edge, and penetrated by a narrow inlet, off the +mouth of which the sloop lay becalmed.</p> + +<p>Bonny was already in the dinghy, which held a coil of rope having a +small anchor attached to one end. The other end was on board the sloop +and made fast to the bitts.</p> + +<p>"When I reach the end of the line and heave the kedge overboard, you +want to haul in on it," said the young mate, "and when the sloop is +right over the kedge, let go your anchor. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think so."</p> + +<p>The tide had just turned ebb, and was beginning to run out from the +inlet as Bonny dropped the kedge-anchor overboard, and Alaric, beginning +to pull with a hearty will on that long, wet rope, experienced the first +delights of kedging. Captain Duff, puffing at a short black pipe, sat by +the tiller and steered, while the Chinese passengers, squatted about the +deck, watched the lad's efforts with a stolid interest.</p> + +<p>At length the end of the rope was reached, and Alaric, with aching back +and smarting hands, but beaming with the consciousness of a duty well +performed, imagined his task to be ended.</p> + +<p>"Let go your anchor," ordered Captain Duff.</p> + +<p>When this was done, and the cable made fast so that the sloop should +not drift back when the kedge was lifted, Bonny heaved up the latter and +got it into the dinghy. Then he sculled still farther into the inlet +until the end of the long line was once more reached, when he again +dropped the small anchor overboard, and poor Alaric found, to his +dismay, that the whole tedious operation was to be repeated. In addition +to what he had done before, the heavy riding anchor was now to be lifted +from the bottom.</p> + +<p>As the boy essayed to haul in its cable with his hands, Captain Duff, +muttering something about a "lubberly swab," stumped forward, and +showing him how to use the windlass for this purpose, condescended to +hold the turn while the perspiring lad pumped away at the iron lever. +When the anchor was lifted, he was directed to again lay hold of the +kedge-line and warp her along handsomely.</p> + +<p>Alaric made signs to the Chinamen that they should help him; but they, +being passengers who had paid for the privilege of idleness on this +cruise, merely grinned and shook their heads. So the poor lad tugged at +that heart-breaking line until his strength was so exhausted that the +sloop ceased to make perceptible headway.</p> + +<p>At this Captain Duff, who was again nodding over the tiller, suddenly +woke up, rushed among his passengers with brandished crutch, roaring an +order in pidgin English that caused them to jump in terror, lay hold of +the line, and haul it in hand over hand.</p> + +<p>Three times more was the whole weary operation repeated, until at length +the sloop was snugly anchored behind a tree-grown point that effectually +concealed her from anything passing in the Sound.</p> + +<p>"Nice, healthy exercise, this kedging," remarked Bonny, cheerfully, as +he came on board.</p> + +<p>"You may call it that," responded Alaric, gloomily, "but I call it the +most killing kind of work I ever heard of, and if there is any more of +it to be done, somebody else has got to do it. I simply won't, and +that's all there is about it."</p> + +<p>"Oh phsaw!" laughed the young mate, as he lighted a fire in the galley +stove and began preparations for breakfast. "This morning's job was only +child's play compared with some you'll have before you've been aboard +here a month."</p> + +<p>"Which I never will be," replied Alaric, "for I'm going to resign this +very day. I suppose this is the United States and the end of the voyage, +isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"It's the States fast enough; but not the end of the run by a good bit. +We've another night's sail ahead of us before we come to that. But you +mustn't think of resigning, as you call it, just as you are beginning to +get the hang of sailoring. Think how lonely I should be without you to +make things lively and interesting—as you did last night, for +instance."</p> + +<p>"I shall, though," replied Alaric, decidedly, "just as quick as we make +a port; for if you think I'm going to remain in the smuggling business +one minute longer than I can help, you're awfully mistaken. And what's +more, you are going with me, and we'll hunt for another job—an honest +one, I mean—together."</p> + +<p>"I am, am I?" remarked Bonny. "After you calling me a pirate, too. I +shouldn't think you'd care to associate with pirates."</p> + +<p>"But I do care to associate with you," responded Alaric, earnestly, "for +I know I couldn't get along at all without you. Besides, after the +splendid way you came to my rescue last night, I don't want to try. But +I say, Bonny, how did you ever manage to get back on board after +tumbling—I mean, after I knocked you—into the water? It seems to me +the most mysterious thing I ever heard of."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that was easy enough!" laughed the young mate, lifting the lid of +a big kettle of rice, that was boiling merrily, as he spoke. "You see, I +didn't wholly fall overboard. That is, I caught on the bob-stay, and was +climbing up again all right when you let the jib down on top of me, +nearly knocking me into the water and smothering me at the same time. +When I got out from under it you were gone, and a fine hunt we had for +you, during which the old man got considerably excited. But all's well +that ends well, as the Japs said after the war was over; so now if +you'll make a pot of coffee, I'll get the pork ready for frying."</p> + +<p>"But I don't know how to make coffee."</p> + +<p>"Don't you? I thought everybody knew that. Never mind, though; I'll make +the coffee while you fry the meat."</p> + +<p>"I don't know how to do that, either."</p> + +<p>"Don't you know how to cook anything?"</p> + +<p>"No. I don't believe I could even boil water without burning it."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Bonny, "you certainly have got more to learn than any +fellow old enough to walk alone that I ever knew."</p> + +<p>The sloop remained in her snug hiding-place all that day, during which +her captain and first mate devoted most of their time to sleeping. The +Chinamen spent the greater part of the day on shore, while Alaric, +following Bonny's advice, made his first attempt at fishing. So long as +he only got bites he had no trouble; but when he finally caught an +enormous flounder his occupation was gone, for he had no second hook, +and could not imagine how the fish was to be removed from the one to +which it was attached. So he let it carefully down into the water again, +and made the line fast until Bonny should wake. When that happened, and +he triumphantly hauled in his line, he found, to his dismay, that his +hook was bare, and that the fish had solved his problem for him.</p> + +<p>In the meantime there was much activity that day on board a certain +revenue-cutter stationed in the upper Sound, and shortly after dark, +about the time the smuggler <i>Fancy</i> was again getting under way, several +well-manned boats left the government vessel to spend the night in +patrolling certain channels.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>CHASING A MYSTERIOUS LIGHT</h3> + + +<p>The commander of the revenue-cutter had received from his lieutenant a +detailed description of the sloop <i>Fancy</i>, together with what other +information that officer had gathered concerning her destination, +lading, and crew. As a result of this interview it was determined to +guard all passages leading to the upper Sound; and during the hours of +darkness the cutter's boats, under small sail, cruised back and forth +across the channels on either side of Vashon Island, one of which the +sloop must take. They showed no lights, and their occupants were not +allowed to converse in tones louder than a whisper. While half of each +crew got what sleep they might in the bottom of the boat, the others +were on watch and keenly alert. In the stern-sheets of each boat sat an +officer muffled in a heavy ulster as a protection against the chill +dampness of the night.</p> + +<p>The night was nearly spent and dawn was at hand when the weary occupants +of one of these patrol-boats were aroused into activity by two bright +lights that flashed in quick succession for an instant well over on the +western side of their channel, which was the one known as Colvos +Passage.</p> + +<p>"It is a signal," said the officer, as he headed his boat in that +direction. "Silence, men! Have your oars ready for a chase."</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards another light appeared on the water in the same +general direction, but farther down the channel. It showed steadily for +a minute, and was then lost to view, only to reappear a few moments +later. After that its continued appearance and disappearance proved most +puzzling, until the officer solved the problem to his own satisfaction +by saying:</p> + +<p>"The careless rascals have come to anchor, and are sending their stuff +ashore in a small boat. That light is the lantern they are working by; +but I wouldn't have believed even they could be so reckless as to use +it. Douse that sail and unship the mast. So. Now, out oars! Give 'way!"</p> + +<p>As the boat sprang forward under this new impulse, its oars, being +muffled in the row-locks, gave forth no sound save the rhythmic swish +with which they left the water at the end of each stroke.</p> + +<p>The row was not a long one, and within five minutes the boat was close +to the mysterious light. No sound came from its vicinity, nor was there +any loom of masts or sails through the blackness. Were they close to it, +after all? Might it not be brighter than they thought, and still at a +distance from them? Its nature was such that the officer could not +determine even by standing up, and for a few moments he was greatly +puzzled. He could now see that the land was at a greater distance than a +smuggler would choose to cover with his small boats when he might just +as well run his craft much closer. What could it mean?</p> + +<p>Suddenly he gave the orders: "'Way enough! In oars! Look sharp there +for'ard with your boat-hook!"</p> + +<p>The next moment the twinkling light was alongside, and its mystery was +explained. It was an old lantern lashed to a bit of a board that was in +turn fastened across an empty half-barrel. A screen formed of a shingle +darkened one side of the lantern, so that, as the floating tub was +turned by wind or wave, the light alternately showed and disappeared at +irregular intervals.</p> + +<p>That the lieutenant who was the victim of this simple ruse was angry +goes without saying. He was furious, and could he have captured its +author just then, that ingenious person might have met with rough usage. +But there seemed little chance of capturing him, for although the +officer felt certain that this tub had been launched from the very +smuggler he was after, he had no idea of where she now was, or of what +direction she had taken. All he knew was that somebody had warned her of +danger in that channel, and that she had cleverly given him the slip. He +could also imagine the "chaff" he would receive from his brother +officers on the cutter when they should learn of his mortifying +experience.</p> + +<p>When, after cruising fruitlessly during the brief remainder of the +night, he returned to his ship and reported what had taken place, he was +chaffed, as he expected, but was enabled to bear this with equanimity, +for he had made a discovery. On the shingle that had shaded the old +lantern he found written in pencil as though for the passing of an idle +half-hour, and apparently by some one who wished to see how his name +would look if he were a foreigner:</p> + +<p>"Philip Ryder, Mr. Philip Ryder, Monsieur Philippe Ryder, Signor Filipo +Ryder, Señor Félipe Ryder, and Herr Philip Ryder."</p> + +<p>"It's the name of the young chap who led me such a chase in Victoria, +and finally gave me the information I wanted concerning the sloop +<i>Fancy</i>," said the lieutenant to his commanding officer, in reporting +this discovery.</p> + +<p>"Which would seem to settle the identity of the sloop we are after, and +prove that she is now somewhere close at hand," replied the commander.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; and it also discloses the identity of the young rascal who is +responsible for this trick, though from his looks I wouldn't have +believed him capable of it. He is the one I told you of who was so +scented with cologne as to be offensive. I remember well seeing the name +Philip Ryder on his dunnage-bag."</p> + +<p>The sun was just rising, and at this moment a report was brought to the +cabin, from a masthead lookout, to the effect that a small sloop was +disappearing behind a point a few miles to the southward.</p> + +<p>"It may be your boat, and it may be some other," said the commander to +the third lieutenant. "At any rate, it is our duty to look him up. So +you will please get under way again with the yawl, run down to that +point, and see what you can find. If you meet with your young friend +Ryder either afloat or ashore, don't fail to arrest and detain him as a +witness, for in any case his testimony will be most important."</p> + +<p>The <i>Fancy</i> had hauled out of her snug berth soon after sunset that same +night, and fanned along by a light breeze, held her course to the +southward. Both our lads were stationed forward to keep a sharp lookout, +though with a grim warning from Captain Duff that if either of them fell +overboard this time, he might as well make up his mind to swim ashore, +for the sloop would not be stopped to pick him up.</p> + +<p>"Cheerful prospect for me," muttered Alaric. "Never mind, though, Mr. +Captain, I'm going to desert, as did the Phil Ryder of whom you seem so +fond. I am going to follow his example, too, in taking your first mate +with me."</p> + +<p>As on the previous night, the lads found an opportunity to talk in low +tones; and filled with the idea of inducing Bonny to leave the sloop +with him, Alaric strove to convince him of the wickedness of smuggling.</p> + +<p>"It is breaking a law of your country," he argued; "and any one who +breaks one law will be easily tempted to break another, until there's no +saying where he will end."</p> + +<p>"If we didn't do it, some other fellows would," replied Bonny. "The +chinks are bound to travel, and folks are bound to have cheap dope."</p> + +<p>"So <i>you</i> are breaking the law to save some other fellow's conscience?"</p> + +<p>"No, of course not. I'm doing it for the wages it pays."</p> + +<p>"Which is as much as to say that you would break any law if you were +paid enough."</p> + +<p>"I never saw such a fellow as you are for putting things in an +unpleasant way," retorted the young mate, a little testily. "Of course +there are plenty of laws I couldn't be hired to break. I wouldn't steal, +for instance, even if I were starving, nor commit a murder for all the +money in the world. But I'd like to know what's the harm in running a +cargo like ours? A few Chinamen more or less will never be noticed in a +big place like the United States. Besides, I think the law that says +they sha'n't come in is an unjust one, anyway. We haven't any more right +to keep Chinamen out of a free country than we have to keep out Italians +or anybody else."</p> + +<p>"So you claim to be wiser than the men who make our laws, do you?" asked +Alaric.</p> + +<p>Without answering this question, Bonny continued: "As for running in a +few pounds of dope, we don't rob anybody by doing that."</p> + +<p>"How about robbing the government?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that don't count. What's a few dollars more or less to a government +as rich as ours?"</p> + +<p>"Which is saying that while you wouldn't steal from any one person, you +don't consider it wicked to steal from sixty millions of people. Also, +that it is perfectly right to rob a government because it is rich. +Wouldn't it be just as right to rob Mr. Vanderbilt or Mr. Astor, or even +my—I mean any other millionaire? They are rich, and wouldn't feel the +loss."</p> + +<p>"I never looked at it in that way," replied Bonny, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"I thought not," rejoined Alaric. "And there are some other points about +this business that I don't believe you ever looked at, either. Did you +ever stop to think that every Chinaman you help over the line at once +sets to work to throw one of your own countrymen out of a job, and so +robs him of his living?"</p> + +<p>"No; I can't say I ever did."</p> + +<p>"Or did it ever occur to you that every cargo of opium you help to bring +into the country is going to carry sorrow and suffering, perhaps even +ruin, to hundreds of your own people?"</p> + +<p>"I say, Rick Dale, it seems to me you know enough to be a lawyer. At any +rate, you know too much to be a sailor, and ought to be in some other +business."</p> + +<p>"No, Bonny, I don't know half enough to be a sailor; but I do know too +much to be a smuggler, and I am going to get into some other business as +quick as I can. You are too, now that you have begun to think about it, +for you are too honest a fellow to hold your present position any longer +than you can help. By-the-way, what would happen if a cutter should get +after us to-night?"</p> + +<p>"That depends," replied the first mate, sagely, glad to feel that there +were some legal questions concerning which he was wiser than his +companion. "They might fire on us, if we didn't stop quick enough to +suit 'em, and blow us out of the water. They might capture us, clap us +into irons, and put us into a dark lock-up on bread and water. The most +likely thing is that we would all be sent to the government prison on +McNeil's Island. From there the chinks would be hustled back to +Victoria, and the old man would get out on bond; but you and I would be +held as witnesses until a court was ready to condemn the vessel and +cargo. That would probably take some months, perhaps a year. Then the +case would be appealed, and we'd be kept in prison for another year or +so.</p> + +<p>"And I suppose if we ever got out we would always be watched and +suspected," suggested Alaric, who had listened to all this with almost +as much dismay as though it were an actual sentence. "Well, I'll never +be caught, that's all. I'll drift away in the dinghy first." In saying +this the boy threatened to do the very most desperate thing he could +think of.</p> + +<p>"I believe I'd go with you," said Bonny. "Now, though, I must go and get +ready our private signal, for we are getting close to the most dangerous +place."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>BONNY'S INVENTION, AND HOW IT WORKED</h3> + + +<p>Bonny walked aft, exchanged a few words with Captain Duff, and then +disappeared in the cabin, where he remained for some minutes. When he +again came on deck he bore a box in which was a lighted lamp provided +with a bright reflector. Only one side of the box was open, and this +space the lad carefully shielded with his hat. The sloop was just +entering Colvos Passage, between Vashon Island and the mainland, and was +nearer the western shore than the other.</p> + +<p>Holding his box as far down as he could reach over the landward side of +the vessel, Bonny turned its opening towards the shore, and allowed the +bright light to stream from it for a single second. Then by quickly +reversing the box the light was made to disappear. A moment later it was +shown again, this time with a piece of red glass held in the front of +the lamp. This red light, after appearing for a single second, was also +made to vanish, and another quick flash of white light took its place. A +minute or so later the whole operation was repeated, and the white, red, +and white signal was again flashed to the wooded shore. At the fourth +time of displaying the signal it was answered by two white flashes from +the shore.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of suspense, and then Bonny exclaimed, in a low tone, +"Great Scott! They're after us!"</p> + +<p>Extinguishing his light, he again dived below, this time into the +forecastle. When he reappeared he bore the float and lighted lantern +already described. Alaric had noticed this queer contrivance the day +before, and, while wondering at its object, had amused himself by idly +scribbling on a smooth shingle that he found inside the tub. Now this +same shingle was hastily lashed to the lantern, and the whole affair was +launched overboard. At the same time the sloop was put about, and +leaving this decoy light floating and bobbing behind her as though it +were in a boat, she sped away towards the eastern side of the channel.</p> + +<p>When Bonny rejoined Alaric at the lookout station he asked, with a +chuckle: "What do you think of that for a scheme, Rick? It's my own +invention, and I've been longing for a chance to try it every trip; but +this is the very first time we have needed anything of the kind. I only +hope the light won't get blown out, or the whole business get capsized +before the beaks capture it. My! how I'd like to see 'em creeping up to +it, and hear their remarks when they find out what it really is!"</p> + +<p>"What does all this flashing of lights and setting lanterns adrift mean, +anyway?" asked Alaric, who was much puzzled by what had just taken +place.</p> + +<p>"Means there's a revenue-boat of some kind waiting for us in the +channel, and that we are dodging him. The lights I showed made our +private signal, and asked if the coast was clear. Skookum John didn't +get on to 'em at first, or maybe he wasn't in a safe place for +answering. When he saw us and got the chance, though, he flashed two +lights to warn us of trouble. Three would have meant 'All right, come +ahead'; but two was a startler. It was the first time we've had that +signal; also it's the first chance I've had to test my invention."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"BONNY'S INVENTION STARTED ON ITS JOURNEY"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"Do you mean that you actually expect that floating lantern to attract +the revenue people, so they will go to examine it, instead of coming +after us?"</p> + +<p>"Attract 'em! Of course it will. They'll go for it the same as June bugs +go for street electrics, and then they'll wish they had spent their time +hunting for us instead."</p> + +<p>Ever since leaving the dancing light Bonny had not been able to take his +eyes from it, so anxious was he to discover whether or not it served the +purpose for which it was intended. It grew fainter and smaller as the +sloop gained distance on her new course. Then all at once it seemed to +rise from the water, and an instant later disappeared.</p> + +<p>"They've got it, and lifted it aboard!" cried Bonny, delightedly. And in +his exultation he called out, "The beaks have doused the glim, Cap'n +Duff!"</p> + +<p>"Douse your tongue, ye swab, and keep your eyes p'inted for'ard!" was +the ungracious reply muttered out of the after darkness.</p> + +<p>"What an old bear he is!" murmured Alaric, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Yes; isn't he?—a regular old sea-bear? But I don't mind him any more +than I would a rumble of imitation thunder. I say, though, Rick, isn't +this jolly exciting?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," admitted the other, "it certainly is."</p> + +<p>"And you want me to quit it for some stupid shore work that'll make a +fellow think he's got about as much life in him as a clam?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't; for I am certain there are just as exciting things to be +done on shore as at sea; and if you'll only promise to come with me I'll +promise to find something for you to do as exciting as this, and lots +honester."</p> + +<p>"I've a mind to take you up," said Bonny, "and I would if I thought you +had any idea how hard it is to find a job of any kind. You haven't, +though, and because you got this berth dead easy you think you'll have +the same luck every time. But we must look sharp now for another light +from Skookum John."</p> + +<p>By this time the sloop had again tacked, and was headed diagonally for +the western shore.</p> + +<p>"Who is Skookum John?" asked Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Skookum? Why, he's our Siwash runner, who is always on the lookout for +us, and keeps us posted."</p> + +<p>"What is a Siwash?"</p> + +<p>"Well, if you aren't ignorant! 'Specially about languages. Why, Siwash +is Chinook for Indian. There's his light now! See? One, two, three. Good +enough! We've given 'em the slip once more, and everything is working +our way."</p> + +<p>By the time Bonny had reported this bit of news to Captain Duff, and +held the tiller while the old sea-dog cautiously lighted the pipe he had +not dared smoke all night, dawn was breaking, and the skipper began to +look anxiously for the harbor he had hoped to make by sunrise.</p> + +<p>As it grew lighter Bonny pointed out the now distant masts of the cutter +they had so successfully passed a short time before, and said, with a +cheerful grin: "There's the old kettle that thought she could clip the +<i>Fancy's</i> wings, and bring her to with a round turn. But she missed it +this time, as she will many another if I'm not mistaken."</p> + +<p>Captain Duff also sighted the far-away cutter, and, nervous as an owl at +being caught outside his hiding-place by daylight, laid all the blame of +their late arrival on poor Alaric.</p> + +<p>"If it hadn't been for your fool antics of two nights ago," he said, +"we'd made this port a good hour afore sun this morning. You're as +wuthless as ye look, and ye look to be the most wuthless young swab I +ever had aboard ship, barring one. He was another just such white-faced, +white-handed, mealy-mouthed specimen as you be. Couldn't eat ship's +victuals till I starved him to it, and finally got me into the wust +scrape of my life. Now I shouldn't be one mite surprised ef you'd put me +into another hole mighty nigh as deep. So you want to quit your nonsense +and 'tend strictly to business, or I'll make ye jump. D'ye hear? I'll +make ye jump, I say."</p> + +<p>Alaric acknowledged that he heard, and then walked forward to light the +galley fire and set a kettle of water on to boil, for he was very +hungry, and proposed to have some breakfast as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>The sloop rounded a long point and came to anchor in a wooded cove, +apparently as wild as though they were its discoverers. A couple of +Chinamen, who had evidently camped there all night, waited to greet +their countrymen on the beach, to which Bonny at once began to transfer +his passengers, a few at a time, in the dinghy. As fast as they were +landed they were led back into the woods and started towards Tacoma, +which was but a few miles distant.</p> + +<p>Alaric, who was determined not to remain aboard the sloop longer than +was necessary to get the breakfast to which he felt entitled after his +night's work, managed to get his canvas bag on deck unseen by Captain +Duff, and slip it into the dinghy as the boat was about to make its last +trip.</p> + +<p>"Hide it on shore for me, Bonny," he said.</p> + +<p>"All right; I will if you'll promise not to skip until we've had another +talk on the subject."</p> + +<p>"Of course I promise; for I'm not going without you."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps you won't go at all," laughed Bonny.</p> + +<p>So the bag was taken ashore and concealed in a thicket a little to one +side, and Bonny came back to prepare breakfast, for which Alaric had the +water already boiling.</p> + +<p>When this meal was nearly ready, and as the boys were sniffing hungrily +at the odors of coffee and frying meat, Captain Duff suddenly appeared +on deck.</p> + +<p>"Go up on that point, you foremast hand—I can't remember your +thundering name—and watch the cutter while me and the mate eats. After +that one of us 'll relieve ye. Ef she moves, or even shows black smoke, +you let me know, d'ye hear?"</p> + +<p>Wishing to rebel, but not daring to, and feeling that he should surely +starve if kept from his breakfast many minutes longer, Alaric obeyed +this order. He managed to secure a couple of hard biscuit with which to +comfort his lonely watch, and then Bonny set him ashore.</p> + +<p>Picking up his bag and carrying it with him, the boy clambered to the +point, and, selecting a place from which he could plainly see the +cutter, began his watch, at the same time munching his dry biscuit with +infinite relish. Much of the water intervening between him and the +cutter was hidden from view by near-by undergrowth, and the necessity +for scanning it never occurred to him.</p> + +<p>After a while Bonny came to relieve him and allow him to go to +breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Have you really made up your mind to desert the ship?" asked the young +mate, noticing that Alaric had his bag with him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I really have," answered the other; "and you will come with me, +won't you, Bonny?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied the latter, undecidedly. "Somehow I can't make +it seem right to desert Captain Duff and leave him in a fix. Seems to me +we ought to stay with him until he gets back to Victoria, anyway. +Besides, I'd lose my wages, and there must be nearly thirty dollars due +me by this time. But you go along to your breakfast, and after that +we'll talk it all over. Haven't seen anything, have you?"</p> + +<p>"No, not a sign, but—Hello! What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Caught, as sure as you're born!" cried Bonny, in a tone of suppressed +excitement.</p> + +<p>Then, the two lads, peering through the bushes, watched a boat, flying +the flag of the United States Revenue Marine and filled with sturdy +bluejackets, enter the cove and dash alongside the smuggler <i>Fancy</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>CAPTURED BY A REVENUE-CUTTER</h3> + + +<p>The sight of that armed boat making fast to the sloop, and its agile +occupants springing on board, was so startling to the two lads taking in +its every detail from their point of vantage on shore, that if +excitement could have affected Alaric Todd's heart it would certainly +have done so at that moment. As it was, he did not even realize that his +heart was beating unusually fast. His mind was too full of other +thoughts just then for him to remember that he had a heart. He only +realized that the vessel of which he had formed the crew had fallen into +the clutches of outraged law, and that for the present at least her +career as a smuggler was at an end. Now that she was really captured, he +was conscious of a regret that after successfully eluding her enemies so +long she should, after all, fall into their hands. He even felt sorry +for Captain Duff, surly old bear that he was.</p> + +<p>At the same time he was thankful not to be on board the captured craft, +and rejoiced in the thought that this sudden change of affairs would +sweep away all Bonny's scruples, and leave him free to seek some +occupation other than that of being a smuggler.</p> + +<p>As for that young sailor himself, his feelings were equally +contradictory with those of his companion, though his sympathies leaned +more decidedly towards the side of the law-breaker.</p> + +<p>"Poor Cap'n Duff!" he exclaimed, in a low tone. "This is tough luck for +him; and I must say, Rick Dale, that the whole thing is pretty much your +fault, too. If you'd kept a half-way decent lookout you'd have seen that +yawl when she was two miles off. Then we could have got under way, and +given her the slip as easy as you please. Now you and I have lost our +job, while Cap'n Duff will lose his and his boat besides. I'll never see +my wages, either; and, worst of all, in spite of my invention working so +smooth, these revenue fellows have got the laugh on us. I say it's too +bad, though to be sure it does let us out of the smuggling business. I +expect it will be a long time, though, before I get another job as first +mate, or any other kind of a job that will be worth having."</p> + +<p>"But, Bonny," interposed Alaric, anxious to defend his own reputation, +"I wasn't told to look out for boats, but only to watch the cutter, and +I hardly took my eyes off of her until you came."</p> + +<p>"That's all right; only by the time you've knocked round the world as +much as I have you'll find out that any fellow who expects to get +promoted has got to do a heap of things besides those he's told to do. +What he is told to do is generally only a hint of what he is expected to +do. But just listen to the old man. Isn't he laying down the law to +those chaps, though?"</p> + +<p>The voices of those on the sloop came plainly to the ears of the hidden +lads, and above them all roared and bellowed that of Captain Duff, as +though he expected to overwhelm his enemies by sheer force of bluster.</p> + +<p>"Chinamen!" he shouted—"Chinamen! No, sir, you won't find no Chinamen +about this craft, nor nothing else onlawful.</p> + +<p>"Smell 'em, do ye? Smell 'em! So do I now, and hev ever sence you +revenooers come aboard. Seems like ye can't get the parfume out of your +clothing.</p> + +<p>"Going to seize the sloop anyway, be ye? Wal, ye kin do it, seeing as +I'm all alone and a cripple. There'll come a day of reckoning, though—a +day of reckoning, d'ye hear? I'm a free-born American citizen, and I'll +protest agin this outrage till they hear me clear to Washington."</p> + +<p>"He's heard over a good part of Washington this minute," whispered +Bonny. "But what are they talking about now?"</p> + +<p>"Phil Ryder!" the captain was shouting. "Philip Ryder! No, sir, there +ain't no one of that name aboard this craft, nor hain't ever been as I +know of. I did know a Phil Ryder once, but—What's that ye say? That'll +do? Wa'l, it won't do, ye gold-mounted swab, not so long as I choose to +keep on talking. Look out there, or I'll brain ye sure as guns! Look +out, I—"</p> + +<p>This last exclamation was directed to a couple of sturdy bluejackets, +who, obeying a significant nod from their officer, seized the irate +captain by either arm, hustled him down into his own cabin, and drew the +slide. Then leaving these two aboard the <i>Fancy</i>, the others re-entered +their boat and began to pull towards shore, with the evident intention +of making a search for the missing members of the sloop's crew as well +as for her recent passengers.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" cried Bonny, softly, "this thing is beginning to get rather too +interesting for us, and the sooner we light out the better."</p> + +<p>So the lads started on a run, and had gone but a few rods when Alaric, +catching his toe on a projecting root, was tripped up and fell heavily. +With such force was he flung to the ground that for several minutes he +was too sick and dizzy to rise. When he finally regained his feet, and +expressed a belief that he could again run, it was too late. The boat's +crew were already scattering through the woods, and one man detailed to +search the point was coming directly towards the place where the boys +were concealed.</p> + +<p>It seemed inevitable that they should be discovered, and Alaric, already +giving himself up for lost, was beginning to see visions of the +government prison on MacNeil's Island, when Bonny spied one avenue of +escape that was still open to them.</p> + +<p>"Scrooch low!" he whispered, "and follow me as softly as you can."</p> + +<p>Alaric obeyed, and the young sailor began to move as rapidly as possible +towards the beach. With inexcusable carelessness the lieutenant had left +his boat hauled up on the shore without a man to guard her. Bonny +noticed this, and also that the sloop's dinghy still lay where he had +left it. If they could only reach the dinghy unobserved they would stand +a much better chance of making an escape by water than by land.</p> + +<p>So the boys crept cautiously through the undergrowth without attracting +the attention of their only near-by pursuer, until they reached the +beach, where a cleared space of about one hundred feet intervened +between them and their coveted goal, and this they must cross, exposed +to the full view of any who might be looking that way. They paused for +an instant, drew long breaths, and then made a dash into the open.</p> + +<p>Almost with the first sound of rattling pebbles beneath their feet came +a yell from behind. The bluejacket had discovered them, and was leaping +down the steep slope in hot pursuit.</p> + +<p>"Run, Rick! You've got to run!" panted Bonny. "Give me the bag." +Snatching the canvas bag from Alaric's hand as he spoke, the active +young fellow darted ahead and flung it into the dinghy. "Now shove!" he +cried. "Shove, with all your might!"</p> + +<p>It was all they could do to move the boat, for the tide had fallen +sufficiently to leave it hard aground, and with their first straining +shove they only gained a couple of feet; the next put half her length in +the water, and with a third effort she floated free.</p> + +<p>"Tumble in!" shouted Bonny, and Alaric obeyed literally, pitching head +foremost across the thwarts with such violence that but for his +comrade's hold on the opposite side the boat would surely have been +capsized.</p> + +<p>With the water above his knees, Bonny gave a final shove that sent the +boat a full rod from shore, and in turn tumbled aboard.</p> + +<p>He was none too soon; for at that moment the sailor reached the spot +they had just left, and, rushing into the water, began to swim after +them with splendid overhand strokes. Bonny snatched up the dinghy's +single oar, and, seeing that they would be overtaken before he could get +the boat under way, brandished it like a club, threatening to bring it +down on the man's head if he came within reach.</p> + +<p>A single glance at the lad's resolute face convinced the swimmer that he +was in dead earnest, and realizing his own helplessness, he wisely +turned back. Then with a shout of derision Bonny began to scull the +dinghy towards open water, while the sailor strove with unavailing +efforts to launch the heavy yawl.</p> + +<p>Without troubling themselves any further about him, the lads turned +their attention to the sloop, which they were now approaching. The two +men left in charge had watched with great interest the scene just +enacted so close to them, but in which, having no boat at their +disposal, they were unable to participate. Now one of them shouted: +"Come aboard here, you young villains! What do you mean by running off +with government property?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by eating my breakfast?" replied Alaric, hungrily, as +he noticed the men making a hearty meal off the food they had discovered +in the sloop's galley.</p> + +<p>"Your breakfast, is it, son? So you belong to this craft, do you? Come +aboard and get it, then."</p> + +<p>"Don't you wish we would?" retorted Bonny, jeeringly, as he stopped +sculling and allowed the dinghy to drift just beyond reach from the +sloop. "I say, though, you might toss us a couple of hardtack."</p> + +<p>"What? Feed you young pirates with rations that's just been seized by +the government? Not much. I'm in the service, I am."</p> + +<p>Just then a bright object flashed from one of the little round cabin +windows and fell in the dinghy. It was a box of sardines. Tins of potted +meat, mushrooms, and other delicacies followed in quick succession. One +or two fell in the water and were lost; but most of them reached their +destination, and were deftly caught by Alaric, whose baseball experience +was thus put to practical use. So before the bewildered guards fully +realized what was taking place the dinghy was fairly well provisioned. +At length one of them seemed to comprehend the situation, and sprang in +front of the open port just in time to stop with his legs a flying +tumbler of raspberry jam. As it broke and streamed down over his white +duck trousers the boys in the dinghy shouted with laughter, and nearly +rolled overboard in their irrepressible mirth.</p> + +<p>All at once there came a hoarse shout from the same cabin port. "Look +astarn, ye lubbers! Look astarn!"</p> + +<p>So occupied had the lads been with the sloop that they had given no +thought to what might be taking place on shore, but at this warning a +startled glance in that direction filled them with dismay.</p> + +<p>Another sailor, attracted by the shouts on the beach, had returned to +the assistance of his mate, and together they had succeeded in launching +the yawl. Then, pulling very softly, they had slipped up on the unwary +lads, until they were so close that one of them had quit rowing, and +crept forward to the bow, where he crouched with an outstretched +boat-hook, that in another second would be caught over the dinghy's +sternboard.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW</h3> + + +<p>The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the +sloop were already shouting derisively at them. Alaric caught another +mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart +experienced an instant of despair. He was still standing and holding the +oar that he had used in sculling. Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as +the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he +struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it +whirling from the sailor's grasp. With a second quick motion the lad set +his oar against the stem of the yawl, that was within four feet of him, +and gave a vigorous shove. The slight headway of the heavy craft was +checked, and the lighter dinghy forged ahead.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you will, will you, you young rascal?" cried the sailor, angrily, +as he leaped back to his thwart, and bent to his oar with furious +energy. His companion followed his example, and under the impetus of +their powerful strokes the yawl sprang forward. At the same time Bonny, +facing backward, and working his oar with both hands, was sculling so +sturdily that the dinghy rocked from side to side until it seemed to +Alaric that she must certainly capsize. She was making such splendid +headway, though, that the much heavier yawl could not gain an inch. Its +crew, unable to see the fugitive dinghy without turning their heads, and +having no one to steer for them, were placed at a disadvantage that +Bonny was quick to detect.</p> + +<p>Watching his opportunity, he caused his craft to swerve sharply to one +side, and the yawl, holding her original course for some seconds before +his manœuvre was discovered, his lead was thus materially increased.</p> + +<p>Although not a very swift race, this novel chase proved as close and +exciting a contest as had ever been seen on the Sound. The men on the +sloop yelled with delight; and Alaric, filled with renewed hopes of +escape on seeing that the distance between dinghy and yawl was not +diminished, thrilled with excitement and shouted encouraging words to +his comrade.</p> + +<p>In spite of all this, Bonny's strength and powers of endurance were so +much less than those of the sturdy fellows in the yawl that he realized +the impossibility of maintaining his position much longer. With strained +muscles, and his breath coming in panting gasps, he glanced wildly about +like a hunted animal in search of some avenue of escape. There was none +other than that he was taking; and with a sinking heart he knew that, +unless some miracle were interposed in their behalf, he and his +companion must speedily be captured.</p> + +<p>But the miracle was interposed, and in the simplest possible manner; for +just as Bonny was ready to drop his oar from exhaustion a shrill, +long-drawn whistle sounded from the now distant beach. Its effect on the +crew of the yawl was magical. They stopped rowing, looked at each other, +and consulted. Then they gazed at the retreating dinghy and hesitated. +They felt it to be their duty to continue the pursuit, but they also +knew the penalty for disobeying an order from a superior, and that +whistle was an unmistakable order for them to go back.</p> + +<p>The cutter's third lieutenant had returned from his expedition into the +woods with three wretched Chinamen, whom, despite their eagerly produced +certificates, he had seen fit to make prisoners. He was amazed to find +the yawl gone from where he had left it, and the details of the chase in +which it was engaged being hidden from him by the intervening sloop, he +gave the whistle signal for its immediate return.</p> + +<p>As the crew of the yawl hesitated between duty and obedience, the +peremptory whistle order was repeated louder and shriller than before. +This decided the wavering sailors, and, reluctantly turning their boat, +they began to pull towards shore, one of them shaking his fist at the +boys as they went.</p> + +<p>As for the fugitives, they could hardly believe the evidence of their +senses. Was the chase indeed given over, and were they free to go where +they pleased? It seemed incredible. Just as they were on the point of +being captured, too, for Bonny now confided to Alaric that he couldn't +have held out at that pace one minute longer. As he said this the tired +lad sat down for a short rest.</p> + +<p>Almost immediately he again sprang to his feet, and, thrusting his oar +overboard, began to scull with one hand. "It won't do for us to be +loafing here," he explained, "for I expect those fellows have been +called back so that the whole crowd can chase us in the sloop."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope not," said Alaric; "I'm awfully tired of running away."</p> + +<p>"So am I," laughed Bonny—"tired in more ways than one; but if fellows +bigger than we are will insist on chasing us, I don't see that there is +anything for us to do but run. There! thank goodness we've rounded the +point at last, and got out of sight of them for a while at any rate."</p> + +<p>"Where are you going now, and what do you propose to do next?" asked +Alaric, who, fully realizing his own helplessness in this situation, was +willing to leave the whole scheme of escape to his more experienced +companion.</p> + +<p>"That's what I'm wondering. Of course it won't do to stay out here very +long, for in less than fifteen minutes the sloop will be shoving her +nose around that point. Nor it wouldn't be any use to try and get to +Tacoma—at least, not yet a while—for that's where they'll be most +likely to hunt for us. So I think we'd better cross the channel, turn +our boat adrift, and make our way overland to Skookum John's camp. It +isn't very sweet-smelling, and they don't feed you any too well—that +is, not according to our ideas—but just because it is such a mean kind +of a place no one will ever think of looking for us there. Besides, +Skookum's a very decent sort of a chap, and he'll keep us posted on all +that happens in the bay. So if you don't mind roughing it a bit—"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," interrupted Alaric, eagerly. "I don't mind it at all. In +fact, that is just what I want to do most of anything, and I've always +wished I could live in a real Indian camp. The only Indians I ever saw +were in the Wild West Show, in Paris."</p> + +<p>"Have you been to Paris?" asked Bonny, wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course, I was there for—I mean yes, I've been there. But, +Bonny, what makes you think of turning this boat adrift? Wouldn't we +find her useful?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose we might; but she isn't our boat, you know, and you wouldn't +keep a boat that didn't belong to you just because it might prove +useful, would you?"</p> + +<p>"No, certainly not," replied Alaric, rather surprised to have his +companion take this view of the question. "I would try to hand her over +to the rightful owner."</p> + +<p>"So would I," agreed Bonny, "if I knew who he was; but after what has +just happened I don't know, and so I am going to turn her adrift in the +hope that he will find her. Besides, it wouldn't be safe to leave her on +shore, because she would show anybody who happened to be looking for us +just where we had landed."</p> + +<p>"That's a much better reason than the other," said Alaric.</p> + +<p>During this conversation the dinghy had been urged steadily across the +channel, and was now run up to a bold bank, where the boys disembarked. +After removing Alaric's bag and the several cans of provisions so +thoughtfully furnished them by Captain Duff, Bonny gave the boat a push +out into the channel, down which the ebbing tide bore her, with many a +twist and turn, towards the more open waters of the Sound.</p> + +<p>"To be left in this way in an unknown wilderness makes me feel as Cortez +must have done when he burned his ships," reflected Alaric, as he +watched the receding craft.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I ever heard about that," said Bonny, simply. "Did he do +it for the insurance?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," laughed Alaric; "and yet in a certain way he did, too. +I'll tell you all about it some time. Now, what are you going to do +next?"</p> + +<p>"Climb that bluff, lie down under those trees while you eat something, +and watch for the sloop," answered Bonny, as though his programme had +all been arranged beforehand.</p> + +<p>They did this, and Alaric was so hungry that he made away with a whole +box of sardines and a tin of deviled ham. He wondered a little if they +would not make him ill, but did not worry much, for he was rapidly +learning that while leading an out-of-door life one may eat with +impunity many things that would kill one under ordinary conditions. He +had just finished his ham, and was casting thoughtful glances towards a +bottle of olives, when Bonny exclaimed, "There she is!"</p> + +<p>Sure enough, the sloop, with the cutter's yawl in tow, was slowly +beating out past the point on the opposite side of the channel. She +stood well over towards the western shore, and the tide so carried her +down that when she tacked she was close under the bluff on which the +boys, stretched at full length and peering through a fringe of tall +grasses, watched her. She came so near that Alaric grew nervous, and was +certain her crew were about to make a landing at that very spot. With a +vision of MacNeil's Island always before him, he wanted to run from so +dangerous a vicinity and hide in the forest depths; but Bonny assured +him that the sloop would go about, and in another moment she did so, +greatly to Alaric's relief.</p> + +<p>They could see that Captain Duff was still confined below, and they even +heard one of the men sing out to the officer in command: "There it is +now, sir, about two miles down the channel. I can see it plain."</p> + +<p>"Very good," answered the lieutenant; "keep your eye on it, and note if +they make a landing. If they don't, we'll have them inside of half an +hour."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will," said Bonny, with a grin.</p> + +<p>As the sloop passed out of hearing the lads crept back from the edge of +the bluff, gathered up their scanty belongings, and started through the +forest towards the place where Bonny believed Skookum John's camp to be +located. Although it lay somewhere down the coast in the same direction +as that taken by the sloop, it never occurred to either of them that +her new commander might stop there to make inquiries concerning them.</p> + +<p>Thus when, after an hour of hard travel, they came suddenly on the camp, +located beside a tumbling stream in a rocky hollow that opened directly +on the water, they were terrified at sight of the cutter's yawl lying in +the mouth of the creek, and the revenue-officer standing on shore +engaged in earnest conversation with Skookum John himself. As they +hastily drew back into the forest shadows they saw the former wave his +arm comprehensively towards the country lying back of the camp. Then he +shook hands with the Indian and stepped into his boat. Just as it was +about to shove off, a villanous cur, scenting the newcomers, darted +towards their hiding-place, barking furiously.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>SAVED BY A LITTLE SIWASH KID</h3> + + +<p>The attention of the departing revenue-officer being attracted by the +barking dog, he paused, and glanced inquiringly in that direction. It +was a critical moment for our lads, who knew not whether to run, which +would be to reveal their presence at once, or to try and kill the dog, +with probably the same result. Fortunately they were spared the +necessity of a decision, for a little girl, whom up to this moment they +had not noticed, though she was quietly at play with a family of +clam-shell dolls directly in front of them, took the matter into her own +hands. She had just arranged her score or so of dolls in <i>potlatch</i> +order, with the most favored near at hand, when the dog, charging that +way, threatened to upset the whole company. To avert such a catastrophe +the child snatched up a stick, and springing forward in defence of her +property, began to belabor him with such a hearty will, and scream at +him so shrilly, as to entirely divert his attention from his original +object.</p> + +<p>Taking advantage of this diversion in their favor, the boys stole softly +away, and after making a long détour through the forest, cautiously +approached the coast a mile or more from Skookum John's camp, but where +they could command a wide view of the Sound. Here they had the +satisfaction of seeing the yawl, under sail, standing off shore, and a +full half-mile from it. The sloop was not visible, nor was the cutter.</p> + +<p>"How could he have known just where to look for us?" asked Alaric, who +had been greatly alarmed at the imminence of their recent danger.</p> + +<p>"He couldn't have known," replied Bonny. "It was only a good guess. I +suppose he overhauled our boat, and, finding her empty, made up his mind +that we had landed somewhere. Of course he couldn't tell on which shore +to look, but, noticing John's camp, thought it would be a good idea to +find out if the Indians had seen anything of us. Of course they hadn't, +and now that he has left, it will be safe enough for us to go back."</p> + +<p>"Do you really think so? Isn't there any other place to which we can +go?" asked Alaric, whose dread of being captured by the revenue-officers +was so great as to render him overcautious.</p> + +<p>"Plenty of them, but no other that I know of within reach, where we +could find food, fire to cook it, and a boat to carry us somewhere else; +for there aren't any white settlers or any other Indians that I know of +within miles of here."</p> + +<p>In spite of this assurance Alaric was so loath to venture that the boys +spent several hours in discussing their situation and prospects before +he finally consented to revisit Skookum John's camp. By this time the +day was drawing to its close, and the lengthening forest shadows, flung +far out over the placid waters of the Sound, were so suggestive of a +night of darkness and hunger amid all sorts of possible terrors as to +outweigh all other considerations. So the boys plunged into the twilight +gloom of the thick-set trees, and began the uncertain task of retracing +the way by which they had come.</p> + +<p>As neither of them was a woodsman, this soon proved more difficult than +they had expected. The trees all looked alike, and they made so many +turns to avoid prostrate trunks and masses of entangled branches that +within half an hour they came to a halt, and each read in the troubled +face of the other a confirmation of his own fears. They had certainly +lost their way, and could not even tell in which direction lay the +sea-shore they had so recently left. Bonny thought it was in front, +while Alaric was equally certain that it still lay behind them.</p> + +<p>"If we could only make a fire," said the former, "I wouldn't mind so +much staying right where we are till daylight; but I should hate to do +so without one. Haven't you any matches?"</p> + +<p>"Not one," replied Alaric; "but I thought you always carried them."</p> + +<p>"So I do; but I used them all on that old lantern last night. I almost +wish now I'd never invented that thing, and that they had caught us. +They wouldn't have starved us, at any rate, and perhaps the prison isn't +so very bad, after all."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," rejoined Alaric, stoutly. "To my mind a +prison is the very worst thing, worse even than starving. After all, +this doesn't seem to me so bad a fix as some from which I've already +escaped. Going to China, for instance, or drifting alone at night in a +small boat."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by going to China?" asked Bonny, wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" exclaimed the other, without answering this question. "Don't you +hear something?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing but the wind up aloft."</p> + +<p>"Well, I do. I hear some sort of a moaning, and it sounds like a child."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it's a bear or a wolf, or something of that kind," suggested +Bonny, whose notions concerning wild animals were rather vague.</p> + +<p>"Of course it may be," admitted Alaric; "but it sounds so human that we +must go and find out, for if it is a child in distress we are bound to +rescue it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose we are; only if it proves to be a bear, I wonder who +will rescue us."</p> + +<p>Alaric had already set off in the direction of the moaning; and ere they +had taken half a dozen steps Bonny also heard it plainly. Then they +paused and shouted, hoping that if the sound came from a bear the animal +would run away. As they could hear no evidences of a retreat, and as the +moaning still continued, they again pushed on. It was now so dark that +they could do little more than feel their way past trees, over logs, and +through dense beds of ferns. All the while the sound by which they were +guided grew more and more distinct, until it seemed to come from their +very feet.</p> + +<p>At this moment the moaning ceased, as though the sufferer were +listening. Then it was succeeded by a plaintive cry that went straight +to Alaric's heart. He could dimly see the outline of a great log +directly before him. Stooping beside it and groping among the ferns, his +hands came in contact with something soft and warm that he lifted +carefully. It was a little child, who uttered a sharp cry of mingled +pain and terror at being picked up by a stranger.</p> + +<p>"Poor little thing!" exclaimed the boy. "I am afraid it is badly +injured, and shouldn't be one bit surprised if it had broken a limb. I +must try and find out so as not to hurt it unnecessarily."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Bonny, in a tragic tone, "they say troubles fly in flocks. +I thought we were in a pretty bad fix before; but now we surely have run +into difficulty. Whatever are we to do with a baby?"</p> + +<p>"Bonny!" cried Alaric, without answering this question, "I do believe +it's the little Indian girl who drove away the dog, and something is +the matter with one of her ankles."</p> + +<p>"Skookum John's little Siwash kid!" exclaimed Bonny, joyfully. "Then we +can't be so very far from his camp. Now if we only knew in which +direction it lay."</p> + +<p>As if in answer to this wish there came a cry, far-reaching and long +drawn: "Nittitan! Nittitan! Ohee! Ohee!"</p> + +<p>For several hours Skookum John and his eldest son, Bah-die, had been +searching the woods for two white lads whom the third lieutenant of the +cutter claimed to have lost. He had promised the Indian a reward of +twenty-five dollars if he would bring them to the cutter, and Skookum +John had at once set forth with the idea of earning this money as +speedily as possible.</p> + +<p>Little Nittitan, his youngest daughter, whom he loved above all others, +noted his going, and after a while decided to follow him. When darkness +put an end to the Indian's fruitless search and he returned to his camp, +he found it in an uproar. Nittitan was missing, and no one could imagine +what had become of her.</p> + +<p>For a moment the bereaved father was stunned. Then he prepared several +torches, and, accompanied by Bah-die, set forth to find her. At the edge +of the forest he raised a mighty cry that he hoped would reach the +little one's ears. To his amazement it was answered by a cheery "Hello! +Hello there, Skookum John!"</p> + +<p>"Ohee! Ohee!" shouted the Indian.</p> + +<p>"Here's your <i>tenas klootchman</i>" (little woman), came the voice from the +forest, and the happy father knew that he who shouted had found the lost +child and was bringing her to him.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus5" id="illus5"></a> +<img src="images/illus5.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>THE ARRIVAL AT SKOOKUM JOHN'S</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>On the outskirts of his camp he stood and waited, with blazing torch +uplifted above his head, and an expectant group of women and half-grown +children huddled behind him. He was greatly perplexed when a few minutes +later a tall white lad whom he had never before seen emerged from the +forest bearing the lost child in his arms. There was another behind him, +though, who was promptly recognized, for Skookum John knew Bonny Brooks +well, and instantly it came to him that these were the boys whom the +revenue-man claimed to have lost. And they had found his little one. How +glad he was that his own search for them had been unsuccessful! But this +was not the time to be thinking of them. There was his own little +Nittitan. He must have her in his arms and hold her close before he +could feel that she was really safe.</p> + +<p>He stepped forward to take her, but the strange lad drew back, and Bonny +cried out: "<i>Kloshe nanitsh, Skookum. Tenas klootchman la pee, hyas +sick</i>," by which he conveyed the idea that the little woman had hurt her +foot quite badly. Then he added, "It's all right, Rick. He understands +that he must handle her gently."</p> + +<p>So Alaric relinquished his burden, and the swarthy father, rejoicing but +anxious, bore the child to a rude hut of brush and cedar mats, the open +front of which was faced by a brightly blazing fire. Here he laid her +gently down on a soft bear-skin and knelt beside her.</p> + +<p>Alaric, who seemed to consider the child as still under his care, knelt +on the opposite side and began to feel very carefully of one of the +little ankles. He had not spent all his life in company with doctors +without learning something of their trade, and after a brief examination +he announced to Bonny that there were no broken bones, but merely a +dislocation of the ankle-joint.</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about it," said Bonny, "but I should think that +would be just as bad."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed! A dislocation is not serious if promptly attended to. You +explain to him that I am a sort of a doctor, and can make the child well +in a few seconds if he will let me. Then I want him to hold her while I +pull the joint into place."</p> + +<p>So Bonny explained that his friend was a <i>hyas doctin</i> or great +medicine-man who could make Nittitan well <i>hyak</i> (quick), and the +anxious father, having implicit faith in the white man's skill, +consented to allow Alaric to make the attempt.</p> + +<p>The little one uttered a sharp cry, as, with a quick wrench, the +dislocated bone was snapped into place, and Alaric, with flushed face, +but very proud of what he had done, regained his feet.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said, "let them bathe the ankle in water as hot as the child +can bear, and by to-morrow she'll be all right. And, Bonny, if you know +how to ask for anything to eat, for goodness' sake take pity on the +starving poor, and say it quick."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>LIFE IN SKOOKUM JOHN'S CAMP</h3> + + +<p>Skookum John, which in Chinook means "Strong John," was a Makah, or Neah +Bay, Indian, whose home was at Cape Flattery, on the shore of the +Pacific, and at the southern side of the entrance to the superb strait +of Juan de Fuca. He was a <i>Tyhee</i>, or chief, among his people, for he +was not only their biggest man, being a trifle over six feet tall, while +very few of his tribe exceeded five feet nine inches in height, but he +was the boldest and most successful hunter of whales among them. This +alone would have given him high rank in the tribe, for to them the +whales that frequent the warm waters of the coast are what buffalo were +to the Indians of the great plains.</p> + +<p>The Makahs are fish-eaters, and while they catch and dry or smoke +quantities of salmon, halibut, and cod, they esteem the whale more than +all other denizens of the sea, because there is so much of him, because +he is so good to eat, and because he furnishes them with the oil which +they use on all their food, as we use butter, and which they trade for +nearly every other necessity of their simple life.</p> + +<p>They hunt the whale in big open canoes hewn from logs of yellow-cedar, +long-beaked and wonderfully carved, painted a dead black outside and +bright red within. Formerly they used sails of cedar matting, but now +they are made of heavy drilling or light duck. Eight men go in a +whaling-canoe—one to steer, one to throw the slender harpoons, and six +to wield the long paddles, the blades of which are wide at the upper end +and gradually narrow to a point below, which is the very best way to +make all paddles except those used for steering. In these canoes Skookum +John and his people chase whales far out to sea, sometimes following +them for days without returning to land. Every time they get near enough +to one of the monsters they hurl into him a harpoon, to the head of +which is attached, by a length of stout kelp, a float made of a whole +seal-skin sewn up and inflated. The heavy drag of these floats +eventually so tires the whale that he is at the mercy of his enemies, +and they tow him ashore in triumph.</p> + +<p>The big Siwash, being an expert whaleman, had much oil to trade, and +made frequent visits to Victoria for this purpose. Here, being an +intelligent man and keenly noticing all that he saw, he learned much +concerning the whites and their ways, besides picking up a fair +knowledge of their language.</p> + +<p>So it happened that when the smugglers who proposed to operate in the +upper Sound began to cast, about for some trustworthy person, who would +also be free from suspicion, to look out for their interests in that +section, and keep them posted as to the whereabouts of cutters, they +very wisely selected Skookum John, and offered him inducements that he +could not afford to refuse. He, of course, knew nothing of the laws they +proposed to violate, nor did he care, for political economy had never +been included in Skookum John's studies.</p> + +<p>So the Makah Tyhee closed his substantial house of hewn planks on Neah +Bay, and, with all his wives and children—of whom Bah-die was the +eldest and little Nittitan the youngest—and his dogs and canoes, and +much whale oil, and many mats, he made the long journey to the place in +which we find him. Here he established a summer camp of brush huts, and +ostensibly went into the business of fishing for the Tacoma market. He +had brought his big whaling-canoe, and the little paddling canoes in +which his children were accustomed to brave the Pacific breakers +apparently for the fun of being rolled over and over in the surf. Above +all, he had brought a light sailing-canoe which was fashioned with such +skill that its equal for speed and weatherly qualities had never been +seen among canoes of its size on the coast. It was in this swift craft +that he darted about the Sound at night to discover the movements of +revenue-men, watch for signals from incoming smugglers, and flash in +return the lights that told of safety or danger.</p> + +<p>Although not possessed of a high sense of honor, Skookum John was loyal +to his employers, because it paid him to be so, and because no one had +ever tempted him to be otherwise. At the same time he was not above +performing a service for the other side, provided it would also pay, and +so he did not hesitate to promise the cutter's third lieutenant that in +return for twenty-five dollars he would use every effort to find and +return to him the lost boys. As the lieutenant had not seen fit to +mention the capture of the smuggling sloop that morning, or to say that +the boys in question formed part of her crew, he had no idea that one of +them was the lad with whom he had arranged his entire system of night +signals.</p> + +<p>When he did learn of the blow that threatened to retire him from +business, and the reason why the revenue-men were so desirous of finding +the lost boys, he began to wish that he saw his way clear to the winning +of that reward, for twenty-five dollars is a large sum to be made so +easily. But the revenue-men wanted <i>two</i> boys, and the only other one +besides Bonny at present available, was the young medicine-man, the +<i>hyas doctin</i>, who had not only found his dearly loved Nittitan in the +dark <i>hyas stick</i> (forest), but had so marvellously mended what he +firmly believed to have been a broken leg.</p> + +<p>The old Siwash was not honorable, and he was very mercenary. At the same +time, he was grateful, and would have suffered much to prevent harm from +coming to the lad who had placed him under such obligations. He was also +superstitious, and rather afraid of the powers of a <i>hyas doctin</i>. So he +determined to make the boys as comfortable as possible, and keep them +with him until he could communicate with the <i>Tyhee</i> of the <i>piah-ship</i> +(steamer). If two lost boys were worth twenty-five dollars, one lost boy +must be worth at least half that sum; while it was just possible that he +might obtain the whole reward for one boy. In that case, Bonny must be +handed over to those who were willing to pay for him; for business is +business even among the Siwash, and charity begins at home all over the +world. Of course, Skookum John did not use these expressions, for he was +not acquainted with them, but what he thought meant exactly the same +thing.</p> + +<p>In consequence of these reflections, all of which passed the Indian's +mind in the space of a few seconds, Bonny had no time to make a request +for food before the very best that the camp afforded was placed before +them. There were small square chunks of whale-skin, as black and tough +as the heel of a rubber boot. It was expected that these would be chewed +for a moment, until the impossibility of masticating them was +discovered, and that they would then be swallowed whole. After them came +boiled fishes heads, of which the eyes were considered the chief +delicacy, and these were followed by several kinds of dried and smoked +fish, including salmon and halibut, besides bits of smoked whale looking +like so many pieces of dried citron. All of these were to be dipped in +hot whale oil before being eaten.</p> + +<p>Then came another course of fish—this time fresh and plain +boiled—which the Indians ate with a liberal supply of whale oil. Then +boiled potatoes which were also dipped in oil after each bite. The +crowning glory of the feast was a small quantity of hard bread, which +for a change was dipped in whale oil and eaten dripping, and with this +was served a mixture of huckleberries and oil beaten to a paste.</p> + +<p>In regard to this liberal use of oil it must be said that Skookum John's +whale oil was universally acknowledged to be the sweetest and most +skilfully prepared to prevent rancidity of any in the Neah Bay village, +and his family regarded it with the same pride that the proprietors of +the best Orange County dairy do the finest products of their churn. It +was therefore a great disappointment to them that Alaric did not +appreciate it, and after trying a small quantity on a bit of potato, +refused a further supply. He even seemed to prefer pâté-de-foie-gras, of +which the boys had a single jar. This he opened in honor of the +occasion, and with it to spread over his bread and potatoes, a liberal +helping of the boiled fish, and an innumerable number of smoked halibut +strips boiled after a manner taught him by Bonny, the millionaire's son +made a supper that he declared was one of the very best he had ever +eaten.</p> + +<p>In order that their new-found friends might not feel too badly over +Alaric's refusal to partake more liberally of their whale oil, Bonny +gave them to understand that it was not because he disliked it, but not +being accustomed to rich food, he was afraid of making himself ill if he +indulged in it too freely.</p> + +<p>At this meal the young sailor tasted both pâté-de-foie-gras and whale +oil for the first time, and after carefully considering the merits of +the two delicacies, declared that he could not tell which was the worse, +and that as it would be just as difficult to learn to like one as the +other, he thought he would devote his energies to the oil.</p> + +<p>After supper a rude shelter against the chill dampness of the night was +constructed of small poles covered with a number of the useful bark +mats, of which the Indian women of that coast make enormous quantities. +A few armfuls of spruce-tips were cut and spread beneath it, a couple of +mats were laid over these, two more were provided for covering, and +Alaric's first camp bed was ready for him. Both lads were so dead tired +that they needed no second invitation to fling themselves down on their +sweet-scented couch, and were asleep almost instantly. As Skookum John +and Bah-die had also been out all the night before, they were not long +in following the example of their guests, and so within an hour after +supper the whole camp was buried in a profound slumber.</p> + +<p>By earliest daylight of the next morning the older Indian was up and +stirring about very softly so as not to awaken the strangers. He was +about to make an effort to earn that twenty-five dollars, and believed +that by careful management it might be his before noon. He planned to +notify the commander of the cutter that while he could deliver one of +the desired lads into his hands, the other had taken a canoe and gone to +Tacoma, where he would no doubt be readily found. If the <i>Tyhee</i> of the +<i>piah-ship</i> agreed to pay him the offered reward or even half of it for +one lad, he would ask that a boat might be sent to the camp for him. In +the meantime he would return first and invite both boys to go out +fishing—Bonny in a canoe with him, and the other in a second canoe +with Bah-die, who would be instructed to take his passenger out of sight +somewhere up the coast. Then the cutter's boat would be allowed to +overtake his canoe, and Bonny would be handed over to those who wanted +him, without trouble.</p> + +<p>It was an admirably conceived plan, and the old Siwash chuckled over it +as he softly launched his lightest canoe, stepped into it, and paddled +swiftly away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>A TREACHEROUS INDIAN FROM NEAH BAY</h3> + + +<p>To his great disappointment, Skookum John could not find the cutter that +he had heretofore so carefully avoided and was now so anxious to +discover. She no longer lay where he had seen her the day before. He +even went far enough into Commencement Bay to take a look at Tacoma +harbor and identify the several steamers lying at its wharves. The +cutter was not among them, and he made the long trip back to his own +camp in a very disgusted frame of mind. At the same time he was +determined to redouble his efforts to gain that reward, for with the +prospect of losing it it began to assume an increased value.</p> + +<p>With one source of income cut off, it was clearly his duty to provide +another. And how could he do this better than by securing the good-will +of those on board the white <i>piah-ship</i>? There was no danger of them +being captured and driven out of business, and if he could only get them +into the habit of paying him for doing things, he could see no reason +why they should not continue to do so indefinitely.</p> + +<p>The old Siwash had already persuaded himself that they would give him +twenty-five dollars for one <i>tenas man</i> (boy), and by the same course of +reasoning he now wondered if they might not be induced to give him fifty +dollars for two boys. It was possible, and certainly worth trying for. +If they should consent, he could not see how, in justice to himself and +his family, he could refuse to give up the <i>hyas doctin</i> (Alaric) along +with the <i>tenas shipman</i> (young sailor). After all, the former had not +placed him under such a very great obligation, for he would have found +Nittitan himself in a very few minutes. As for curing her of her injury, +the hurt could not have been anything serious or she would not have gone +to sleep so quickly. Yes, for fifty dollars he would certainly deliver +both of his young guests to the <i>shipman Tyhee</i>. He would be a fool to +do otherwise, and Skookum John had never yet been called a fool. +Besides, it was not likely that the boys would come to any harm on board +the cutter, for the <i>Boston men</i> (whites) were very good to those of +their own tribe, never treating them cruelly, as they did the poor +Siwash, whom they had even forbidden to kill and rob shipwrecked sailors +found on their coast. Yes, indeed, both boys must be given up, and that +fifty dollars reward received as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>It was all a very rational process of reasoning, and one that even white +people sometimes employ to convince themselves that a thing they want to +do is the right thing to do, even though their consciences may assure +them to the contrary.</p> + +<p>So the cunning old Indian, having persuaded himself that his meditated +treachery was pure benevolence, reached his camp in good spirits in +spite of his disappointment, and determined to make the stay of the boys +so pleasant that they should offer no objection to remaining with him +until the return of the cutter to those waters.</p> + +<p>It was a glorious morning, and the dimpled Sound was flooded with +unclouded sunlight that even shot long golden shafts into the depths of +its bordering forest. Myriads of fish were leaping from the sparkling +water, cheerful voices sounded from the camp, and the smoke of burning +cedar filled the air with its delicate perfume.</p> + +<p>The boys had been awake and out for an hour, and Alaric was fairly +intoxicated with the glorious freedom of that wild life, of which this +was his first taste. Already had he taken a swimming-lesson, and +although in his ignorance he had recklessly plunged into water that +would have drowned him had not Bonny and Bah-die pulled him out, he was +confident that he had swum one stroke before going down.</p> + +<p>Upon Skookum John's return his guests sat down with him to a breakfast +which their ravenous appetites enabled them to eat with a hearty +enjoyment, though it consisted only of fish, fish, and yet more fish.</p> + +<p>"But it is such capital fish!" explained Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it?" replied Bonny, tearing with teeth and fingers at a great +strip of smoked salmon. "And the oil isn't half bad, either."</p> + +<p>After they had finished eating, and their host had lighted his pipe, he +told Bonny that his early morning trip had been taken out of his anxiety +for their safety, and to discover the whereabouts of their enemies, the +revenue-men.</p> + +<p>"<i>They mamook klatawa?</i>" (Have they gone away?) inquired Bonny.</p> + +<p>"<i>No; piah-ship mitlite Tacoma illahie</i>" (No; steamer stay in Tacoma). +"<i>Shipman Tyhee cultus wau wau</i>" (The sailor chief made much worthless +talk).</p> + +<p>"<i>Mesika wau wau Tyhee?</i> (Did you talk to the captain?) inquired Bonny, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ah ah, me wau wau no klap tenas man. Alta piah-ship kopet Tacoma +illahie. Mesika mitlite Skookum John house.</i>"</p> + +<p>By this sentence he conveyed to Bonny the idea that he had told the +captain the boys were not to be found. At the same time he extended to +them the hospitality of his camp for so long as the cutter should remain +at Tacoma.</p> + +<p>When Bonny repeated this conversation to Alaric, the latter exclaimed: +"Of course we would better stay here, where we are safe until the cutter +goes away, even if it is a week from now. I hope it will be as long as +that, for I think this camp is one of the jolliest places I ever +struck."</p> + +<p>"All right," replied Bonny. "If you can stand it, I can."</p> + +<p>So the boys settled quietly down and waited for something to happen, +though it seemed to Alaric as though something of interest and +importance were happening nearly all the time. To begin with, they built +themselves a brush hut under Bah-die's instruction, the steep-pitched +roof of which would shed rain. Then they both took lessons from the same +teacher in sailing and paddling a canoe. The supply of fish for the camp +had to be replenished daily, and this duty devolved entirely upon the +younger children, for Bah-die went always with his father to draw the +big seine net, in which they caught fish for market. As the lads were +anxious to earn their board, they sometimes went in the big boat, and +sometimes in the small canoes with the children, by which means they +learned all the different ways known to the Indians of catching fish. +With all this, Alaric's swimming-lessons were not neglected for a single +day, and he often took baths both morning and evening, so fascinated was +he with the novel sport.</p> + +<p>In return for what Bah-die taught him, he undertook to train the young +Siwash in the art of catching a baseball. The latter having watched him +and Bonny pass the ball and catch it with perfect ease, one day held +out his hands, as much as to say, "Here you go; give us a catch."</p> + +<p>Alaric, who held the ball at that moment, let drive a swift one straight +at him. When Bah-die dropped it, and clapped his smarting hands to his +sides with an expression of pained astonishment on his face, the white +lad knew just how he felt. He could plainly recall the sensations of his +own experience on that not-very-long-ago day in Golden Gate Park; and +while he sympathized with Bah-die, he could not help exulting in the +fact that he had discovered one boy of his own age more ignorant than he +concerning an athletic sport. Then he set to work to show the young +Siwash how to catch a ball just as Dave Carncross had shown him, and in +so doing he experienced a genuine pleasure. He was growing to be like +other boys, and the knowledge that this was so filled him with delight.</p> + +<p>Nearly every day Skookum John sailed over to Tacoma, ostensibly to carry +his fish, but really to discover whether or not the cutter had returned, +and each night he came back glum with disappointment. Bonny often asked +to be allowed to go to the city with him, as he was impatient to be +again at work; but the Indian invariably put him off on the plea that if +the cutter-men discovered one whom they were so anxious to capture in +his canoe, they would punish him for having afforded the fugitive a +shelter.</p> + +<p>The young sailor could not understand why the cutter remained so long in +one place, for he had never known her to do such a thing before, and +many a talk did he and Alaric have on the subject.</p> + +<p>"They must be waiting in the hope of catching us," Alaric would say, +"and the mere fact that they are so anxious to find us shows how +important it is for us to keep out of the way."</p> + +<p>So time wore on until our lads had spent two full weeks in the Siwash +camp, and had become heartily sick of it. To be sure, Alaric had grown +brown and rugged, besides becoming almost an adept in the several arts +he had undertaken to master. His hands were no longer white, and their +palms were covered with calloused spots instead of blisters. He was now +a fair swimmer, could paddle a canoe with some skill, and understood its +management under sail. He knew not only how to catch fish, but how to +detach them from the hook. He could catch a baseball nearly as well as +Dave Carncross himself, besides being able to throw one with swiftness +and precision. He was learning to cook certain things, mostly of a fishy +nature, in a rude way, and had gone through several trying experiences +in trying to wash his own underclothing. Having broken his comb into +half a dozen pieces by sitting down on it, he had allowed Bonny to cut +his hair as short as possible with a pair of scissors borrowed from one +of the squaws. The result, while wholly satisfactory to Alaric, who +fortunately had no mirror in which to see himself, was so unique that +Bonny was impelled to frequent laughter without apparent cause.</p> + +<p>Two things, however, distressed Alaric greatly, and one was his +clothing, which was not only ragged, but soiled beyond anything he had +ever dreamed of wearing. His canvas shoes, from frequent soakings and +much walking on rocks, were so broken that they nearly dropped from his +feet. His woollen trousers were shrunken and bagged at the knees, while +his blue sweater, besides being torn, had faded to a brownish red. With +all this he was comforted by the reflection that he still had a good +suit in reserve that he could wear whenever they should be free to go to +the city.</p> + +<p>His other great trial was the food of that Siwash camp. He had never +been particularly fond of fish, and now, after eating it alone three +times a day for two weeks, the very thought of fish made him ill. He +loathed it so that it seemed to him he would almost rather go to prison, +with a chance of getting something else to eat, than to remain any +longer on a fish diet. From both these trials Bonny suffered nearly as +much as his companion.</p> + +<p>One day when the boys had just decided that they could not stand this +sort of thing any longer, they were out fishing in the swift-sailing +canoe with Bah-die, Skookum John having gone in the larger boat to +Tacoma. While they gloomily pursued their now distasteful employment a +sail-boat containing two white men ran alongside to obtain bait. As +these were the first of their own race with whom the boys had found an +opportunity to talk since coming to that place, Bonny began to ply them +with questions. Among others he asked:</p> + +<p>"What is the revenue-cutter doing at Tacoma all this time? Has she +broken down?"</p> + +<p>"She isn't there," replied one of the men.</p> + +<p>"Isn't there?" repeated Bonny, incredulously.</p> + +<p>"No; nor hasn't been for upwards of two weeks. We are expecting her back +every day, though."</p> + +<p>Then the men sailed away, leaving our lads to stare at each other in +speechless amazement.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>AN EXCITING RACE FOR LIBERTY</h3> + + +<p>"What do you suppose it all means?" asked Alaric, as the boat containing +the two white men sailed away.</p> + +<p>"If it is true, it means that somebody has been fooling us, and you know +who he is as well as I do," replied Bonny, who did not care to mention +names within Bah-die's hearing. "If I'm not very much mistaken, it means +also that he is trying to hold on to us until the cutter comes back. You +know they offered him a reward to find us."</p> + +<p>"Only twenty-five dollars," interposed Alaric, who could not imagine +anybody committing an act of treachery for so small a sum.</p> + +<p>"That would be a good deal to some people. I don't know but what it +would be to me just now."</p> + +<p>"If I had once thought he was after the money," continued Alaric, "I +would have offered him twice as much to deal squarely with us."</p> + +<p>"Would you?" asked Bonny, with a queer little smile, for his comrade's +remarks concerning money struck him as very absurd. "Where would you +have got it?"</p> + +<p>"I meant, of course, if I had it," replied the other, flushing, and +wondering at his own stupidity. "But what do you think we ought to do +now?"</p> + +<p>"Sail over to Tacoma as quick as we can, and see whether the cutter is +there or not. When we find that out we'll see what is to be done next."</p> + +<p>"But we may meet John on the way."</p> + +<p>"I don't care. That's a good idea, though. I've been wondering how we +should get our friend here to agree to the plan." Then turning to +Bah-die, and speaking in Chinook, Bonny suggested that as the fishing +was not very good and there was a fine breeze for sailing, they should +run out into the Sound and meet the big canoe on its way back from +Tacoma, to which plan the young Siwash unsuspectingly agreed.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later the swift canoe was dashing across the open Sound +before a rattling breeze that heeled her down until her lee gunwale was +awash, though her three occupants were perched high on the weather side. +The city was dimly visible in the distance ahead, and near at hand the +big canoe which they were ostensibly going to meet was rapidly +approaching. Bonny was steering, and Bah-die held the main-sheet, while +the jib-sheets were intrusted to Alaric.</p> + +<p>Skookum John had already recognized them, and as they came abreast of +him motioned to them to put about; but Bonny, affecting not to +understand, resolutely maintained his course. They were well past the +other craft, which was coming about as though to follow them, before +Bah-die realized that anything was wrong. Then obeying an angry order +shouted to him by his father, he let go the main-sheet without warning, +causing the canoe to right so violently as to very nearly fling her +passengers overboard, and attempted to wrest the steering-oar from +Bonny's hand.</p> + +<p>Seeing this, and with the desperate feeling of an escaped prisoner who +sees himself about to be recaptured, Alaric sprang aft, seized the young +Indian by the legs, and with a sudden output of all his recently +acquired strength, pitched him headlong into the sea. Then catching the +main-sheet, he trimmed it in. Down heeled the canoe until it seemed as +though she certainly must capsize; but Alaric, looking very pale and +determined, held fast to the straining rope, and would not yield an +inch.</p> + +<p>It was well that he had learned this lesson, and was possessed of the +courage to apply it, for the canoe did not gather headway an instant too +soon. Bah-die, emerging from his plunge furious with rage, was swimming +towards her, and made a frantic attempt to grasp the gunwale as she +slipped away. His clutching fingers only missed it by the fraction of an +inch, and before he could make another effort the quick-moving craft was +beyond his reach. He was too wise to attempt a pursuit, and turned, +instead, to meet the big canoe, which was approaching him.</p> + +<p>"That was a mighty fine thing to do, Rick Dale!" cried Bonny, +admiringly, "and but for you we should be on our way back to that +hateful camp at this very moment. Of course they may catch us yet with +that big boat, but we've got a show and must make the most of it. So +throw your weight as far as you can out to windward, and don't ease off +that sheet unless you see solid water pouring in over the gunnel."</p> + +<p>"All right," replied Alaric, shortly, almost too excited for words.</p> + +<p>Both lads realized that after what had just taken place it would be +nearly as unpleasant to fall into the hands of Skookum John as into +those of the revenue-men themselves, and both were determined that this +should not happen if they could prevent it. But could they? Fast as they +were sailing, it seemed to Alaric as though the big canoe rushing after +them was sailing faster. Bonny dared not take his attention from the +steering long enough to even cast a glance behind. Managing the canoe +was now more difficult than before, because they had lost one hundred +and fifty pounds of live ballast.</p> + +<p>When Alaric looked at the water flashing by them it seemed as though he +had never moved so fast in his life, while a glance at the big boat +astern almost persuaded him that they were creeping at a snail's pace. +It was certain that the long, wicked-looking beak of the pursuing craft +was drawing nearer. Finally it was so close at hand that he could +distinguish the old Indian's scowling features and the expression of +triumph on Bah-die's face. The lad's heart grew heavy within him, for +the city wharves were still far away, and with things as they were the +chase was certain to be ended before they could be reached.</p> + +<p>All at once an exclamation from Bonny directed his attention to another +craft coming up the Sound and bearing down on them as though to take +part in the race. It was a powerful sloop-yacht standing towards the +city from the club-house on Maury Island, and its crew were greatly +interested in the brush between the two canoes.</p> + +<p>Either by design or accident, the yacht, which was to windward of the +chase, stood so close to the big canoe as to completely blanket her, and +so take the wind from her sails that she almost lost headway. Then, as +though to atone for her error, the yacht bore away so as to run between +pursuer and pursued, and pass to leeward of the smaller canoe. As the +beautiful craft swept by our lads with a flash of rushing waters, +glinting copper, and snowy sails, a cheery voice rang out: "Well done, +plucky boys! Stick to it, and you'll win yet!"</p> + +<p>Alaric could not see the speaker, because of the sail between them, but +the tones were so startlingly familiar that for a moment he imagined the +voice to belong to the stranger who had talked with him on the wharf at +Victoria, and whom he now knew for a revenue-officer. If that were the +case, they were indeed hopelessly surrounded by peril. He was about to +confide his fears to Bonny, when like a flash it came to him that the +voice was that of Dave Carncross, whom he had not seen since that +memorable day in Golden Gate Park.</p> + +<p>Although he had no desire to meet this friend of the ball-field under +the present circumstances, he was greatly relieved to find his first +suspicion groundless, and again directed his attention to the big canoe, +which, although she had lost much distance, was again rushing after +them. The boy now noticed for the first time, not more than half a mile +astern of her, a white steamer with a dense column of smoke pouring from +her yellow funnel, and evidently bound for the same port with +themselves.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards they had passed the smeltery, saw-mills, and +lumber-loading vessels of the old town, and were approaching the cluster +of steamships lying at the wharves of the Northern Pacific Railway, +which here finds its western terminus. Off these the yacht had already +dropped her jib and come to anchor. The big canoe was again overhauling +them, and looked as though she might overtake them, after all. A boat +from the yacht was making towards the wharves, and Bonny, believing that +it would find a landing-place, slightly altered his course so as to +follow the same direction.</p> + +<p>All at once Alaric, who was again gazing nervously astern, cried out: +"Look at that steamer! I do believe it is going to run down the big +canoe."</p> + +<p>Bonny glanced hastily over his shoulder, and uttered an exclamation of +dismay.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott! It's the cutter," he gasped. "And they are right on top of +us. Now we are in for it."</p> + +<p>"They are speaking to John, and he is pointing to us," said Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Never mind them now," said Bonny. "Ease off your sheet a bit, and 'tend +strictly to business. We've still a chance, and can't afford to make any +mistakes."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later, just as a yawl was putting off from the cutter's +side, the small canoe rounded the end of a wharf and came upon a +landing-stage. On it the yacht's boat had just deposited a couple of +passengers, who, with bags in their hands, were hastening up a flight of +steps.</p> + +<p>"Here, you!" cried Bonny to one of the yacht's crew who stood on the +float, "look out for this canoe a minute. We've got to overtake those +gentlemen. Come on, Rick."</p> + +<p>Without waiting to see whether this order would be obeyed, the boys ran +up the flight of steps and dashed away down the long wharf. They had no +idea of where they should go, and were only intent on finding some +hiding-place from the pursuers, whom they believed to be already on +their trail.</p> + +<p>As they were passing a great ocean steamer whose decks were crowded with +passengers, and which was evidently about to depart, a carriage drew up +in front of them, so close that they narrowly escaped being run over. As +its door was flung open a voice cried out:</p> + +<p>"Here, boys! Get these traps aboard the steamer. Quick!"</p> + +<p>With this a gentleman sprang out and thrust a couple of bags, a +travelling-rug, and a gun-case into their hands. A lady with a little +boy followed him. He snatched up the child, and the whole party ran up +the gang-plank of the steamer as it was about to be hauled ashore.</p> + +<p>Our lads had accepted this chance to board the steamer without +hesitation, and now ran ahead of the others. The clerk at the inner end +of the gang-plank allowed them to pass, thinking, of course, that they +would deposit their burdens on deck and immediately return to the wharf.</p> + +<p>With an instinct born of long familiarity with ocean steamers, Alaric +made his way through the throng of passengers to the main saloon, and +Bonny followed him closely. Here they placed their burdens on a table, +and, with Alaric still in the lead, disappeared through a door on the +opposite side.</p> + +<p>Two minutes later the great ship began to move slowly from the wharf, +and our lads, from a snug nook on the lower deck, watched with much +perturbation a revenue-officer, who had evidently just landed from the +cutter, come hurrying down the wharf.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY</h3> + + +<p>The revenue-cutter whose appearance caused Alaric and Bonny so much +anxiety had, indeed, been absent from Tacoma for two weeks, as the man +in the sail-boat told them. On their first night in the Siwash camp she +had gone to Port Townsend to turn over the captured smuggler <i>Fancy</i> to +the collector at that place. Knowing how important the testimony of her +crew would be during the proceedings against her, the commander of the +cutter intended to return to the upper Sound and to institute a thorough +search for them the very next day. Before he could carry out this plan +news was received that an American ship was ashore near Cape Flattery, +one hundred miles away in the opposite direction, and the cutter was +despatched to her assistance.</p> + +<p>Although the task of saving the ship was successfully accomplished, and +she was finally pulled off the reef on which she had struck, it was +nearly two weeks before the cutter was again at liberty to devote her +attention to smugglers. With only a slight hope of finding those whom he +so greatly wanted as witnesses, but thinking he might possibly gain some +information concerning them from Skookum John, the commander of the +cutter headed his vessel up the Sound, steamed through Colvos Passage, +and sent his third lieutenant ashore in the yawl to make inquiries at +the Siwash camp.</p> + +<p>This officer found only women and children at home, but learned that the +owner of the camp had gone to Tacoma. As he was about to depart without +having discovered anything concerning those of whom he was in search, +curiosity prompted him to glance into a hut that appeared newer and much +neater than the others. Here, to his amazement and great satisfaction, +the first object that caught his eye was the well-remembered canvas +dunnage-bag that he had seen in Victoria, and which still bore the name +"Philip Ryder" on its dingy surface.</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho! Master Ryder! So we are on your trail at last, are we?" +soliloquized the officer. "This is a clew of which we must not lose +sight, and so I guess I'll just take it along and hold on to it until we +can return it to you in person."</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that Alaric's bag was carried aboard the cutter, where +its contents excited a great deal of curiosity, and that vessel was +headed towards Tacoma in the hope of finding the lads, who were supposed +to be with Skookum John.</p> + +<p>The big canoe was discovered when in the very act of going about and +standing back towards the city, as though to escape from the approaching +cutter, and a full head of steam was instantly crowded on in pursuit. +Great was the disappointment when, on overtaking her, she was found to +contain only Indians. These, however, eagerly directed attention to a +smaller canoe ahead, in which could be distinguished two figures, +apparently those of white men, and the cutter renewed her chase. Before +she could overtake this second craft it was lost to sight behind a +wharf, and a lieutenant was hastily sent ashore in a boat to trace its +occupants.</p> + +<p>He found the empty canoe in charge of a yacht sailor, who said that +those who had come in her were somewhere up on the wharf, and without +waiting for further particulars the officer followed after them.</p> + +<p>When he reached the group of spectators assembled to witness the +departure of the great steamer that was just moving out, he asked one of +them if he had seen two persons running that way within a minute. One of +them, whom he mentioned as being the younger, he described as being a +tall, gentlemanly appearing and neatly dressed lad, while the other, he +said, was a sailor. It must be remembered that while the lieutenant had +noted Alaric's appearance very closely when in Victoria, he had never +seen Bonny's face, and did not even discover whether he had belonged to +the sloop or not. In fact, he afterwards had reason to believe that the +youth whom he saw with Alaric at that time could not have been mate of +the <i>Fancy</i>, for, to save their own credit, the sailors whom the lads +eluded on the morning of the sloop's capture described him as a fellow +of great size and unusual strength.</p> + +<p>Now the gentleman of whom he made inquiries answered that he had seen a +number of persons running just as the ship's moorings were cast off. +"There were a couple of young chaps," he said, "very ragged and +dirty-looking, who ran aboard the last thing, as if afraid of being +left; but I didn't see them come off again, and I expect they belong to +the ship. Then there was another couple who seemed in a great hurry, and +ran shouting after a carriage that was just starting up-town. They +stopped it, got in, and drove off. One of them was, as you say, a very +gentlemanly appearing lad, and the other was so evidently a sailor that +I expect they're the two you are looking for."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder if they were," replied the officer, delighted at +having thus quickly discovered the trail. "Did you happen to hear them +give the driver any directions?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. The young chap said, 'Hotel Tacoma.'"</p> + +<p>Thanking the gentleman for his information, the lieutenant hurried away, +boarded an up-town trolley-car, and a few minutes later stood in the +office of the great hotel scanning its register. A single glance was +sufficient, for the two last names on the page, so recently entered that +the ink was hardly dry, assured him that his search was successful. They +were both in the same handwriting, and read——</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Philip Ryder</span>, <i>Alaska</i>.<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Jalap Coombs</span>, "<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Pretty smart dodge," chuckled the lieutenant, as he walked away, "to +hail from such an indefinite place as Alaska. This Philip Ryder is +certainly a sharp chap. It is plain enough now that he left that bag in +the Siwash camp as a blind to throw us off the track. What a pile of +money those smugglers must make, though. Here is one of them, apparently +a simple deck-hand, who buys the choicest groceries to be had in +Victoria, bathes in cologne-water, throws away a suit of clothes so +handsome that I should be only too glad to wear them myself, and now +puts up at the swellest hotel in the city. It certainly is a great +business."</p> + +<p>While thinking these things the lieutenant was hurrying back towards the +cutter, to make report of what he had discovered to his superior +officer. After listening to all he had to say, that gentleman decided to +continue the investigation himself; and an hour later he, with his third +lieutenant, both out of uniform, appeared at the hotel, followed by a +sailor bearing a canvas dunnage-bag.</p> + +<p>Going into one of the small writing-rooms, which happened to be +unoccupied, the commander wrote a name on a plain card and sent it up +to Mr. Philip Ryder, with a request that the gentleman would consent to +see him on a matter of business. Then, with the canvas bag on the floor +beside him, he waited alone, having desired the lieutenant to keep out +of sight until sent for.</p> + +<p>Inside of three minutes a bell-boy ushered into the room a well-dressed, +squarely built youth, with a resolute face and honest blue eyes that +looked straight into those of the commander.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ellery, I believe," he said, glancing at the card still held in his +hand.</p> + +<p>The commander bowed slightly, and then asked, "Is your name Philip +Ryder?"</p> + +<p>"It is."</p> + +<p>"Is this your property?" Here the commander indicated the canvas bag +that lay with its painted name uppermost.</p> + +<p>The youth stepped forward to get a better view of the article in +question, started as though surprised, and then answered, "Yes, sir, I +believe it is; but I must confess a great curiosity as to how it came +here."</p> + +<p>"Why so?"</p> + +<p>"Because when I last heard of it it was on board a vessel that had just +been seized by a revenue-cutter."</p> + +<p>"Exactly; and that vessel was seized for smuggling by a cutter under my +command."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, sir, but I think you are mistaken," objected Phil, "for I am +intimately acquainted with the commander of the cutter in question, +while you are a stranger to me."</p> + +<p>"I beg leave to say that I think I know what I am talking about," +retorted the other, stiffly, "and I may as well inform you at once that +I not only was, but am still, in command of the cutter that seized your +smuggling craft some two weeks ago. I am here for the purpose of +causing the arrest and detention of yourself and the mate of that +vessel, both of whom will be wanted as witnesses for the government +during the forthcoming proceedings to be instituted against Captain +Duff."</p> + +<p>"And I, sir," replied Phil, hotly, "beg leave to say that you don't know +any more of what you are talking about than I do. Although I have sailed +with Captain Duff and know him well, I am not a smuggler, and never have +been. Moreover, I can summon witnesses this very minute who will +identify me and testify as to my character."</p> + +<p>With this Phil stepped to the bell, and rang it so violently that half a +dozen bell-boys came tumbling into the room at once. "Go to No. 20," +said the youth to one of these, "and ask the gentleman who is there to +kindly step down here for a minute."</p> + +<p>"And you, boy!" thundered the commander to another, his face flushed +with anger, "find the gentleman who came here with me, and inform him +that I desire his presence immediately."</p> + +<p>The lieutenant was the first to arrive.</p> + +<p>"Is this your Philip Ryder?" demanded the commander, at the same time +pointing to the youth who stood opposite.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, he is not," replied the lieutenant, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Who is he, then?" asked the other, staggered by this answer.</p> + +<p>"Begging the gentleman's pardon, this <i>is</i> Mr. Philip Ryder, as I can +swear," interrupted a fourth individual, who had just entered.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Carncross! You here? And you know this young man?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I do, sir. I met his father, Mr. John Ryder—the famous +mining expert, you know—at my father's house in San Francisco last +winter, and came to call on him here as soon as I heard of his arrival +in Tacoma. He and his son arrived on to-day's steamer from Alaska, where +Phil Ryder has just completed a most notable exploration on snow-shoes +and sledges of the Yukon Valley. By-the-way, he is also a friend of your +old friend Captain Matthews."</p> + +<p>"What! Not Israel Matthews, of the <i>Phoca</i>? You don't say so! Mr. Ryder, +allow me to shake hands with you, and offer my humble apologies for this +absurd mistake."</p> + +<p>With a general hand-shaking and exchange of introductions, they all sat +down for an hour of mutual explanations. During these it was discovered +that Phil and Jalap Coombs had remained at the wharf some time after the +others of their party left, to look after their numerous pieces of +baggage, and so did not come up to the hotel until just as the steamer +that had brought them was departing for Seattle.</p> + +<p>At the end of an hour the revenue-officers were as puzzled as ever over +the disappearance of the present owner of the famous Philip Ryder bag +and his companion. But suddenly Carncross exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I think I know what became of them! I remember now seeing the two chaps +who came in that canoe run down the wharf and board the Alaska steamer +just as she was starting for Seattle, and I'll warrant you that's where +they are at this minute. Tough-looking young customers they were, too."</p> + +<p>"In that case," said the commander, rising, "I must be getting under way +for Seattle as quickly as possible. I only wish that I might have you +both down to dine with me this evening; but business before pleasure. +And so, hoping for a future opportunity of extending the hospitality of +the ship, I will wish you both a very good night."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>TWO SHORT BUT EXCITING VOYAGES</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Rick Dale, that was a close shave," said Bonny.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we certainly did. But where do you suppose we are going now?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They eluded the vigilance of a night watchman, and gained the shelter of +a pile of hay bales, on which they stretched themselves wearily.</p> + +<p>"I'd almost rather be in China, or even a well-fed smuggler," announced +Alaric.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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 <i>City of Kingston</i>, 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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Go ahead."</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>"Get that truck out of here. Didn't you hear me say I didn't need any +more of 'em?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus6" id="illus6"></a> +<img src="images/illus6.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"BONNY SEIZED A TRUCK, AND ALARIC A MATTRESS"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Shirking, are ye, you lazy young hound? I'll teach ye!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>ALARIC TODD'S DARKEST HOUR</h3> + + +<p>"Hello, Rick Dale! Hold on!" was the hail that caused Alaric to halt in +his flight from the most recent of the chasings that were becoming so +common a feature of his life.</p> + +<p>It was Bonny who called, and who now came running up to him. "Where have +you been all this time?" he asked. "I've waited and watched for you ever +since we got in, a good two hours ago, and was getting mighty uneasy for +fear you'd fallen overboard or got left at Seattle, or something. You +see, I feel in a way responsible for you, seeing that I got you into all +this mess."</p> + +<p>"That's queer," said Alaric, with a faint smile, and sitting down +wearily on a huge anchor that lay beside one of the warehouses, "for +I've been thinking that all your troubles were owing to me. I'm awfully +sorry, though, I kept you waiting, but I suppose I must have been +asleep."</p> + +<p>"You had better luck than I did, then," growled Bonny, seating himself +beside his friend, "for I haven't had a wink of sleep since we left +Seattle. I was just getting into a doze when a miserable deck-hand +swashed a bucket of water over me. Then they found me out, and set me to +work cleaning decks and polishing brass. They kept me at it every minute +until we got here, and then fired me ashore."</p> + +<p>"Did they give you any breakfast?" inquired Alaric, with an interest +that betrayed the tendency of his thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Not much, they didn't. Have you had anything to eat?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bite; and do you know, Bonny, I think I am beginning to realize +what starving means."</p> + +<p>"I know I am, and what being utterly worn out means as well. Do you +suppose it's just hunger that makes a fellow feel sick and light-headed +and weak as a cat, the way I do now, or is it that he is really in for +something serious, like a fever or whooping-cough or one of the things +with big names?"</p> + +<p>"I expect it's hunger, and nothing else," replied Alaric, "for I feel +just that way myself, and I've been really ill times enough to know the +difference."</p> + +<p>"Then it must be starvation, and something has got to be done about it," +exclaimed Bonny, starting to his feet with a resolute air, "for I don't +believe any two fellows are going to be allowed to starve to death in +this city of Tacoma. So I'm going to get something for us to eat, even +if I have to steal."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, Bonny, don't steal. We haven't quite come to that," objected +Alaric. "Did you say this was Tacoma, though?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course. Didn't you recognize it?"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't, for I wasn't given much chance to get acquainted with it +last evening, you know. But if this is Tacoma, I've an idea that I +believe will bring us some money. So suppose we separate for a while? +You can go one way looking for something to eat, and I'll go another in +search of that which will mean the same thing. When the whistles blow +for noon we'll both come back here and compare notes."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Bonny. "I'll do it, and if I don't bring back +something to eat, it will be because the whole city is starving, that's +all."</p> + +<p>So the two set forth in opposite directions, Bonny taking a course that +would lead him among the shipping, and Alaric walking up the long easy +grade of Pacific Avenue towards the city proper. His pride, which no +personal suffering nor discomfort could overthrow, had given way at last +before the wretchedness of his friend. "It is I who am the cause of it," +he said to himself, "and so I am bound to help him out by the only way I +can think of. I hate to do it, for it will be owning up that I am not +fit to care for myself or able to fight my own way in the world. I know, +too, just how John and the others will laugh at me, but I've got to do +something at once, and there doesn't seem to be anything else."</p> + +<p>The scheme that Alaric so dreaded to undertake, and was yet determined +to execute, was the telegraphing to his brother John for funds. Of +course John would report the matter to their father, who had probably +been already notified of his younger son's disappearance, and our lad +would be ordered to return home immediately. Or perhaps John would come +to fetch him back, like a runaway child. It would all be dreadfully +humiliating, and on his own account he would have undergone much greater +trials than those of the present rather than place himself in such a +position. But for the sake of the boy who had befriended him and +suffered with him, it must be done.</p> + +<p>The only telegraph-office in the city of which Alaric knew was in the +Hotel Tacoma, where he had passed a day on his northward journey, and +thither he bent his steps. As he entered its open portal and crossed the +spacious hall in which was located the telegraph-station, the +well-dressed guests who paced leisurely to and fro or lounged in +easy-chairs stared at him curiously. And well they might, for a more +tattered, begrimed, unkempt, and generally woe-begone youth had never +been seen in that place of luxurious entertainment. Had Alaric +encountered a mirror, he would have stared at himself and passed by +without recognition; but for the moment his mind was too busy with other +thoughts to allow him to consider his appearance.</p> + +<p>The box-like telegraph-office was occupied by a fashionably attired +young woman, who was just then absorbed in an exciting novel. After +keeping Alaric waiting for several minutes, or until after she had +finished a chapter, she took the despatch he had written, and read it +aloud:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<i>To Mr. John Todd, Amos Todd Bank, San Francisco</i>:</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear John</span>,—Please send me by wire one hundred dollars. Will +write and explain why I need it. <span class="smcap">Alaric.</span>"</p></blockquote> + +<p>"Dollar and a half," said the young woman, tersely, and without looking +up.</p> + +<p>Although many telegrams had been forwarded at various times and from +distant parts of the world in Alaric Todd's name, he had never before +attempted to send one in person. Now, therefore, although somewhat +startled by the request for a dollar and a half, he replied, calmly:</p> + +<p>"Send it collect, please. It will be paid for at the other end."</p> + +<p>"Can't do it; 'gainst the rules," retorted the young woman, sharply, now +glancing at the lad before her, and contemptuously scanning him from +head to foot.</p> + +<p>"But," pleaded poor Alaric, "this is so very important. The money that I +ask for is sure to come, and then I will pay for it a dozen times over, +if you like. It will certainly be paid for, though, in San Francisco, at +the Amos Todd Bank, for my name is Todd—Alaric Todd."</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't make any difference," remarked the young woman, "if your +name were George Washington or John Jacob Astor; you couldn't send a +despatch through this office without paying for it. So if you haven't +any money you might as well make up your mind not to waste any more of +my time."</p> + +<p>With this she resumed the reading of her novel, while Alaric moved +slowly away, stunned and despairing. Now was he indeed cut off from his +home, his people, and from all hope of assistance. He hadn't even money +enough to pay for a postage-stamp with which to send a letter. As he +realized these things, the reaction from his confidence of a few moments +before, that his present trouble would be speedily ended, was so great +that he grew faint, and mechanically sank into a leather-cushioned chair +that stood close at hand.</p> + +<p>He had hardly done so when an alert porter stepped up, touched him on +the shoulder, and pointed significantly to the door.</p> + +<p>The boy understood, and obeyed the gesture without remonstrance. Thus it +came to pass that a son of Amos Todd, the richest man on the Pacific +coast, was driven from a hotel of which his father was one of the +principal owners, and in spite of the fact that he had just acknowledged +his own identity.</p> + +<p>Once outside, Alaric walked irresolutely, and as though unconscious of +what he was doing, for a short distance, and then found himself seated +on an iron bench at the edge of a broad asphalted driveway. Here he +tried to think, and could not. He closed his eyes and wondered vaguely +if he were going to die, or, if not, how much longer he could live +without food. It wasn't worth worrying about, though, one way or the +other. He had made such a complete failure of life that no one would +care if he did die. Of course Bonny might feel badly about it for a +little while, but even he would get along much better alone.</p> + +<p>From such terrible thoughts as these the lad was aroused by the sound of +cheery voices; and glancing listlessly in their direction, he saw a +well-dressed young fellow, apparently not much older than himself, a +little boy in his first suit of tiny knickerbockers, and a big dog. They +had just come from the hotel and were playing with a ball. It was Phil +Ryder with little Nel-te, an orphan whom he had rescued from the Yukon +wilderness, and big Amook, one of his Eskimo sledge dogs that he was +carrying back to New London as a curiosity.</p> + +<p>While Alaric watched them, wondering how it must seem to be as free from +both hunger and anxiety as that happy-looking chap evidently was, the +ball tossed to Nel-te escaped him and rolled under the iron bench. As +the child came running up, the lad recovered it and handed it to him.</p> + +<p>"Fank you, man," said the little chap, and then ran away.</p> + +<p>After a while the ball again came in the same direction, and, as the +child did not follow it, Alaric picked it up and tossed it to Phil.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" cried the latter. "It seems mighty good to be catching a +baseball again. Give us another, will you?" With this he threw the ball +to Alaric, who caught it deftly and flung it back.</p> + +<p>The ball was one that had been found in a certain canvas dunnage-bag the +evening before, and begged by Phil Ryder as a souvenir of his experience +as a smuggler. After a few passes back and forth Alaric became so dizzy +from weakness that, with a very pale face, he was again forced to sit +down.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Phil, anxiously, coming up to the trembling +lad. "Not ill, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"No; I'm not ill. It's only a little faintness."</p> + +<p>"Do you know," said Phil, as he noted closely the lad's mean dress and +hollow cheeks, "that you look to me as though you were hungry. Tell me +honestly if you have had any breakfast this morning."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Alaric, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"Or any supper last night?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Did you have any dinner yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"I can't exactly remember, but I don't think I did."</p> + +<p>"Why, man," cried tender-hearted Phil, horror-stricken at this +revelation, "you are starving! And I've been keeping you here playing +ball! What a heedless brute I am! Never mind; just you wait until I can +carry this little chap inside, and don't you stir from that seat until I +come back."</p> + +<p>With this Phil, picking up Nel-te and bidding Amook follow him, hurried +away, leaving Alaric still holding the baseball, and filled with a very +queer mixture of conflicting emotions.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>PHIL RYDER PAYS A DEBT</h3> + + +<p>In a very few minutes Phil Ryder hastened back to where Alaric awaited +him. "Now you come with me," he said, cheerily, "and we'll end this +starvation business in a hurry. I won't take you to the hotel, for those +swell waiters are too slow about serving things, and when a fellow is +hungry he don't care so much about style as he does about prompt +attention to his wants. I know, for I've been there myself. There's a +little restaurant just around the corner on the avenue that looks as +though it would exactly fill the bill. Here we are."</p> + +<p>Almost before he realized what was happening Alaric found himself seated +before the first regular breakfast-table that he had seen in weeks, +while the young stranger facing him, who had so unexpectedly become his +host, was ordering a meal that seemed to embrace pretty nearly the whole +bill of fare.</p> + +<p>"Bring the coffee and oatmeal first," he said to the waiter, "and see +that there is plenty of cream. If they burn your fingers, so much the +better, for you never saw any one in quite so much of a hurry as we are. +After that you may rush along the other things as fast as you please."</p> + +<p>Alaric attempted a feeble protest against the munificence of the order +just given, but Phil silenced him with:</p> + +<p>"Now, my friend, don't you fret; I know what you need and what you can +get away with better than you do, for I've experimented considerably +with starving during the past year. As for obligation, there isn't any. +I am only paying a debt that I've owed for a long time."</p> + +<p>"I don't remember ever meeting you before," said Alaric, looking up in +surprise from a dish of oatmeal and cream that seemed the very best +thing he had ever tasted.</p> + +<p>"No, of course not, and I don't suppose we have ever been within a +thousand miles of each other until now; but I have been in your debt, +all the same. Just about a year ago I was in Victoria without a cent in +my pocket, no friend or even acquaintance that I knew of in the whole +city, and so hungry that it didn't seem as though I had ever eaten +anything in my life. Just as I was most desperate and things were +looking their very blackest, an angel travelling under the name of Serge +Belcofsky came along, and spent his last dollar in feeding me. I vowed +then that I'd get even with him by feeding some other hungry fellow, and +this is the first chance I've run across since. You needn't be afraid, +though, that I am spending my last dollar on you, glad as I would be to +do so if it were necessary. That it isn't is owing to one of the best +fathers in the world, who hasn't had a chance to keep me in funds for so +long a time that he is now trying to make up for lost opportunities."</p> + +<p>"You must be very fond of him," said Alaric, who was now at work on +beefsteak and fried potatoes.</p> + +<p>"Well, rather," replied Phil, earnestly, "though I never knew how much a +good father was to a boy until I lost him, and had to fight my way alone +through a whole year before I found him again. It's a wonder my hair +didn't turn gray with anxiety while I was hunting him up in the +interior of Alaska; but it's all over now, and I have him safe at last +right here in Tacoma, along with my aunt Ruth and little Nel-te and +Jalap——"</p> + +<p>"Is he the dog?" asked Alaric, beginning an attack on the omelette.</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Jalap."</p> + +<p>"Not much he isn't a dog," laughed Phil. "He is one of the dearest of +sailormen. He's one of the wisest, too, only he lays all of his wisdom +to his old friend Kite Roberson. Besides all that, he is one of the most +comical chaps that ever lived, though he doesn't mean to be, and it's +better than a circus to see him on snow-shoes driving a sledge team of +dogs. I should have brought him over here to cheer you up, only he's off +somewhere among the ships this morning. He says he's got the salt-water +habit so badly that he can't keep away from them. Are you ready now for +the buckwheats? Here are half a dozen hot ones to top off with, and +maple-syrup too. Don't they look good, though! I say, waiter, you may as +well bring me a plate of those buckwheats. I forgot to have any at +breakfast-time."</p> + +<p>So Phil rattled on, talking of all sorts of things to keep his guest +amused, and allow him ample opportunity to attend strictly to the +business of eating, without feeling obliged to answer questions or +sustain any part of the conversation.</p> + +<p>And how poor, heart-sick, hungry Alaric was cheered by the thoughtful +kindness of this strange lad who had so befriended him in his hour of +sorest need!</p> + +<p>How grateful he was, and how, with each mouthful of food, strength and +courage and hope came back to him, until, when the wonderful meal was +finished, he was ready once more to face the world with a brave +confidence that it should never again get the better of him! He tried to +put some of his gratitude into words, but was promptly interrupted by +his host, who said:</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! You've nothing to thank me for. I told you I owed you this +breakfast, and besides, though I haven't eaten very much myself, I have +certainly enjoyed it as much as any meal of my life. Now we have a few +minutes left before I must go, and I want you to tell me something of +yourself. What is your name? Where is your home? And how did you happen +to get into this fix?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Rick Dale," began Alaric, who did not feel that he could +disclose his real identity under the circumstances, "and my home is in +San Francisco; but it is closed now. My mother is dead. I don't know +just where my father is, and I was left with some people whom I disliked +so much that I just—" Here he hesitated, and Phil, noting his +embarrassment, hastened to say:</p> + +<p>"Never mind the particulars. I had no business to ask such questions, +anyway."</p> + +<p>"Well," continued Alaric, "the result of it all is that I am here +looking for work. I had a job, but it didn't pay anything, and I lost it +about two weeks ago. Now I am trying to find another."</p> + +<p>"What kind of a job do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Anything, so long as it is honest work that will provide food, +clothing, and a place to sleep."</p> + +<p>"In that case," said Phil, thoughtfully, "I don't know but what I can +put you in the way of one, though—"</p> + +<p>"It must be a job for two of us," interposed Alaric, "for I have a +friend who is in the same fix as myself."</p> + +<p>"I only wish I had known that in time to have him breakfast with us," +said Phil; "but the job I am thinking of, if it can be had at all, will +serve for two of you as well as for one. You see, it is this way. There +is a Frenchman over at the hotel whose name is Filbert, and who—"</p> + +<p>Just here both lads started at the sound of a shrill whistle announcing +the hour of noon.</p> + +<p>"I had no idea it was so late," explained Phil, "and I must run; for we +leave here on the one-o'clock train."</p> + +<p>"I must hurry too, for I promised to meet Bonny at noon," said Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Who is Bonny?"</p> + +<p>"The friend I told you of."</p> + +<p>"Then I want you to give this to him from me, for fear he may not have +found any breakfast." So saying, Phil slipped something hard and round +into Alaric's hand. "Now good-bye, Rick Dale," he said. "I hope we may +meet again sometime. At any rate, be sure to call on Monsieur Filbert at +the hotel this afternoon. I guess you can get a job from him; but even +if you don't, always remember that, as my friend Jalap Coombs says, +'It's never so dark but what there's a light somewhere.'"</p> + +<p>Then the lads parted, one filled with the happiness that results from an +act of kindness, and the other cheered and encouraged to renewed effort.</p> + +<p>With grateful and loving glances Alaric watched Phil Ryder until he +disappeared in the direction of the hotel, and then hastened to keep his +appointment with Bonny. On the road leading to the wharves he passed a +tall, lank figure, whose whole appearance was that of a sailor. His +shrewd face was weather-beaten and wrinkled, but so kindly and smiling +that Alaric could not help but smile from sympathy as they met.</p> + +<p>He found Bonny impatiently awaiting him, and in such cheerful spirits as +to be hardly recognizable for the despondent, half-starved lad of two +hours before.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Rick!" he shouted, as his friend approached. "I know you've had +good luck, for I see it in your face."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I have!" replied Alaric; "and, what's more, I've had the best +breakfast I ever ate in my life."</p> + +<p>"That's what I meant by luck; and I've had the same."</p> + +<p>"What's more," continued Alaric, "I have brought something that was sent +especially to you, for fear you hadn't found anything to eat." Thus +saying, he handed over a big bright silver dollar.</p> + +<p>"Well, if that don't beat the owls!" exclaimed Bonny at sight of the +shining coin, "for here is his twin-brother that was handed me to give +to you, or rather to the first fellow I met who needed it more than I +did."</p> + +<p>"I must be the one, then," said Alaric, joyously, "for I haven't a cent +to my name, and as you now have two dollars, I'm willing to divide with +you. But who gave it to you, and how did he happen to?"</p> + +<p>"The queerest and dearest old chap I ever saw. You know how badly I was +feeling when we separated. Well, that was nothing to what came +afterwards. I set out to board every ship in port until I should find a +cook or steward who would fill me up and let me have something extra to +bring to you. On the first half-dozen or so I was treated worse than a +dog, and fired ashore almost before I opened my mouth. It made me feel +meaner than dirt, and but for thinking of how disappointed you would be +if I came back as miserable as I went, I should have given up in +despair. I must say, though, that all the fellows who treated me that +way were Dagoes, Dutch, or Chinamen.</p> + +<p>"At length I boarded a Yankee bark that carried an Irish steward, and +the minute I said I was hungry he cried out: 'Don't spake a wurrud, lad, +for ye couldn't do yer looks justice. Jist be aisy, and come wid me.'</p> + +<p>"With that he led me to a sort of a cuddy at the forward end of the +after deck-house, and set me down to such a spread as I haven't seen +since I left Cape Cod. There was cold roast beef, corned beef, potatoes, +bread and butter, pie, pickles, coffee, and—well, it would be no use +trying to tell all the things that steward gave me to eat, for you just +wouldn't believe it. He laid 'em all out, told me to pitch in, and then +went off, so, as he said, I'd be free to act according to nature.</p> + +<p>"I sat there and ate until I hadn't room for as much as a huckleberry. +As I was looking at the last piece of squash pie, and thinking what a +pity it was that it must be left, I heard a chuckle behind me, and +turned around in a hurry. There stood one of the mates and the dear old +chap I was just telling you about.</p> + +<p>"'Why don't you eat it, son?' says the mate.</p> + +<p>"'Reason enough,' says I, 'because I can't; but if you don't mind, sir, +I'd like awfully to take it to my partner in starvation,' meaning you.</p> + +<p>"'Who is he? And how does he happen to be starved?' says the dear old +chap. Then I up and told them the whole story of our experience on the +<i>Fancy</i>, being chased by the revenue-men, and all, and it tickled 'em +most to death.</p> + +<p>"When I got through, the stranger, who was just down visiting the +vessel, slipped a dollar into my hand, and told me to give it to the +first chap I met who needed it more than I did. He said he used to know +Cap'n Duff, and told me a lot of yarns about him as we walked back here +together."</p> + +<p>"Was his name Jalap Coombs?" asked Alaric.</p> + +<p>"I expect it must have been, for he had a lot to say about somebody +named Kite Roberson, who allus useter call him 'Jal.' Why? Do you know +him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. That is, I feel as if I did. But, Bonny, I mustn't stop to tell +you of my experiences now, for I have made an important business +engagement for both of us up-town, and we must attend to it at once."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>ENGAGED TO INTERPRET FOR THE FRENCH</h3> + + +<p>"Where did you get that baseball?" asked Bonny Brooks, referring to one +that Alaric was unconsciously tossing from hand to hand as they walked +up-town together.</p> + +<p>At this the latter stopped short and looked at the ball in question, as +though now seeing it for the first time.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," he said, "I have been so excited and taken up with other +things that I actually forgot I had this ball in my hands. It belongs to +the fellow who gave me that breakfast and your dollar, besides telling +me where to look for something to do. Not only that, but I really +believe if it hadn't been for this ball he would never have paid any +attention to me. You see, we got to passing it; and when I became so +dizzy that I had to sit down, he asked me what was the matter. So he +found out somehow that I was hungry, though I don't remember telling +him, and then insisted on giving me a breakfast."</p> + +<p>"Who is he? I mean, what is his name?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I never thought to ask him. And he doesn't live here +either, but has just come down from Alaska, and was going off in the +one-o'clock train. I do know, though, that he is the very finest chap I +ever met, and I only hope I'll have a chance some time to pay back his +kindness to me by helping some other poor boy."</p> + +<p>"It is funny," remarked Bonny, meditatively, "that your friend and my +friend should both have just come from Alaska."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it?" replied Alaric; "but then they are travelling together, you +know."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know it, though I ought to have suspected it, for they are the +kind who naturally would travel together—the kind, I mean, that give a +fellow an idea of how much real goodness there is in the world, after +all—a sort of travelling sermon, only one that is acted instead of +being preached."</p> + +<p>"That's just the way I feel about them," agreed Alaric; "but I wish I +hadn't been so careless about this ball. It may be one that he values +for association's sake, just as I did the one we left in that Siwash +camp."</p> + +<p>"Let me have it a moment," said Bonny, who was looking curiously at the +ball.</p> + +<p>Alaric handed it to him, and he examined it closely.</p> + +<p>"I do believe it is the very one!" he exclaimed. "Yes, I am sure it is. +Don't you remember, Rick, the burned place on your ball that came when +Bah-die dropped it into the fire the first time you threw it at him, and +how you laughed and called it a sure-enough red-hot ball? Well, here's +the place now, and this is certainly the very ball that introduced us to +each other in Victoria."</p> + +<p>"How can it be?" asked Alaric, incredulously.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but it surely is."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Alaric, finally convinced that his comrade was right, "that +is the very most unexplainable thing I ever came across, for I don't see +how it could possibly have come into his possession."</p> + +<p>While discussing this strange happening, the lads approached the hotel +in which one of them had been made to suffer so keenly a few hours +before. He dreaded the very thought of entering it again, but having +made up his mind that he must, was about to do so, when his attention +was attracted to a curious scene in front of the main entrance.</p> + +<p>A small, wiry-looking man, evidently a foreigner, was gesticulating, +stamping, and shouting to a group of grinning porters and bell-boys who +were gathered about him. As our lads drew near they saw that he held a +small open book in his hand, from which he was quoting some sentence, +while at the same time he was rapidly working himself into a fury. It +was a French-English phrase-book, in which, under the head of +instructions to servants, the sentence "<i>Je désire un fiacre</i>" was +rendered "Call me a hansom," and it was this that the excited Frenchman +was demanding, greatly to the amusement and mystification of his +hearers.</p> + +<p>"Call me a hansom! Call me a hansom! Call me a hansom!" he repeated over +and over, at the top of his voice. "<i>C'est un fiacre—fiacre—fiacre!</i>" +he shouted. "<i>Oh, là, là! Mille tonnerres!</i> Call me a hansom!"</p> + +<p>"He must be crazy," said Bonny; "for he certainly isn't handsome, and +even if he were, he couldn't expect people to call him so. I wonder why +they don't send for the police."</p> + +<p>Instead of answering him, Alaric stepped up to the laughing group and +said, politely, "<i>Pardon, monsieur. C'est Monsieur Filbert, n'est-ce +pas?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Oui, oui. Je suis Filbert!</i> Call me a hansom."</p> + +<p>"He wants a carriage," explained Alaric to the porters, who stared +open-mouthed at hearing this young tramp talk to the foreigner in his +own "lingo."</p> + +<p>"<i>Vous voulez une voiture, n'est-ce pas?</i>" he added, turning to the +stranger.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my friend!" cried M. Filbert, in his own language, flinging away +the perplexing phrase-book as he spoke, and embracing Alaric in his joy +at finding himself once more comprehended. "It is as the voice of an +angel from heaven to hear again my own language in this place of +barbarians!"</p> + +<p>"Have a care, monsieur," warned Alaric, "how you speak of barbarians. +There are many here who can understand perfectly your language."</p> + +<p>"I care not for them! I do not see them! They have not come to me! You +are the first! Can it be that I may engage you to remain and interpret +for me this language of distraction?" Here the speaker drew back, and +scanned Alaric's forlorn appearance hopefully.</p> + +<p>"That is what I came to see you about, monsieur," answered Alaric. "I am +looking for employment, and shall be happy——"</p> + +<p>"It is enough!" interrupted the other, vehemently. "You have found it. I +engage you now, at once. Come, the carriage is here. Let us enter."</p> + +<p>"But," objected the lad, "I have a friend whom I cannot leave."</p> + +<p>"Let him come! Let all your friends come! Bring your whole family if you +will, but only stay with me yourself!" cried the Frenchman, impetuously. +"I am distracted by my troubles with this terrible language, and but for +you I shall go crazy. You are my salvation. So enter the carriage, and +your friend. <i>Après vous, monsieur.</i> Do you also speak the language of +the beautiful France? No? It is a great pity."</p> + +<p>"Does his royal highness take us for dukes?" questioned the bewildered +Bonny, who, not understanding one word of the foregoing conversation, +had, of course, no idea why he now found himself rolling along the +streets of Tacoma in one of its most luxurious public carriages.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," laughed Alaric; "but he takes us for interpreters—that +is, he wants to engage us as such."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Is that it? Well, I'm agreeable. I suppose you told him that I was +pretty well up on Chinook? But what language does he talk himself?"</p> + +<p>"French, of course," replied Alaric, "seeing that he is a Frenchman."</p> + +<p>"Are you a Frenchman too?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not."</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't know but what you were, seeing that you talk the same +language he does, and just as well, for all that I can make out. Really, +Rick Dale, it is growing interesting to find out the things you know and +can do."</p> + +<p>"And the things I still have to learn," laughed Alaric.</p> + +<p>Having thus satisfied his curiosity, and learned that he was an +interpreter, the last position in the world for which he would have +applied, Bonny folded his arms, assumed what he considered a proper +attitude for the occasion, and entered upon a calm enjoyment of the +first regular carriage-ride of his life. Nor did he allow the animated +conversation taking place between M. Filbert and Alaric to disturb him +in the least, though by it the whole future course of his life was to be +changed.</p> + +<p>Under Alaric's direction the carriage first bore them to the +railway-station, where a number of strange-looking boxes and packages, +all belonging to M. Filbert, were gathered in one place, and given in +charge of a porter, who was instructed to receive and care for any +others that might come marked with the same name. Then the carriage was +again headed up-town, and driven to shop after shop until it seemed as +though the entire resources of the city were to be drawn upon to supply +the multitudinous needs of the mysterious Frenchman.</p> + +<p>Among the things thus purchased and ordered sent down to the station +were provisions, cooking utensils, axes, medicines, alcohol, tents, +blankets, ammunition, and clothing.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what's up," reflected Bonny, "and I don't care, so long as +Rick says everything is all right; but I should think we were either +going to make war on the Siwash or take a trip to the North Pole."</p> + +<p>Of course Alaric accompanied M. Filbert into each store, where his +knowledge of languages was invaluable in conducting the various +negotiations; but the Chinook interpreter, as he called himself, finding +that his services were not yet in demand, was content to remain +luxuriously seated in the carriage. Here he discussed the whole +remarkable performance with the driver, who was certain that the +Frenchman was either going prospecting for gold, or for a new town-site +on which to settle a colony of his countrymen.</p> + +<p>During the whole afternoon M. Filbert talked incessantly with his +new-found interpreter, and Alaric seemed almost as excited as he. At +length the former, casting a dubious glance at the lads, asked, with an +apologetic manner, if they were well provided with clothing.</p> + +<p>"Only what you see, monsieur," answered Alaric. "Everything else we have +lost."</p> + +<p>"Ah! is it so? Then must you be provided with the habiliments necessary. +If you will kindly give the instructions?"</p> + +<p>So the carriage was ordered to a shoe-shop and an outfitting +establishment, where both lads, to Bonny's further bewilderment, were +provided with complete suits of rough but warm and serviceable clothing, +including two pairs of walking-boots, one of which was very heavy and +had hob-nailed soles.</p> + +<p>These last purchases were not concluded until after sunset, and with +them the business of the day was ended. With many parting injunctions to +Alaric, and a polite <i>bon nuit</i> to both lads, M. Filbert was driven back +to the hotel, leaving his newly engaged assistants to their own devices +for the time being.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Bonny, "if you haven't forgotten how to talk United States, +perhaps you will explain what all this means—what we are engaged to do, +what our wages are to be, and where we are bound? Are we to turn +gold-hunters or Indian-fighters, or is it something in the exploring +line?"</p> + +<p>"I expect," laughed Alaric, "it is to be more in the climbing line."</p> + +<p>"Climbing?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Do you see that mountain over there?" Here Alaric pointed to the +lofty snow-capped peak of Mount Rainier, still rose-tinted with +sunlight, and rising in awful grandeur high above all other summits of +the Cascade range, nearly fifty miles from where they stood.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. I can't help seeing it."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could climb it?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I could, if it came in my line of business."</p> + +<p>"Would you undertake it for thirty dollars a month and all expenses?"</p> + +<p>"Rick Dale, I'd undertake to climb to the moon on those terms. But you +are surely joking. The Frenchman will never pay that just for the fun of +seeing us climb."</p> + +<p>"Yes he will, though, and I have agreed that we shall start with him for +the top of that mountain to-morrow morning."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3>PREPARING FOR AN ASCENT</h3> + + +<p>Monsieur Jean Puvis Filbert was a Frenchman of wealth, a distinguished +member of the Alpine Club, an enthusiastic mountain-climber, and had for +an especial hobby the making of botanical collections from high +altitudes. He was now on a leisurely tour around the world, and had +recently arrived in Tacoma on one of the Northern Pacific steamships +from Japan. This was his first visit to America, and he was filled with +enthusiasm by the superb mountain scenery that greeted him on all sides +as his ship steamed through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and up the +glorious waterways of Puget Sound. He gazed longingly at the +snow-crowned Olympics, and went into ecstasies over a distant view of +Mount Baker, the most northerly peak of the Cascade range. When grand +old Rainier, loftiest of all, appeared on the southeastern horizon, +lifting its hoary head more than 14,000 feet above the level of the +intervening plain, he became silent with adoration, and determined that +his first achievement in America should be to gain that glorious summit.</p> + +<p>As his knowledge of English was very limited, our mountain-climber began +his preparations for this arduous undertaking by engaging an +interpreter. The only one whom he could find was a Canadian, who spoke +French nearly as badly as he did English, and whom his employer was +quickly obliged to discharge for drunkenness and utter incompetence. +Then it seemed as though the expedition on which M. Filbert had set his +heart must be given up, and he was in despair. At this critical moment +Alaric Todd appeared on the scene seeking employment, though never +dreaming that it would come to him through his knowledge of French, and +was received literally with open arms.</p> + +<p>Of course he was engaged at once, and was able to secure a situation for +Bonny Brooks as well, though the precise nature of the young sailor's +duties were not defined. Thus Bonny was allowed to regard himself as +also holding the rank of interpreter, whose services would be invaluable +in the event of an encounter with Indians, who, for all he knew, might +contest every foot of their way up the great mountain.</p> + +<p>To this young man the climbing of a mountain seemed a very foolish and +profitless undertaking, for, as he said, "The only thing we can do when +we get up there is to turn around and come down again. But you mustn't +think, Rick, that I'm trying to back out. No, siree. Just so long as I +am paid to climb I'll climb, even if it comes to shinning up the North +Pole and interpreting the Constitution to the polar bears."</p> + +<p>M. Filbert wished the boys to spend the night with him at the hotel, but +Alaric was still so sore over his morning's experience that he begged to +be excused. So when they were left to themselves they carried their +recently acquired belongings down to the railway-station, and persuaded +the agent to allow them to sleep in that corner of the baggage-room +devoted to their employer's collection of chattels. Here they put on +their new suits, and then, feeling once more intensely respectable, and +well content with their own appearance, each invited the other to dine +with him. Had they not two whole dollars between them, and was not that +enough to make them independent of the world?</p> + +<p>They procured a bountiful dinner in the restaurant where Alaric had +breakfasted, and with it ate up one of their dollars. The place was so +associated in their minds with the fine young fellow to whom they owed +all their present good fortune that they thought and talked much of him +during the meal. Recalling what he had said concerning his father +reminded Alaric of his own parent, and caused him to wonder if he were +yet aware that his younger son was not travelling around the world with +the Sonntaggs as he had planned.</p> + +<p>"If the dear old dad has heard of my disappearance," reflected the boy, +"he must be a good deal worried, for he has no idea of how well I can +take care of myself. I believe I would write to him if I only knew his +address. He said to send all letters to the bank; but I can't do that, +because John, who must have heard from the Sonntaggs by this time, would +be certain to recognize the handwriting and open it. I know what, +though. I'll write to Cousin Esther, and ask her to tell dad all about +me. She is sure to see him on his way home, for he always visits Uncle +Dale's when he is in Boston."</p> + +<p>So after supper, Alaric, who was beginning to have a lively appreciation +of the value of money, as well as of fathers, cautiously invested four +cents in a sheet of paper, an envelope, and a stamp, all of which he was +able to procure from the proprietor of the restaurant. The boy smiled, +as he carefully pocketed his one cent of change, to think on what a +different scale he would have made a similar purchase less than a month +before. Then he would have ordered a box of note-paper, another of +envelopes, and a whole sheet of stamps. As for the change, why, there +wouldn't have been any, for he would simply have said, "Charge it, +please," and it would have been charged to his father's account.</p> + +<p>When Bonny saw that Alaric was about to write a letter, he decided to +write one to his aunt Nancy at the same time. "For," said he, "she +probably imagines that I am in China by now, and would never think of +sending word to me here in case she got any news of father." So Bonny +also invested four cents in stationery; and the restaurant man +good-naturedly allowing them to use a table, besides loaning them pens +and a bottle of ink, they sat down to compose their respective epistles. +When Alaric's letter was finished it read as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Cousin Esther</span>,—I have taken your advice and run +away—that is, I have done what amounts to the same thing, for +I just sat still and let the other folks run away. By this time +I expect they are in China, while I am here in the very place +you said you would be if you were a boy. I wish you were one so +you could be here with me now, for I think you would make a +first-class boy. I am learning to be one as fast as I can, a +real truly boy, I mean, and not a make-believe. I have already +learned how to smuggle, and catch a baseball, besides a little +batting, and to swim, sail a boat, paddle a canoe, talk some +Siwash, and have had a good deal of experience besides.</p> + +<p>"Now I am an interpreter and engaged in the mountain-climbing +business. We start to-morrow.</p> + +<p>"I have a partner who is a splendid chap, about my age, and +named Bonny Brooks. I know you would like him, for he is such a +regular boy, and knows just how to do things.</p> + +<p>"When you see my dear dad, please give him my warmest love, and +tell him I think more of him now than I ever did. Please make +him understand that it was the Sonntaggs who ran away, and not +I. Tell him that when I am through experimenting with my heart, +and have become a genuine boy like Bonny, I am coming back to +him, to learn how to be a man—that is, I will if I can afford +to pay my way to San Francisco. But you have no idea how much +money it takes to travel, especially when you have to earn it +yourself, and so far I haven't earned any. Still I have not +starved—that is, not very often—so far, and am in hopes of +having plenty to eat from this time on. Now I must say +good-bye because we are going to sleep in the station to-night, +and it closes early.</p> + +<p>"Ever your loving cousin,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Rick</span>."</p> + +<p>"P.S.—The principal reason I let the Sonntaggs go was because +they called me 'Allie.' Please tell this to dad."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Bonny's letter was not so long as Alaric's, but it described the +situation with equal vagueness. He wrote:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Aunt Nancy</span>,—I am not in China, as you may suppose, +having quit the sea after rising to be first mate. Have also +been a smuggler, but am not any more. Am now engaged by the +French as interpreter, and so far like the business very well. +Have also gone into the climbing trade. We are to do our first +mountain to-morrow. Have for a chum one of the cleverest chaps +you ever saw. He can talk most any language except Chinook, and +is a daisy ball-catcher. His name is Rick Dale, and I am trying +hard to be just like him. If you have any news from father, +please let me know. You can send a letter in care of Mr. P. +Bear, Hotel Tacoma, which is our headquarters.</p> + +<p>"Ever your loving nephew,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">B. Brooks</span>, Interpreter."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Both these letters were sent to Massachusetts, Alaric's being addressed +to Boston, and Bonny's to Sandport. After they were posted, and our lads +were on their way back to the railway station, they began for the first +time to realize how very tired and sleepy they were. They were so +utterly weary that as they snuggled down in their corner of the +baggage-room, on a bed made of M. Filbert's tents and blankets, Alaric +remarked:</p> + +<p>"This is what I call solid comfort."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Bonny, "we certainly have struck a big streak of luck. Do +you remember how we were feeling about this time last night?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Alaric, "I can't remember. It's too long ago. +Good-night." And in another minute both boys were fast asleep.</p> + +<p>They had taken "through tickets," as Bonny would have said, and slept so +soundly that they hardly stirred until the agent flung open the +baggage-room door at six o'clock the following morning, and caused them +to spring from their blankets in a hurry by shouting, "All aboard!" A +dash of cold water from the hydrant outside drove all traces of sleep +from their eyes, and so filled them with its fresh vigor that they raced +all the way up-town to the restaurant. Here, although their appetites +were keen as ever, they managed to satisfy them with a ninety-cent +breakfast, "and left the place with money still in their pockets," as +Alaric expressed it.</p> + +<p>"That's so," responded Bonny. "We've just one cent apiece. Let's toss up +to see who will have them both."</p> + +<p>"No," said Alaric, "for that would be gambling; and I promised my mother +long ago at Monte Carlo never to gamble. She said more fortunes were +lost and fewer won in that way than by any other."</p> + +<p>"But one cent isn't a fortune," objected Bonny.</p> + +<p>"Why not? A man's fortune is all that he has, and if you have but one +cent, then that is your fortune."</p> + +<p>"I guess you are right, Rick Dale," laughed Bonny. "I hate gambling as +much as you do; but it never seemed to me before that tossing pennies +was gambling. I expect it is, though, so I'll just keep my fortune in my +pocket, and not risk it on any such foolishness."</p> + +<p>As the lads hastened back to the station, where they were to meet their +employer, the glorious mountain that was now the goal of their ambition +reared its mighty crest, radiant with sunlight, directly before them. +So wonderfully clear was the atmosphere that it did not seem ten miles +away, and Bonny, shaking a fist at it, cried, cheerfully: "Never you +mind, old fellow, we'll soon have you under foot."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3>BONNY COMMANDS THE SITUATION</h3> + + +<p>Our lads had barely time to do up the tents and blankets they had used +for bedding into compact bundles before M. Filbert arrived, with his +servant François, and a carriage full of packages, including a bundle of +iron-shod alpenstocks. He was clad in what appeared to Bonny and the +idlers about the station a very curious costume, though to Alaric, who +had often seen its like in Switzerland, it did not seem at all out of +the way. It consisted of a coat and knee-breeches of dark green +velveteen, a waistcoat of scarlet cloth, stout yarn stockings patterned +in green and scarlet and folded over at the knees, the heaviest of laced +walking-boots with hob-nailed soles, and a soft Tyrolese hat, in which +was stuck a jaunty cock's feather.</p> + +<p>He was full of excited bustle, and the moment he caught sight of Alaric +began to shower questions and directions upon him with bewildering +rapidity. At length, thanks to Alaric's clear head and Bonny's practical +common-sense, confusion was reduced to order, and everything was got on +board the train that was to carry the expedition to Yelm Prairie, a +station about twenty miles south of Tacoma, from which the real start +was to be made.</p> + +<p>The arrival at Yelm Prairie produced an excitement equal to that of a +circus, and our friends had hardly alighted from the train before they +were surrounded by a clamorous throng of would-be guides, packers, +teamsters, owners of saddle-animals or pack-ponies, and a score of +others, who were loud in declaring that without their services the +expedition would surely come to grief.</p> + +<p>In vain did the bewildered Frenchman storm and rave, and stamp his feet +and gesticulate. Not one word that he said could be understood by the +crowd, who, in their efforts to attract his attention, only shouted the +louder and pressed about him more closely. Finally the poor man, turning +to Alaric and saying, "Do what you will. Everything I leave to you," +clapped his hands to his ears, broke through the uproarious throng, and +started on a run for the open prairie.</p> + +<p>"He leaves everything to us," said Alaric, who was almost as bewildered +by the clamor and novelty of the situation as was M. Filbert himself.</p> + +<p>"Good enough!" cried Bonny. "Now we will be able to do something. I take +it that on this cruise you are first mate and I am second. So if you'll +just give the word to go ahead, I'll settle the business in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"I only wish you would," returned Alaric, "for it looks as though we +were going to be mobbed."</p> + +<p>Armed with this authority, Bonny sprang on a packing-case that lifted +him well above his surroundings, and shouted: "Fellow-citizens!"</p> + +<p>Instantly there came a hush of curious expectancy.</p> + +<p>"I reckon all you men are looking for a job?"</p> + +<p>"That's about the size of it," answered several voices.</p> + +<p>"Very well; I'll give you one that'll prove just about the biggest +contract ever let out in Yelm Prairie. It is to shut your mouths and +keep quiet."</p> + +<p>Here the speaker was greeted by angry murmurs and cries of "None of yer +chaff, young feller!" "What are you giving us?" and the like.</p> + +<p>Nothing daunted, Bonny continued: "I'm not fooling. I'm in dead earnest. +What we are after is quiet, and the prince out there, whom you have +scared away with your racket, is so bound to have it that he's willing +to pay handsomely for it. He's got the money, too, and don't you forget +it. He wants to hire several guides and packers, also a lot of +saddle-horses and ponies, but a noisy, loud-talking chap he can't abide, +and won't have round. He has left the whole business to my partner here +and me to settle, seeing that we are his interpreters, and we are going +to do it the way he pays us to do it and wants it done. So, according to +the rule we've laid down in all our travellings and mountain-climbings +up to date, the man who speaks last will be hired first, and the fellow +who makes the most noise won't be given any show at all. Sabe? As an +example, we want a team to take our dunnage to the river, and I'm going +to give the job to that fellow sitting in the wagon, who hasn't so far +spoken a word."</p> + +<p>"Good reason why! He's deaf and dumb!" shouted a voice.</p> + +<p>"All the better," replied Bonny, in no wise abashed. "That's the kind we +want. There are two more chaps who haven't said anything that I've +heard, and I'm going to give them the job of pitching camp for us. I +mean those two Siwash at the end of the platform."</p> + +<p>"They are quiet because they can't speak any English," remonstrated some +of those who stood near by.</p> + +<p>"We don't mind that, though we are French," replied Bonny, cheerfully. +"You see, the prince looked out for such things when he engaged us +interpreters, and now we are ready to talk to every man in his own +language, including Chinook and United States. Now the only other thing +I've got to say is that we won't be ready to consider any further +business proposals until two o'clock this afternoon, and anybody coming +to our camp before that time will lose his chance. After that we shall +be glad to see you all, and the fellows that make the least talk will +stand the best show of getting a job."</p> + +<p>The effect of this bold proposition was surprising. Instead of exciting +wrath and causing hostile demonstrations, as Alaric feared, its quieting +influence was magical. Times were hard in Yelm Prairie, and a well-paid +trip up the mountain, or the chance to obtain a dollar a day for the +hire of a pony, was not to be despised.</p> + +<p>So Bonny was allowed to engage the deaf-and-dumb teamster by signs, and +the two Indians by a few words of Chinook, without hinderance. All these +worked with such intelligence and expedition that within an hour one of +the neatest camps ever seen in that section was ready for occupancy +beside the white waters of the glacier-fed Nisqually.</p> + +<p>When M. Filbert, who spied it from afar, came in soon afterwards, with +hands and pockets full of floral specimens, he found a comfortably +arranged tent and a bountiful camp dinner awaiting him. At sight of +these things his peace of mind was fully restored, and he congratulated +himself on having secured such skilful interpreters of both his words +and wishes as the lads through whom they had been accomplished.</p> + +<p>Promptly at the hour named by Bonny a motley but orderly throng of men, +mules, and ponies presented themselves at the camp, and the whole +afternoon was spent in making a selection of animals and testing the +skill of packers. Both Alaric and Bonny were inexperienced riders, but +neither of them hesitated when invited to mount and try the steeds +offered for their use. A moment later Bonny was sprawling on the +ground, with his pony gazing at him demurely, while Alaric was flying +over the prairie at a speed that quickly carried him out of sight. It +was nearly an hour before he returned, dishevelled and flushed with +excitement, but triumphant, and with his pony cured of his desire for +bolting—at least, for a time.</p> + +<p>By nightfall the selections and engagements had been made, and the +expedition was strengthened by the addition of two white men to act as +packers, two Indians who were to serve as guides and hunters, five +saddle-ponies, and as many pack-animals.</p> + +<p>That night our lads slept under canvas for the first time, and as they +lay on their blankets discussing the novelty of the situation, Bonny +said:</p> + +<p>"I tell you what, Rick, this mountain-climbing is a more serious +business than some folks think. When you first told me what our job was +to be I had a sort of an idea that we could get to the top of old +Rainier easy enough in one day and come back the next. So I couldn't +imagine why Mr. Bear should want to engage us by the month. Now, though, +it begins to look as though we were in for something of a cruise."</p> + +<p>"I should say so," laughed Alaric, who had learned a great deal about +mountain-climbing in Switzerland. "It would probably take the best part +of a week to go from here straight to the summit and back again. But we +shall be gone much longer than that, for we are to make a camp somewhere +near the snow-line, and spend a fortnight or so up there collecting +flowers and things."</p> + +<p>"Flowers?" said Bonny, inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"Yes. M. Filbert is a botanist, you know, and makes a specialty of +mountain flora. But I say, Bonny, what makes you call him 'Mr. Bear'?"</p> + +<p>"Because I thought that was his name. I know you call him 'Phil Bear,' +but I never was one to become familiar with a cap'n on short +acquaintance."</p> + +<p>"Ho! ho!" Alaric laughed; "that's a good one. Why, Bonny, Filbert is the +surname. F-i-l-b-e-r-t—the same as the nut, you know, only the French +pronounce things differently from what we do."</p> + +<p>"I should say they did if that's a specimen, and I'm glad I'm not +expected to talk in any such language. Plain Chinook and every-day North +American are good enough for me. I suppose he would say 'Rainy' for +Rainier?"</p> + +<p>"Something very like it. I see you are catching the accent. We'll make a +Frenchman of you yet before this trip is ended."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" ejaculated Bonny. "Not if I know it, you won't."</p> + +<p>Sunrise of the following morning found the horsemen of the expedition +galloping over the brown sward of the park-like prairie towards the +forest that for hundreds of miles covers the whole western slope of the +Cascade range like a vast green blanket. The road soon entered the +timber and began a gradual ascent, winding among the trunks of stately +firs and gigantic cedars that often shot upward for more than one +hundred feet before a branch broke their column-like regularity.</p> + +<p>By noon they were at Indian Henry's, twenty miles on their way, and at +the end of the wagon-road. That night camp was pitched in the dense +timber, and our lads had their first taste of life in the forest. How +snugly they were walled in by those close-crowding tree-trunks, and how +they revelled in the roaring camp-fire, with its leaping flames, showers +of dancing sparks, and perfume of burning cedar! What a delight it was +to lie on their blankets just within its circle of light and warmth, +listening to its crisp cracklings! Mingled with these was the cheery +voice of a tumbling stream that came from the blackness beyond, and the +soft murmurings of night winds among the branches far above them.</p> + +<p>Another day's journey through the same grand forest, only broken by the +verdant length of Succotash Valley, and by the rocky beds of many +streams, brought them to Longmire's Springs and the log cabins of the +hardy settler who had given them his name. At this point, though they +had been steadily ascending ever since leaving Yelm Prairie, they were +still less than three thousand feet above the sea, and the real work of +climbing was not yet begun. After an evening spent in listening to +Longmire's thrilling descriptions of the difficulties and dangers +awaiting them, Bonny admitted to Alaric that he had never before +entertained even a small idea of what a mountain really was.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3>ON THE EDGE OF PARADISE VALLEY</h3> + + +<p>From the springs a four-mile scramble through the woods and up the rocky +beds of ancient waterways brought the party to a place where the +Nisqually River must be crossed. Here a single giant tree had been +felled so as to span the torrent, and its upper surface roughly hewn to +a level. A short distance above the rude bridge rose the frowning front +of a glacier. Although its ice was mud-stained and honeycombed by +countless rivulets that poured from its upper surface in tiny cascades, +it still formed an inspiring spectacle, and one that filled Bonny with +wondering admiration, for it was his first glacier.</p> + +<p>From an arched ice cavern at its base poured the milk-white river, with +a hollow roaring, and such force that fair-sized bowlders were swept +down its channel as though they were so many sticks of wood. The whole +scene was of such fascinating interest that it very nearly brought poor +Bonny to grief.</p> + +<p>He had dismounted, and was preparing to follow M. Filbert and Alaric, +who had already led their ponies in safety across the narrow bridge. +These animals had crossed so readily that he supposed his would do the +same, and, as he stepped out on the great log, was paying far more +attention to the glacier than to it. Suddenly he was jerked violently +backward, pitched headlong down the bank, and barely saved himself from +the icy torrent by clutching at a friendly bush. At the same moment his +pony, who had no confidence in mountain bridges, dashed into the roaring +stream, was instantly swept from his footing, rolled over and over, and +borne struggling away towards what seemed certain destruction. By the +good fortune that attends all fools, animals as well as human, he +managed to escape both drowning and broken bones, and finally regained +his feet on a friendly reef that projected into the river a quarter of a +mile below the bridge. There he stood trembling, bruised, and dripping +when Bonny and one of the Indians, who had hastened down the bank to +discover his fate, found him a few minutes later. From that time forth +he was the meekest and most docile pony imaginable, suffering himself +not only to be led over the log bridge without remonstrance, but +wherever else his young master desired.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus7" id="illus7"></a> +<img src="images/illus7.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"BONNY WAS JERKED VIOLENTLY BACKWARD"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>From the scene of this incident a hard scramble up a heavily timbered +slope, so precipitous that it could only be overcome by a series of +zigzags, lifted the expedition a thousand feet above the glacier, and +carried them into a park-like meadow so carpeted and fringed with +flowers as to throw M. Filbert into an ecstasy of delight. The remainder +of that day's ride led through many more of these exquisite, +flower-decked mountain meadows separated by belts of timber, and rising +one above the other, after the manner of terraces.</p> + +<p>Largest and most beautiful of them all was Paradise Valley, a broad +sweep of flower-painted sward dotted with graceful clumps of alpine firs +and hemlocks, and nestled at the base of a mighty frowning cliff. It was +bisected by a rippling stream that entered its upper end by a shimmering +fall of nearly one thousand feet in height.</p> + +<p>High above this lovely valley, and close to the line where snow and +timber met, M. Filbert called a halt, and ordered the permanent camp to +be pitched. Although this point was less than half-way to the top of the +mountain, or only 6500 feet above sea-level, the ponies could climb no +higher, and, after being unladen, were sent back in charge of the +packers into Paradise Valley, where they might fatten on its juicy +grasses until needed for the return trip.</p> + +<p>From here, then, the rugged slope of ice, snow, and rock that stretched +indefinitely upward towards the far-away shining summit must be +traversed on foot or not at all. But this was not to be done now, nor +for days to come, during which the camp just pitched was to be the base +of a wide-spread series of explorations.</p> + +<p>A few straggling hemlocks, so bent by the ice-laden winds that swept +down the mountain-side in winter that they looked like decrepit old men, +furnished shelter, fuel, and bedding. An ice-cold stream supplied water, +the Indian hunters provided fresh meat, bringing in now a mountain-goat +or a few brace of ptarmigan, and occasionally fetching up a deer from +one of the flowery meadows a few thousand feet below. The supplies of +other kinds of food, of warm clothing and bedding, were ample, and so, +in spite of its lofty and solitary situation, that mountain-camp seemed +to our lads one of the pleasantest and most comfortable places they had +ever known.</p> + +<p>"It beats the sloop away out of sight," remarked Bonny.</p> + +<p>"Or Skookum John's," said Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Yes, or being chased and starved."</p> + +<p>"The best of it all is that up here I seem to amount to something," +added Alaric.</p> + +<p>This was, after all, the true secret of our lads' content; for, in spite +of its novelty, the present situation would quickly have grown wearisome +had they not been constantly and happily occupied. Every day that the +weather would permit they tramped from early morning until dark over +snow-fields and glaciers, scaled cliffs, scrambled down into valley-like +meadows set like green jewels in the grim mountain-side, threaded their +way amid the fantastic forms of stunted forests, toiled slowly up lofty +heights, or slid with the speed of toboggans down gleaming slopes. Each +day they gained in agility and daring, and each night they returned to +that cheery camp with its light, warmth, and abounding comforts, so +healthfully tired and so ravenously hungry that it is no wonder they +grew to look upon it as a home, and a very pleasant one.</p> + +<p>Both lads developed specialties in which they became expert. Alaric's +was photography, an art that he had acquired in France, and had +practised at intervals for more than a year. As soon as M. Filbert +discovered this knowledge on the part of his young interpreter, he +intrusted him with the camera, and never had the lad devoted himself to +anything with such enthusiasm as he now did to the capturing of views. +His greatest triumph came through hours of tedious and noiseless +creeping over a rough ice-field that finally placed him within twenty +yards of a couple of mountain-goats.</p> + +<p>Although the wind was blowing strongly from them to him, the timid +creatures were already alarmed, and were sniffing the air suspiciously +when a click of the camera's shutter sent them off like a flash. But the +shot had been successful, as was shown by the development of a perfect +plate that evening. M. Filbert was jubilant over this feat, which he +said had never before been accomplished, and complimented the lad in +flattering terms upon the skilful patience that had led to it.</p> + +<p>Bonny's specialty lay in the collecting of flowers, to which he had +devoted himself assiduously ever since learning that they were what the +little Frenchman most desired. Keen-eyed, nimble-footed, and tireless, +he discovered and secured many a rare specimen that but for him would +have been passed unnoticed.</p> + +<p>Thus the leader of the expedition found reason to value the good +qualities of his young assistants more highly with each day, and was +already planning to have them accompany him on his entire American tour, +during which he proposed to ascend at least a dozen more mountains. +Bonny was jubilant over the prospect of such a trip, and was now as +eager to learn French, in order to qualify himself for it, as he had +formerly been scornful of the language.</p> + +<p>With all this open-air life and splendid physical exercise, the one-time +pale-faced and slender Alaric was broadening and developing beyond +belief. His cheeks were now a ruddy brown, his eyes were clear, his +muscles hard, and his step as springy as that of a mountain-goat. Above +everything else in his own estimation he was learning to swing an axe +with precision, and could now chop a log in two almost as neatly as +Bonny himself.</p> + +<p>For all that they were so constantly and agreeably occupied, the boys +were possessed of a great and ever-increasing longing to stand on the +lofty but still distant summit, with the general aspect of which they +had become so familiar during their stay in the timber-line camp. Thus, +when one evening M. Filbert decided to make a start towards it on the +morrow, they hailed the announcement with joy. One of the Indians was to +accompany them as guide, while his fellow was to be left with François +to keep camp.</p> + +<p>The greater part of the following morning was devoted to making +preparations for the climb and what was thought might prove a three +days' absence from camp: the hobnails of their walking-boots, worn +smooth by friction, were replaced by a fresh set; alpenstocks were +tested until it was certain that each of those to be taken would bear +the weight of the heaviest of the party; provisions were cooked and +packs laid out. Each was to carry a canvas-covered blanket sleeping-bag, +inside of which would be rolled provisions for three days, a tin plate, +and a cup. Each was also provided with a sheath-knife and a supply of +matches. Besides these things M. Filbert was to carry a barometer, a +thermometer, a compass, and a collecting-case. Alaric was intrusted with +the camera and two dozen plates. Bonny's extras were a hatchet and a +fifty-foot coil of stout rope; while the Indian was to carry an ice-axe +and pack a burden of fire-wood.</p> + +<p>It was nearly noon when, fortified by a hearty lunch, they left their +home-like camp, and, facing resolutely upward, began a tedious climb +over the limitless expanse of snow that they struck within the first +hundred yards. The sky was overcast, and they had hardly started ere a +dense cloud-bank swept down and enveloped them in its chill vapors. An +hour later they passed above it, though the clouds still rolled thick +below them, and emerged into sunlight. Glad as they were to see this, it +was so distressingly bright that they were obliged to protect their eyes +from its blinding glare with snow-goggles.</p> + +<p>Wherever a ledge of rock projected above the snow they found blooming +flowers and busy insects. Even butterflies hovered about these spots of +verdure, and seemed as much at home amid their arctic surroundings as in +the warm valleys far below.</p> + +<p>The climb of that afternoon was hot, in spite of the snow that crunched +beneath their feet, tedious, and only mildly exciting, for all the +perils of the ascent were to come on the morrow.</p> + +<p>Shortly before the sun sank into the sea of cloud that spread in fleecy +undulations beneath them, they reached the base of the Cleaver, a +gigantic ridge that seemed to bar their further progress. Here, on a +small plat of nearly level ground from which they dug away the snow, +they made a fire over which to boil water for a pot of tea, ate supper, +and prepared to pass the night. They were four thousand feet above +timber-line, and two miles higher than the waters of Puget Sound.</p> + +<p>As soon as supper was over the entire party crawled into their +sleeping-bags for protection against the bitter cold of the night, and +for a while the two boys, nestling together, talked in low tones. Then +Bonny fell asleep; but for nearly an hour Alaric lay awake, listening to +the awful silence of that lofty solitude, or startled by the occasional +thunderous rush of some plunging bowlder hurled from its bed by the +resistless leverage of frost.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<h3>MOUNT RAINIER PLACED UNDERFOOT</h3> + + +<p>The summit of Mount Rainier has only been gained by way of its southern +slope, the much steeper and more dangerous northern face having never +been scaled. Even over the comparatively easy slope of the south side +but one practicable trail has been discovered, and it leads by way of +the Cleaver. This gigantic ridge of rock, like the backbone of some +colossal monster, forms a divide between the upper Nisqually and Cowlitz +glaciers. Its sides are overlaid with confused masses of bowlders and +treacherous gravel, through which appear at intervals sheer cliffs and +bare ledges of solid rock. The Cleaver leads to a mighty mass of +granite, a mountain in itself, that is fittingly called the Gibraltar of +Mount Rainier. It bars a further passage to all save the strongest +climbers, and to these it affords the only means of access to the lofty +realms beyond. Here is the most perilous part of the ascent, and, with +Gibraltar once passed, the summit is almost certain of attainment.</p> + +<p>It seemed to our weary lads that they had barely fallen asleep when they +were wakened by a rude shaking and the voice of their Siwash guide, +exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"Come, come, lazy boy! Wake up! wake up! Mos' <i>sitkum sun</i> (noon). +Breakfus! breakfus!"</p> + +<p>"'Most noon!" growled Bonny, crawling reluctantly from his sleeping-bag, +rubbing his eyes, and shivering in the bitter cold. "'Most midnight, +more likely."</p> + +<p>"Alle same, <i>sitkum sun</i> some place; don't he?" queried the Indian; +laughing at his own joke.</p> + +<p>By the time they had swallowed a cup of tepid tea, and lightened their +packs by making a hearty meal of cold meat and hard bread, dawn was +breaking, and there was light enough to pick their way up the +treacherous slope of the Cleaver. As they cautiously advanced, many a +bowlder slipped from beneath their feet and bounded with mighty leapings +into the depths behind them. Dodging these, sliding in the loose +gravels, lifting and pulling each other up rocky faces from one narrow +ledge to another, and ever looking upward, they finally gained the +summit of the mighty ridge.</p> + +<p>From here they could gaze down the opposite slope nearly a thousand feet +to the gleaming surface of the great Cowlitz glacier, with so much of +its ruggedness smoothed away by distance that it looked a river of milk +with a line of black drift in its centre, flowing swiftly through a +rock-walled cañon and pouring into a sea of cloud. On the far southward +horizon could be seen the glistening cone of Mount Hood, kissed by +earliest sunbeams, and in the middle distance the volcanic peaks of St. +Helens and Adams. Near at hand, pinnacles of the Tatoosh range were +breaking through the clouds like rocky islets in a billowy sea. Before +them the rugged backbone of the Cleaver, stripped of every particle of +its earthy flesh, stretched away in quick ascent to the frowning mass of +Gibraltar.</p> + +<p>The Cleaver carried them half-way up the sombre face of this mighty +rock, and from that point a narrow ledge creeping diagonally up the +precipice at a steep angle was the trail they must follow. Not only was +this rocky pathway steep and narrow, but it shelved away from the wall, +and in many places afforded only a treacherous foothold. At any point +along its length a slip, a misstep, or an attack of dizziness would mean +almost certain destruction.</p> + +<p>Foot by foot and yard by yard M. Filbert's little party ascended this +perilous way, here walking, and trusting to their alpenstocks for +support; there crawling on hands and knees. Sometimes one would go +cautiously ahead over a place of peculiar danger, with an end of the +rope firmly knotted beneath his arms, while his companions, with firm +bracings, retained the other part, ready to haul him up if by chance he +should plunge over the verge and dangle above the abyss at the end of +his slender tether.</p> + +<p>At the terminus of the ledge they were confronted by a sloping wall of +solid ice, in which they must cut steps and grip-holes for feet and +hands. As they slowly and painfully worked their way up this precarious +ladder, they were continually pelted by pebbles and good-sized stones +loosened by the sun from an upper cliff of frozen gravel.</p> + +<p>At length the toilsome ascent was safely accomplished, and, with a +panting shout from Alaric and a hurrah from Bonny, the whole party stood +on the summit of that mountain Gibraltar. Here they rested and lunched; +then, full of eager impatience, pushed on over the narrow causeway +connecting the mighty rock with the vastly mightier snow-cap beyond.</p> + +<p>This snow, that had looked so faultlessly smooth from below, was found +to be drifted and packed into high ridges, over which they slowly +toiled, frequently pausing for breath and inhaling the rarefied air with +quick gaspings. At length a bottomless crevasse yawned before them, +spanned only by a narrow ledge of snow. With an end of the rope knotted +beneath his arms, Bonny, being the lightest, essayed to cross it. +Before he reached the farther side the treacherous support broke beneath +him, and, with a frightened cry, Alaric saw his comrade plunge out of +sight in the yawning chasm. He brought up with a heavy jerk at the end +of the rope, and they cautiously drew him back to where they stood.</p> + +<p>As he reappeared above the edge of the opening his face was very pale, +but he called out, cheerfully: "It's all right, Rick! Don't fret!"</p> + +<p>After a long search they discovered another bridge, and it bore them +across in safety, one at a time, but all securely roped together. +Finally, late in the afternoon, the longed-for summit was attained, and, +though nearly toppled over by a furious wind, they stood triumphant on +the rocky rim of its ancient crater. This was half a mile in diameter, +and filled with snow, but its opposite or northern side was the highest. +So to it they made their weary way, following the rocky path afforded by +the rim, and barely able to hold their footing against the wind.</p> + +<p>When they at last attained the point of their ambition, a reading of the +barometer showed them to be standing at a height of 14,444 feet above +sea-level, and with exulting hearts they realized that, as Bonny +expressed it, they had put the highest peak of the Cascade range beneath +their feet.</p> + +<p>The view that greeted them from that lofty outlook was so wonderful and +far-reaching that for a while they gazed in awed silence. Mount Baker, +two hundred miles away, close to the British line, was clearly visible, +as were the notable peaks to the southward, even beyond the distant +Columbia and over the Oregon border.</p> + +<p>"<i>C'est grand! c'est magnifique! c'est terrible!</i>" exclaimed M. Filbert, +at length breaking the silence.</p> + +<p>As for Alaric! To have achieved that summit was the greatest triumph of +his life; but his heart was too full for utterance, and he could only +gaze in speechless delight.</p> + +<p>The Indian too gazed in silence as, leaning on his ice-axe, he +contemplated the outspread empire that but a few years before had +belonged solely to the people of his race.</p> + +<p>Bonny was as deeply impressed as either of his companions, but found it +necessary to express his feelings in words. "This must be the top of the +world!" he cried; "and I do believe we can see it all. I tell you what +it is, Rick Dale, I've learned something about mountains this day, and +now I know that they are the grandest things in all creation."</p> + +<p>At their feet the rock wall dropped so sheer and smooth that no man +might climb it, and then came the snow, sweeping steeply downward for +miles apparently without a break. Far beyond lay the vast sea of forest, +seeming to cover the whole earth with its green mantle. The gleaming +glaciers, looking like foaming cascades frozen into rigidity, were +swallowed by it and hidden. It rolled in billows over the mighty +mountain flanks that radiated from where they stood like the spokes of a +colossal wheel, and dipped into the intervening valleys. Nowhere was it +broken, save by the few bald peaks that struggled above it and by the +thread-like waters of Puget Sound. Even on the west there was no ocean, +for the volcanic, snow-crowned Olympics, one of which was smoking, as +though in eruption, hid it from view.</p> + +<p>Our lads could have gazed entranced for hours on the crowding marvels +outspread before them had they been warmed and fed and rested and +sheltered from the fierce blasts of icy wind that threatened to hurl +them from the parapet on which they stood. As it was, night was at hand, +they were faint and trembling from weariness, and wellnigh perished with +the stinging cold. It was high time to turn from gazing and seek +shelter.</p> + +<p>Inside the crater's rim numerous steam jets issued from fissures in the +rocky wall, and these had carved out caverns from the adjacent ice. Here +there were roomy chambers, steam-heated and storm-proof, awaiting +occupancy, and to one of these M. Filbert led the way.</p> + +<p>In this place of welcome shelter numbed fingers were thawed to further +usefulness by the grateful steam, a small fire was lighted, packs were +opened, and in less than an hour a bountiful supper of hot tea, venison +frizzled over the coals, toasted hard-bread, and prunes was being +enjoyed by as hungry and jubilant a party as ever bivouacked on the +summit of Mount Rainier.</p> + +<p>After supper the Frenchman lighted a cigarette, the Indian puffed, with +an air of intense satisfaction, at an ancient pipe, our lads toasted +their stockinged feet before the few remaining embers of the fire, and, +in various languages, all four discussed the adventures of the day.</p> + +<p>Although they had much to say, their conversation hour was soon ended by +their weariness and by the ever-increasing cold, which even a jet of +volcanic steam could not exclude from that chamber of ice. So they +speedily slipped into their sleeping-bags, and, lying close together for +greater warmth, prepared to spend a night under the very strangest +conditions that Alaric and Bonny, at least, had ever encountered.</p> + +<p>Some hours later the occupants of the ice-cave became conscious of the +howlings of a storm that shrieked and roared above their heads with the +fury of ten thousand demons; but, knowing that it could not penetrate +their retreat, they gave it but slight heed, and quickly dropped again +into the sleep of weariness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + +<h3>BLOWN FROM THE RIM OF A CRATER</h3> + + +<p>When our lads next awoke they were oppressed with a sense of suffocation +and uncomfortable warmth. It was still dark, and M. Filbert was striking +a match in order to look at his watch.</p> + +<p>"Seven o'clock!" he cried, incredulously. "How can it be?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Cole snass!</i>" (snow) exclaimed the Indian, to whom the flare of light +had instantly disclosed the cause of both darkness and suffocation. The +cave was much smaller than when they entered it, and was also full of +steam. Its walls were covered with moisture, and rivulets of water +trickled over the floor.</p> + +<p>"<i>Cultus snow!</i> Heap plenty! Too much! <i>Mamook ilahie</i>" (must dig), +continued the Indian, springing to his feet, and making an attack on the +drifted snow that had completely choked the cavern's mouth. When he had +excavated a burrow the length of his body, Bonny took his place, while +Alaric and M. Filbert removed the loosened snow to the back of the cave, +where they packed it as closely as possible.</p> + +<p>Although a faint light soon appeared in the tunnel, it was a full hour +before it was dug to the surface of the tremendous drift and a rush of +cold air was admitted.</p> + +<p>A glance outside showed that, while no snow was falling at that moment, +the day was dark and gloomy, and the mountain was enveloped in clouds +that were driven in swirling eddies by fierce gusts of wind.</p> + +<p>In spite of the threatening weather, M. Filbert declared that they must +begin their retreat at once, as they had but one day's supply of food +left, while the storm might burst upon them again at any minute and +continue indefinitely. So, after a hasty meal of biscuits and cold meat, +the little party sallied forth. The Indian, having no longer a burden of +fire-wood, relieved Alaric of his camera, and led the way. M. Filbert +followed, then came Alaric; while Bonny, with a coil of rope hung over +his shoulder, brought up the rear.</p> + +<p>Oh, how cold it was! and how awful! To be sure, the dangers surrounding +them were hidden by impenetrable clouds, but they had already seen them, +and knew of their presence. As they started to traverse the rocky crater +rim that still rose slightly above the snow, the entire summit was +visible; but a few minutes later a furious gust of wind again shrouded +it in clouds so dense as to completely hide objects only a few feet +away.</p> + +<p>Just then Alaric tripped on one of his boot-lacings that had become +unfastened, and very nearly fell. That was no place for tripping, and +such a thing must not happen again. So he paused to secure the loosened +lacing, and, as he stooped over it, Bonny cried impatiently from behind:</p> + +<p>"Hurry up, Rick! the others are already out of sight, and it will never +do to lose them in this fog."</p> + +<p>The necessity for haste only caused the lad's numbed fingers to fumble +the more awkwardly, and several precious minutes were thus wasted.</p> + +<p>With the task completed, Alaric, full of nervous dread, started to run +after his vanished companions, slipped on a bit of glare ice at a place +where the narrow path slanted down and out, and pitched headlong. Bonny +saw his danger, sprang to his assistance, slipped on the same +treacherous ice, and in another moment both lads had plunged over the +outer verge of the sheer wall. There was a stifled cry, drowned by the +roaring blast, and then, without leaving a trace behind them, they were +lost to sight in the crowding mists. So complete was their disappearance +that when, one minute later, M. Filbert and the Indian passed back over +that very place in anxious search of their young companions, they could +neither see nor hear aught to tell them of what had happened.</p> + +<p>Neither Alaric nor Bonny could ever afterwards tell whether they fell +twenty feet or two hundred in that terrible, breathless plunge. Almost +with the first knowledge of their situation they found themselves +struggling in a drift of soft, fresh-fallen snow, and a moment +afterwards rolling, bounding, and shooting with frightful velocity down +an icy, roof-like slope of interminable length. Breathless, battered, +bruised, expecting with each instant to be dashed over some awful brink, +as ignorant of their surroundings as though stricken with blindness, the +poor lads still tried, with outstretched arms and clutching fingers, to +check their wild flight.</p> + +<p>While they realized in a measure the desperate nature of the situation, +its worst features were mercifully concealed from them by the clinging +clouds. Had these lifted ever so little, they would have seen that their +perilous coast was down a ridge so narrow that the alpenstocks flung +from them as they plunged over the rim of the crater had fallen on +either side into yawning chasms.</p> + +<p>At length, after what seemed an eternity of this terrible experience, +though in reality it lasted but a few minutes, they were flung into a +narrow, snow-filled valley that cut their course at a sharp angle, and +found themselves lying within a few feet of each other, dazed and sorely +bruised, but apparently with unbroken bones, and certainly still alive.</p> + +<p>As they slowly gained a sitting posture and gazed curiously at each +other, Bonny said, impressively:</p> + +<p>"Rick Dale, before we go any farther, I want to take back all I ever +said about the life of a sailor being exciting, for it isn't a +circumstance to that of an interpreter."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bonny, it is so good to hear your voice again! Wasn't it awful? And +how do you suppose we can ever get back?"</p> + +<p>"Get back!" cried the other. "Well, if we had wings we might fly back; +but there's no other way that I know of. We must be a mile from our +starting-point, and even to reach the foot of the place where we dove +off we'd have to cut steps in the ice every inch of the way. That would +probably take a couple of days, and when we got there we'd have to turn +around and come down again, for nothing except a bird could ever scale +that wall."</p> + +<p>"Then what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"Keep on as we have begun, I suppose, only a little slower, I hope, +until we reach the timber-line, and then try and follow it to camp."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we can?"</p> + +<p>"Of course we can, for we've got to."</p> + +<p>Painfully the lads gained their feet, and with cautious steps began to +explore their surroundings. They walked side by side for a few yards, +and then each clutched the other as though to draw him back. They were +on the brink of a precipice, over which another step would have carried +them.</p> + +<p>While they hesitated, not knowing which way to turn nor what to do, the +clouds below them rolled away, though above and back of them they +remained as dense as ever, and a view of what lay before them was +unfolded.</p> + +<p>Rocks, ice, and snow; sheer walls rising on either side of them, and a +precipitous slope forming an almost vertical descent of a thousand feet +in front. There were but three things to do: Go back the way they had +come, which was so wellnigh impossible that they did not give it a +second thought; remain where they were, which meant a certain and speedy +death; or make their way down that rocky wall. They crept to its brink +and looked over, anxiously scanning its every feature and calculating +their chances. The first thirty feet were sheer and smooth. Then came a +narrow shelf, below which they could see others at irregular intervals.</p> + +<p>"There is only one way to do it," said Bonny, "and that is by the rope. +I will go first, and you must follow."</p> + +<p>"I'll try," replied Alaric, with a very pale face but a brave voice.</p> + +<p>So Bonny, with the knowledge of knots that he had learned on shipboard, +made a noose that would not slip in one end of their rope, tied half a +dozen knots along its length for hand-holds, and fastened its other end +about his body. Then he looped the noose over a jutting point of rock, +and, slipping cautiously over the brink, allowed himself to slide slowly +down.</p> + +<p>It made Alaric so giddy to watch him that he closed his eyes, nor did he +open them until a cheery "All right, Rick!" assured him of his comrade's +safety. Now came his turn, and as he hung by that slender cord he was +devoutly thankful for the strength that the past few weeks had put into +his arms. He too reached the ledge in safety, and then, with great +difficulty, on account of the narrowness of their foothold, they +managed to slip the noose off its resting-place. Now they <i>must</i> go +forward, for there was no longer a chance of going back. In vain, +though, did they search that smooth ledge for a point that would hold +their noose. There was none, and the next shelf was twenty feet below.</p> + +<p>"We must climb it, Rick, and this time you must go first. Put the loop +under your arms, and I will do my best to hold you if you slip; but +don't take any chances, or count too much on me being able to do it."</p> + +<p>There were little cracks and slight projections. Bonny held the rope +reassuringly taut, and at length the feat was accomplished. Then Alaric +took in the slack of the rope as Bonny, tied to its other end, made the +same perilous descent.</p> + +<p>So, with strained arms, aching legs, and fingers worn to the quick from +clutching the rough granite, they made their slow way from ledge to +ledge, gaining courage and coolness as they successfully overcame each +difficulty, until they estimated that they had descended fully five +hundred feet. Now came another smooth face absolutely without a crevice +that they could discover, and the next ledge below was farther away than +the length of their dangling rope. There was, however, a projection +where they stood, over which they could loop the noose.</p> + +<p>"We've got to do it," said Bonny, stoutly, "and I only hope the drop at +the end isn't so long as it looks." Thus saying, he slipped cautiously +over the edge, let himself down to the end of the rope, dropped ten +feet, staggered, and seemed about to fall, but saved himself by a +violent effort. Alaric followed, and also made the drop, but whirled +half round in so doing, and but for Bonny's quick clutch would have gone +over the edge.</p> + +<p>There was now no way of recovering their useful rope; and fortunately, +though they sorely needed it at times, they found no other place +absolutely impossible without it. By noon, when they paused for rest and +a scanty lunch of chocolate and prunes, they were down one thousand +feet, and believed the worst of the descent to be accomplished.</p> + +<p>Now came a rude granite stairway with steps fit for a giant, and then a +long slope of loose bowlders, that rocked and rolled from beneath their +feet as they sprang from one to another. They crossed the rugged ice of +a glacier, whose innumerable crevasses intersected like the wrinkles on +an old man's face, and had many hair-breadth escapes from slipping into +their deadly depths of frozen blue. Then came a vast snow-field, over +which they tramped for miles with weary limbs but light hearts, for the +terrors of the mountain were behind them and the timber-line was in +sight. Darkness had already overtaken them when they came to a steep, +rock-strewn slope, down which they ran with reckless speed. They were +near its bottom when a bowlder on which Bonny had just leaped rolled +from under him, and he fell heavily on a bed of jagged rocks.</p> + +<p>As he did not regain his feet, Alaric sprang to his side. The poor lad +who had so stoutly braved the countless perils of the day was moaning +pitifully, and as his friend bent anxiously over him he said, in a +feeble voice:</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid, old man, that I'm done for at last, for it feels as though +every bone in my body was broken."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> + +<h3>A DESPERATE SITUATION</h3> + + +<p>Of the many trying experiences through which our lads had passed since +their introduction to each other in Victoria, none had presented so many +hopeless features as the present. They were high up on a mighty +mountain, whose terrible wilderness of rock and glacier, precipice and +chasm, limitless snow-field and trackless forest, stretched for weary +leagues in every direction; beyond hope of human aid; only a mouthful of +food between them and starvation; with night so close at hand that +near-by objects were already indistinct in its gathering gloom; without +shelter; inexperienced in woodcraft; and one of them so seriously +injured that he lay moaning on the cruel rocks that had wounded him, +apparently incapable of moving.</p> + +<p>As all these details of the situation flashed into Alaric's mind he +became for a moment heart-sick and despairing at its utter hopelessness. +He was so exhausted with the exertions of the day, so unnerved by the +strain and anxiety of the perilous hours just passed, and so faint for +want of nourishment, that it is no wonder his strength was turned into +weakness, or that he could discover no ray of hope through the +all-pervading gloom.</p> + +<p>Suddenly and as clearly as though spoken by his side came the words: +"Always remember that, as my friend Jalap Coombs says, 'It is never so +dark but what there is light somewhere.'" The memory of Phil Ryder's +brave face as he uttered that sentence came to our poor lad like a +tonic, and instantly he was resolved to find the light that was shining +for him somewhere.</p> + +<p>With such marvellous quickness does the mind act in an emergency that +all these thoughts came to Alaric even as he bent anxiously over his +injured friend and began examining tenderly into the nature of his +hurts. As he lifted the left arm the sufferer uttered a cry of pain, and +its hand hung limp. The other limbs were sound, but Bonny said that +every breath was like a stab.</p> + +<p>"One arm broken, and I'm afraid something gone wrong inside," announced +Alaric at length; "but it might be ever so much worse," he continued, in +as cheerful a tone as he could command. "One of your legs might have +been broken, you know, and then we should be in a fix, for I couldn't +carry you, and we should have to stay right here. Now, though, I am sure +you can walk as far as the timber if you will only try. Of course it +will hurt terribly, but you must do it, for there is no other way."</p> + +<p>Very slowly, and with many a stifled cry of acute pain, Bonny gained his +feet. Then, with his right arm about Alaric's neck, and with the latter +stoutly supporting him, the injured lad managed to cross the few hundred +feet intervening between that place and the longed-for shelter of the +stunted hemlocks forming the timber-line.</p> + +<p>Both Bonny's weakness and the darkness, which was now that of night, +prevented their penetrating deep into the timber; but before the +sufferer sank to the ground, declaring that he could not take another +step, they had gone far enough to escape the icy blast that, sweeping +down from the upper snow-fields, had chilled them to the marrow. This +alone was a notable achievement, and already Alaric believed he could +perceive a glimmer of the light he had set out to find.</p> + +<p>Now for a fire, and how grateful they were for M. Filbert's forethought +that had provided each one of his party with matches! Feeling about for +twigs, and whittling a few shavings with his sheath-knife, Alaric +quickly started a tiny flame, and with its first cheery glow their +situation seemed robbed of half its terrors. An armful of sticks +produced a brave crackling blaze that drove the black forest shadows to +a respectful distance.</p> + +<p>With Bonny's hatchet Alaric next lopped off the branches from the lower +side of a thick-growing hemlock and wove them among those that were +left, so as to form a wind-break. An armful of the same flat boughs, cut +from other trees and strewn on the ground, formed a spring bed on which +to unfold the sleeping-bags, that by rare good fortune had remained +strapped to the lads' shoulders during all their terrible journey from +the summit camp of the night before.</p> + +<p>After making his comrade as comfortable as possible, Alaric hurried away +into the darkness. He was gone so long that Bonny, who did not know the +reason of his absence, began to grow very uneasy before he returned. +When he did reappear, he brought with him a quantity of snow that he had +gone back a quarter of a mile up the dark mountain-side to obtain. He +wanted water, and not hearing or finding any stream, had bethought +himself of snow as a substitute.</p> + +<p>In each of the packs they had so fortunately brought with them was a +handful of tea, for M. Filbert had insisted that all the provisions +should be divided among all the packs, as a precaution against just such +an emergency as had arisen. Therefore, Alaric now had the materials for +a longed-for and much-needed cup of the stimulating beverage. To make +it, an amount of the precious leaves equal to a teaspoonful was put into +one of their tin cups while snow was melted in the other. As soon as +this came to a boil it was poured over the tea leaves in cup number one, +which was allowed to stand for two minutes longer in a warm place to +"draw."</p> + +<p>While Bonny slowly sipped this, at the same time munching a handful of +hard biscuit, which, broken into small bits, was all the food they had +left, Alaric boiled another cup of water for himself.</p> + +<p>From all this it will be seen that our one-time helpless and dependent +"Allie" Todd was rapidly learning not only to care for himself under +trying conditions, but for others as well.</p> + +<p>As soon as Bonny had been thus strengthened and thoroughly warmed, +Alaric made a more thorough examination of his injuries than had been +possible out in the cold and darkness where the accident occurred. He +found that the left arm had sustained a simple fracture, fortunately but +little splintered, and also that two ribs on the left side were broken. +For these he could do nothing; but he managed to set the broken arm +after a fashion, bandage it with handkerchiefs torn into strips, and +finally to place it in a case formed of a trough-like section of +hemlock-bark, which he hung from Bonny's neck by straps. Then he helped +his patient into one of the sleeping-bags, encouraging him all the while +with hopeful suggestions of what they would do on the morrow.</p> + +<p>After thus making his charge as comfortable as circumstances would +permit, the lad busied himself for another hour in collecting such a +quantity of wood as should insure a good fire until morning. Then, +utterly fagged out, he crept into his own bed, and lay down beside his +friend.</p> + +<p>Despite the painful nature of his injuries, Bonny had already fallen +asleep, but Alaric lay awake from sheer weariness, and struggled against +gloomy thoughts of their future. He knew that the home-like camp in +which they had passed two weeks so happily, and which they had hoped to +regain by following the timber-line, was on the opposite side of the +mountain, many weary miles away. He knew also that between them and it +lay a region so rugged as to be wellnigh impassable to the sturdiest of +mountaineers, and absolutely so to one in Bonny's condition. It would be +a journey of two or more days under the most favorable circumstances; +but alone and without food he realized that even he could not accomplish +it. Besides, he could not leave Bonny in his present helpless condition. +Therefore, all thoughts of obtaining assistance from that direction must +be abandoned. Could they continue on down the mountain through the +trackless forest that on the upward journey they had occupied two whole +days in traversing on horseback, and with a clearly defined trail? +Certainly they could not, and to make the attempt would be worse than +folly. What, then, could they do? This question was so unanswerable that +the perplexed lad gave over struggling with it and fell asleep.</p> + +<p>He intended to replenish his fire several times during the night; but +when he next awoke daylight was already some hours old, the place where +the fire had burned was covered with dead ashes, and Bonny lay patiently +regarding him with wistful eyes.</p> + +<p>"I am thirsty, Rick," was all he said, though he had lain for hours +wide-awake and parched with fever, but heroically determined that his +wearied comrade should sleep until he woke of his own accord.</p> + +<p>"You poor fellow!" cried Alaric, remorsefully. "Why didn't you wake me +long ago?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't bear to," replied Bonny; "but now if you will please get me +a drink."</p> + +<p>Only pausing to light a fresh fire, Alaric hastened away to the distant +snow-bank, returning as speedily as possible with as much of it as their +two tin plates would hold. A handful was given Bonny to cool his parched +tongue while the remainder was melting.</p> + +<p>So small a quantity of water could be procured at a time by this slow +process that in a very few minutes Alaric found he must go for more +snow. As he went he realized how faint he was for want of food. "I +wonder how much longer I shall be able to hold out?" he asked himself. +"How many more times can I make this trip before my strength is +exhausted?" A mental picture of Bonny begging for water, and he too weak +to fetch it, caused his eyes to fill with tears, and a black despair +again enfolded him.</p> + +<p>At this moment the voice of the previous night came again to him: "It is +never so dark but what there is light somewhere." "Of course there is," +he cried, "and as I found it last night, why shouldn't I to-day?"</p> + +<p>Even as the lad spoke he caught its first gleam in the form of a rivulet +of clear water that rippled merrily down from the snow only a few yards +from where he stood. Hastening to this, the lad drank long and deeply. +On lifting his head from the delicious water, he could hardly believe +his eyes as they rested on a solitary bird, that he knew to be a +ptarmigan, crouching beside a bowlder. Hoping against hope, and almost +unnerved by anxiety, he flung a stone, and in another minute the bird +was his. "Hurrah for breakfast!" he shouted, as he ran back to Bonny +with his trophy proudly displayed at arm's-length.</p> + +<p>Awkward as Alaric was at the business, he had that Heaven-sent bird +stripped of its feathers, cleaned, and spitted over a bed of glowing +coals within ten minutes of the time he had first spied it, and a little +later only its cleanly picked bones remained to tell of its existence.</p> + +<p>Bonny was disinclined to eat, but he drank two cups of hot tea, that +threw him into a perspiration, greatly to Alaric's satisfaction. As he +also seemed drowsy, Alaric encouraged him to sleep, while he should go +in search of more food and assistance, with one or both of which he +promised to return before noon.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII</h2> + +<h3>HOW A SONG SAVED ALARIC'S LIFE</h3> + + +<p>When Alaric made that promise he had no more idea of how it was to be +kept than he had of what was to become of Bonny and himself. He only +knew that active exertion of some kind was necessary to keep him from +utter despair. Besides, it was just possible that he might discover and +secure another bird, though not at all probable, as the one on which he +had breakfasted was the first that he had encountered since coming to +the mountain.</p> + +<p>By the time he emerged from the timber the morning clouds had rolled +away, the sun was shining brightly, and the whole vast sweep of gleaming +snow and tumultuous rock, from timber-line to distant summit, lay piled +in steep ascent before him. It was a wonderful sight, but as terrible as +it was grand, for in all its awful solitude there was no movement, no +voice, and no sign of life. Oppressed by the loneliness of his +surroundings, and having no reason for choosing one direction rather +than another, the lad mechanically turned to the right and began to make +his way along a bowlder-strewn slope, where every now and then he came +to the bleached skeletons of stunted trees, winter-killed, but still +standing, and seeming to stretch imploring arms to their retreating +brethren of the forest.</p> + +<p>He had not gone more than a mile when there came something to him that +caused him to halt and glance inquiringly on all sides. At the same +time he lifted his head and sniffed the air eagerly, like a hound on the +scent of game. He was certain that he had smelled smoke. Yes, there it +came again; a whiff so faint as to be almost imperceptible, but the +unmistakable odor of burning wood.</p> + +<p>Facing squarely the breeze that brought it to him, the lad pushed +forward, and a few minutes later stood on the verge of a little mountain +meadow, sun-warmed and rock-walled on all sides, save the one by which +he had approached. Here the slope was so gentle that he started down on +a run. He had thus gone but a short distance when he suddenly paused +with his eyes fixed on the ground where he was standing.</p> + +<p>He had been unconsciously following a path, faintly marked and hardly to +be distinguished, but nevertheless one that he felt certain had been +trodden by human feet. The discovery filled him with excitement, and he +bounded forward with redoubled speed. Halfway down the slope, at a point +commanding a lovely view of the flower-strewn valley, the trail ended at +a crystal spring that bubbled from among the roots of a tall young +hemlock. Other trees were grouped near-by, and beneath them stood a rude +hut built of poles and boughs, but having a rain-proof roof of thatch. +Before it smouldered a log fire, from which rose the thin column of +smoke that had directed Alaric's attention to the place.</p> + +<p>Filled with exultation and wild with joy over his discovery, the lad +gazed eagerly about for some sign of the proprietor or occupants of this +lonely camp, and at length, seeing no one, he began to shout. Receiving +no response, he entered the hut, and was surprised at the absence of +even the rude comforts common to such a place. There was a heap of white +goat-skins in one corner, and a quantity of meat, either smoked or +dried, hung from a rafter overhead. A kettle and a fry-pan lay outside +near the fire, an axe was driven into the trunk of one of the trees, +and, so far as Alaric could see, there was nothing else. But even these +things were enough to indicate that this was a place of at least +temporary human abode, and wherever its proprietor might be, he would +return to it sooner or later. Then, too, Alaric believed it to be the +camp of a white man; for though his knowledge of Indians was limited, it +in no way resembled that of Skookum John.</p> + +<p>"At any rate," he said to himself, "I will try and get Bonny here as +quickly as possible, for he will be a thousand times better off in this +place than where I left him."</p> + +<p>So, with a lighter heart than he had known since his comrade's accident, +Alaric started back over the trail by which he had come. Bonny was awake +and sitting up when he reappeared, and the sufferer's face brightened +wonderfully at the great news of at least one other human being, a camp, +and an abundance of food so near at hand.</p> + +<p>"Do you really think I can get there, though?" he asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Alaric, "I know you can; for, as you said yesterday when +we were looking at that precipice, it is something that must be done. We +can't stay here without either food or shelter, and we don't dare wait +for the owner of that camp to come back and help us move, because he may +stay away several days. I know it is going to hurt you awfully to walk, +but I know too that you'll do it if you only make up your mind to."</p> + +<p>"All right, I'll try it; but, Rick, don't you forget that if I ever get +down from this mountain alive, never again will I climb another. No, +sir. Level ground will be good enough for me after this."</p> + +<p>As Alaric was doing up the sleeping-bags a familiar-looking baseball +rolled from his, and caught Bonny's eye.</p> + +<p>"If you aren't a queer chap!" he exclaimed. "Whatever made you bring +that ball along?"</p> + +<p>"Because," answered the other, "it means so much to me that I hated to +leave it behind, and then I thought perhaps it would be fun to have a +game on the very top of the mountain. When we reached there, though, I +forgot all about it."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bonny, grimly, "we did have something else to think of. +Ough, but that hurts!"</p> + +<p>This exclamation was called forth by the poor lad's effort to gain his +feet, which he found he was unable to do without assistance.</p> + +<p>Although Alaric carried both packs, and lent Bonny all possible support +besides, that one-mile walk proved the most difficult either of the lads +had ever undertaken. Brave and stout-hearted as Bonny was, he could not +help groaning with every step, and they were obliged to rest so often +that the little journey occupied several hours. At its end both lads +were utterly exhausted, and Bonny was suffering so intensely that he +hardly noticed the place to which he had been brought. The moment he +gained the hut he sank down on its pile of goat-skins with closed eyes, +and so white a face that he seemed about to faint.</p> + +<p>When Alaric was there before, he had mended the fire and set on a kettle +of water, with a view to just such an emergency as the present. The +water was still boiling, and so within three minutes he was able to give +his patient a cup of strong tea that greatly revived him. Food was the +next thing to be thought of, and Alaric did not hesitate to appropriate +one of the strips of goat's flesh that hung overhead. Not being quite +sure of the best way to cook this, he cut one portion into small bits, +put them into the kettle with a little water, and set the whole on the +fire to simmer. Another portion he sliced thin and laid in the fry-pan, +which he also set on the fire. Still a third bit he spitted on a long +stick and held close to a bed of coals, where it frizzled with such an +appetizing odor that he could not wait for it to be cooked before +cutting off small bits to sample. They were so good that he went to +offer some to Bonny; but finding the latter still lying with closed +eyes, thought best not to disturb him. So he sat alone and ate all the +frizzled meat, and all that was in the fry-pan, and was still so hungry +that he procured another strip of meat from the hut, and began all over +again.</p> + +<p>They had been nearly two hours in the camp before his ravenous appetite +was fully satisfied, and by that time the contents of the pot had +simmered into a sort of thick broth. At a faint call from Bonny, Alaric +carried some of this to him, and had the satisfaction of seeing him +swallow a whole cupful. Then, as night was again approaching, he helped +his patient into one of the sleeping-bags, which he underlaid with +several goat-skins, and sat by him until he fell into a doze. When this +happened Alaric went softly outside, and, to dispel the gathering gloom, +piled logs on the fire until it was in a bright blaze. Sitting a little +to one side, half in light and half in shadow, and having no present +occupation, the lad fell into a deep reverie. How was this strange +adventure to end? Who owned that camp, and why did he not return to it? +What would he think on finding strangers in possession? Had any boy ever +stepped from one life into another so entirely different as suddenly and +completely as he? One year ago at this time he was in France, surrounded +by every luxury that money could procure, carefully guarded from every +form of anxiety, and dependent upon others for everything. Now he was +thankful for the shelter of a hut, and a meal of half-cooked meat +prepared by his own hands. He not only had everything to do for himself, +but had another still more helpless dependent upon him for everything. +Was he any happier then than now? No. He could honestly say that he +preferred his present position, with its health, strength, and glorious +self-reliance, to the one he had resigned.</p> + +<p>Still there had been happy times in that other life. Two years ago, for +instance, when his mother and he had travelled leisurely through +Germany, halting whenever they chose, and remaining as long as places +interested them. Thoughts of his mother recalled the plaintive little +German folk-song of which she had been so fond.</p> + +<p><i>Muss i denn.</i> Yes, that was it, and involuntarily Alaric began to hum +the air. Then the words began to fit themselves to it, and before he +realized what he was doing he was singing softly:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Muss i denn, muss i denn<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Zum Städtele 'naus, Städtele 'naus:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Und du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>So engrossed was the lad with his thoughts and with trying to recall the +words of the song running in his head that he heard nothing of a soft +footstep that for several minutes had been stealthily approaching the +fire-lit place where he sat. He knew nothing of the wild eyes that, +peering from a haggard face, were fixed upon him with the glare of +madness. He had no suspicion of the brown rifle-barrel that was slowly +raised until he was covered by its deadly aim. But now he had recalled +all the words of his song, and they rang out strong and clear:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Muss i denn, muss i denn<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Zum Städtele 'naus, Städtele 'naus:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Und du—"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>At that moment there came a great cry behind him: "<i>Ach, Himmel! Wer ist +denn das?</i>" and the startled lad sprang to his feet in terror.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII</h2> + +<h3>LAID UP FOR REPAIRS</h3> + + +<p>About the time when Alaric was pleasantly travelling with his mother in +Germany, Hans Altman, with Gretchen, his wife, and Eittel, his little +daughter, dwelt in a valley of the Harz Mountains. Although Hans was a +poor man, he found plenty of work with which to support his family in +comfort, but he could never forget that his father had been a +burgomeister, and much better off in this world's goods than he. +Thinking of this made him discontented and unhappy, until finally he +determined to sell what little they had and come to America, or, as he +called it, "the land of gold," with the hope of bettering his fortunes. +In vain did Gretchen protest that nowhere in the world could they be so +happy or so well off as in their own land and among their own people. +Even her tears failed to turn him from his purpose. So they came to this +country, and at length drifted to the far-away shores of Puget Sound, +where they stranded, wellnigh penniless, ignorant of the language and +customs of those about them, helpless and forlorn. With the distress of +mind caused by this state of affairs, Hans grew melancholy and +irritable, and when Eittel died he declared that he himself had killed +her. The faithful Gretchen soon followed her little daughter, and with +this terrible blow the poor man's mind gave way entirely. He not only +fancied himself a murderer, but believed officers of the law to be in +pursuit of him, and that if captured he would be hanged.</p> + +<p>Filled with this idea, he fled on the very night of his wife's death, +and having been born among mountains, now instinctively sought in them a +place of refuge. He carried an axe with him, and somewhere procured a +rifle with a plentiful supply of ammunition. Through the vast forest he +made his way far from the haunts of men, ever climbing higher and +penetrating more deeply among the friendly mountains, until finally he +reached a tiny valley, in which he believed himself safe from pursuit. +Here he built a rude hut, and became a hunter of mountain-goats. Their +flesh furnished him with food, their skins with bedding and clothing, +while from their horns he carved many a rude utensil.</p> + +<p>In this way he had lived for nearly two months, when our lost and sorely +perplexed lads stumbled upon his camp, and found in it a haven of +safety. In the peaceful quiet of those mountain solitudes the poor man +had become calmly content with his primitive mode of life, and was even +happy as he recalled how skilfully he had eluded a fancied pursuit, and +how impossible it had now become for those who sought his life to +discover his retreat.</p> + +<p>It was in this frame of mind that, on returning from a long day's hunt +with a body of a goat slung across his back, he saw, to his dismay, that +his hiding-place had been found, and that his camp was occupied by +strangers. Of course they were enemies who were now waiting to kill him. +He would fly so fast and so far that they could never follow. No; better +than that, he would kill them before they were even aware of his +presence. This was a grand idea, and the madman chuckled softly to +himself as it came to him. Laying his dead goat on the ground, and +whispering to it not to be afraid, for he would soon return, the man +crept stealthily forward towards the firelight. At length he spied the +form of what he believed to be one of his pursuers, sitting half hid in +the shadows and doubtless waiting for him. Ha! ha! How disappointed that +enemy would be when he found himself dead! and with a silent chuckle the +madman lifted his rifle.</p> + +<p>At that terrible moment the notes of Alaric's song were borne to him on +the still night air, and then came the words:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Muss i denn, muss i denn<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Und du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It was his Gretchen's song, and those were the very words she had sung +to him so often in their happy Harz Valley home. The uplifted arm +dropped as though palsied, and, like one who hears a voice from the +dead, the man uttered a mighty cry of mingled fear and longing; at the +same moment he stepped into the full glare of firelight and confronted +Alaric, at whom he poured a torrent of questions in German.</p> + +<p>"Who are you? How came you here? What do you want? Have you seen my +Gretchen? Where did you learn to sing '<i>Muss i denn</i>'?"</p> + +<p>"In Germany, of course, where everybody sings it," replied Alaric, +answering the last question first, and speaking in the man's own +language. "And I didn't think you would mind if we took possession of +your camp until your return; for, you see, we are in great trouble."</p> + +<p>"<i>Ach</i>, no! All who are in trouble should come with me; for I, too, have +many, many troubles," replied the man, his blue eyes losing their fierce +look and filling with tears. "But I never meant to do it. <i>Gott in +Himmel</i> knows I never meant to do it."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said Alaric, soothingly, anxious to quiet the man's +agitation, and suspecting that his mind was not quite right. "Nobody +thinks you did."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they do, the cruel men who would kill me; but you will stay and +drive them away if they come, will you not? You will be my friend—you, +to whom I can talk with the tongue of the fatherland?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I will stay and be your friend, if you will help me care for +another friend who lies yonder very ill."</p> + +<p>"<i>Ja! ja!</i> I will help you if you will stay and talk to me of Gretchen, +and sing to me '<i>Muss i denn</i>.'"</p> + +<p>"Very good," agreed Alaric. "It is, then, a contract between us." At the +same time he said to himself: "He is a mighty queer-looking chap to have +for a friend; but I suppose there are worse, and I guess I can manage +him. It's a lucky thing I know a little German, though, for he looked +fierce enough to kill me until I began to talk with him."</p> + +<p>The appearance of the man was certainly calculated to inspire +uneasiness, especially when taken in connection with his incoherent +words. He was an immense fellow, with shaggy hair and untrimmed beard. +On his head was perched a ridiculous little cloth cap, while over his +shoulders was flung a cloak of goat-skins, that added greatly to his +appearance of size and general shagginess. His lower limbs were covered +with leggings of the same hairy material. His ordinary expression was +the fierce look of a hunted animal, but now it was softened by the rare +pleasure of meeting one who could talk with him in his own language.</p> + +<p>From that first moment of strange introduction his eagerness to be with +Alaric and induce him to talk was pathetic. To him he poured out all his +sorrows, together with daily protests that he had never meant to kill +his Gretchen and little Eittel. For the sake of this companionship he +was willing to do anything that might add to the comfort of his guests. +He scoured forest and mountain-side in search of game, and rarely +returned empty-handed. He fetched amazing loads of wood on his back, +went on long expeditions after berries, set cunningly devised snares for +ptarmigan, and found ample recompense for all his labor in lying at full +length before the camp-fire at night and talking with Alaric. Bonny he +mistrusted as being one who could speak no German, and only bore with +him for the sake of his friend.</p> + +<p>Nor was he greatly liked by the lad, whose injuries compelled a long +acceptance of his hospitality. "I know he's good to us, and won't let +you do any work that he can help, and all that," Bonny would say; "but +somehow I can't trust him nor like him. He'll play us some mean trick +yet, see if he don't."</p> + +<p>"But he saved our lives; for if we hadn't found his camp we should +certainly have starved to death."</p> + +<p>"That's just it! We found his camp. He didn't find us, and never would +have. Anyhow, he's as crazy as a loon, and will bear a heap of +watching."</p> + +<p>For all this, Bonny did not allow his anxiety to interfere with a speedy +recovery from his injuries, and by the aid of youthful vigor, a splendid +constitution, complete rest, plenty of food, and the glorious mountain +air, his broken bones knit so rapidly that in one month's time he +declared himself to be mended and as good as new.</p> + +<p>Although Alaric insisted that he should carry his arm in a sling for a +while longer, they now began to plan eagerly for a continuance of their +journey down the mountain and a return to civilization. By this time +they were as heartily sick of goat-meat as they had ever been of fish in +Skookum John's camp, tired of the terrible loneliness of their +situation, and, more than all, tired of their enforced idleness, with +nothing to read and little to do. Alaric had beguiled many long hours +with his baseball, which he could now throw with astonishing precision +and catch with either hand in almost any position. As this ball, bought +in San Francisco, was the sole connecting-link between his present and +his former life, it always reminded him of his father, whom he now +longed to see, that he might relieve the anxiety he felt certain Amos +Todd must be suffering on his account.</p> + +<p>The boys often talked of M. Filbert, and wondered what had become of +him. At first Alaric made an earnest effort to induce Hans Altman to go +in search of the Frenchman's camp and notify him of their safety; but +the German became so excitedly angry at the mere mention of such a thing +that he was forced to relinquish the idea. He would gladly have +undertaken the trip himself, but could not leave Bonny.</p> + +<p>Their strange host became equally angry at any mention of their leaving +him, and refused to give any information concerning their present +locality or the nearest point at which other human beings might be +found. Nor did he ever evince the least curiosity as to where they had +come from. It was enough for him that they were there.</p> + +<p>When the time for them to depart drew so near that the boys could talk +of nothing else, Alaric made another effort to gain some information +from the German that would guide their movements, but in vain. He only +succeeded in arousing the man's suspicions to such an extent that he +grew morose, would not leave camp unless Alaric went with him, and +watched furtively every movement that the boys made. Bonny realized +this, and spoke of it to his comrade. "I believe this Dutchman regards +us as his prisoners, and has made up his mind not to allow us to escape +him," he said. But Alaric only laughed, and answered that he guessed +they would get away easy enough whenever they were ready to go.</p> + +<p>The two lads slept at one end of the hut with their host at the other, +and that very night something happened to confirm Bonny's worst fears +and fill him with such horror that he determined never again to sleep +within miles of that vicinity.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV</h2> + +<h3>CHASED BY A MADMAN</h3> + + +<p>Bonny's bed was nearest the side of the hut, while Alaric lay beyond him +towards its centre. Morning was breaking when the former awoke from a +troubled dream, so filled with a presentiment of impending evil that his +forehead was bathed in a cold perspiration. For the space of a minute he +lay motionless, striving to reassure himself that his terror was without +foundation. All at once he became conscious that some one was talking in +a low tone, and, glancing in that direction, saw the form of their host, +magnified by the dim light into gigantic proportions, bending over +Alaric. The man held an uplifted knife, and was muttering to himself in +German; but at Bonny's cry of horror he leaped to his feet and +disappeared through the doorway.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" asked Alaric, sleepily, only half awakened by +Bonny's cry. "Been having bad dreams?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and a worse reality," answered the other, huskily. "Oh, Rick! he +was going to kill you, and if I hadn't waked when I did we should both +have been dead by this time. He has made up his mind to murder us; I +know he has."</p> + +<p>A minute later Alaric had heard the whole story, and, as excited as +Bonny himself, was hurriedly slipping on his coat and boots. They knew +not which way to go, nor what to do, but both were eager to escape from +the hut into the open, where they might at least have a chance to run in +case of an attack.</p> + +<p>As they emerged from the doorway, casting apprehensive glances in every +direction, Alaric's baseball, that had been left in one of his +coat-pockets the evening before, slipped through a hole in the lining +and fell to the ground. Hardly conscious of what he was doing, the lad +stooped to pick it up. At that same instant came the sharp crack of a +rifle and the "ping" of a bullet that whistled just above his head.</p> + +<p>"He is shooting at us!" gasped Bonny. "Come, quick, before he can +reload."</p> + +<p>Without another word the lads dashed into the clump of trees sheltering +the camp, and down the slope on which it stood. They would have +preferred going the other way, but the rifle-shot had come from that +direction, and so they had no choice. Their movements being at first +concealed by the timber, there was no sign of pursuit until they gained +the open valley and started to cross it. Then came a wild yell from +behind, and they knew that their flight was discovered.</p> + +<p>Breathlessly they sped through the dewy meadow, sadly impeded by its +rank growth of grass and flowers, towards a narrow exit through the wall +bounding its lower end that Alaric had long ago discovered. Through this +a brawling stream made its way, and by means of its foaming channel the +boys hoped to effect an escape.</p> + +<p>As they gained the rocky portal Bonny glanced back and uttered a cry of +dismay, for their late host was in plain view, leaping down the slope +towards the meadow they had just crossed. He was then bent on overtaking +them, and the pursuit had begun in earnest.</p> + +<p>As there was no pathway besides that offered by the bed of the stream, +they were forced to plunge into its icy torrent and follow its +tumultuous course over slippery rocks, through occasional still pools +whose waters often reached to the waist, and down foaming cascades, with +a reckless disregard for life or limb. In this manner they descended +several hundred feet, and when from the bottom they looked up over the +way they had come they felt that they must surely have been upborne by +wings. But there was no time for contemplation, for at that moment a +plunging bowlder from above warned them that their pursuer was already +in the channel.</p> + +<p>Now they were in a forest, not of the giant trees they would find at a +lower altitude, but one of tall hemlocks and alpine-firs, growing with +such density that the panting fugitives could with difficulty force a +way between them. They stumbled over prostrate trunks, slipped on beds +of damp mosses, were clutched by woody fingers, from whose hold their +clothing was torn with many a grievous rent; and, with all their +efforts, made such slow progress that they momentarily expected to be +overtaken. Nor were their fears groundless, for they had not gone half a +mile ere a crashing behind them told that their pursuer was close at +hand. As they exchanged a despairing glance, Bonny said: "The only thing +we can do is hide, for I can't run any farther."</p> + +<p>"Where?" asked Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Here," replied Bonny, diving as he spoke into a bed of ferns. Alaric +followed, and as they flattened themselves to the ground, barely +concealed by the green tips nodding above their backs, the madman leaped +into the space they had just vacated, and stood so close to them that +they could have reached out and touched him. His cap had disappeared, +his hair streamed over his shoulders like a tawny mane; his clothing was +torn, a scratch had streaked his face with blood, and his deep-set eyes +shone with the wild light of insanity. He had flung away his rifle, but +his right hand clutched a knife, keen and long-bladed. The crouching +lads held their breath as he paused for an instant beside them. Then, +uttering a snarling cry, he dashed on, and with cautiously lifted heads +they watched him out of sight.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" ejaculated Bonny, "that was a close call. But I say, Rick, this +business of running away and being chased seems quite like old times, +don't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Alaric, with a shuddering sigh of mingled relief and +apprehension, "it certainly does, and this is the worst of all. But what +shall we do now?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know of anything else but to keep right on downhill after going +far enough to one side to give his course a wide berth. I'd like awfully +to have some breakfast, but I wouldn't go back to that camp for it if it +were the only place in the world. I'd about as soon starve as eat +another mouthful of goat, anyway. We are sure to come out somewhere, +though, if we only stick to a downward course long enough."</p> + +<p>So the boys bore to the right, and within a few minutes had the +satisfaction of noting certain gleamings through the trees that +betokened some kind of an opening. Guided by these, they soon came to a +ridge of bowlders and gravel, forming one of the lateral moraines of a +glacier that lay in glistening whiteness beyond.</p> + +<p>"We might as well follow along its edge," suggested Bonny; "for all +these glaciers seem to run downhill, and, bad as the walking is over mud +and rocks, we can make better time here than through the woods."</p> + +<p>They had not gone more than a mile in this fashion, and, believing that +they had successfully eluded their pursuer, were rapidly recovering from +their recent fright, when they were startled by a cry like that of a +wild beast close at hand. Glancing up, they were nearly paralyzed with +terror to see the madman grinning horribly with delight at having +discovered them, and about to rush down the steep slope to where they +stood.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus8" id="illus8"></a> +<img src="images/illus8.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"THEY WERE PARALYZED WITH TERROR TO SEE THE MADMAN GRINNING HORRIBLY"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>There was but an instant of hesitation, and then both lads sprang out on +the rugged surface of the glacier, and made a dash for its far-away +opposite side. It was a dangerous path, slippery, rough beyond +description, and beset with yawning crevasses; but they were willing to +risk all its perils for a slender chance of escaping the certain death +that was speeding towards the place they had just left. If they could +only gain the opposite timber, they might possibly hide as before. It +was a faint hope, but their only one.</p> + +<p>So they ran, slipped, stumbled, took flying leaps over the parted white +lips of narrow crevasses, and made détours to avoid such as were too +wide to be thus spanned. They had no time to look behind, nor any need. +The fierce cries of the madman warned them that he was in hot pursuit +and ever drawing nearer. At one place the ice rang hollow beneath their +feet, and they even fancied that it gave an ominous crack; but they +could not pause to speculate as to its condition. That it was behind +them was enough.</p> + +<p>Ere half the distance was passed they were drawing their breath with +panting sobs, and Bonny, not yet wholly recovered from his illness, +began to lag behind. Noting this, Alaric also slackened his speed; but +his comrade gasped:</p> + +<p>"No, Rick. Don't stop. Save yourself. I'm done for. You can't help me. +Good-bye."</p> + +<p>Thus saying, and too exhausted to run farther, the lad faced about to +meet their terrible pursuer, and struggle with him for a delay that +might aid the escape of his friend. To his amazement, there was no +pursuer, nor in all that white expanse was there a human being to be +seen save themselves.</p> + +<p>At his comrade's despairing words Alaric too had turned, with the +determination of sharing his fate; so they now stood side by side +breathing heavily, and gazing about them in wondering silence.</p> + +<p>"What has become of him?" asked Bonny at length, in an awed tone, but +little above a whisper.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Alaric. "He can't have gone back, for there +hasn't been time. He can't be in hiding, for there is no place in which +he could conceal himself, nor have we passed any crevasse that he could +not leap. But if he has slipped into one! Oh, Bonny! it is too awful to +think of."</p> + +<p>"I heard him only a few seconds ago," said Bonny, in the same awed tone, +"and his voice sounded so close that with each instant I expected to be +in his clutches."</p> + +<p>"Bonny!" exclaimed Alaric, "do you remember a place that sounded +hollow?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"We must go back to it, for I believe he has broken through. If it is in +our power to help him we must do it; if not, we must know what has +happened."</p> + +<p>They had to retrace their steps but a few yards before coming to a +fathomless opening with jagged sides and splintered edges, where the +thin ice that had afforded them a safe passage had given way beneath the +heavier weight of their pursuer. No sound save that of rushing waters +came from the cruel depths, nor was there any sign.</p> + +<p>The boys lingered irresolutely about the place for a few minutes, and +then fled from it as from an impending terror.</p> + +<p>For the remainder of that day, though no longer in dread of pursuit, +they made what speed they might down the mountain-side, following rough +river-beds, threading belts of mighty forest, climbing steep slopes, and +descending others into narrow valleys.</p> + +<p>The sun was near his setting, and our lads were so nigh exhausted that +they had seated themselves on a moss-covered log to rest, when they were +startled by a heavy rending crash that echoed through the listening +forest with a roar like distant thunder.</p> + +<p>The boys looked at each other, and then at what bits of sky they could +see through the far-away tree-tops. It was of unclouded blue, and the +sun was still shining.</p> + +<p>"Rick!" cried Bonny, starting to his feet, "I believe it was a falling +tree."</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"I mean one that was made to fall by axe and saw."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bonny!" was all that Alaric could reply; but in another instant he +was leading the way through tall ferns and along the stately forest +aisles in the direction from which had come the mighty crash.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV</h2> + +<h3>A GANG OF FRIENDLY LOGGERS</h3> + + +<p>A perfect day of early September was drawing to its close, and the gang +of loggers belonging to Camp No. 10 of the Northwest Lumber Company, +which operated in the vast timber belt clothing the northern flanks of +Mount Rainier, were about to knock off work. From earliest morning the +stately forest, sweet-scented with the odors of resin, freshly cut +cedar, and crushed ferns, had resounded with their shouts and laughter, +the ring of their axes, the steady swish of saws, and the crash of +falling trees. To one familiar only with Eastern logging, where summer +is a time of idleness, and everything depends on the snows of winter, +followed by the high waters of spring, the different methods of these +Northwestern woodsmen would be matters of constant surprise. Their work +goes on without a pause from year's end to year's end. There is no +hauling on sleds, no vast accumulations of logs on the ice of rivers or +lakes, no river driving, no mighty jams to be cleared at imminent risk +of life and limb—nothing that is customary in the East. Even the mode +of cutting down trees is different.</p> + +<p>The choppers—or "fallers," as they are called in the Northwest—do not +work, as do their brethren of Maine or Wisconsin, from the ground, +wielding their axes first on one side and then on the other until the +tree falls. The girth of the mighty firs and cedars of that country is +so great at ordinary chopping height that two men working in that way +would not bring down more than two trees in a day, instead of the ten or +a dozen required of them. So, by means of what are known as +"spring-boards," they gain a height of eight or ten feet, and then begin +operations.</p> + +<p>The ingenious contrivances that enable them to do this are narrow boards +of tough vine maple, five or six feet long, and about one foot wide. +Each is armed at its inner end with a sharp steel spur affixed to its +upper side. This end being thrust into a notch opened in the tree some +four feet below where the cut is to be made, the weight of a man on its +outer end causes the spur to bite deep into the wood, and to hold the +board firmly in place.</p> + +<p>Having determined the direction in which the tree shall fall, and fixed +their spring-boards accordingly, two "fallers" mount them, and chop out +a deep under cut on the side that is to lie undermost. They work with +double-bitted or two-edged axes, and can so truly guide the fall by +means of the under cut that they are willing to set a stake one hundred +feet away and guarantee that the descending trunk shall drive it into +the ground. With the under cut chopped out to their satisfaction, they +remove their spring-boards to the opposite side, and finish the task +with a long, two-handled, coarse-toothed saw.</p> + +<p>As the mighty tree yields up its life and comes to the ground with a +grand, far-echoing crash, it is set upon by "buckers" (who saw its great +trunk into thirty-foot lengths), barkers, rigging-slingers, +hand-skidders, and teamsters, whose splendid horses, aided by tackle of +iron blocks and length of wire-rope, drag it out to the "skid-road." +This is a cleared and rudely graded track, set with heavy cross-ties, +over which the logs may slide, and it is provided with wire cables, +whose half-mile lengths are operated by stationary engines. By this +means "turns" of five or six of the huge logs, chained one behind the +other, are hauled down the winding skid-road through gulch and valley, +to a distant railway landing. There they are loaded on a long train of +heavy flat cars that departs every night for the mills on Puget Sound. +Here the sawed lumber is run aboard waiting ships, and sent in them to +all ports on both shores of the Pacific.</p> + +<p>So wastefully extravagant are the lumbermen of Washington that only the +finest trees are cut, and only that portion of the trunk which is free +from limbs is made into logs. All the remainder, or nearly half of each +tree, is left on the ground where it fell. Here it slowly decays, or, +turned into tinder, catches fire from some chance spark and leaps into a +sea of flame that sweeps resistlessly through the forest, destroying in +one day more timber than has been cut in a year.</p> + +<p>Thus, while thoughtless and ignorant persons declare the timber supply +of the Northwest to be inexhaustible, others, who have carefully studied +the subject, do not hesitate to say that within fifty years, at the +present rate of reckless destruction, the magnificent forests of +Washington will have disappeared forever.</p> + +<p>Such questions were far from troubling the light-hearted gang of loggers +whom we have just discovered in the act of quitting work for the day. If +any one of them were to be asked how long he thought the noble forests +from which he earned a livelihood would last, he would answer:</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know and don't care. They will last as long as I do, and +that's long enough for me."</p> + +<p>They were laughing and joking, lighting their pipes, picking up tools, +and beginning to straggle towards the road that led to camp, when +suddenly big Buck Ranlet, the head "faller," who was keener of hearing +than any of his mates, called out:</p> + +<p>"Hush up, fellows, and listen! I thought I heard a yell off there in the +timber."</p> + +<p>In the silence that followed they all heard a cry, faint and distant, +but so filled with distress that there was no mistaking its import.</p> + +<p>"There's surely somebody in trouble!" cried Ranlet. "Lost like as not. +Anyway, they are calling to us for help, and we can't go back on 'em. So +come on, men. You teamsters stay here with your horses, and give us a +yell every now and then, so we can come straight back; for even we don't +want to fool round much in these woods after dark. Hello, you out there! +Locate yourselves!"</p> + +<p>"Hello! Help!" came back faintly but clearly.</p> + +<p>"All right! We're coming! Cheer up!"</p> + +<p>So the calling and answering was continued for nearly ten minutes, while +the rescuing party, full of curiosity and good-will, plunged through the +gathering gloom, over logs and rocks, through beds of tall ferns and +banks of moss, in which they sank above their ankles, until they came at +length to those whom they were seeking—two lads, one standing and +calling to them, the other lying silent and motionless, where he had +fallen in a dead faint from utter exhaustion.</p> + +<p>"You see," explained Alaric, apologetically, half sobbing with joy at +finding himself once more surrounded by friendly faces, "he has been +very ill, and we've had a hard day, with nothing to eat. So he gave out. +I should have too, but just then I heard the sound of chopping, and knew +the light was shining, and—and—" Here the poor tired lad broke down, +sobbing hysterically, and trying to laugh at the same time.</p> + +<p>"There! there, son!" exclaimed Buck Ranlet, soothingly, but with a +suspicious huskiness in his voice. "Brace up, and forget your troubles +as quick as you can; for they're all over now, and you sha'n't go hungry +much longer. But where did you say you came from?"</p> + +<p>"The top of the mountain."</p> + +<p>"Not down the north side?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Great Scott! you are the first ever did it, then. How long have you +been on the way?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know exactly, but something over a month."</p> + +<p>"The poor chap's mind is wandering," said the big man to one of his +companions; "for no one ever came down the north side alive, and no one +could spend a whole month doing it, anyway. I've often heard, though, +that folks went crazy when they got lost in the woods."</p> + +<p>The men took turns, two at a time, in carrying Bonny, and Buck Ranlet +himself assisted Alaric, until, guided by the shouts of the teamsters, +they reached the point from which they had started.</p> + +<p>By this time Bonny had regained consciousness, and was wondering, in a +dazed fashion, what had happened. "Is it all right, Rick?" he asked, as +his comrade bent anxiously over him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, old man, it's all right; and the light I told you of is shining +bright and clear at last."</p> + +<p>"Queer, isn't it, how the poor lad's mind wanders?" remarked Ranlet to +one of the men. "He thinks he sees a bright light, while I'll swear no +one has so much as struck a match. We must hustle, now, and get 'em to +camp. Do you think you feel strong enough to set straddle of a horse, +son?" he asked of Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," answered the boy, cheerfully. "I feel strong enough for +anything now."</p> + +<p>"Good for you! That's the talk! Give us a foot and let me h'ist you up. +Why, lad, you're mighty nigh barefooted! No wonder you didn't find the +walking good. Here, Dick, you lead the horse, while I ride Sal-lal and +carry the little chap."</p> + +<p>Thus saying, the big man vaulted to the back of the other horse, and, +reaching down, lifted Bonny up in front of him as though he had been a +child.</p> + +<p>Camp was a mile or more away, and as the brawny loggers escorted their +unexpected guests to it down the winding skid-road, they eagerly +discussed the strange event that had so suddenly broken the monotony of +their lives, though, with a kind consideration, they refrained from +asking Alaric any more questions just then.</p> + +<p>"Hurry on, some of you fellows," shouted Ranlet, "and light up my shack, +for these chaps are going to bunk in with me to-night. I claim 'em on +account of being the first to hear 'em, you know. Start a fire in the +square, too, so's the place will look cheerful."</p> + +<p>No one will ever know how cheerful and home-like and altogether +delightful that logging camp did look to our poor lads after their long +and terrible experience of the wilderness, for they could never +afterwards find words to express what they felt on coming out of the +darkness into its glowing firelight and hearty welcome.</p> + +<p>"Stand back, men, and give us a show!" shouted Ranlet, as they drew up +before his own little "shack," built of split cedar boards. "This isn't +any funeral; same time it ain't no circus parade, and we want to get in +out of the cold."</p> + +<p>The entire population of the camp, including the cook and his +assistants, the blacksmith with his helper, and the stable-boys, as well +as the logging gang, were gathered, full of curiosity to witness the +strange arrival. Besides these there were Linton, the boss, with his +wife, who was the only woman in that section of country. Her pity was +instantly aroused for Bonny, and when he had been tenderly placed in +Buck Ranlet's own bunk, she insisted on being allowed to feed and care +for him. She would gladly have done the same for Alaric, but he +protested that he was perfectly well able to feed himself, and was only +longing for the chance.</p> + +<p>"Of course you are, lad!" cried the big "faller," heartily, "and you +sha'n't go hungry a minute longer. So just you come on with me and the +rest of the gang over to Delmonico's."</p> + +<p>The place thus designated was a low but spacious building of logs, +containing the camp kitchen and mess-room. Ranlet sat at the head of the +long table, built of hewn cedar slabs, and laden with smoking dishes. +Alaric was given the place of honor at his right hand, and the rest of +the rough, hearty crowd ranged themselves on rude benches at either +side.</p> + +<p>The plates and bowls were of tin; the knives, forks, and spoons were +iron; but how luxurious it all seemed to the guest of the occasion! How +wonderfully good everything tasted, and how the big man beside him +heaped his plate with pork and beans, potatoes swimming in gravy, boiled +cabbage, fresh bread cut in slices two inches thick, and actually butter +to spread on it! After these came a huge pan of crullers and dozens of +dried-apple pies.</p> + +<p>How anxiously the men watched him eat, how often they pushed the tin can +of brown sugar towards him to make sure that his bowl of milkless tea +should be sufficiently sweetened, and how pleased they were when he +passed his plate for a second helping of pie!</p> + +<p>"You'll do, lad; you'll do!" shouted Buck Ranlet, delighted at this +evidence that the camp cookery was appreciated. "You've been brought up +right, and taught to know a good thing when you see it. I can tell by +the way you eat."</p> + +<p>After supper Alaric was conducted to a blanket-covered bench near the +big fire outside, and allowed to relate the outline of his story to an +audience that listened with intense interest, and then he was put to bed +beside Bonny, who was already fast asleep. When Buck Ranlet picked up +his guest's coat, that had fallen to the floor, and a baseball rolled +from one of its pockets, the big logger exclaimed, softly:</p> + +<p>"Bless the lad! He's a genuine out-and-out boy, after all! To think of +his travelling through the mountains with no outfit but a baseball! If +that isn't boy all over, then I don't know!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI</h2> + +<h3>IN A NORTHWEST LOGGING CAMP</h3> + + +<p>The next day being Sunday, the camp lay abed so late that when Alaric +awoke from his long night of dreamless sleep the sun was more than an +hour high, and streaming full into the open doorway of Buck Ranlet's +shack. For nearly a minute the boy lay motionless, striving to recall +what had happened and where he was. Then, as it all came to him, and he +realized that he had escaped from the mountain, with its terrors, its +cold, and its hunger, and had reached a place of safety, good-will, and +plenty, he heaved a deep sigh of content. His sigh was echoed by another +close beside him, and then Bonny's voice said:</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad you are awake, Rick, for I want you to tell me all about +it. I've been trying to puzzle it out for myself, but can't be really +sure whether I know anything about last night or only dreamed it all. +Didn't somebody get us something to eat?"</p> + +<p>"I should say they did!" rejoined Alaric. "And not only something to +eat, but one of the finest suppers I ever sat down to. Don't you +remember the baked beans, and the apple-pie, and—Oh no, I forgot; you +weren't there; and, by-the-way, how do you feel this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Fine as a fiddle," replied Bonny, briskly; "and all ready for those +baked beans and pie; for somehow I don't seem to remember having +anything so good as those."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you did," laughed Alaric, springing from the bunk as he +spoke; "for I'm afraid they only gave you gruel and soup, or tea and +toast."</p> + +<p>"Then no wonder I'm hungry," said Bonny, indignantly, as he too began to +dress, "and no wonder I want beans and things. But, I say, Rick, what a +tough-looking specimen you are, anyway!"</p> + +<p>"I hope I'm not so tough-looking as you," retorted the other, "for you'd +scare a scarecrow."</p> + +<p>Then the two boys scanned each other's appearance with dismay. How could +they ever venture outside and among people in the tattered, soiled, and +fluttering garments which were their sole possessions in the way of +clothing? Even their boots had worn away, until there was little left of +them but the uppers. Their hats had been lost during their flight +through the forest, their hair was long and unkempt, while their coats +and trousers were so rent and torn that the wonder was how they ever +held together. As they realized how utterly disreputable they did look, +both boys began to laugh; for they were too light-hearted that morning +to remain long cast down over trifles like personal appearance. At this +sound of merriment Buck Ranlet's good-humored face, covered with lather, +appeared in the doorway, and at sight of the ragged lads he too joined +in their laughter.</p> + +<p>"You are tramps, that's a fact!" he cried. "Toughest kind, too; such as +I'd never dared take in if I'd seen you by a good light. Never mind, +though," he added, consolingly; "looks are mighty easy altered, and +after breakfast we'll fix you up in such style that you won't recognize +yourselves."</p> + +<p>Bonny had baked beans and pie that morning as well as Alaric, for the +fare at that logger's mess-table, bountiful as it was, never varied. +After breakfast the boys found their first chance to take a good look +at the camp, which consisted of nearly twenty buildings, set in the form +of a square beside the skid-road, in a clearing filled with tall stumps +of giant firs and mammoth cedars. The two largest buildings were the +combined mess-hall and kitchen and the sleeping-quarters, containing +tiers of bunks, one for each man employed. Then came the store, which +held a small stock of clothing, boots, tobacco, pipes, knives, and other +miscellaneous articles. Close beside it stood Mr. Linton's house, built +of squared logs. In its windows both curtains and a few potted plants +showed that here dwelt the only woman of the camp. The blacksmith-shop, +engine-house, close beside the skid-road, and the stables beyond +completed the list of the company's buildings. All the others were +little single-room shacks, built in leisure moments by such of the men +as preferred having something in the shape of a house to sleeping in the +public dormitory.</p> + +<p>These tiny dwellings were constructed of sweet-smelling cedar boards, +split from splendid great logs, absolutely straight-grained and free +from knots. Walls, roof, floor, and rude furniture were all made of the +same beautiful wood. Some of the shacks had stone chimneys roughly +plastered with clay, others boasted small porches, and one or two had +both. Buck Ranlet's had the largest porch of any, with the added +adornment of climbing vines. This porch also contained seats, and was +considered very elegant; but every one knew that the head "faller" was +engaged to be married to a girl "back East," and said that was the +reason he had built so fine a house. Having little else to amuse them, +the men who put up these shacks labored over them with as much pleasure +as so many boys with their cubby-houses.</p> + +<p>Many of the men were anxious to hear a more detailed account of our +lads' recent adventures, but Buck Ranlet said:</p> + +<p>"Call round this afternoon. We've got something else on hand just now."</p> + +<p>When they returned to his picturesque little dwelling the big man led +the way inside, closed the door, and said:</p> + +<p>"Now, lads, sit down, and let's talk business. What do you propose to do +next?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think we know," responded Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Do you want to go to Tacoma or Seattle?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know why we should. We haven't any friends in either place, nor +any money to live on while we look for work."</p> + +<p>"None at all?"</p> + +<p>"Not one cent. There's a month's wages due us from the Frenchman who +hired us to go up the mountain, but I suppose he has left this part of +the country long ago."</p> + +<p>"I suppose he has; and you certainly are playing to such hard luck that +I don't see as you can do any better than stay right here. If you are +willing to work at whatever offers, I shouldn't wonder if the boss could +find something for you to do. At any rate, he might give you a chance to +earn a suit of clothes, and feed you while you were doing it."</p> + +<p>"I think we'd be only too glad to stay here and work," replied +Alaric—"wouldn't we, Bonny?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think we would, only I hope we can earn some money. I've worked +without wages so long now that it is growing very monotonous."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll tell you what," said Ranlet: "You two stay right here while +I go over and see the boss."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the big man returned with beaming face, and +announced that Mr. Linton had consented to take them both on trial, and +had promised to find something for them to do in the morning. Moreover, +they were to go down to the store at once, pick out the things they +needed, and have them charged to their account.</p> + +<p>All this Buck Ranlet told them; but he did not add that he had been +obliged to pledge his own wages for whatever bill they should run up at +the store, in case they should fail to work it out. The big-hearted +"faller" was willing to do this, for he had taken a great fancy to the +lads, and especially to Alaric. "That chap may be poor," he said, "and I +reckon he is; but he's honest—so are they both, for that matter; and +when a boy is honest, he can't help showing it in his face." These +preliminaries being happily settled, he said, "Now let's get right down +to business; and the first thing to be done is to let me cut your hair +before you buy any hats."</p> + +<p>The boys agreeing that this was necessary, the operation was performed +with neatness and despatch; for the big "faller" was equally expert at +cutting hair or trees.</p> + +<p>Then they went to the store, where Alaric and Bonny selected complete +outfits of coarse but serviceable clothing, including hats and boots, to +the amount of fifteen dollars each.</p> + +<p>"Now for a scrub," suggested Ranlet; "and I reckon I need one as much as +you do." With this he led his <i>protégés</i> to a quiet pool in the creek +just back of camp.</p> + +<p>When at noon the boys presented themselves at the mess-room door, so +magical was the transformation effected by shears, soap and water, and +their new clothing, that not a man in the place recognized them, and +they had to be reintroduced to the whole jovial crowd, greatly to Buck +Ranlet's delight. By a very natural mistake he introduced Alaric, whom +he had only heard called "Rick," as Mr. Richard Dale, and the boy did +not find an opportunity for correcting the error just then.</p> + +<p>Later in the day, however, when most of the camp population were +gathered in front of Ranlet's shack listening with great interest to the +lads' account of their recent experiences, one of them addressed him as +"Richard," whereupon he explained that his name was not Richard, but +Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Alaric?" quoth Buck Ranlet; "that's a queer name, and one I never heard +before. It's a strong-sounding name too, and one that just fits such a +hearty, active young fellow as you. I should pick out an Alaric every +time for the kind of a chap to come tumbling down a mountain-side where +no one had ever been before. But where did your folks find the name, +son?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you," replied Alaric, flushing with pleasure at hearing that +said of him for which he had secretly longed ever since he could +remember; "but first I want to say that it was Bonny Brooks who showed +me how to come down the mountain, and but for him I should certainly +have perished up there in the snow."</p> + +<p>"Hold on!" cried Bonny. "Gentlemen, I assure you that but for Rick Dale +I should have had the perishing contract all in my own hands."</p> + +<p>"I expect you are a well-mated team," laughed Ranlet, "and I am willing +to admit that for whatever comes tumbling down a mountain there couldn't +be a better name than Bonny Brooks. But now let's have the yarn."</p> + +<p>So Alaric told them all he could remember of the mighty Visigoth who +invaded Italy at the head of his barbarian host, became master of the +world by conquering Rome when the Eternal City was at the height of its +magnificence, and whose tomb was built in the bed of a river +temporarily turned aside for the purpose.</p> + +<p>The rough audience grouped about him listened to the tale of a long-ago +hero with flattering interest, and when it was ended declared it to be a +rattling good yarn, at the same time begging for more of the same kind. +Alaric's head was crammed with such stories, for he had always delighted +in them, and now he was only too glad of an opportunity to repay in some +measure the kindly hospitality of the camp. So for an hour or more he +related legends of Old World history, and still older mythology, all of +which were as new to his hearers as though now told for the first time. +Finally he paused, covered with confusion at finding Mr. and Mrs. Linton +standing among his auditors, and waiting for a chance to invite him and +Bonny to tea.</p> + +<p>From that time forth Alaric's position as storyteller was established, +and there was rarely an evening during his stay in the camp, where books +were almost unknown, that he was not called upon to entertain an +interested group gathered about its after-supper open-air fire.</p> + +<p>Mr. Linton questioned the boys closely as to their capacity for work +while they were at tea with him, and finally said: "I think I can find +places for both of you, if you are willing to work for one dollar a day. +You, Brooks, I shall let 'tend store and help me with my accounts until +your arm gets stronger, while I think I shall place your friend in +charge of one of the hump-durgins."</p> + +<p>"What is that, sir?" asked Alaric.</p> + +<p>"What's what?"</p> + +<p>"A hump-durgin."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Don't you know? Well, you'll find out to-morrow."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII</h2> + +<h3>WHAT IS A HUMP-DURGIN?</h3> + + +<p>When the boys returned to Buck Ranlet's shack, which he had insisted +they should share with him until they could build one of their own, the +first question Alaric asked was in regard to his new employment.</p> + +<p>"What is a hump-durgin?"</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho! With all your learning, don't you know what a hump-durgin is? +Well, I am surprised, for it's one of the commonest things. Still, if +you don't really know, I'll tell you. A genuine hump-durgin is a sort of +a cross betwixt a boat and a mule."</p> + +<p>"A boat and a mule?" repeated Alaric, more perplexed than ever.</p> + +<p>"That's what I said. You see, it is something like a boat. I might say a +steamboat, or perhaps a canal-boat would be more like it, and it is +always sailing back and forth. It often rolls and pitches like it was in +a heavy sea; but at the same time it lives on dry land and never goes +near the water. It also rears and bucks, and jumps from side to side, +and tries its best to throw its rider, same as a mule does, and it +wouldn't look unlike one if it only had legs, and a tail, and ears, and +hair, and a bray."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" interposed Bonny, who had been an interested listener to this +vague description of a hump-durgin. "A log of wood might look like a +mule if it had all those things."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, son! A log of wood might look like a mule, and then +again it mightn't. Same time I've often thought that some hump-durgins +wasn't much better than logs of wood, after all. Anyway, now that I've +described the critter so that you know all about him, you can see why +the boss has decided to put our young friend here in charge of one."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I can't," said Alaric, more puzzled than ever.</p> + +<p>"Because of your experience with both mules and boats," laughed the big +"faller" teasingly, and that was all the satisfaction the boys could get +from him that night.</p> + +<p>The next morning, bright and early, the occupants of the camp scattered +to their respective duties: the loggers trudging up the skid-road and +deep into the forest, there to resume their work of converting trees +into logs; the loading-gang going in the opposite direction, to the +distant railway landing, where they would spend the day loading logs on +to flat cars; the engineers with their firemen to their respective +engines; the road-gang up to the head of a side gulch where they were +constructing a branch skid-road; the blacksmiths to their ringing +anvils; Bonny to the store, where he was to take an account of stock; +and Alaric, in company with the man whose place he was to fill, after +receiving from him half a day's instruction in his new duties, to make +the acquaintance of his hump-durgin. They went a short distance down the +skid-road to where one of the relay engines was winding in a half-mile +length of wire cable over a big steel drum. This cable stretched its +shining length up the gulch and out of sight around a bend. Near the +engine-house, and at one edge of the skid-road, was a little siding, or +dock, protected by a heavy sheer-skid. In it lay what looked like a log +canoe, sharp pointed at both ends, and having a flat bottom.</p> + +<p>"There," said Alaric's guide, "is your hump-durgin."</p> + +<p>"That thing!" exclaimed the lad, gazing at the canoe-like object +curiously. "But I thought a hump-durgin went by steam?"</p> + +<p>"So it does," laughed the man, "when it goes at all. Just wait a minute, +and you'll see."</p> + +<p>Almost as he spoke there came a sound of bumping and sliding from up the +skid-road, and directly afterwards the end of an enormous log came into +sight around the bend, drawn by the cable the engine was winding in. As +this log rounded the bend and came directly towards them, another was +seen to be chained to it, then another, and another, until the "turn" +was seen to contain five of the woody monsters. Attached to the rear end +of the last log came another hump-durgin, in which a man was seated, and +to the after end of which was fastened a second wire cable that +stretched away for half a mile to the next engine above.</p> + +<p>Every log was made fast to the one ahead of it by two short chains, each +of which was armed at either end with a heavy steel spur having a sharp +point and a flat head. These are called "dogs," and, driven deep into +the logs, bind them together. The hump-durgin was also attached to the +rear log by a chain and "dog," and one of the principal duties of a +hump-durgin man is to see that none of these dogs pulls out.</p> + +<p>As the "turn" of logs stopped just above the station, the man who had +come with them knocked out his hump-durgin dog, while the man with +Alaric disconnected the cable that had drawn the logs down to that +point, and hooked on the upper end of another that stretched away out +of sight down the road. Then he waved to the engineer, who telephoned to +the next station down the line, and at the same time to the one above. +In another minute the hump-durgin that had just arrived was being pulled +back by its cable over the way it had come, and the "turn" of logs was +drawn forward by the new cable just attached to them. When the rear end +of the last log was passing Alaric's hump-durgin, the man with him +hammered its "dog" into the wood, the chain straightened with a jerk, +and the novel craft was under way. As it started, both the man and +Alaric jumped in, and away they went, bumping and sliding down the +skid-road, slewing around corners that were protected by sheer-skids, +and dragging behind them a half-mile length of cable attached to the +after end of their craft.</p> + +<p>In this way they were dragged half a mile down the gulch to a second +engine station, where a new relay of cable with a third hump-durgin +awaited the logs, and from which their own craft, laden with the chains +and dogs just brought up from below, was dragged back uphill to the +station from which they had started.</p> + +<p>Every now and then on their downward trip the man jumped from the +hump-durgin, and, maul in hand, ran along the whole length of the +"turn," giving a tap here and there to the "dogs" to make sure that none +of them was working loose. As the cables were only speeded to about four +miles an hour, he could readily do this; but after he had thus examined +one side he had to wait until the whole turn passed him, and then run +ahead to examine the other. Alaric asked why he did not run on the logs +themselves, and, by thus examining both sides at the same time, save +half his work.</p> + +<p>"Because I ain't that kind of a fool," replied the man. "There is them +as does it; but a chap has to be surer-footed and spryer than I be to +ride the logs, 'specially when they're slewing round corners. I reckon, +though, from all I hear of you, that you'll be jest one of the kind to +try it on; and all I can say is, I hope you'll be let off light when it +comes your time to be flung. Some gets killed, and others only comes +nigh it."</p> + +<p>The hump-durgin man at the lower relay station followed the first "turn" +of logs to the railway landing, and then went back to the extreme upper +end of the skid-road. With the second "turn" Alaric and his instructor +did the same thing. The next man above him followed the third "turn" to +its destination, while the man farthest up of all travelled the whole +length of the road with the fourth "turn," covering its two miles in +four different hump-durgins; and at length Alaric had a chance to do the +same thing. Thus each hump-durgin driver became familiar with every +section of the road, and made six round trips a day.</p> + +<p>At noon of that first day Alaric's instructor in the art of navigating a +hump-durgin bade him "so long," and left him in sole command of the +clumsy craft. The man had no sooner gone than his pupil began practising +the science of log-riding, and before night he had triumphantly ridden +the whole length of the road mounted on the backs of his unwieldy +charges. To be sure, he sat down most of the way, and was thrown twice +when attempting to walk the length of the "turn" while it was slewing +around corners. Fortunately he escaped each time with nothing more +serious than a few bruises, and that night he drove a number of hobnails +into the soles of his boots. These afforded him so good a hold on the +rough bark that he was never again flung, and within a week had become +so expert a log-rider that he could keep his feet over the worst "slews" +on the road.</p> + +<p>The hump-durgins brought up many things from the railway landing besides +chains and "dogs," for they were the sole conveyances by which supplies +of any kind could reach the camp. It often happened that they carried +passengers as well, and in this respect running a hump-durgin was, as +Alaric said, very much like driving a stage-coach—a thing that he had +always longed to do.</p> + +<p>Bonny was so envious of his comrade's job that on that very first day he +made application for the next hump-durgin vacancy, and two weeks later +was filled with delight at receiving the coveted appointment.</p> + +<p>By the time that both our lads became hump-durgin boys they were living +in their own shack, which stood just beyond Buck Ranlet's, and which +nearly every man in camp had helped them to build. So proud were they of +this tiny dwelling that they nearly doubled their bill at the store in +procuring bedding and other furnishings for it.</p> + +<p>Although thus amply provided with rude comforts, or, as Bonny expressed +it, "surrounded with all the luxuries of life," Alaric fully realized +that it would soon be time to exchange this mode of living for another. +He knew that he owed a duty to his father, as well as to the station of +life into which he had been born; and, having proved to his own +satisfaction that he was equally strong with other boys, and as well +able to fight his way through the world, he was more than willing to +return to his own home. Now that he felt competent to hold his own, +physically as well as mentally, with others of his age, he was filled +with a desire to go to college. On talking the matter over with Bonny he +found that the latter cherished similar aspirations, the only difference +being that the young sailor's longing was for a mechanical rather than +a classical education. "Though, of course," said Bonny, with a sigh, "I +shall always have to take it out in wishing, for I shall never have +money enough to carry me through a school of any kind, or at least not +until I am too old to go."</p> + +<p>At this Alaric only smiled, and bade his comrade keep on hoping, for +there was no telling when something might turn up. As he said this he +made up his mind that if ever he went to college Bonny should at the +same time go to one of the best scientific schools of the country.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII</h2> + +<h3>ALARIC AND BONNY AGAIN TAKE TO FLIGHT</h3> + + +<p>For a full month had our hump-durgin boys occupied the little +cedar-built shack, which now seemed to them so much a home that it was +difficult to realize they had ever known any other. By this time, too, +they were exercising a very decided influence upon the character of the +camp into whose life they had been so unexpectedly thrown. Light-hearted +Bonny, with his cheery face and abounding good-nature, was as full of +amusing pranks as a young colt, and from every group that he joined +shouts of merriment were certain to arise within a few minutes. Thus +Bonny was very popular and always in demand. Nor was Alaric less so, for +he could tell so much concerning strange foreign countries and relate so +many curious Old World tales, that there was rarely an evening that he +was not called upon for something of the kind. He so often said that +most of his stories could be found in certain books, related a thousand +times better than he could tell them, that in the breasts of many of his +hearers he aroused a real longing for books, and a wider knowledge than +they could ever acquire without them.</p> + +<p>At the same time Alaric was not only appreciated for what he knew, but +for what he could do. No one in camp could ride a "turn" of logs, +swaying, bumping, and sliding down the skid-road, with such perfect +confidence and easy grace as he. Only one of them all could outrun him, +and none could catch or throw a baseball with the certainty and +precision that he exhibited, although ever since Buck Ranlet discovered +the ball in his young guest's coat-pocket the camp had practised with it +during all odd moments of daylight.</p> + +<p>So our lads made friends with and knew the personal history of every +occupant of the camp save one, and he was its boss. Since the night on +which they had taken tea in his house Mr. Linton had hardly spoken to +either of them; nor did he ever join with the men in their evening +gatherings to listen to Bonny's jokes or Alaric's tales. At first they +noticed this, and wondered what reason he had for avoiding them; but +they soon learned that it was only his way, and that he never talked +with any of the men except on matters of business. Buck Ranlet said it +was because he was a deputy United States marshal, and didn't know when +he might be called on to arrest any one of them for some offence against +the government.</p> + +<p>With all their present popularity the boys were growing weary of the +monotonous life they were leading, of their good-natured but rough and +narrow-minded associates, and of the deadly sameness of the food served +three times a day in the dingy mess-room. They also dreaded the +approaching winter, with its days and weeks of rain, during which the +work of getting out logs for the insatiable mills down on the Sound must +keep on without a moment of interruption. They listened with dismay to +tales of loggers who had not known the feeling of dry clothing for weeks +at a time; of "turns" of logs rushing down skid-roads slippery with wet, +like roaring avalanches of timber, threatening destruction to everything +in their course; and of long, dreary winter evenings when the steady +downpour forbade camp-fires and prevented all social out-of-door +gatherings.</p> + +<p>In view of these things, Alaric was determined that the end of another +month, or such time as his wages should be paid, should see him on his +way to San Francisco and home. He did not anticipate any difficulty in +persuading Bonny to go with him, for that young man had already remarked +that while hump-durgin riding was fun up to a certain point, he should +hate to do it for the remainder of his life. Oh yes, Bonny would go, of +course; and Alaric's only fear was that his father might not take a +fancy to the lad, or hold the same views regarding his future that he +did. Still, that was a matter which would arrange itself somehow, if +they could only reach San Francisco, and the "poor rich boy" now began +to long as eagerly for the time to come when he might return to his home +as he once had for an opportunity to leave it.</p> + +<p>One day, when matters stood thus, a stranger, past middle age, shabbily +dressed, and wearing a peculiarly dilapidated hat, appeared at the +railway log-landing, and asked Bonny, whose hump-durgin happened to be +there at the time, permission to ride with him to the end of the +skid-road. With a sympathetic glance at the man's forlorn appearance, +Bonny answered:</p> + +<p>"Certainly, sir; you may ride with me all day if you like, and I shall +be glad of your company."</p> + +<p>Thanking the lad, the stranger seated himself in the hump-durgin; and +after he had been warned to hold on tight and watch out for "slews," the +upward journey was begun. At one of the upper relay stations they waited +for a descending "turn" of logs to pass them. Here the stranger visited +the engine-house, and while he was talking with the engineer they came +in sight. Alaric, who happened to be in charge, was at that moment +walking easily forward along the backs of the swaying logs, presenting +as fine a specimen of youthful agility, strength, and perfect health as +one could wish to encounter. He was clad in jean trousers tucked into +boot-legs and belted about his waist; a blue flannel shirt, with a black +silk kerchief knotted at the throat, and a black slouch hat.</p> + +<p>"Isn't that extremely dangerous?" asked the stranger, regarding the +approaching lad with a curious interest.</p> + +<p>"Not for him it isn't, though it might be for some; but Dick Dale is so +level-headed and sure-footed that there isn't his equal for riding logs +in this outfit, nor, I don't believe, in any other," answered the +engineer.</p> + +<p>"What did you say his name was?" asked the stranger, with his gaze still +fixed on Alaric.</p> + +<p>"Dale—Richard Dale," replied the engineer, who had never happened to +hear the boy's real name. "Why? Do you think you know him?"</p> + +<p>"No. I don't know any one of that name; but the lad's resemblance to +another whom I used to know is certainly very striking."</p> + +<p>"Yes. It's funny how often people look alike who have never been within +a thousand miles of each other," remarked the engineer, carelessly, as +he stepped to the signal-box. In another minute Alaric had passed out of +sight, while Bonny and the stranger had resumed their upward journey.</p> + +<p>That evening Alaric remarked to his chum, "I noticed you had a passenger +to-day."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Bonny. "Seedy-looking chap, wasn't he; but one of the +nicest old fellows I ever met. Never saw any one take such an interest +in everything. I suspected what he was after, though, and finally we got +so friendly that I asked him right out if he wasn't looking for work."</p> + +<p>"Was he?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He hesitated at first, and looked at me to see if I was joking, +and then owned up that he was hunting for something to do. I felt mighty +sorry for him, 'cause I know how it is myself; but I had to tell him +there wasn't a living show in this camp just now. He seemed mightily +taken with our shack here, and said he once had a house just like it, in +which he passed the happiest time of his life, but he was afraid he'd +never have another. I invited him to stay with us a few days if he +wanted to—just while he was looking for a job, you know—but he said he +guessed he'd better go on to some other camp. You'd been willing, +wouldn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied Alaric. "I've already been in hard luck enough to +be mighty glad of a chance to help any other fellow who's in the same +fix, especially an old man; for they don't have half the show that young +fellows do."</p> + +<p>"I told him you'd feel that way," exclaimed Bonny, triumphantly; "and he +said if there were more like us in the world it would be a happier place +to live in, but that he guessed he'd manage to scrape along somehow a +while longer without becoming a burden to others. I did insist on his +taking a hat, though."</p> + +<p>"A hat?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. We were down at the store, and he was asking the price of things, +and looking around so wistful that I couldn't help getting him a new hat +and having it charged; for the one he wore wasn't any good at all. He +hated to take it, but I insisted, and finally he said he would if I'd +keep his old one and let him redeem it some time. Of course I said I +would, just to satisfy him, and here it is."</p> + +<p>Alaric looked carelessly at the dilapidated hat as he said: "It was a +first-class thing to do, Bonny, and I only wish I had been here to give +him something at the same time. But, hello! this is a Paris hat, and +hasn't been worn very long, either. I wonder how he ever got hold of it? +Never mind, though; hang it up for luck, and to remind me to do +something for the next poor chap who comes along. By-the-way, I heard +to-day that the president of the company was in Tacoma, on his way to +make an inspection of all the camps."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Bonny. "They say he is an awful swell, too, and I heard +that he was coming in his private car. I only hope he is, and that I can +get a chance to look at it, for I have never seen a private car. Have +you?"</p> + +<p>"One or two," answered Alaric, with a smile.</p> + +<p>At noon of the following day, while a fifteen-minute game of baseball +was in progress after dinner, the boss of Camp No. 10 received a note +from the president of the company, requesting him to report immediately +in person at Tacoma, and bring with him the two hump-durgin boys Dale +and Brooks.</p> + +<p>Mr. Linton, being a man who kept his own business to himself as much as +possible, merely called our lads and bade them follow him. Of course +this order broke up the game they were playing, and as they hastened +after the boss, Bonny, in whose hands the baseball happened to be, +thrust it into one of his pockets. Although curious to know why they +were thus summoned, the boys learned nothing from Mr. Linton until they +reached the railway log-landing, when he told them that they were wanted +in Tacoma, and that he was instructed to bring them there at once.</p> + +<p>From the landing they proceeded by hand-car to Cascade Junction, where +they boarded a west-bound passenger train over the Northern Pacific. +Even now Mr. Linton was not communicative, and after sitting awhile in +silence he went forward into the smoking-car, leaving the boys in the +passenger coach next behind it. Now they began to discuss their +situation, and the more they considered it the more apprehensive they +became that something unpleasant was in store for them.</p> + +<p>"He's a United States marshal, remember," said Bonny.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Alaric; "I've been thinking of that. Do you suppose it +can have anything to do with that smuggling business?"</p> + +<p>"I'm awfully afraid so," replied Bonny. "Great Scott! Look there!"</p> + +<p>The train was just leaving Meeker, where a passenger had boarded their +car, and was now walking leisurely through it towards the smoker. It was +he who had attracted Bonny's attention, and at whom he now pointed a +trembling finger.</p> + +<p>Alaric instantly recognized the man as an officer of the revenue-cutter +that had so persistently chased them in the early summer. Without a +word, he left his seat and followed the new-comer to the smoking-car, +where a single glance through the open door confirmed his worst +suspicions.</p> + +<p>The officer had seated himself beside Mr. Linton, and they were talking +with great earnestness.</p> + +<p>"They are surely after us again," Alaric said, in a whisper, as he +regained his seat beside Bonny; "but I don't intend to be captured if I +can help it."</p> + +<p>"Same here," replied Bonny.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that when, a little later, the train reached Tacoma, +and Mr. Linton returned to look for his lads, they were nowhere to be +found.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX</h2> + +<h3>BONNY DISCOVERS HIS FRIEND THE TRAMP</h3> + + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when the train reached Tacoma, and the +logging boss discovered that the lads whom he had been especially +instructed to bring with him had disappeared. As he could not imagine +any reason why they should do such a thing, he was thoroughly +bewildered, and waited about the station for some minutes, expecting +them to turn up. He inquired of the train hands and other employés if +they had seen anything of such boys as he described, but could gain no +information concerning them.</p> + +<p>The revenue-officer was merely an acquaintance whom he had met by chance +on the train, and who now waited a few minutes to see how this affair +would turn out. Finally he said:</p> + +<p>"Well, Linton, I'm sorry I can't help you, but I really must be getting +along. I hope, though, you won't have any such trouble with your missing +lads as we had in trying to catch two young rascals of smugglers, whom +we lost right here in Tacoma last summer. We wanted them as witnesses, +and thought we had our hands on them half a dozen times; but they +finally gave us the slip, and the case in which they were expected to +testify was dismissed for want of evidence. Good-bye."</p> + +<p>Thus left to his own devices, the boss could think of nothing better +than to call upon the police to aid him in recovering the missing boys, +and so powerful was the name of the President of the Northwest Lumber +Company, which he did not hesitate to use, that within an hour every +policeman in Tacoma was provided with their description, and instructed +to capture them if possible. In the hope that they would speedily +succeed in so doing, Mr. Linton delayed meeting the president, and +telegraphed that he could not reach the hotel to which he had been +directed to bring the boys before eight o'clock that evening.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Alaric and Bonny, without an idea of the stir their +disappearance had created throughout the city, were snugly ensconced in +an empty freight-car that stood within a hundred yards of the railway +station. They had dropped from the rear end of their train when it began +to slow down, and slipped into the freight-car as a place of temporary +concealment while they discussed plans.</p> + +<p>"We've got to get out of this town in a hurry, that's certain," said +Alaric, "and I propose that we make a start for San Francisco. You know, +I told you that was my home, and I still have some friends there, who, I +believe, will help us. The only thing is that I don't see how we can +travel so far without any money."</p> + +<p>"That's easy enough," replied Bonny, "and I would guarantee to land you +there in good shape inside of a week. What worries me, though, is the +idea of going off and leaving all the money that is due us here. Just +think! there's thirty dollars owing to me as a hump-durgin driver, +thirty more as interpreter, and fully as much as that for being a +smuggler—nearly one hundred dollars in all. That's a terrible lot of +money, Rick Dale, and you know it as well as I do."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Alaric; "if we had it now, we'd be all right. But I'll +tell you, Bonny, what I'll do. If you will get me to San Francisco +inside of a week, I promise that you shall have one hundred dollars the +day we arrive."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it!" cried Bonny. "I know you are joking, of course, but I'll +do it just to see how you'll manage to crawl out of your bargain when we +get there. You mustn't expect to travel in a private car, though, with a +French cook, and three square meals a day thrown in."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," laughed Alaric, "for I never travelled any other way."</p> + +<p>"No, I know you haven't, any more'n I have; but, just for a change, I +think we'd better try freight-cars, riding on trucks, and perhaps once +in a while in a caboose, for this trip, with meals whenever we can catch +'em. We'll get there, though; I promise you that. Hello! I mustn't lose +that ball. We may want to have a game on the road."</p> + +<p>This last remark was called forth by Alaric's baseball which, becoming +uncomfortably bulgy in Bonny's pocket as he sat on the car floor, he had +taken out, and had been tossing from hand to hand as he talked. At +length it slipped from him, rolled across the car, and out of the open +door.</p> + +<p>Bonny sprang after it, tossed it in to Alaric, and was about to clamber +back into the car, when, through the gathering gloom, he spied a +familiar figure standing in the glare of one of the station lights.</p> + +<p>"Wait here a few minutes, Rick," he said, "while I go and find out when +our train starts."</p> + +<p>With this he darted up the track, and a moment later advanced, with a +smile of recognition and extended hand, towards the stranger whom he had +so pitied in the logging camp the day before. The man still wore a +shabby suit and the hat Bonny had given him. He started at sight of the +lad, and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"How came you here so soon? I thought you weren't due until eight +o'clock."</p> + +<p>"How did you know we were coming at all?" asked Bonny, in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's a secret," laughed the other, instantly recovering his +self-possession, and assuming his manner of the day before. "We tramps +have a way of finding out things, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've always heard so," replied Bonny, "and that's one reason why +I'm so glad to meet you again. I thought maybe you could help us."</p> + +<p>"Us?" repeated the stranger. "Who is with you?"</p> + +<p>"Only my chum, the other hump-durgin driver, you know."</p> + +<p>"You mean Richard Dale?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—only his name isn't Richard, but Alaric. I say, though, would you +mind stepping over in the shadow, where we won't be interrupted?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," replied the other, with a quiet chuckle. "I expect it +will be better, for I'm not anxious to be recognized myself just now."</p> + +<p>When they had reached what Bonny considered a safe place, he continued:</p> + +<p>"You see, it's this way. My chum and I did a little business in the +smuggling line last summer, and got chased for it by the 'beaks."'</p> + +<p>"Just like 'em," growled the other.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bonny, wrathfully. "We hadn't really done anything wrong, +you know; but they made us skip 'round lively, and came mighty near +catching us, too. We gave 'em the slip, though, and thought the whole +thing had blown over, till to-day, when they got after us again."</p> + +<p>"Who did?"</p> + +<p>"The revenue fellows. You see, the boss up at camp is one of 'em, and we +suspicioned something was wrong as soon as he told us we were wanted in +Tacoma. We were certain of it when we saw another revenue man, one of +the cutter's officers, join him on the train, and so we just gave them +the slip again, and have been hiding ever since over in that +freight-car."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" remarked the stranger, interestedly. "And what do you propose +to do next?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I'm coming to, and what we want you to help us about. You +see, my chum's folks live in San Francisco, and I rather think he ran +away from 'em, though he hasn't ever said so. Anyhow, he wants to get +back there, and as we haven't any money, we've got to beat our way, so I +thought maybe you could put us up to the racket, or, at any rate, tell +us when the first south-bound freight would pull out. Of course, you +understand, we've got to start as quick as we can, for it isn't safe for +us to be seen around here."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," agreed the stranger, with another chuckle; for the +whole affair seemed to amuse him greatly. "But what are you going to do +for food? You'll be apt to get hungry before long."</p> + +<p>"I am already," acknowledged Bonny, "and that was another thing I was +going to ask you about. I thought maybe you wouldn't mind giving us some +pointers from your own experience in picking up your three little square +meals a day when you are on the road."</p> + +<p>At this point the stranger burst into what began like uncontrollable +laughter, but which proved to be only a severe fit of coughing. When it +was over, he said: "Your name is Bonny Brooks, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but don't speak so loud."</p> + +<p>"All right, I won't. But, Bonny Brooks, you were mighty kind to me +yesterday—kinder than any one else has been for a long time. +By-the-way, did you bring my old hat with you?"</p> + +<p>"No, of course not."</p> + +<p>"No matter. I said I would redeem it, and I am going to do so by putting +you on to a mighty soft snap. I'm bound to the southward myself, and, as +it happens, there is a sort of boarding-car going to pull out of here +for somewhere down the line in about half an hour. It is in charge of +the cook, and as he and I are on what you might call extra good terms, +he is going to let me ride with him as far as he goes. There won't be a +soul on board but him and me, unless I can persuade him to let you two +boys come along with us. I am pretty sure I can, though, for he is under +several obligations to me, and if you'll promise to stay quietly in this +freight-car until I come for you, I'll go this minute and see him. What +do you say?"</p> + +<p>"I say you are a trump, and if you'll only work that racket for us, I'll +share half the money with you that I'm to get from Rick as soon as we +reach San Francisco."</p> + +<p>"Oh ho! He is to give you money, is he?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; that is, he has promised me one hundred dollars to make up for the +wages I leave behind, if I'll only get him there. Of course that's all +his joke, though, for he is just as poor as I am."</p> + +<p>So Bonny clambered back into the car where he told Rick of the fine +arrangement he had just made; while for the next half-hour that shabbily +attired stranger was the busiest man in Tacoma, and kept a great many +other people busy at the same time. Finally, just as the boys were +beginning to think he had forgotten them, he appeared at the door of the +freight-car, and said, in a loud whisper: "Come, quick. I think they are +after you."</p> + +<p>As they scrambled out, he started on a run towards a single car that, +with an engine attached, stood on a siding in the darkest corner of the +railroad yard. Here he hurriedly whispered to the boys to crouch low on +its rear platform until it started, when the cook would open the door. +Then he disappeared.</p> + +<p>In another minute the car began to move, and directly afterwards its +door was opened. There seemed to be no light in the interior, and, +without seeing any one, the boys heard a strange voice, evidently that +of a negro, bidding them come in out of the cold.</p> + +<p>They entered the car, Alaric going first, and were led through a narrow +passage into what was evidently a large compartment. They heard their +guide retreating through the passage, and were beginning to feel rather +uneasy, when suddenly they were surrounded and dazzled by a great flood +of electric light.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL</h2> + +<h3>A FLOOD OF LIGHT</h3> + + +<p>As the brilliant light flooded the place where the boys stood, they were +for a minute blinded by its radiance. Bonny was bewildered and +frightened, and even Alaric was greatly startled. Gradually, as their +eyes grew accustomed to the brightness, they became aware of a single +figure standing before them, and regarding them curiously. Alaric +looked, rubbed his eyes, and looked again. Then he sprang forward with a +great shout.</p> + +<p>"Dad! you dear old dad! I never was so glad to see any one in my life!"</p> + +<p>"Rick! you young rascal!" cried Amos Todd. "How could you play your old +father such a trick? Never mind, though; you've won your game, and at +the same time made me the very happiest and proudest man on the coast +this night. Stand there, sir, and let me have a good look at you."</p> + +<p>With this the proud father held his stalwart son off at arm's-length and +gazed at him with loving admiration.</p> + +<p>"The very neatest trick I ever heard of—the most impudent, and the most +successful," he murmured. "But don't you ever be guilty of such a thing +again, you young smuggler."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I won't, dad, for I know I shall never have any reason or desire +to repeat it," replied Alaric, promptly, his voice trembling with joyful +excitement. "But, dad, you mustn't forget Bonny; for whatever I have +gained or learned this past summer I owe to him."</p> + +<p>"God bless the lad! Indeed I will never forget what he has done both for +you and for me," cried Amos Todd, stepping forward and seizing Bonny's +hand in a grasp that made him wince.</p> + +<p>Poor bewildered Bonny, standing amid the glitter of silver and +plate-glass, surrounded by furnishings of such luxurious character as he +had never imagined could exist in real life, vaguely wondered whether he +were under the spell of some beautiful enchantment or merely dreaming. +There must be some reality to it all, though, for the stranger in the +shabby garments, whom he had befriended only the day before, and still +wearing the same hat he had given him, was surely holding his hand and +saying very pleasant things. But who could he be? He certainly was not +acting like a tramp, or one who was greatly in need of charity.</p> + +<p>Alaric came to the puzzled lad's relief. "He is my father, Mr. Amos +Todd," he cried. "And, Bonny, you will forgive me, won't you, for not +telling you before? You see, I was afraid to let even you know that I +was the son of a rich man, because I wanted you to like me for myself +alone."</p> + +<p>"You know I do, Rick Dale! You know I do!" exclaimed Bonny, impulsively, +finding his voice at last. "But, Rick," he added, almost in a whisper, +"are you sure there isn't any mistake about it all? Amos Todd, you know, +is President of the Northwest Company, and the richest man on the coast. +They do say he's a millionaire."</p> + +<p>"It's all right, Bonny. I expect he is a millionaire," answered Alaric, +joyously. "But we won't lay it up against him, will we? And we'll try +not to think any the less of him for it. I didn't know he was President +of the Northwest Company, though. Are you, dad?"</p> + +<p>"I believe I am," laughed Amos Todd. "And I certainly have cause to be +grateful that I hold the office, for it was while making my official +inspection of the camps yesterday that I ran across you boys. I didn't +know you, though, Rick—'pon my word, I didn't. You bore a faint +resemblance to my little 'Allie' as you came riding those logs down the +skid-road, but I knew you couldn't be he, for I was certain that he was +on the other side of the world by this time. And so you shook the +Sonntaggs, and let them run away from you. It was wrong, Rick, very +wrong, but I don't blame you—not one bit, I don't. I'd have done the +same thing myself."</p> + +<p>"But, dad, how did you come to find me out? I don't understand it at +all."</p> + +<p>"By your own letter to Esther, lad. She forwarded it to me in France; +but I had gone when it reached there, and so it was sent to San +Francisco. I left Margaret on the other side for the winter, and came +back by way of Montreal and the Canadian Pacific, intending to stop here +and inspect the lumber camps on my way home. I telegraphed John to send +this car and all my mail up here, and they came last night. As soon as I +read your letter I felt pretty certain that it was you whom I had seen +doing the circus act on those logs. I wasn't quite sure, though, and +didn't want to make any mistake, so I just sent word to Linton to fetch +you in, that I might take a good look at you."</p> + +<p>"So it was you who sent for us?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. And you thought it was the revenue-officers, and so decided +to give 'em the slip, and beat your way home to claim protection of your +old dad—eh, you rascal? And Bonny here took me for a fellow-tramp who +could put him on to the racket. Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! Oh my! I shall +die of laughing yet at thinking of it. It was all the hat, though, +wasn't it, Bonny? I hated to cut it up, for I only bought it in Paris +the other day, and hadn't another with me; but I wanted to inspect the +camp without being known, and it was the only disguise I could think of. +But, boys, what do you say to supper? If you are as hungry as I am you +must be more than ready for it."</p> + +<p>Indeed, they were ready for supper, and when they sat down to that +daintily served meal, in the exquisitely appointed dining-room of +President Todd's own private car, Bonny at last understood why Alaric +had ordered that strange lot of supplies for the sloop <i>Fancy</i>.</p> + +<p>After supper they returned to the saloon, where Amos Todd lighted a +cigar, and listened to the wonderful story of trial and triumph, +privation and strange vicissitude, that had transformed his pale-faced +weakling into the strong, handsome, self-reliant youth upon whom he now +gazed so proudly. When the long story was ended, he asked, quietly:</p> + +<p>"How much have you earned by your summer's work, son; and what have you +to show for it?"</p> + +<p>"If you mean in money, dad, not one cent; and all I have to show, +besides what you've already noticed, is this." Here Alaric held out a +dilapidated baseball, at which his father gazed curiously. "With that +ball," continued Alaric, "I took my first lesson in being a boy, and it +has led me on from one thing to another ever since until, finally, this +very evening, it brought me back to you. So, dad, I should say that it +stood for my whole summer's work."</p> + +<p>"I am thankful, Rick, that you haven't earned any money, and that +through bitter want of it you have learned its value," said Amos Todd. +"I am thankful, too, that there is still one thing for which you have to +come to your old dad. More than all am I thankful for what you have +gained without his help, or, rather, in spite of him; and had I known +last spring what that baseball was to do for you, I would gladly have +paid a million of dollars for it."</p> + +<p>"You may have it now, dad, for one hundred, which is just the amount I +owe Bonny."</p> + +<p>"Done!" cried Amos Todd; and thus he came into possession of the +well-worn baseball that, set in a plate of silver and enclosed in a +superb frame, soon afterwards hung above his private desk in San +Francisco.</p> + +<p>Here our story properly ends, but we cannot help telling of two or three +things that happened soon after the disappearance of our hump-durgin +boys from Camp No. 10, and as a direct result of their having lived +there. To begin with, Mr. Linton felt himself so insulted by the manner +in which President Todd made his inspection that he resigned his +position, and, on the recommendation of Alaric, Buck Ranlet was given +his place. On the strength of this promotion the big "faller" went East +to marry the girl of his choice, and both Alaric and Bonny were present +at the wedding.</p> + +<p>Through the liberality of Amos Todd, the ex-hump-durgin boys were +enabled to present the camp with their shack, converted into a neat +little library building and filled with carefully selected books, in +which the occupants of the camp are greatly pleased to discover many of +the tales already told them by Rick Dale.</p> + +<p>A certain famous and badly used-up hat, carefully removed from the camp, +belongs to Bonny Brooks, and adorns a wall in one of a beautiful suite +of rooms that he and Alaric occupy together at Harvard. Here Alaric is +taking an academic course, while Bonny, whom Amos Todd regards almost as +an own son, is sturdily working his way through the mathematical and +mechanical labyrinths of a Manual Training School. They went to +Cambridge just one year after completing their studies as hump-durgin +boys; and while they were still Freshmen, the splendid baseball-player, +who, though only just entering his Junior year, was captain of the +'varsity nine, happened to be badly in need of a catcher.</p> + +<p>"I can tell you of one who can't be beat this side of the Rocky +Mountains," suggested his classmate and pitcher, Dave Carncross.</p> + +<p>"Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"Rick Todd, a Freshman."</p> + +<p>"Son of Amos Todd, your San Francisco millionaire?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then I don't want him. Millionaires' sons are no good."</p> + +<p>"This one is, though," insisted Carncross; "and I ought to know, for I +taught him to catch his first ball. You just come over to Soldiers' +Field this afternoon and size him up."</p> + +<p>The captain needed a first-class man behind the bat so badly that, in +spite of his prejudices, he consented to do as his pitcher desired. He +was amazed, delighted, and enthusiastic. Never had he seen such an +exhibition of ball-catching as was given by that Freshman. Finally he +could contain himself no longer, and rushing up to his classmate, he +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Carncross, he's a wonder! Introduce me at once."</p> + +<p>"Rick Todd," said Dave Carncross, "permit me to present you to my +friend Phil Ryder, captain of the 'varsity nine."</p> + +<p>As the two lads grasped each other's hands there came a flash of +recognition into each face, and both remembered where they had met each +other last.</p> + + +<h3>THE END</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Books_by_KIRK_MUNROE" id="Books_by_KIRK_MUNROE"></a><span class="smcap">Books by</span> KIRK MUNROE</h2> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">CAMPMATES. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">DORYMATES. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">CANOEMATES. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">RAFTMATES. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">WAKULLA. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE FLAMINGO FEATHER. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">DERRICK STERLING. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">CHRYSTAL, JACK & CO. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE COPPER PRINCESS. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">FORWARD, MARCH! Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE BLUE DRAGON. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">FOR THE MIKADO. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">UNDER THE GREAT BEAR. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">RICK DALE. Illustrated.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE PAINTED DESERT. Illustrated.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rick Dale, A Story of the Northwest +Coast, by Kirk Munroe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICK DALE *** + +***** This file should be named 35652-h.htm or 35652-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/6/5/35652/ + +Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Rick Dale, A Story of the Northwest Coast + +Author: Kirk Munroe + +Illustrator: William Allen Rogers + +Release Date: March 22, 2011 [EBook #35652] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICK DALE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + RICK DALE + + _A STORY OF THE NORTHWEST COAST_ + + BY KIRK MUNROE + +AUTHOR OF "SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES" "THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH" THE "MATES" +SERIES ETC. + + + ILLUSTRATED BY W. A. ROGERS + + NEW YORK AND LONDON + HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS + + + + +[Illustration: THE ICE ABOVE GIBRALTAR] + + + + +CONTENTS + + +I. A POOR RICH BOY + +II. THE RUNAWAY + +III. ALARIC TAKES A FIRST LESSON + +IV. THE "EMPRESS" LOSES A PASSENGER + +V. FIRST MATE BONNY BROOKS + +VI. PREPARING TO BE A SAILOR + +VII. CAPTAIN DUFF, OF THE SLOOP "FANCY" + +VIII. AN UNLUCKY SMASH + +IX. "CHINKS" AND "DOPE" + +X. PUGET SOUND SMUGGLERS + +XI. A VERY TRYING EXPERIENCE + +XII. A LESSON IN KEDGING + +XIII. CHASING A MYSTERIOUS LIGHT + +XIV. BONNY'S INVENTION, AND HOW IT WORKED + +XV. CAPTURED BY A REVENUE-CUTTER + +XVI. ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW + +XVII. SAVED BY A LITTLE SIWASH KID + +XVIII. LIFE IN SKOOKUM JOHN'S CAMP + +XIX. A TREACHEROUS INDIAN FROM NEAH BAY + +XX. AN EXCITING RACE FOR LIBERTY + +XXI. A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY + +XXII. TWO SHORT BUT EXCITING VOYAGES + +XXIII. ALARIC TODD'S DARKEST HOUR + +XXIV. PHIL RYDER PAYS A DEBT + +XXV. ENGAGED TO INTERPRET FOR THE FRENCH + +XXVI. PREPARING FOR AN ASCENT + +XXVII. BONNY COMMANDS THE SITUATION + +XXVIII. ON THE EDGE OF PARADISE VALLEY + +XXIX. MOUNT RAINIER PLACED UNDERFOOT + +XXX. BLOWN FROM THE RIM OF A CRATER + +XXXI. A DESPERATE SITUATION + +XXXII. HOW A SONG SAVED ALARIC'S LIFE + +XXXIII. LAID UP FOR REPAIRS + +XXXIV. CHASED BY A MADMAN + +XXXV. A GANG OF FRIENDLY LOGGERS + +XXXVI. IN A NORTHWEST LOGGING CAMP + +XXXVII. WHAT IS A HUMP-DURGIN? + +XXXVIII. ALARIC AND BONNY AGAIN TAKE TO FLIGHT + +XXXIX. BONNY DISCOVERS HIS FRIEND THE TRAMP + +XL. A FLOOD OF LIGHT + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +THE ICE ABOVE GIBRALTAR + +ALARIC MAKES HIS FIRST DECISION + +"'VELL, I TELL YOU; I GIFS T'VENTY-FIFE'" + +BONNY'S INVENTION STARTED + +THE ARRIVAL AT SKOOKUM JOHN'S + +BONNY SEIZED A TRUCK, AND ALARIC A MATTRESS + +"BONNY WAS JERKED BACKWARD" + +"THEY WERE PARALYZED WITH TERROR" + + + + +RICK DALE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A POOR RICH BOY + + +Alaric Dale Todd was his name, and it was a great grief to him to be +called "Allie." Allie Todd was so insignificant and sounded so weak. +Besides, Allie was a regular girl's name, as he had been so often told, +and expected to be told by each stranger who heard it for the first +time. There is so much in a name, after all. We either strive to live up +to it, or else it exerts a constant disheartening pull backward. + +Although Alaric was tall for his age, which was nearly seventeen, he was +thin, pale, and undeveloped. He did not look like a boy accustomed to +play tennis or football, or engage in any of the splendid athletics that +develop the muscle and self-reliance of those sturdy young fellows who +contest interscholastic matches. Nor was he one of these; so far from +it, he had never played a game in his life except an occasional quiet +game of croquet, or something equally soothing. He could not swim nor +row nor sail a boat; he had never ridden horseback nor on a bicycle; he +had never skated nor coasted nor hunted nor fished, and yet he was +perfectly well formed and in good health. I fancy I hear my boy readers +exclaim: + +"What a regular muff your Alaric must have been! No wonder they called +him 'Allie'!" + +And the girls? Well, they would probably say, "What a disagreeable +prig!" For Alaric knew a great deal more about places and people and +books than most boys or girls of his age, and was rather fond of +displaying this knowledge. And then he was always dressed with such +faultless elegance. His patent-leather boots were so shiny, his +neckwear, selected with perfect taste, was so daintily arranged, and +while he never left the house without drawing on a pair of gloves, they +were always so immaculate that it did not seem as though he ever wore +the same pair twice. He was very particular, too, about his linen, and +often sent his shirts back to the laundress unworn because they were not +done up to suit him. As for his coats and trousers, of which he had so +many that it actually seemed as though he might wear a different suit +every day in the year, he spent so much time in selecting material, and +then in being fitted, and insisted on so many alterations, that his +tailors were often in despair, and wondered whether it paid to have so +particular a customer, after all. They never had occasion, though, to +complain about their bills, for no matter how large these were or how +extortionate, they were always paid without question as soon as +presented. + +From all this it may be gathered that our Alaric was not a child of +poverty. Nor was he; for Amos Todd, his father, was so many times a +millionaire that he was one of the richest men on the Pacific coast. He +owned or controlled a bank, railways, steamships, and mines, great +ranches in the South, and vast tracts of timber lands in the North. His +manifold interests extended from Alaska to Mexico, from the Pacific to +the Atlantic; and while he made his home in San Francisco his name was a +power in the stock-exchanges of the world. Years before he and his young +wife had made their way to California from New England with just money +enough to pay their passage to the Golden State. Here they had undergone +poverty and hardships such as they determined their children should +never know. + +Of these Margaret, the eldest, was now a leader of San Francisco +society, while John, who was eight years older than Alaric, had shown +such an aptitude for business that he had risen to be manager of his +father's bank. There were other children, who had died, and when Alaric +came, last of all, he was such a puny infant that there was little hope +of his ever growing up. Because he was the youngest and a weakling, and +demanded so much care, his mother devoted her life to him, and hovered +about him with a loving anxiety that sought to shield him from all rude +contact with the world. He was always under the especial care of some +doctor, and when he was five or six years old one of these, for want of +something more definite to say, announced that he feared the child was +developing a weak heart, and advised that he be restrained from all +violent exercise. + +From that moment poor little "Allie," as he had been called from the day +of his birth, was not only kept from all forms of violent exercise and +excitement, but was forbidden to play any boyish games as well. In place +of these his doting mother travelled with him over Continental Europe, +going from one famous medical spring, bath, or health resort to another, +and bringing up her boy in an atmosphere of luxury, invalids, and +doctors. The last-named devoted themselves to trying to find out what +was the matter with him, and as no two of them could agree upon any one +ailment, Mrs. Todd came to regard him as a prodigy in the way of +invalidism. + +Of course Alaric was never sent to a public school, but he was always +accompanied by tutors as well as physicians, and spent nearly two years +in a very select private school or _pension_ near Paris. Here no rude +games were permitted, and the only exercise allowed the boys was a short +daily walk, in which, under escort of masters, they marched in a dreary +procession of twos. + +During all these years of travel and study and search after health +Alaric had never known what it was to wish in vain for anything that +money could buy. Whatever he fancied he obtained without knowing its +cost, or where the money came from that procured it. But there were +three of the chief things in the world to a boy that he did not have and +that money could not give him. He had no boy friends, no boyish games, +and no ambitions. He wanted to have all these things, and sometimes said +so to his mother; but always he was met by the same reproachful answer, +"My dear Allie, remember your poor weak heart." + +At length it happened that while our lad was in that dreary _pension_, +Mrs. Todd, worn out with anxieties, cares, and worries of her own +devising, was stricken with a fatal malady, and died in the great +chateau that she had rented not far from the school in which her life's +treasure was so carefully guarded. A few days of bewilderment and +heart-breaking sorrow followed for poor Alaric. Many cablegrams flashed +to and fro beneath the ocean. There was a melancholy funeral, at which +the boy was sole mourner, and then one phase of his life was ended. In +another week he had left France, and, escorted by one of his French +tutors, was crossing the Atlantic on his way to the far-distant San +Francisco home of which he knew so little. + +He had now been at home for nearly three months, and of all his sad life +they had proved the most unhappy period. His father, though always kind +in his way, was too deeply immersed in business to pay much attention to +the sensitive lad. He did not understand him, and regarded him as a +weakling who could never amount to anything in the world of business or +useful activity. He would be kind to the boy, of course, and any desire +that he expressed should be promptly gratified; at the same time he +could not help feeling that Alaric was a great trial, and wishing him +more like his brother John. + +This bustling, dashing elder brother had no sympathy with Alaric, and +rarely found time to give him more than a nod and a word of greeting in +passing, while his sister Margaret regarded him as still a little boy +who was to be kept out of sight as much as possible. So the poor lad, +left to himself, without friends and without occupation, found time +hanging very heavily on his hands, and wondered why he had ever been +born. + +Once he ventured to ask his father for a saddle-horse, whereupon Amos +Todd provided him with a pair of ponies, a cart, and a groom, which he +said was an outfit better suited to an invalid. Alaric accepted this +gift without a protest, for he was well trained to bearing +disappointments, but he used it so rarely that the business of giving +the horses their daily airing devolved almost entirely upon the groom. + +It was not until Esther Dale, one of the New England cousins whom he had +never seen, and a girl of his own age, made a flying visit to San +Francisco as one of a personally conducted party of tourists, that +Alaric found any real use for his ponies. Esther was only to remain in +the city three days, but she spent them in her uncle's house, which she +refused to call anything but "the palace," and which she so pervaded +with her cheery presence that Amos Todd declared it seemed full of +singing birds and sunshine. + +Both Margaret and John were too busy to pay much attention to their +young cousin, and so, to Alaric's delight, the whole duty of +entertaining her devolved on him. He felt much more at his ease with +girls than with boys, for he had been thrown so much more into their +society during his travels, and he thought he understood them +thoroughly; but in Esther Dale he found a girl so different from any he +had ever known that she seemed to belong to another order of beings. She +was good-looking and perfectly well-bred, but she was also as full of +life and frisky antics as a squirrel, and as tireless as a bird on the +wing. + +On the first morning of her visit the cousins drove out to the Cliff +House to see the sea-lions; and almost before Alaric knew how it was +accomplished he found Esther perched on the high right-hand cushion of +the box-seat in full possession of reins and whip, while he occupied the +lower seat on her left, as though he were the guest and she the hostess +of the occasion. At the same time the ponys seemed filled with an +unusual activity, and were clattering along at a pace more exhilarating +than they had ever shown under his guidance. + +After that Esther always drove; and Alaric, sitting beside her, listened +with wondering admiration to her words of wisdom and practical advice on +all sorts of subjects. She had never been abroad, but she knew +infinitely more of her own country than he, and was so enthusiastic +concerning it that in three days' time she had made him feel prouder of +being an American than he had believed it possible he ever would be. +She knew so much concerning out-of-door life, too--about animals and +birds and games. She criticised the play of the baseball nines, whom +they saw one afternoon in Golden Gate Park; and when they came to +another place where some acquaintances of Alaric's were playing tennis, +she asked for an introduction to the best girl player on the ground, +promptly challenged her to a trial of skill, and beat her three straight +games. + +During the play she presented such a picture of glowing health and +graceful activity that pale-faced Alaric sat and watched her with +envious admiration. + +"I would give anything I own in the world to be able to play tennis as +you can, Cousin Esther," he said, earnestly, after it was all over and +they were driving from the park. + +"Why don't you learn, then?" asked the girl, in surprise. + +"Because I have a weak heart, you know, and am forbidden any violent +exercise." + +The boy hesitated, and even blushed, as he said this, though he had +never done either of those things before when speaking of his weak +heart. In fact, he had been rather proud of it, and considered that it +was a very interesting thing to have. Now, however, he felt almost +certain that Esther would laugh at him. + +And so she did. She laughed until Alaric became red in the face from +vexation; but when she noticed this she grew very sober, and said: + +"Excuse me, Cousin Rick. I didn't mean to laugh; but you did look so +woe-begone when you told me about your poor weak heart, and it seems so +absurd for a big, well-looking boy like you to have such a thing, that I +couldn't help it." + +"I've always had it," said Alaric, stoutly; "and that is the reason +they would never let me do things like other boys. It might kill me if I +did, you know." + +"I should think it would kill you if you didn't, and I'm sure I would +rather die of good times than just sit round and mope to death. Now I +don't believe your heart is any weaker than mine is. You don't look so, +anyway, and if I were you I would just go in for everything, and have as +good a time as I possibly could, without thinking any more about whether +my heart was weak or strong." + +"But they won't let me," objected Alaric. + +"Who won't?" + +"Father and Margaret and John." + +"I don't see that the two last named have anything to do with it. As for +Uncle Amos, I am sure he would rather have you a strong, brown, +splendidly built fellow, such as you might become if you only would, +than the white-faced, dudish Miss Nancy that you are. Oh, Cousin Rick! +What have I said? I'm awfully sorry and ashamed of myself. Please +forgive me." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE RUNAWAY + + +For a moment it seemed to Alaric that he could not forgive that +thoughtlessly uttered speech. And yet the girl who made it had called +him Cousin "Rick," a name he had always desired, but which no one had +ever given him before. If she had called him "Allie," he knew he would +never have forgiven her. As it was he hesitated, and his pale face +flushed again. What should he say? + +In her contrition and eagerness to atone for her cruel words Esther +leaned towards him and laid a beseeching hand on his arm. For the moment +she forgot her responsibility as driver, and the reins, held loosely in +her whip-hand, lay slack across the ponies' backs. + +Just then a newspaper that had been carelessly dropped in the roadway +was picked up by a sudden gust of wind and whirled directly into the +faces of the spirited team. The next instant they were dashing madly +down the street. At the outset the reins were jerked from Esther's hand; +but ere they could slip down beyond reach Alaric had seized them. Then, +with the leathern bands wrapped about his wrists, he threw his whole +weight back on them, and strove to check or at least to guide the +terrified animals. The light cart bounded and swayed from side to side. +Men shouted and women screamed, and a clanging cable-car from a cross +street was saved from collision only by the prompt efforts of its +gripman. The roadway was becoming more and more crowded with teams and +pedestrians. Alaric's teeth were clinched, and he was bareheaded, having +lost his hat as he caught the reins. Esther sat beside him, motionless +and silent, but with bloodless cheeks. + +They were on an avenue that led to the heart of the city. On one side +was a hill, up which cross streets climbed steeply. To keep on as they +were going meant certain destruction. All the strain that Alaric could +bring to bear on the reins did not serve to check the headlong speed of +the hard-mouthed ponies. With each instant their blind terror seemed to +increase. Several side streets leading up the hill had already been +passed, and another was close at hand. Beyond it was a mass of teams and +cable-cars. + +"Hold on for your life!" panted Alaric in the ear of the girl who sat +beside him. + +As he spoke he dropped one rein, threw all his weight on the other, and +at the same instant brought the whip down with a stinging cut on the +right-hand side of the off horse. The frenzied animal instinctively +sprang to the left, both yielded to the heavy tug of that rein, and the +team was turned into the side street. The cart slewed across the smooth +asphalt, lunged perilously to one side, came within a hair's-breadth of +upsetting, and then righted. Two seconds later the mad fright of the +ponies was checked by pure exhaustion half-way up the steep hill-side. +There they stood panting and trembling, while a crowd of excited +spectators gathered about them with offers of assistance and advice. + +"Do they seem to be all right?" asked Alaric. + +"All right, sir, far as I can see," replied one of the men, who was +examining the quivering animals and their harness. + +"Then if you will kindly help me turn them around, and will lead them to +the foot of the hill, I think they will be quiet enough to drive on +without giving any more trouble," said the boy. + +When this was done, and Alaric, after cordially thanking those who had +aided him, had driven away, one of the men exclaimed, as he gazed after +the vanishing carriage: + +"Plucky young chap that!" + +"Yes," replied another; "and doesn't seem to be a bit of a snob, like +most of them wealthy fellows, either." + +Meanwhile Alaric was tendering the reins to the girl who had sat so +quietly by his side without an outcry or a word of suggestion during the +whole exciting episode. + +"Won't you drive now, Cousin Esther?" + +"Indeed I will not, Alaric. I feel ashamed of myself for presuming to +take the reins from you before, and you may be certain that I shall +never attempt to do such a thing again. The way you managed the whole +affair was simply splendid. And oh, Cousin Rick! to think that I should +have called _you_ a Miss Nancy! Just as you were about to save my life, +too! I can never forgive myself--never." + +"Oh yes you can," laughed Alaric, "for it is true--that is, it was true; +for I can see now that I have been a regular Miss Nancy sort of a fellow +all my life. That is what made me feel so badly when you said it. Nobody +ever dared tell me before, and so it came as an unpleasant surprise. +Now, though, I am glad you said it." + +"And you will never give anybody in the whole world a chance to say such +a thing again, will you?" asked the girl, eagerly. "And you will go +right to work at learning how to do the things that other boys do, won't +you?" + +"I don't know," answered Alaric, doubtfully. "I'd like to well enough; +but I don't know just how to begin. You see, I'm too old to learn from +the little boys, and the big fellows won't have anything to do with such +a duffer as I am. They've all heard too much about my weak heart." + +"Then I'd go away to some place where nobody knows you, and make a fresh +start. You might go out on one of your father's ranches and learn to be +a cowboy, or up into those great endless forests that I saw on Puget +Sound the other day and live in a logging camp. It is such a glorious, +splendid life, and there is so much to be done up in that country. Oh +dear! if I were only a boy, and going to be a man, wouldn't I get there +just as quickly as I could, and learn how to do things, so that when I +grew up I could go right ahead and do them?" + +"All that sounds well," said Alaric, dubiously, "but I know father will +never let me go to any such places. He thinks such a life would kill me. +Besides, he says that as I shall never have to work, there is no need +for me to learn how." + +"But you must work," responded Esther, stoutly. "Every one must, or else +be very unhappy. Papa says that the happiest people in the world are +those who work the hardest when it is time for work and play the hardest +in play-time. But where are you driving to? This isn't the way home." + +"I am going to get a new hat and gloves," answered the boy, "for I don't +want any one at the house to know of our runaway. They'd never let me +drive the ponies again if they found it out." + +"It would be a shame if they didn't, after the way you handled them just +now," exclaimed Esther, indignantly. + +Just then they stopped before a fashionable hat-store on Kearney +Street, and while Alaric was debating whether he ought to leave the +ponies long enough to step inside he was recognized, and a clerk +hastened out to receive his order. + +"Hat and gloves," said Alaric. "You know the sizes." + +The clerk answered, "Certainly, Mr. Todd," bowed, and disappeared in the +store. + +"See those lovely gray 'Tams' in the window, Cousin Rick!" said Esther. +"Why don't you get one of them? It would be just the thing to wear in +the woods." + +"All right," replied the boy; "I will." + +So when the clerk reappeared with a stylish derby hat and a dozen pair +of gloves Alaric put the former on, said he would keep the gloves, and +at the same time requested that one of the gray Tams might be done up +for him. + +As this order was filled, and the ponies were headed towards home, +Esther said: "Why, Cousin Rick, you didn't pay for your things!" + +"No," replied the boy, "I never do." + +"You didn't even ask the prices, either." + +"Of course not," laughed the other. "Why should I? They were things that +I had to have anyway, and so what would be the use of asking the prices? +Besides, I don't think I ever did such a thing in my life." + +"Well," sighed the girl, "it must be lovely to shop in that way. Now I +never bought anything without first finding out if I could afford it; +and as for gloves, I know I never bought more than one pair at a time." + +"Really?" said Alaric, with genuine surprise. "I didn't know they sold +less than a dozen pair at a time. I wish I had known it, for I only +wanted one pair. I've got so many at home now that they are a bother." + +That very evening the lad spoke to his father about going on a ranch and +learning to be a cowboy. Unfortunately his brother John overheard him, +and greeted the proposition with shouts of laughter. Even Amos Todd, +while mildly rebuking his eldest son, could not help smiling at the +absurdity of the request. Then, turning to the mortified lad, he said, +kindly but decidedly: + +"You don't know what you are asking, Allie, my boy, and I couldn't think +for a moment of allowing you to attempt such a thing. The excitement of +that kind of life would kill you in less than no time. Ask anything in +reason, and I shall be only too happy to gratify you; but don't make +foolish requests." + +When Alaric reported this failure to Esther a little later, she said, +very gravely: + +"Then, Cousin Rick, there is only one thing left for you to do. You must +run away." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ALARIC TAKES A FIRST LESSON + + +On the day following that of the runaway, Esther Dale resumed her +position as a personally conducted tourist, and departed from San +Francisco, leaving Alaric to feel that he had lost the first real friend +he had ever known. Her influence remained with him, however, and as he +thought of her words and example his determination to enter upon some +different form of life became indelibly fixed. + +That very day he drove again to the park, this time with only his groom +for company, and went directly to the place where the game of baseball +had been in progress the afternoon before. As he hoped, another was +about to begin, though there were not quite enough players to make two +full nines. Hearing one of the boys say this, and discovering an +acquaintance among them, Alaric jumped from his cart, and, going up to +him, asked to be allowed to fill one of the vacant positions. + +Reg Barker was freckle-faced and red-headed, clad in flannels, with +sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and was adjusting a catcher's mask to +his face when Alaric approached. As the latter made known his desire, +Reg Barker, who was extremely jealous of the other's wealth and fame as +a traveller, regarded him for a moment with amazement, and then burst +into a shout of laughter. + +"Hi, fellows!" he called, "here is a good one--best I ever heard! Here's +Allie Todd, kid gloves and all, wants to play first base. What do you +say--shall we give him a show?" + +"Yes," shouted one; "No," cried another, as the boys crowded about the +two, gazing at Alaric curiously, as though he belonged to some different +species. + +"We might make him captain of the nine," called out one boy, who had +just gone to the bat. + +"No, he'd do better as umpire," suggested Reg Barker. "Don't you see +he's dressed for it? I don't know, though; I'm afraid that would come +under the head of cruelty to children, and we'd have the society down on +us." + +As Alaric, with a crimson face and a choking in his throat, sought in +vain for some outlet of escape from his tormentors who surrounded him, +and at the same time longed with a bitter longing for the power to +annihilate them, a lad somewhat older than the others forced his way +through the throng and demanded to know what was the row. He was Dave +Carncross, the pitcher, and one of the best amateur players of his age +on the coast. + +"It's Miss Allie Todd," explained Reg Barker, "and her ladyship is +offering to show us how to play ball." + +"Shut up, Red Top," commanded the new-comer, threateningly. "When I want +any of your chaff I'll let you know." Then turning to Alaric, he said, +pleasantly, "Now, young un, tell me all about it yourself." + +"There isn't much to tell," replied the boy, in a low tone, and with an +instinctive warming of his heart towards the sturdy lad who had come to +his rescue. "I wanted to learn how to play ball, and knowing Reg Barker, +asked him to teach me; that's all." + +"And he insulted you, like the young brute he is. I see. Red Top, if +you won't learn manners any other way I shall have to thrash them into +you. So look out for yourself. Now, you new fellow, your name's Todd, +isn't it?" + +"Yes." + +"And your father is Amos Todd, the millionaire?" + +Alaric admitted that such was the case. + +"Well, I know you, or, rather, my father knows your father. In fact, I +think they have some business together; and after this whenever you +choose to come out here if I'm around I'll see that you are treated +decently. As for learning to play ball, the mere fact that you want to +shows that you are made of good stuff, and I don't mind giving you a +lesson right now. So, stand out here, and let's see if you can catch." + +Thus saying, the stalwart young pitcher, who held a ball in his hand, +ran back a few rods, and, with a seemingly careless swing of his arm, +threw the ball straight and swift as an arrow directly at Alaric, who +instinctively held out his hands. + +Had he undertaken to stop a spent cannon-ball the boy could hardly have +been more amazed at the result. As the ball dropped to the ground he +felt as though he had grasped a handful of red-hot coals. Both his kid +gloves were split right across the palms, and the smart of his hands was +so great that, in spite of his efforts to restrain them, unbidden tears +sprang to his eyes. + +A shout of laughter arose from the spectators of this practical lesson; +but Dave Carncross, running up to him and recovering the dropped ball, +said, cheerily: "Never mind those duffers, young un. They couldn't do +any better themselves once, and you'll do better than any of them some +time. First lessons in experience always come high, and have to be paid +for on the spot; but they are worth the price, and you'll know better +next time than to stop a hot ball with stiff arms. What you want to do +is to let 'em give with the ball. See, like this." + +Here Dave picked up a bat, struck the ball straight up in the air until +it seemed to be going out of sight, and running under it as it +descended, caught it as deftly and gently as though it had been a wad of +feathers. + +"There," said he, "you have learned by experience the wrong way of +catching a ball, and seen the right way. I can't stop to teach you any +more now, for our game is waiting. What you want to do, though, is to go +down town and get a ball--a 'regulation dead,' mind--take it home, and +practise catching until you have learned the trick and covered your +hands with blisters. Then come back here, and I will show you something +else. Good-bye--so long!" + +With this the good-natured fellow ran off to take his place in the +pitcher's box, leaving Alaric filled with gratitude, and glowing with +the first thrill of real boyish life that he had ever known. For a while +he stood and watched the game, his still-tingling hands causing him to +appreciate as never before the beauty of every successful catch that was +made. He wondered if pitching a ball could be as difficult as catching +one, or even any harder than it looked. It certainly appeared easy +enough. He admired the reckless manner in which the players flung +themselves at the bases, sliding along the ground as though bent on +ploughing it with their noses; while the ability to hit one of those +red-hot balls with a regulation bat seemed to him little short of +marvellous. In fact, our lad was, for the first time in his life, +viewing a game of baseball through his newly discovered loophole of +experience, and finding it a vastly different affair from the same scene +shrouded by an unrent veil of ignorance. + +After he had driven away from the fascinating game, his mind was still +so full of it that when, in passing the children's playground, he was +invited by Miss Sue Barker, sister of red-headed Reg, to join in a game +of croquet, he declined, politely enough, but with such an unwonted tone +of contempt in his voice as caused the girl to stare after him in +amazement. + +He procured a regulation baseball before going home, and then practised +with it in the court-yard behind the Todd palace until his hands were +red and swollen. Their condition was so noticeable at dinnertime that +his father inquired into the cause. When the boy confessed that he had +been practising with a baseball, his brother John laughed loud and long, +and asked him if he intended to become a professional. + +His sister only said, "Oh, Allie! How can you care to do anything so +common? And where did you pick up the notion? I am sure you never saw +anything of the kind in France." + +"No," replied the boy; "I only wish I had." + +His father said, "It's all right, my son, so long as you play gently; +but you must be very careful not to over-exert yourself. Remember your +poor weak heart and the consequences of too violent exercise." + +"Oh, bother my weak heart!" cried the boy, impatiently. "I don't believe +my heart's any weaker than anybody else's heart, and the doctor who said +so was an old muff." + +At this unheard-of outbreak on the part of the long-suffering youngest +member of the family, John and Margaret glanced significantly at each +other, as though they suspected his mind was becoming affected as well +as his body; while his father said, soothingly, as though to an ailing +child: + +"Well, well, Allie, let it go. I am sorry that you should forget your +manners; but if the subject is distasteful to you, we won't talk of it +any more." + +"But I want to talk of it, father. I am sorry that I spoke as I did just +now; but you can't know what an unhappy thing it is to be living on in +the way I am, without doing anything that amounts to anything, or will +ever lead to anything. Won't you let me go on to a ranch, or somewhere +where I can learn to be a man?" + +"Of course, my boy," replied Amos Todd, still speaking as soothingly as +he knew how. "I will let you go anywhere you please, and do what you +please, just as quickly as I can find the right person to take care of +you, and see that you do nothing injurious. How would you like to go to +France with Margaret and me this summer? I am thinking of making the +trip." + +"I would rather go to China, or anywhere else in the world," replied the +boy, vehemently. "I am tired to death of France and Germany and +Switzerland and Italy, and all the other wretched European places, with +their _bads_ and _bains_ and _spas_ and Herr Doctors and _malades_. I +want to go into a world of live people, and strong people, and people +who don't know whether they have any hearts or not, and don't care." + +"Well, well, son, I will try and arrange something for you, only don't +get excited," said Amos Todd, at the same time burying himself in his +evening paper so as to put an end to the uncomfortable interview. + +In spite of the unsatisfactory ending of this conversation, Alaric felt +greatly encouraged by it, and during the week that followed he devoted +himself as assiduously to learning to catch a baseball as though that +were the one preparation needful for plunging into a world of live +people. Morning, noon, and evening he kept his groom so busy passing +ball with him that the exercising of the ponies was sadly neglected in +consequence. With all this practice, and in spite of bruised hands and +lame fingers, he at length became so expert that he began to think of +hunting up his friend Dave Carncross, and presenting himself for an +examination in the art of ball-catching. + +Every now and then he asked his father if he had not thought of some +plan for him, and the invariable answer was: "It's all right, Allie; +I've got a scheme on foot that's working so that I can tell you about it +in a few days." + +In the meantime the date of Amos Todd's departure for Europe with his +daughter was fixed. Shortly before its arrival the former called Alaric +aside, and, with a beaming face, announced that he had at length +succeeded in making most satisfactory arrangements. + +"You said you wanted to go to China, you know," he continued; "so I have +laid out a fine trip for you to China, and India, and Egypt, and all +sorts of places, and persuaded a most excellent couple, a gentleman and +his wife, to go along and take care of you. He is a professor and she is +a doctor, so you will be well looked after, and won't have the least bit +of responsibility or worry." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE "EMPRESS" LOSES A PASSENGER + + +Professor Maximus Sonntagg, a big man with a beard, and his wife, Mrs. +Dr. Ophelia Sonntagg, who was thin and mysterious, had come out of the +East to seek their fortunes in the Golden City about a year before, but +up to this time without any great amount of success. The former was a +professor of almost everything in the shape of ancient and modern art, +languages, history, and a lot of other things, concerning all of which +he wrote articles for the papers, always signing his name to them in +full. The Mrs. Doctor had learned the art of saying little, looking +wise, and shaking her head as she felt the pulse of her patients. + +These people had managed to scrape an acquaintance with Amos Todd, whom +the Professor declared to be the only patron of art in San Francisco +worth knowing, and to whom he gave some really valuable advice +concerning the purchase of certain paintings. Thus it happened that when +the busy millionaire, in seeking to provide a safe and congenial +amusement for the son whom he firmly believed to be an invalid, +conceived the idea of sending him around the world by way of China, he +also thought of the Sonntaggs as most suitable travelling companions for +him. Where else could he find such a combination of tutor and physician, +a man of the world to take his place as father, and a cultivated woman +to act as mother to his motherless boy? + +When he proposed the plan to the Sonntaggs, they declared that they +would not think of giving up the prosperous business they had +established in San Francisco, even for the sake of obliging their dear +friend Mr. Amos Todd. With this the millionaire made them an offer of +such unheard-of munificence that, with pretended reluctance, they +finally accepted it, and he went on his way rejoicing. + +The next evening the Sonntaggs dined at Amos Todd's house for the +purpose of making Alaric's acquaintance. The Professor patted him on the +shoulder, and, in a patronizing manner, hoped they should learn much and +enjoy much together. The Mrs. Doctor surveyed him critically, and held +his hand until the boy wondered if she would ever let it go. Finally she +shook her head, sighed deeply, and, turning to his father, said: + +"I understand the dear boy's case thoroughly. What he needs is +intelligent treatment and motherly care. I can give him both, and +unhesitatingly promise to restore him to you at the end of a year, if +nothing occurs to prevent, strong, well, and an ornament to the name of +Todd." + +Alaric found no difficulty in forming an opinion of the Sonntaggs, and +wondered if going to France with his father and sister would not be +preferable to travelling in their company. So occupied was he with this +question that he hardly ate a mouthful of the sumptuous dinner served in +honor of the guests--a fact that was noted with significant glances by +all at the table. + +It was planned that very evening that the Pacific should be crossed in +one of the superb steamships sailing from Vancouver, in British +Columbia, and a despatch was sent off at once to engage staterooms. The +journey was to be begun two days later, for that was the date on which +Amos Todd and his daughter were to start for France; and though the +_Empress_ would not sail from Vancouver for a week after that, the house +would be closed, and it was thought best for Alaric to travel up the +coast by easy stages. + +During those two days of grace the poor lad's mind was in a ferment. He +had no desire to go to China or anywhere else outside of his own +country. Having travelled nearly all his life, he was so tired of it +that travelling now seemed to him one of the most unpleasant things a +boy could be compelled to undertake. He did not want to go to France, of +course, and decided that even China in company with the Sonntaggs would +be better than Europe. + +Still, he tried to escape from going away at all, and asked his brother +John to let him stay with him and go to work in the bank; but John Todd +answered that he was too busy a man to have the care of an invalid, and +that their father's plan was by far the best. Then, as a last resort, +Alaric went to the park, hoping to meet Dave Carncross, and determined, +if he did, to lay the whole case before him, and ask his advice. Even +here fate seemed against him; for, from a strange boy of whom he made +inquiry, he learned that Carncross had left the city a day or two +before, though where he had gone the boy did not know. + +So preparations for the impending journey went busily forward, and +Alaric, who felt very much like a helpless victim of misfortune, could +find no excuse for delaying them. Even in the preparations being made +for his own comfort he was given no active part. Everything that he was +supposed to need and did not already possess was procured for him. His +father presented him with a superb travelling-bag, fitted with all +possible toilet accessories in silver and cut glass, but the boy would +infinitely have preferred a baseball bat, and a chance to use it. + +At length the day for starting arrived, and, with as great reluctance as +he had ever felt in his life, Alaric entered the carriage that was to +convey the Todds to the Oakland ferry. Crossing the bay, they found the +Sonntaggs awaiting them on the other side, where the whole party entered +Amos Todd's palatial private car that was attached to the Overland +Express. In this way they travelled together as far as Sacramento, where +Alaric bade his father and sister good-bye. Then he and his newly +appointed guardians boarded the special car provided for them, and in +which they were to proceed by the famous Shasta route to the far North. + +Up to this point the Sonntaggs had proved very attentive, and had +striven by every means to make themselves agreeable to their +fellow-travellers. From here on, however, the Professor spent most of +his time in smoking and sleeping, while his wife devoted herself to +reading novels, a great stack of which had been provided for the +journey. Alaric, thus left to his own devices, gazed drearily from the +car window, rebelling inwardly at the lonely grandeur with which he was +surrounded, and wishing with all his heart that he were poor enough to +be allowed to travel in one of the ordinary coaches, in which were +several boys of his own age, who seemed to be having a tantalizingly +good time. They were clad in flannels, knickerbockers, and heavy +walking-shoes, and Alaric noted with satisfaction that they wore gray +Tam o' Shanter caps, such as he had procured at Esther Dale's +suggestion, and was now wearing for the first time. + +They left the train at Sisson, and Alaric, standing on the platform of +his car, gathered from their conversation that they were about to climb +Mount Shasta, the superb rock-ribbed giant that lifted his snow-crowned +head more than fourteen thousand feet in the air a few miles from that +point. What wouldn't he give to be allowed to join the merry party and +make the adventurous trip with them? He had been familiar with mountains +by sight all his life, and had always longed to climb one, but had never +been given the opportunity. + +It was small consolation to notice one of the boys draw the attention of +the others to him, and overhear him say: "Look at that chap travelling +in a special car like a young millionaire. I say, fellows, that must be +great fun, and I'd like to try it just for once, wouldn't you?" + +The others agreed that they would, and then the group passed out of +hearing, while Alaric said to himself: "I only wish they could try +travelling all alone in a special car, just to find out how little fun +there is in it." + +The following morning Portland, Oregon, was reached, and here the car +was side-tracked that its occupants might spend a day or two in the +city. The Sonntaggs seemed to have many acquaintances here, for whom +they held a reception in the car, gave a dinner at the Hotel Portland, +and ordered carriages in which to drive about, all at Amos Todd's +expense. In these diversions Alaric was at liberty to join or not, as he +pleased, and he generally preferred to remain behind or to wander about +by himself. + +The same programme was repeated at Tacoma and Seattle, in the State of +Washington, and at Vancouver, in British Columbia. In the last-named +place Alaric's chief amusement lay in watching the lading of the great +white ship that was to bear him away, and the busy life of the port, +with its queer medley of Yankees and Britishers, Indians and Chinamen, +tourists, sailors, and stevedores. The last-named especially excited his +envious admiration--they were such big men, and so strong. + +[Illustration: ALARIC MAKES HIS FIRST DECISION] + +At length the morning of sailing arrived, and as the mighty steamship +moved majestically out of the harbor, and, leaving the brown waters of +Burrard Inlet behind, swept on into the open blue of the Gulf of +Georgia, the boy was overwhelmed with a great wave of homesickness. +Standing alone at the extreme after end of the promenade-deck, he +watched the fading land with strained eyes, and felt like an outcast and +a wanderer on the face of the earth. + +After a while the ship began to thread a bewildering maze of islands, in +which Professor Sonntagg made a slight effort to interest his moody +young charge; but finding this a difficult task, he quickly gave it up, +and joined some acquaintances in the smoking-room. + +Alaric had not known that the _Empress_ was to make one stop before +taking her final departure from the coast. So when she was made fast to +the outer wharf at Victoria, on the island of Vancouver, the largest +city in British Columbia, and its capital, he felt like one who receives +an unexpected reprieve from an unpleasant fate. + +As it was announced that she would remain here two hours, the Sonntaggs, +according to their custom, at once engaged a carriage to take them to +the most interesting places in the city. This plan had been suggested by +Amos Todd himself, who had bidden them spare no expense or pains to show +his son all that was worth seeing in the various cities they might +visit; and that the boy generally declined to accompany them on these +excursions was surely not their fault--at least, they did not regard it +so. + +The truth was that Alaric had taken a dislike to these pretentious +people from the very first, and it had grown so much stronger on closer +acquaintance that now he was willing to do almost anything to avoid +their company. Thus on this occasion he allowed them to drive off +without him, while he strolled alone to the head of the wharf, tossing +his beloved baseball, which he had carefully brought with him on this +journey, from hand to hand as he walked. + +"Hello! Give us a catch," shouted a cheery voice; and, looking up, +Alaric saw a merry-faced, squarely built lad of his own age standing in +an expectant attitude a short distance from him. Although he was roughly +dressed, he had a bright, self-reliant look that was particularly +attractive to our young traveller, who without hesitation tossed him the +ball. They passed it back and forth for a minute, and then the stranger +lad, saying, "Good-bye; I must be getting along; wish I could stop and +get better acquainted, though," ran on with a laugh, and disappeared in +the crowd. + +An hour later Alaric was nearly half a mile from the wharf, when the +steamer's hoarse whistle sounded a warning note that signified a speedy +departure. He turned and began to walk slowly in that direction, and a +few minutes later a carriage containing the Sonntaggs dashed by without +its occupants noticing him. + +At sight of them Alaric paused. A queer look came into his face; it grew +very pale, and then he deliberately sat down on a log by the way-side. +There came another blast of the ship's whistle, and then the tall masts, +which he could just see, began slowly to move. The _Empress_, with the +Sonntaggs on board, had started for China, and one of her passengers was +left behind. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +FIRST MATE BONNY BROOKS + + +Alaric Todd's sensations as he sat on that log and watched the ship, in +which he was supposed to be a passenger, steam away without him were +probably as curious as any ever experienced by a boy. He had +deliberately abandoned a life of luxury, as well as a position that most +people are striving with all their energies to obtain, and accepted in +its place--what? He did not know, and for the moment he did not care. He +only knew that the Sonntaggs were gone beyond a chance of return at +least for some weeks, and that during that time there was no possible +way in which they could reach him or communicate with his family. + +He realized that he was in a strange city, not one of whose busy +population either knew or cared to know a thing about him. But what of +that? If they did not know him they could never call him by the hated +name of "Allie." If he succeeded in making friends, it would be because +of himself, and not on account of his father's wealth. Above all, those +now about him did not know and should never know, if he could keep it, +that he was thought to be possessed of a weak heart. Certainly if +excitement could injure his heart, it ought to be completely ruined at +the present moment, for he had never been so excited in his life, and +doubted if he ever should be again. + +With it all the lad was filled with such an exulting sense of liberty +that he wanted to jump and shout and share with every passer-by the +glorious news that at length he was free--free to be a boy among boys, +and to learn how to become a man among men. He did not shout, nor did he +confide his happiness to any of those who were coming up from the wharf, +where they had just witnessed the departure of the great ship; but he +did jump from the log on which he had been sitting and fling his +baseball high in the air. As it descended and he caught it with +practised skill, he was greeted by the approving remark: "Good catch! +Couldn't do it better myself!" and looking round he saw the lad with +whom he had passed ball a short time before. + +"It seems mighty good," continued the stranger, "to see a baseball +again, and meet a fellow who knows how to catch one. These chaps over +here don't know anything about it, and I've hardly seen a ball since I +left Massachusetts. You don't throw, though, half as well as you catch." + +"No," replied Alaric, "I haven't learned that yet. You see, I've only +just begun." + +"That so? Wish I had a chance to show you something about it, then, for +I used to play on the nine at home." + +"I wish you could, for I want awfully to learn. Why can't you?" + +"Because I don't live here, and, do you know, I didn't think you did, +either. When I saw you awhile ago, I had a sort of idea that you +belonged aboard the _Empress_, and were going in her to China, and I've +been more than half envying you ever since. Funny, wasn't it?" + +"Awfully!" responded Alaric. "And I'm glad it isn't true, for I don't +know of anything I should hate more than to be going to China in the +_Empress_. But I say, let's stop in here and get something to eat, for +I'm hungry--aren't you?" + +"Of course I am," laughed the other; and with this the two boys, who +were already strolling towards the city together, turned into the little +road-side bake-shop that had just attracted Alaric's attention. Here he +ordered half a sheet of buns, two tarts, and two glasses of milk. These +being served on a small table, Alaric paid for them, and the newly made +acquaintances sat down to enjoy their feast at leisure. + +"What I want to do," said Alaric, continuing their interrupted +conversation, "is to get back to the States as quickly as possible." + +"That's easy enough," replied the other, holding his tart in both hands +and devouring it with infinite relish. "There's a steamer leaves here at +eight o'clock this evening for Seattle and Tacoma. But you don't live +here then, after all?" + +"No, I don't live here, nor do I know any one who does, and I want to +get away as quickly as I can; for I am looking for work, and should +think the chances for finding it were better in the States than here." + +"_You_ looking for work?" said the other, slowly, and as though doubting +whether he had heard aright. At the same time he glanced curiously at +Alaric's white hands and neatly fitting coat. "You don't look like a +fellow who is looking for work." + +"I am, though," laughed Alaric; "and as I have just spent the last cent +of money I had in the world, I must find something to do right away. +That's the reason I want to get back to the States; but I don't know +about that steamer. I suppose they'd charge something to take me, +wouldn't they?" + +"Well, rather," responded the other. "But I say, Mister--By-the-way, +what is your name?" + +"Dale--Rick Dale," replied Alaric, promptly, for he had anticipated +this question, and was determined to drop the Todd part of his name, at +least for the present. "But there isn't any Mister about it. It's just +plain Rick Dale." + +"Well, then, plain Rick Dale," said the other, "my name is Bonny +Brooks--short for Bonnicastle, you know; and I must say that you are the +most cheerful-appearing fellow to be in the fix you say you are that I +ever met. When I get strapped and out of a job I sometimes don't laugh +for a whole day, especially if I don't have anything to eat in that +time." + +"That's something I never tried, and I didn't know any one ever did for +a whole day," remarked Alaric. "How queer it must seem!" + +"Lots of people try it; but they don't unless they have to, and it don't +seem queer at all," replied Bonny, soberly. "But what kind of work are +you looking for, and what pay do you expect?" + +"I am looking for anything I can find to do, and will work for any pay +that is offered." + +"It would seem as if a fellow ought to get plenty to do on those terms," +said Bonny, "though it isn't so easy as you might think, for I've tried +it. How do you happen to be looking for work, anyway? Where is your +home, and where are your folks?" + +"My mother is dead," replied Alaric, "and I suppose my father is in +France, though just where he is I don't know. Our home was in San +Francisco, and before he left he tried to fix things all right for me; +but they turned out all wrong, and so I am here looking for something to +do." + +"If that don't beat anything I ever heard of!" cried Bonny Brooks, in a +tone of genuine amazement. "If I didn't know better, I should think you +were telling my story, or that we were twins; for my mother is dead, and +my father, when last heard from, was on his way to France. You see, he +was a ship captain, and we lived in Sandport, on Cape Cod, where, after +my mother died, he fixed up a home for me with an aunt, and left money +enough to keep me at school until he came back from a voyage to South +America and France. We heard of his reaching Brazil and leaving there, +but never anything more; and when a year passed Aunt Nancy said she +couldn't support me any longer. So she got me a berth as cabin-boy on a +bark bound to San Francisco, and then to the Sound for lumber to China. +I wanted to go to China fast enough, but the captain treated me so badly +that I couldn't stand it any longer, and so skipped just before the ship +sailed from Port Blakely. The meanest part of it all was that I had to +forfeit my pay, leave my dunnage on board, and light out with only what +I had on my back." + +"That's my fix exactly," cried Alaric, delightedly. "I mean," he added, +recollecting himself, "that my baggage got carried off, and as I haven't +heard from it since, I don't own a thing in the world except the +clothing I have on." + +"And a baseball," interposed Bonny. + +"Oh yes, a baseball, of course," replied Alaric, soberly, as though that +were a most matter-of-fact possession for a boy in search of employment. +"But what did you do after your ship sailed away without you?" + +"Starved for a couple of days, and then did odd jobs about the river for +my grub, until I got a chance to ship as one of the crew of the sloop +_Fancy_, that runs freight and passengers between here and the Sound. +That was only about a month ago, and now I'm first mate." + +"You are?" cried Alaric, at the same time regarding his young companion +with a profound admiration and vastly increased respect. "Seems to me +that is the most rapid promotion I ever heard of. What a splendid sailor +you must be!" + +Although the speaker was so ignorant of nautical matters that he did not +know a sloop from a schooner, or from a full-rigged ship, for that +matter, he had read enough sea stories to realize that the first mate of +any vessel was often the most important character on board. + +"Yes," said Bonny, modestly, "I do know a good deal about boats; for, +you see, I was brought up in a boating town, and have handled them one +way and another ever since I can remember. I haven't been first mate +very long, though, because the man who was that only left to-day." + +"What made him?" asked Alaric, who could not understand how any one, +having once attained to such an enviable position, could willingly give +it up. + +"Oh, he had some trouble with the captain, and seemed to think it was +time he got paid something on account of his wages, so that he could buy +a shirt and a pair of boots." + +"Why didn't the captain pay him?" + +"I suppose he didn't have the money." + +"Then why didn't the man get the things he wanted, and have them +charged?" + +"That's a good one," laughed Bonny. "Because the storekeeper wouldn't +trust him, of course." + +"I never heard of such a thing," declared Alaric, indignantly. "I +thought people could always have things charged if they wanted to. I'm +sure I never found any trouble in doing it." + +"Didn't you?" said Bonny. "Well, I have, then," and he spoke so queerly +that Alaric realized in a moment that he had very nearly betrayed his +secret. Hastening to change the subject, he asked: + +"If you took the mate's place, who took yours?" + +"Nobody has taken it yet, and that's what I'm after now--hunting for a +new hand. The captain couldn't come himself, because he's got rheumatism +so bad that it's all he can do to crawl out on deck and back again. +Besides, it's the first mate's place to ship the crew, anyhow." + +"Then," asked Alaric, excitedly, "why don't you take me? I'll work hard +and do anything you say?" + +"You?" cried Bonny, regarding his companion with amazement. "Have you +ever sailed a boat or helped work a vessel?" + +"No," replied Alaric, humbly; "but I am sure I can learn, and I +shouldn't expect any pay until I did." + +"I should say not," remarked the first mate of the _Fancy_, "though most +greenhorns do. Still, that is one thing in your favor. Another is that +you can catch a ball as well as any fellow I ever knew, and a chap who +can do that can learn to do most anything. So I really have a great mind +to take you on trial." + +"Do you think the captain will agree to it?" asked Alaric, anxiously. + +"Of course he will, if I say so," replied Bonny Brooks, confidently; +"for, as I just told you, the first mate always hires the crew." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +PREPARING TO BE A SAILOR + + +During the conversation just recorded the boys by no means neglected +their luncheon, for both of them had been very hungry, and by the time +they arrived at an understanding in regard to Alaric's engagement not a +crumb of food nor a drop of milk was left before them. While to Bonny +Brooks this had proved a most welcome and enjoyable repast, to Alaric it +marked a most important era of his life. To begin with, it was the first +meal he had ever paid for out of his own pocket, and this alone was +sufficient to give it a flavor that he had never discovered in the rich +food by which his appetite had heretofore been tempted. + +Then during this simple meal he had entered upon his first friendship +with a boy of his own age, for the liking that he had already taken for +Bonny Brooks was evidently returned. Above all, during that brief +lunch-hour he had conducted his first independent business operation, +and now found himself engaged to fill a responsible position in active +life. To be sure, he was only taken on trial, but if good intentions and +a determination to do his very best could command success, then was his +position assured. How fortunate he was, after all! An opening, a chance +to prove what he could do, was all that he had wanted, and behold! it +was his within the first hour of his independent life. How queer that it +had come through his baseball too, and how strangely one thing seemed +to lead to another! + +Now Alaric was impatient for a sight of the vessel that was to be the +scene of his future labors, and anxious to begin them. He had so little +idea of what a sloop was that he even wondered if it would be propelled +by sails or steam. He was inclined to think that it must be the latter, +for Bonny had spoken of his craft as carrying passengers, and Alaric had +never known any passenger boats except such as were driven by steam. So +he pictured the _Fancy_ as a steamer, not so large as the _Empress_, of +course, but fairly good-sized, manned by engineers, stokers, stewards, +and a crew of sailors. With this image in his mind, he regarded his +companion as one who had indeed attained a lofty position. + +So busy was our hero with these thoughts that for a full minute after +the lads left the bake-shop he did not utter a word. Bonny Brooks was +also occupied with a line of thought that caused him to glance +reflectively at his companion several times before he spoke. Finally he +broke out with: + +"I say, Rick Dale, I don't know about shipping you for a sailor, after +all. You see, you are dressed altogether too fine. Any one would take +you for the captain or maybe the owner if you were to go aboard in those +togs." + +"Would they?" asked Alaric, gazing dubiously down at his low-cut +patent-leather shoes, black silk socks, and light trousers accurately +creased and unbagged at the knees. Besides these he wore a vest and +sack-coat of fine black serge, an immaculate collar, about which was +knotted a silk neck-scarf, and a narrow-striped cheviot shirt, the cuffs +of which were fastened by gold sleeve-links. Across the front of his +vest, from pocket to pocket, extended a slender chain of twisted gold +and platinum, at one end of which was his watch, and at the other a gold +and platinum pencil-case. + +"Yes, they would," answered Bonny, with decision; "and you've got to +make a change somehow, or else our bargain must be called off, for you +could never become a sailor in that rig." + +Here was a difficulty on which Alaric had not counted, and it filled him +with dismay. "Couldn't I change suits with you?" he asked, anxiously. "I +shouldn't think mine would be too fine for a first mate." + +"Not if I know it," laughed Bonny. "They'd fit me too much one way and +not enough another. Besides, they are shore togs any way you look at +'em, and not at all the things to go to sea in. The cap'n would have a +fit if you should go aboard dressed as you are. So if you want to ship +with us, I'm afraid you'll have to buy a new outfit." + +"But I haven't any money, and you say they won't charge things in this +town." + +"Of course they won't if they don't know you; but you might spout your +ticker, and make a raise that way." + +"Might what?" + +"Shove up your watch. Leave it with your uncle, you know, until you +earned enough to buy it back." + +"Do you mean sell it?" + +"No. They'd ask too many questions if you tried to sell it, and wouldn't +give much more, anyway. I mean pawn it." + +"All right," replied Alaric. "I'm willing, only I don't know how." + +"Oh, I'll show you quick enough, if you really want to do it." + +As Alaric insisted that he was willing to do almost anything to procure +that coveted sailor's outfit, Bonny led him to a mean-looking shop, +above the door of which hung three golden balls. The dingy windows were +filled with a dusty miscellany of watches, pistols, and all sorts of +personal property, while the opening of the door set loose a musty odor +of old clothing. As this came pouring forth Alaric instinctively drew +back in disgust; but with a sudden thought that he could not afford to +be too fastidious in the new life he had chosen, he conquered his +repugnance to the place and followed Bonny inside. + +A gaunt old Hebrew in a soiled dressing-gown stood behind a small +counter. As Alaric glanced at him hesitatingly, Bonny opened their +business by saying, briskly: + +"Hello, uncle! How are you to-day? My friend here wants to make a raise +on his watch." + +"Let's see dot vatch," replied Mr. Isaacs, and Alaric handed it to him, +together with the chain and pencil-case. It was a fine Swiss +chronometer, with the monogram A.D.T. engraved on its back; and as the +pawnbroker tested the quality of its case and peered at the works, +Alaric noted his deliberate movements with nervous anxiety. Finally the +man said: + +"I gifs you den tollars on dot vatch mit der chain und pencil trown in." + +Alaric would have accepted this offer at once, but Bonny knew better. + +"Ten nothings!" he said. "You'll give us fifty dollars, uncle, or we'll +take it down to Levi's." + +"Feefty tollar! So hellup me grashus! I vould be alretty bankrupted of I +gif feefty tollars on effery vatch. Vat you dake me for?" + +"Take you for an old fraud," replied the unabashed first mate of the +_Fancy_. "Of course you would be bankrupted, as you ought to have been +long ago, if you gave fifty dollars on every turnip that is brought in; +but you could well afford to advance a hundred on this watch, and you +know it." + +"Veil, I tell you; I gifs t'venty-fife." + +[Illustration: "'VELL, I TELL YOU. I GIFS YOU TVENTY-FIFE'"] + +"Fifty," said Bonny, firmly. + +"Dirty, und nod von cend more, so hellup me." + +"Fifty." + +"Dirty-fife?" + +"We'll split the difference, and call it forty-five." + +"I gifs you fordy oud of charidy, seeing you is so hart up." + +"It's a bargain," cried Bonny. "Hand over your cash." + +"How could you talk to him that way?" asked Alaric, admiringly, as the +boys left the shop, he minus his watch and chain, but with forty dollars +and a pawn-ticket in his pocket. + +"I couldn't once," laughed Bonny; "but it's one of the things poor folks +have to learn. If you are willing to let people impose on you they'll be +mighty quick to do it, and the only way is to bluff 'em from the start." + +The next place they entered was a sailor's slop-shop, in which were kept +all sorts of seafaring garments and accessories. Here, advised by Bonny, +Alaric invested fourteen dollars and seventy-five cents in a blue knit +jersey, or sweater, a pair of stout woollen trousers, two flannel +shirts, two suits of heavy underclothing, several pairs of cotton socks, +and a pair of canvas shoes. + +Expressing a desire to make a change of clothing at once, he was shown a +retired corner where he might do so, and from which he emerged a few +minutes later so altered in appearance that it is doubtful if his own +father would have recognized him. + +"That's something like it!" cried Bonny. + +"Isn't it?" replied Alaric, surveying himself with great satisfaction in +a mirror, and fully convinced that he now looked so like a sailor that +no one could possibly mistake him for anything else. "Don't you think, +though, that I ought to have the name of the sloop embroidered across +the front of this sweater? All the sailors I have ever seen had theirs +fixed that way." + +"I suppose it would be a good idea," replied Bonny, soberly, though +filled with inward laughter at the suggestion. "But perhaps you'd better +wait until you see if the ship suits you, and whether you stay with us +or not." + +"Oh, I'll stay," asserted Alaric. "There's no fear but what I will, if +you'll only keep me." + +"Going yachting, sir?" asked the shopkeeper, politely, as he carefully +folded Alaric's discarded suit of fine clothing. + +"No, indeed," replied the boy, scornfully; "I'm going to be a sailor on +the sloop _Fancy_, and I wish you would send those things down to her at +once." + +Ere the man could recover from his astonishment at this request +sufficiently to make reply, Bonny interrupted, hastily: + +"Oh no, Rick! we'll take them with us. There isn't time to have 'em +sent." + +"I should guess not," remarked the shopkeeper, in a very different tone +from the one he had used before. "But say, young feller, if you're going +to be a sailor you'll want a bag, and I've got a second-hand one here +almost as good as new that I'll sell cheap. It come to me with a lot of +truck from the sale of a confiscated sealer; and seeing that it's got +another chap's name painted on it, I'll let you have it for one bob +tuppence-ha'penny, and that'll make even money between us." + +Thus saying, the man produced a stout canvas bag, such as a sailor uses +in place of a trunk. The name plainly painted across it, in black +letters, was "Philip Ryder", but Alaric said he didn't mind that, so he +took the bag, thrust his belongings, including his cherished baseball, +into it, and the two boys left the shop. + +"By-the-way," asked Alaric, hesitatingly, "don't I need to get some +brushes and things?" + +"What for?" + +"Why, to brush my hair, and--" + +"Oh no," interrupted the other. "There's a comb on board, and, besides, +we can't stop for anything more. I've been gone so long now that I +expect the old man is madder'n a wet hen by this time." + +So Bonny led the way to the wharves, and to a narrow slip between two of +them that just then was occupied by but a single craft. She was a small +sloop, not over forty feet long, though of good beam, evidently very +old, and so dingy that it was hard to believe she had ever been painted. +Her sails, hanging unfurled in lazy jacks, were patched and discolored; +her running rigging was spliced, the standing rigging was sadly in need +of setting up, her iron-work was rusted, and her spars were gray with +age. + +"There's the old packet," said Bonny, cheerfully. + +"Where?" asked Alaric, gazing vaguely down the slip and utterly ignoring +the disreputable craft close at hand. + +"Why, right here," answered the other, a trifle impatiently. "Don't you +see the name '_F-A-N-C-Y_' on her stern? She isn't much to look at, I +know, but she's a hummer to go, and a mighty good sea-boat. She's +awfully comfortable, too. Come aboard and I'll show you." + +With this the cheery young fellow, who had actually come to a belief +that the shabby old craft was all he claimed for her, tossed his +friend's recent purchase to the deck of the sloop, and began to clamber +after it down a rickety ladder. + +With all his bright visions of a minute before rudely dispelled, and +with a heart so heavy that he could find no words to express his +feelings, Alaric followed him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CAPTAIN DUFF, OF THE SLOOP "FANCY" + + +As the newly engaged crew of the sloop _Fancy_ slowly and awkwardly +descended the slippery ladder leading down to his ship, he experienced +his first regrets at the decisive step he had taken, and doubts as to +its wisdom. The real character of the sloop as shown by a single glance +was so vastly different from his ideal, that for a moment it did not +seem as though he could accept the disreputable old craft as even a +temporary home. Never before had he realized how he loathed dirt and +disorder, and all things that offended his delicately trained senses. +Never before had he appreciated the cleanly and orderly forms of living +to which he had always been accustomed. He could not imagine it possible +to eat, sleep, or even exist on board such a craft as lay just beneath +him, and his impulse was to fly to some remote place where he should +never see nor hear of the _Fancy_ again. But even as he was about to do +this the sound of Bonny's reassuring voice completely changed the +current of his thoughts. + +Was not the lad who had brought him to this place a very picture of +cheerful health, and just such a strong, active, self-reliant boy as he +longed to become? Surely what Bonny could endure he could! Perhaps +disagreeable things were necessary to the proper development of a boy. +That thought had never come to him before, but now he remembered how +much his hands had suffered before they were trained to catch a +regulation ball. + +Besides all this, had not Bonny hesitated before consenting to give him +a trial, and had he not insisted on coming? Had he not also confidently +asserted that all he wanted was a chance to show what he was good for, +and that nothing save a dismissal should cause him to relinquish +whatever position was given him? After all, no matter how bad things +might prove on the sloop, there would always be plenty of fresh air and +sunshine, besides an unlimited supply of clean water. He could remember +catching glimpses, in foreign cities, of innumerable pestilential places +in which human beings were compelled to spend whole lifetimes, where +none of these things was to be had. + +Yes, he would keep on and make the best of whatever presented itself, +for perhaps things would not prove to be as bad as they seemed; and, +after all, he was willing to endure a great deal for the sake of +continuing the friendship just begun between himself and Bonny Brooks. +He remembered now having once heard his father say that a friendship +worth having was worth fighting for. If that were the case, what a +coward he would be to even think of relinquishing his first real +friendship without making an effort to retain it. + +By the time all these thoughts had flashed through the boy's mind he had +gained the sloop's deck, where he was startled by an angry voice that +sounded like the bellow of an enraged bull. Turning quickly, he saw his +friend Bonny confronted by a big man with a red face and bristling +beard. This individual, supported by a pair of rudely made crutches, was +standing beside the after companion-way, and glaring at the bag +containing his own effects that had been tossed down from the wharf. + +"Ye've got a hand, have ye?" roared this man, whom Alaric instinctively +knew to be the captain. "Is this his dunnage?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the first mate. "And I think--" + +"Never mind what you think," interrupted the captain, fiercely. "Send +him about his business, and pitch his dunnage back on the wharf or pitch +it overboard, I don't care which. Pitch it! d'ye hear?" + +"But Captain Duff, I think--" + +"Who asked ye to think? I do the thinking on board this craft. Don't ye +suppose I know what I'm talking about? I tell ye I had this Phil Ryder +with me on one cruise, and I'll never have him on another! An impudent +young puppy as ever lived, and a desarter to boot. Took off two of my +best men with him, too. Oh, I know him, and I'd Phil him full of his own +rifle-bullets ef I had the chance. I'd like to Ryder him on a rail, +too." + +"You are certainly mistaken, sir, this time, for--" + +"Who, I? You dare say I'm mistaken, you tarry young swab you!" roared +the man, his face turning purple with rage. "Oh, ef I had the proper use +of my feet for one minute I'd show ye! Put him ashore, I tell ye, and do +it in a hurry too, or you'll go with him without one cent of wages--not +one cent, d'ye hear? I'll have no mutiny where I'm cap'n." + +Poor Alaric listened to this fierce outbreak with mingled fear and +dismay. Now that the situation he had deemed so surely his either to +accept or reject was denied him, it again seemed very desirable. He was +about to speak up in his own behalf when the angry man's last threat +caused him to change his mind. He could not permit Bonny to suffer on +his account, and lose the position he had so recently attained. No, the +very first law of friendship forbade that; and so, stepping forward to +claim his bag, he said, in a low tone: "Never mind me, Bonny; I'll go." + +"No, you won't!" retorted the young mate, stoutly, "or, if you do, I'll +go with you; and I'll have my wages too, Captain Duff, or know the +reason why." + +Without paying the slightest attention to this remark, the man was +staring at Alaric, whom he had not noticed until this moment. "Who is +that land-lubber togged out like a sporty salt?" he demanded. + +"He's the crew I hired, and the one you have just bounced," replied +Bonny. + +"What's his name?" + +"Rick Dale." + +"What made you say it was Phil Ryder, then?" + +"I didn't, sir. You--" + +"Don't contradict me, you unlicked cub! Can he shoot?" + +"No, sir," replied Alaric, as Bonny looked at him inquiringly. + +"All right. I wouldn't have him aboard if he could. Why don't he take +his thundering dunnage and go for'ard, where he belongs, and cook me +some grub when he knows I haven't had anything to eat sence sunup? Why +don't he, I say?" + +With this Captain Duff turned and clumped heavily to the other side of +the deck; while Bonny, hastily picking up the bag that had been the +innocent cause of all this uproar, said, in a low voice: "Come on, Rick; +it's all right." + +As they went forward together he dropped the bag down a tiny forecastle +hatch. Then, after asking Alaric to cut some kindlings and start a fire +in the galley stove, which was housed on deck, he dove into the cabin to +see what he could find that could be cooked for dinner. + +When he reappeared a minute later he found his crew struggling with an +axe and a chunk of hard wood, from which he was vainly attempting to +detach some slivers. He had already cut two deep gashes in the deck, and +in another moment would probably have needed crutches as badly as the +captain himself. + +"Hold on, Rick!" cried the young mate, catching the axe-helve just as +the weapon was making another erratic descent. "I find those grocery +chaps haven't sent down any stores. So do you just run up there. It's +two doors this side of Uncle Isaac's, you know, and hurry them along. +I'll 'tend to the fire while you are gone." + +Gladly exchanging his unaccustomed, and what he considered to be very +dangerous, task of wood-chopping for one that he felt sure he could +accomplish creditably, Alaric hastened away. He found the grocer's +easily enough, and demanded of the first clerk he met why the stores for +the sloop _Fancy_ had not been sent down. + +"Must have been the other clerk, sir, and I suppose he forgot all about +'em; but I'll attend to the order at once, sir," replied the man, who +took in at a glance Alaric's gentlemanly bearing and the newness of his +nautical garb. "Have 'em right down, sir. Hard bread, salt junk, rice, +and coffee, I believe. Anything else, sir?" + +"I'm sure I don't know," replied Alaric. + +"Going to take a run on the _Fancy_ yourself, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"Then of course you'll want some soft bread, a few tins of milk, half a +dozen jars of marmalade, and a dozen or so of potted meats?" + +"I suppose so," assented the boy. + +"Step this way, sir, and let me show you some of our fine goods," +suggested the clerk, insinuatingly. + +In another part of the building he prattled glibly of pate-de-foie-gras, +and Neufchatel cheese, truffles, canned mushrooms, Albert biscuit, +anchovy paste, stuffed olives, Wiesbaden prunes, and a variety of +things--all of which were so familiar to the millionaire's son, and had +appeared so naturally on all the tables at which he had ever sat, that +he never for a moment doubted but what they must be necessities on the +_Fancy_ as well. Of ten million boys he was perhaps the only one +absolutely ignorant that these luxuries were not daily articles of food +with all persons above the grade of paupers; and as he was equally +without a knowledge of their cost, he allowed the clerk to add a dozen +jars of this, and as many pots of that, to his list, until even that +wily individual could think of nothing else with which to tempt this +easy-going customer. So, promising that the supplies just ordered should +be sent down directly, he bowed Alaric out of the door, at the same time +trusting that they should be honored with his future patronage. + +Bethinking himself that he must have a toothbrush, and that it would +also be just as well to have his own comb, in spite of Bonny's assurance +that the ship's comb would be at his service, the lad went in search of +these articles. When he found them he was also tempted to invest in what +he regarded as two other indispensables--namely, a cake of fine soap and +a bottle of eau-de-Cologne. + +He had gone quite a distance for these things, and occupied a full +half-hour in getting them. As he retraced his steps towards the wharves +he passed the slop-shop in which his first purchases of the day had been +made, and was greeted by the proprietor with an inquiry as to whether +old Duff had taken aboard his cargo of "chinks and dope" yet. Not +understanding the question, Alaric did not answer it; but as he passed +on he wondered what sort of a cargo that could be. + +By the time he regained the wharf to which the _Fancy_ was moored the +flooding tide had raised her to a level with it, and on her deck Alaric +beheld a scene that filled him with amazement. The stores that he had +ordered had arrived. The wagon in which they had come stood at one side, +and they had all been taken aboard. One of the two men who had brought +them was exchanging high words and even a shaking of fists with the +young first mate of the sloop, while the other was presenting a bill to +the captain and insisting upon its payment. + +Captain Duff, foaming at the mouth and purple in the face, was +speechless with rage, and could only make futile passes with one of his +crutches at the man with the bill, who dodged each blow with great +agility. As Alaric appeared this individual cried out: + +"Here's the young gent as ordered the goods now!" + +"Certainly," said Alaric, advancing to the sloop's side. "I was told to +order some stores, and I did so." + +"Oh, you did, did ye! you thundering young blunderbuss?" roared Captain +Duff, finding his voice at last. "Then suppose you pay for 'em." + +"Very well," replied the lad, quietly, thinking this an official command +that must be obeyed. + +A minute later peace was restored, Captain Duff was gasping, and his +first mate was staring with amazement. The bill had been paid, the wagon +driven away, and Alaric was again without a single cent in his pockets. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AN UNLUCKY SMASH + + +Captain Duff's first order after peace was thus restored and he had +recovered the use of his voice, temporarily lost through amazement at +the spectacle of a sailor before the mast paying out of his own pocket +for a ship's stores, and stores of such an extraordinary character as +well, was that the goods thus acquired should be immediately transferred +to his own cabin. So Bonny, with Alaric to assist, began to carry the +things below. + +The cabin was very small, dirty, and stuffy. It contained two wide +transom berths, one on each side, a table bearing the stains of +innumerable meals and black with age, and two stools. There was a clock +nailed to the forward bulkhead; beneath it was fastened a small, cheap +mirror, and beside this, attached to a bit of tarred twine, hung the +ship's comb. + +One of the two berths was overlaid with a mattress, several soiled +blankets, and a tattered quilt. It formed the captain's bed, and it also +served as a repository for a number of tobacco-boxes and an assortment +of well-used pipes. In the other berth was a confusion of old clothing, +hats, boots, and whatever else had been pitched there to get it out of +the way. Here the captain proposed to have stored the providential +supply of food that had come to him as unexpectedly as that furnished by +the ravens to the prophet Elijah. + +The air of the place was so pervaded with a combination odor of stale +tobacco smoke, mouldy leather, damp clothing, bilge-water, kerosene, +onions, and other things of an equally obtrusive nature, that poor +Alaric gasped for breath on first descending the short but steep flight +of steps leading to it. He deposited his burden and hurried out as +quickly as possible, in spite of the fact that Captain Duff, who sat on +his bunk, had begun to speak to him. + +On his next trip below the lad drew in a long breath of fresh air just +before entering the evil-smelling cabin, and determined not to take +another until he should emerge from it. In his haste to execute this +plan he dropped his armful of cans, and, without waiting to stow them, +had gained the steps before realizing that the captain was ordering him +to come back. + +Furious at hearing his command thus disregarded, the man reached out +with one of his crutches, caught it around the boy's neck, and gave him +a violent jerk backward. + +The startled lad, losing his foothold, came to the floor with a crash +and a loud escaping "Ah!" of pent-up breath. At the same moment the +cabin began to be pervaded with a new and unaccustomed odor so strong +that all the others temporarily withdrew in its favor. + +"Oh murder! Let me out," gasped Captain Duff, as he scrambled for the +companion-way and a breath of outer air. "Of all the smells I ever +smelled that's the worst!" + +"What have you broken, Rick?" asked Bonny, anxiously, thrusting his head +down the companion-way. He had been curiously reading the unfamiliar +labels on the various jars, pots, and bottles, and now fancied that his +crew had slipped down the steep steps with some of these in his arms. + +"Whew! but it's strong!" he continued, as the penetrating fumes greeted +his nostrils. "Is it the truffles or the pate grass or the cheese?" + +"I'm afraid," replied Alaric, sadly, as he slowly rose from the cabin +floor and thrust a cautious hand into one of his hip-pockets, "that it +is a bottle of eau-de-Cologne." + +"Cologne!" cried Bonny, incredulously, as he caught the word. "If these +foreign kinds of grub are put up in cologne, it's no wonder that I never +heard of them before. Why, it's poison, that's what it is, and nothing +less. Shall I heave the rest of the truck overboard, sir?" + +"Hold on!" cried Alaric, emerging with rueful face from the cabin in +time to catch this suggestion. "It isn't in them. It was in my pocket +all by itself." + +"I wish it had stayed there, and you'd gone to Halifax with it afore +ever ye brought the stuff aboard this ship!" thundered the captain. +"Avast, ye lubber! Don't come anigh me. Go out on the end of the dock +and air yourself." + +So the unhappy lad, his clothing saturated with cologne, betook himself +to the wharf, where, as he slowly walked up and down, filling the air +with perfume, he carefully removed bits of broken glass from his moist +pocket, and disgustedly flung them overboard. + +While he was thus engaged, the first mate, under the captain's personal +supervision, was fumigating the cabin by burning in it a bunch of oakum +over which was scattered a small quantity of tobacco. When the +atmosphere of the place was thus so nearly restored to its normal +condition that Captain Duff could again endure it, Bonny finished +stowing the supplies, and then turned his attention to preparing supper. + +Meanwhile Alaric had been joined in his lonely promenade by a stranger, +who, with a curious expression on his face as he drew near the lad, +changed his position so as to get on the windward side, and then began a +conversation. + +"Fine evening," he said. + +"Is it?" asked Alaric, moodily. + +"I think so. Do you belong on that sloop?" + +"Yes." + +"Able looking craft, and seems to have good accommodations. Where does +she run to from here?" + +"The Sound," answered Alaric, shortly, for he was not in a humor to be +questioned. + +"What does she carry?" + +"Passengers and cargo." + +"Indeed. And may I ask what sort of a cargo?" + +"You may." + +"Well, then, what sort?" persisted the stranger. + +"Chinks and dope," returned Alaric, glancing up with the expectation of +seeing a look of bewilderment on his questioner's face. But the latter +only said: + +"Um! About what I thought. Good-paying business, isn't it?" + +"If it wasn't we wouldn't be in it," replied the boy. + +"No, I suppose not; and it must pay big since it enables even the +cabin-boy to drench himself with perfumery. Good-night; you're too +sweet-scented for my company." + +Ere Alaric could reply the stranger was walking rapidly away, and Bonny +was calling him to supper. + +The first mate apologized for serving this meal on deck, saying that the +sloop's company generally ate together in the cabin, but that Captain +Duff objected to the crew's presence at his table on this occasion. +"So," said Bonny, "I told him he might eat alone, then, for I should +come out and eat with you." + +"I hope he will always feel the same way," retorted Alaric, "for it +doesn't seem as though I could possibly stay in that cabin long enough +to eat a meal." + +"Oh, I guess you could," laughed Bonny. "Anyway, it will be all right by +breakfast-time, for the smell is nearly gone now. But I say, Rick Dale, +what an awfully funny fellow you are anyway! What in the world made you +pay for all that truck? It must have taken every cent you had." + +"So it did," replied Alaric. "But what of that? It was the easiest way +to smooth things over that I knew of." + +"It wouldn't have been for me, then," rejoined Bonny, "for I haven't +handled a dollar in so long that it would scare me to find one in my +pocket. But why didn't you let them take back the things we didn't +need?" + +"Because, having ordered them, we were bound to accept them, of course, +and because I thought we needed them all. I'm awfully tired of such +things myself, but I didn't know you were." + +"What! olives and mushrooms and truffles, and the rest of the things +with queer names? I never tasted one of them in my life, and don't +believe the captain did, either." + +"That seems odd," reflected Alaric. + +"Doesn't it?" responded Bonny, quizzically. "And that cologne, too. What +ever made you buy it?" + +"I don't know exactly. Because I happened to see it, I suppose, and +thought it would be a useful thing to have along. A little of it is nice +in your bath, you know, or to put on your handkerchief when you have a +headache." + +"My stars!" exclaimed Bonny. "Listen to that, will you! Why, Rick, to +hear you talk, one would think you were a prince in disguise, or a +bloated aristocrat of some kind!" + +"Well, I'm not," answered Alaric, shortly. "I'm only a sailor on board +the sloop _Fancy_, who has just eaten a fine supper and enjoyed it." + +"Have you, really?" asked the other, dubiously. "It didn't seem to me +that just coffee without any milk, hard bread, and fried salt pork were +very fine, and I was afraid that perhaps you wouldn't like 'em." + +"I do, though," insisted Alaric. "You see, I never tasted any of those +things before, and they are first-class." + +"Well," said Bonny, "I don't think much of such grub, and I've had it +for more than a year, too; but, then, every one to his liking. Now, if +you are all through, let's hustle and clear away these dishes, for we +are going to sail to-night, you know, and I've got to notify our +passengers. You may come with me and learn the ropes if you want to." + +"But we haven't any cargo aboard," objected Alaric. + +"Oh, that won't take long. A few minutes will fix the cargo all right." + +Alaric wondered what sort of a cargo could be taken aboard in a few +minutes, but wisely concluded to wait and see. + +So the dishes were hastily washed in a bucket of sea-water and put away. +Then, after a short consultation with Captain Duff in the cabin, Bonny +reappeared, and, beckoning Alaric to follow him, both lads went ashore +and walked up into the town. + +Although it was now evening, Bonny did not seek the well-lighted +business streets, but made his way to what struck Alaric as a peculiarly +disreputable neighborhood. The houses were small and dingy, and their +windows were so closely shuttered that no ray of light issued from them. + +At length they paused before a low door, on which Bonny rapped in a +peculiar manner. It was cautiously opened by a man who held a dim lamp +over his head, and who evidently regarded them with suspicion. He was +reassured by a few words from the young mate; the door was closed behind +them, and, with the stranger leading the way, while Alaric, filled with +curiosity, brought up the rear, all three entered a narrow and very dark +passage, the air of which was close and stifling. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"CHINKS" AND "DOPE" + + +The dark passage into which the lads had just been ushered was short, +and was ended by a door of heavy planking before Alaric found a chance +to ask his companion why they had come to such a very queer and +mysterious place. The opening of that second door admitted them to +another passage equally narrow, but well-lighted, and lined with a +number of tiny rooms, each containing two bunks arranged like berths one +above the other. By the dim light in these rooms Alaric could see that +many of these berths were occupied by reclining figures, most of whom +were Chinamen, though a few were unmistakably white. Some were smoking +tiny metal-bowled pipes with long stems, while others lay in a +motionless stupor. + +The air was heavy with a peculiarly sickening odor that Alaric +recognized at once. He had met it before during his travels among the +health resorts of Continental Europe, in which are gathered human wrecks +of every kind. Of them all none had seemed to the lad so pitiable as the +wretched victims of the opium or morphine habit, which is the most +degrading and deadly form of intemperance. + +This boy, so ignorant of many of the commonest things of life, and yet +wise far beyond his years concerning other phases, had often heard the +opium habit discussed, and knew that the hateful drug was taken in many +forms to banish pain, cause forgetfulness of sorrow, and produce a +sleep filled with beautiful dreams. He knew, too, of the sad awakenings +that followed--the dulled senses, the return, with redoubled force, of +all the unhappiness that had only been driven away for a short time, and +the cravings for other and yet larger doses of the deadly stuff. + +He had heard his father say that opium, more than any other one thing, +was the curse of China, and that one of the principal reasons why the +lower grades of Chinese ought to be excluded from the United States was +that they were introducing the habit of opium smoking, and spreading it +abroad like a pestilence. + +Knowing these things, Alaric was filled with horror at finding himself +in a Chinese opium den, and wondered if Bonny realized the true +character of the place. In order to find out he gained his comrade's +side, and asked, in a low tone: "Do you know, Bonny, what sort of a +place this is?" + +"Yes, of course. It is Won Lung's joint." + +"I mean, do you know what the men in those bunks are doing?" + +"Certainly," replied Bonny, cheerfully. "They're hitting the pipe." + +Perplexed as he was by these answers, Alaric still asked another +question. + +"But do you know what they are smoking in those pipes?" + +"To be sure I do," answered the other, a trifle impatiently. "It's dope. +Most any one would know that. Didn't you ever smell it before?" + +"Dope!" Once before had Alaric heard the word during that eventful day, +and he had even used it himself, without knowing its meaning. Now it +flashed across him. Dope was opium, and that hateful drug was to form +the sloop's cargo. The idea of such a thing was so repugnant to him that +he might have entered a protest against it then and there, had not a +sudden change of scene temporarily diverted his attention from the +subject. + +The passage they had been traversing ended in an open court, so foreign +in its every detail that it appeared like a bit from some Chinese city +lifted bodily and transported to the New World. The dingy buildings +surrounding it were liberally provided with balconies, galleries, and +odd little projecting windows, all of which were occupied by Chinamen +gazing with languid interest at the busy scene below. From most of the +galleries hung rows of gayly colored paper lanterns, which gave the +place a very quaint and festive aspect. + +On the pavement were dozens of other Chinamen, with here and there a +demure-looking little woman and a few children. Heaps of queer-looking +luggage, each piece done up in matting and fastened with narrow strips +of rattan, were piled in the corners. At one side was an immense stove, +or rather a huge affair of brick, containing a score or more of little +charcoal stoves, each fitted for the cooking of a single kettle of rice +or pot of tea. About this were gathered a number of men preparing their +evening meal. Many of the others were comparing certificates and +photographs, a proceeding that puzzled Alaric more than a little, for he +was so ignorant of the affairs of his own country that he knew nothing +of its Chinese Exclusion Law. + +He began to learn something about it right there, however, and +subsequently discovered that while Chinese gentlemen, scholars, and +merchants are as freely admitted to travel, study, or reside in the +United States as are similar classes from any other nation, the lower +grades of Chinese, rated as laborers, are forbidden by law to set foot +on American soil. This is because there are such swarming millions of +them willing to work for very small wages, and live as no +self-respecting white man could live; that, were they allowed to enter +this country freely, they would quickly drive white laborers from the +field and leave them to starve. Then, too, they bring with them and +introduce opium-smoking, gambling, lotteries, and other equally +pernicious vices. Besides all this, the Chinese in the United States, +with here and there an exception, have no desire to become citizens, or +to remain longer than is necessary to scrape together the few hundreds +of dollars with which they can return to their own land and live out the +rest of their days in luxury. + +Many thousands of Chinese laborers had come to the United States before +the exclusion law was passed, and these, by registering and allowing +themselves to be photographed for future identification, obtain +certificates which, while not permitting them to return if they once +leave the country, allow them to remain here undisturbed. Any Chinaman +found without such a protection is liable to be arrested and sent back +to his own land. + +These certificates, therefore, are so valuable that Chinamen going home +with no intention of ever returning to this country find no difficulty +in selling their papers to others, who propose to try and smuggle +themselves into the United States from Canada or Mexico. There are +always plenty who are anxious to make this attempt, for if they once get +a foothold they can earn better wages here than anywhere else in the +world. Of course, the purchaser of a certificate must look something +like the attached photograph, and correspond to the personal description +contained in it. To do this a Chinaman will scar his features with cuts +or burns if necessary, and will make himself up to resemble any +particular photograph as skilfully as a professional actor. + +This, then, is what many of those whom Alaric and Bonny now encountered +were doing, for the place into which they had come was a Chinese hotel +in which all newly arrived Chinamen found shelter while waiting for work +or for a chance to smuggle themselves into the United States, which is +what ninety-nine out of every one hundred of them propose to do if +possible. + +As the lads stood together on the edge of this novel scene, while their +guide went from group to group making to each a brief announcement, +Alaric, seizing this first opportunity for acquiring definite +information, asked: "What on earth are we here for, Bonny?" + +"To find out how many passengers are ticketed for to-night's boat and +get them started," was the reply. + +"You don't mean that our passengers are to be Chinamen?" + +"Yes, of course. I thought I told you so first thing this morning when +you asked me what the sloop carried." + +"No. You only said passengers and freight." + +"I ought to have said 'chinks.' But what's the odds? 'Chinks' are +passengers, aren't they?" + +"Do you mean Chinamen? Are 'chinks' Chinamen?" + +"That's right," replied Bonny. + +"Well," said Alaric, who had been on the Coast long enough to imbibe all +a Californian's contempt for natives of the Flowery Kingdom, "if I'd +known that 'chinks' meant Chinamen, and dope meant opium, I should have +been too much ashamed of what the _Fancy_ carried ever to tell any one +about it." + +"I hope you won't," responded Bonny. "There isn't any necessity for you +to that I know of." + +"But I have already. There was a man on the wharf while I was getting +aired who asked me what our cargo was. Just to see what he would say I +told him 'chinks and dope,' though I hadn't the slightest idea of what +either of them meant." + +"My! but that's bad!" cried Bonny, with an anxious look on his face. "I +only hope he wasn't a beak. They've been watching us pretty sharp +lately, and I know the old man is in a regular tizzy-wizzy for fear +we'll get nabbed." + +Before Alaric could ask why they should be nabbed, Won Lung, the +proprietor of the establishment, who also acted as interpreter, came to +where they were standing, greeted Bonny as an old acquaintance, looked +curiously at Alaric, and announced that thirty-six of his boarders had +procured tickets for a passage to the Sound on the _Fancy_. + +"We can't take but twenty of 'em on this trip," said the young mate, +decidedly. "And with their dunnage we'll have to stow 'em like sardines, +anyway. The others must wait till next time." + +"Mebbe you tlake some man in clabin, some mebbe in fo'c's'le," suggested +Won Lung, blandly. + +"Mebbe we don't do anything of the kind," replied Bonny. "The trip may +last several days, and I know I for one am not going to be crowded out +of my sleeping-quarters. So, Mr. Lung, if you send down one man more +than twenty he goes overboard. You savey that?" + +"Yep, me sabby. Allee same me no likee." + +"Sorry, but I can't help it. And you want to hustle 'em along too, for +we are going to sail in half an hour. Got the stuff ready?" + +"Yep, all leddy. Two hun'l poun'." + +"Good enough. Send it right along with us." + +A few minutes later our lads had left Won Lung's queer hotel and were +out in the quiet streets accompanied by two Chinese coolies, who bore +heavy burdens slung from the ends of stout bamboo poles carried across +their shoulders. + +As Bonny seemed disinclined to talk, Alaric refrained from asking +questions, and the little party proceeded in silence through +unfrequented streets to the place where their sloop lay. Here the +burdens borne by the coolies were transferred to the cabin, where this +part of the cargo was left with Captain Duff, and Alaric had no +knowledge of where it was stowed. + +While the captain was thus busy below, Bonny was giving the crew his +first lesson in seamanship by pointing out three ropes that he called +jib, throat, and peak halyards, showing him how to make them fast about +their respective belaying-pins, and impressing upon him the importance +of remembering them. + +Shortly after this the score of long-queued passengers arrived with +their odd-looking packages of personal belongings, were taken aboard in +silence, and stowed in the hold until Alaric wondered if they were piled +on top of one another like sticks of cord-wood. + +Then the mooring-lines were cast off, and the _Fancy_ drifted +noiselessly out of the slip with the ebbing tide. Once clear of it the +jib was hoisted, and she began to glide out of the harbor before a +gentle, off-shore breeze. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +PUGET SOUND SMUGGLERS + + +The great landlocked body of salt water known as Puget Sound, +penetrating for nearly one hundred miles the northwestern corner of +Washington, the Northwest State, is justly termed a smuggler's paradise. +It pierces the land in every direction with a perfect net-work of +inlets, channels, and bays lined with endless miles of forest, frowning +cliffs, and snuggly hidden harbors. The upper end of the Sound, where +its width entitles it to be called a gulf, is filled with an archipelago +of rugged islands of all sizes and shapes, thinly settled, and offering +innumerable secure hiding-places for small boats. Here and there along +the shores of the Sound are Indian reservations uncleared and unoccupied +save by dwindling remnants of the once populous coast tribes. These +Indians, though retaining their tribal names among themselves, are all +known to the whites under the one designation of "Siwash," a corruption +of the French _sauvage_. + +On the eastern side of the Sound are the important American cities of +Seattle and Tacoma; while at its extreme southern end stands Olympia, +Washington's capital. On its western side, and just north of the Strait +of Juan de Fuca, that connects the Sound with the ocean, is located the +Canadian city of Victoria, from which all the smuggling operations of +these waters are conducted. + +From Victoria to the American island of San Juan on the east, the +largest of the archipelago already mentioned, the distance is only +twelve miles, while it is but twenty miles across the Strait of Fuca to +the American mainland on the south. These two points being so near at +hand, it is easy enough to run a boat-load of opium or Chinamen over to +either of them in a night. For such a passage each Chinaman is compelled +to pay from fifteen to twenty dollars, while opium yields a profit of +four or five dollars a pound. Smuggling from Victoria is thus such a +lucrative business that many men of easy conscience are engaged in it. + +Both the island route and that by way of the strait present the serious +drawbacks of having their landing-places so remote from railroads and +cities that, though the frontier has been passed, there is still a +dangerous stretch of territory to be crossed before either of these can +be reached. In view of this fact, it occurred to one of the more +enterprising among the Victoria smugglers to undertake a greater risk +for the sake of greater profits, and run a boat nearly one hundred miles +up the Sound to some point in near vicinity to one of its large cities. + +He had just the craft for the purpose, and finally secured a captain +who, having recently lost a schooner through seizure by the American +authorities for unlawful sealing in Bering Sea, was reckless and +desperate enough for the new venture. As this man undertook the run for +a share of the profits, he was inclined to reduce all expenses to their +very lowest limits, and had already made a number of highly successful +trips. Although the fare to each Chinaman by this new line was +twenty-five dollars, it offered such superior advantages as to be +liberally patronized, and the boat was always crowded. + +In the meantime the American authorities had discovered that much +illegal opium and many illegal Chinamen were entering their country +through a new channel that seemed to lead to the vicinity of Tacoma. The +recently appointed commander of a United States revenue-cutter +determined to break up this route, and capture, if possible, these +boldest of all the Sound smugglers. For some weeks he watched in vain, +overhauled and examined a number of innocent vessels, and with each +failure became the more anxious to succeed. At length he sent his third +lieutenant to Victoria, of course out of uniform, to gain what +information he could concerning any vessel that seemed likely to be +engaged in smuggling. + +This officer, after spending several days in the city without learning +anything definite, was beginning to feel discouraged, when one +afternoon, as he was strolling near the docks, he noticed two lads +walking ahead of him who looked something like sailors. One of them had +evidently just purchased a new outfit of clothing, and carried a canvas +bag on which his name was painted in black letters. Making a mental note +of this name, the officer followed the lads, out of curiosity to see +what kind of a craft they would board. + +When he saw the _Fancy_ he said to himself: "Tough-looking old packet. I +wonder if that young chap with the bag can be one of her crew?" + +Without approaching the sloop so closely as to attract attention, he +lingered in her vicinity until Alaric went up-town to procure supplies, +when the officer still kept him in sight. He even entered the store in +which the lad was dealing, and here his curiosity was stimulated by the +young sailor's varied and costly order. + +"That sloop must make an extraordinary amount of money somehow," he +reflected. + +So interested had he now become that he even followed Alaric while the +lad made his subsequent purchases. Finally he found himself again near +the sloop just as the lad who had excited his curiosity was ordered to +the wharf to air himself after his unfortunate experience with the +bottle of cologne. At length the officer addressed him, and by dint of +persistent questions became confirmed in his suspicions that the dingy +old sloop cruised to the Sound with Chinamen and opium. + +Having gained the information he wanted thus easily and unexpectedly, +the officer returned to his hotel for supper and to write a despatch +that should go by that night's boat. After delivering this on board the +steamer, he determined to take one more look at the suspected sloop; +and, strolling leisurely in that direction, reached the wharf just in +time to see her glide out from the slip and head for the open sea. + +Here was an emergency that called for prompt action; and, running back +to the hotel, the young man paid his bill, secured his bag, and gained +the steamer just as that fine American-built vessel was about to take +her departure for ports of the upper Sound. Shortly afterwards, a little +beyond the harbor mouth, the big, brilliantly lighted steamer swept past +a small dimly outlined craft, on whose deck somebody was waving a +lantern so that she might not be run down. + +Of course it has been understood long ere this that the sloop _Fancy_ +was a smuggler. She was not only that, but was also the boldest, most +successful, and most troublesome smuggler on Puget Sound. The one person +at all acquainted with the shabby old craft and as yet unaware of her +true character was Alaric Todd. His slight knowledge of smugglers +having been gained through books, he thought of them as being only a +sort of half pirates, either Spanish or French, who flourished during +the last century. Thus, although he did not approve of either the +sloop's passengers or cargo, it did not occur to him that they were +being carried in defiance of law until about the time that the steamer's +lights were disappearing in the distance. + +The boy's hands were still smarting from an unaccustomed hauling on +ropes that had resulted in hoisting the big main-sail, and now he lay on +deck well forward, where he had been told to keep a sharp lookout and +report instantly any vessel coming within his range of vision. Before a +fresh beam wind the _Fancy_ was slipping rapidly through the water, with +Captain Duff steering, Bonny doing odd jobs about deck, and the +passengers confining themselves closely to the hold. After the young +mate had waved his signal lantern to the steamer, he extinguished both +it and the side lights that had been burning until now, leaving the +binnacle lamp carefully shaded as the only light on board. With nothing +more to do at present, he threw himself down beside Alaric, and the boys +began a low-voiced conversation. + +"What made you put out those lights?" asked the latter. "I thought all +ships carried lights at night." + +"We don't," laughed Bonny. "They'd give us away to the cutters, and we'd +be picked up in less'n no time. I'm mighty glad that steamer isn't a +revenue-boat." + +"Why?" + +"Because she's so fast. There's only one craft on the Sound can beat +her, and that's the _Flyer_, running between Tacoma and Seattle. This +_City of Kingston_ is a good one, though. She used to be a crack Hudson +River boat, and came out here around the Horn; or, rather, not exactly +that, but through the Strait of Magellan. That's a tough place, I can +tell you." + +"I suppose it is," replied Alaric. "But, Bonny, tell me something more +about those cutters. Why should they want to catch us?" + +"For running 'chinks' and 'dope.'" + +"What harm is there in that? Is it against the law?" + +"I should rather say it was. There's a duty of ten dollars a pound on +one, and the others aren't allowed in at any price." + +"Then I don't see how we are any different from regular smugglers." + +"That's what some folks call us," replied Bonny, with a grin. "They are +mostly on the other side, though. In Victoria they call us +free-traders." + +"It doesn't make any difference what anybody calls us," retorted Alaric, +vehemently, "so long as we ourselves know what we are. It was a mean +thing, Bonny Brooks, that you didn't tell me this before we started." + +"Look here, Rick Dale! do you pretend you didn't know after seeing the +'chinks' and the 'dope' and all that was going on? Oh, come, that's too +thin!" + +"I don't care whether it's thin or thick," rejoined Alaric, stoutly. "I +didn't know that I was shipping to become a pirate, or you may be very +certain I'd have sat on that log till I starved before going one step +with you." + +"What do you mean by calling me a pirate?" demanded Bonny, indignantly. +"I'm no more a pirate than you are, for all your fine airs." + +In his excitement Bonny had so raised his voice that it reached the ears +of Captain Duff, who growled out, fiercely: "Stow yer jaw, ye young +swabs, and keep a sharp lookout for'ard--d'ye hear?" + +"Aye, aye, sir," responded the young mate, rising as though to end the +unpleasant conversation, and peering keenly into the gloom. + +But Alaric was not inclined to let the subject drop; and, with an idea +of continuing their talk in so low a tone that it could not possibly +reach the captain's ears, he too started to rise. + +At that moment the sloop gave a quick lurch that caused him to plunge +awkwardly forward. He was only saved from going overboard by striking +squarely against Bonny, who was balancing himself easily in the very +eyes of the vessel, with one foot on the rail. The force of the blow was +too great for him to withstand. With a gasping cry he pitched headlong +over the bows and disappeared from his comrade's horrified gaze. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A VERY TRYING EXPERIENCE + + +"Stop her! Stop the boat, quick! Bonny is overboard" shouted Alaric, +frantically, as he realized the nature of the catastrophe that had just +occurred through his awkwardness. As he shouted he sprang to the +jib-halyard, and, casting it off, allowed the sail to come down by the +run, his sole idea of checking the headway of a sailing craft being to +reduce her canvas. + +He was about to let go both throat and peak halyards, and so bring down +the big main-sail also, when, with a bellow of rage and a marvellous +disregard of his lameness, Captain Duff rushed forward and snatched the +ropes from the lad's hands. + +"You thundering blockhead!" he roared. "What d'ye mean by lowering a +sail without orders? H'ist it again! H'ist it, d'ye hear?" + +"But Bonny is overboard!" cried Alaric. + +"And you want to leave him to drown, do ye? Don't ye know that if he's +alive he's drifted astarn by this time? Ef you had any sense you'd be +out in the dinghy looking fur him." + +Alaric knew that the dinghy was the small boat towing behind the sloop, +for he had heard the young mate call it by that name, and now he needed +no further hint as to his duty. He had pushed Bonny overboard, and he +must save him if that might still be done. If not, he was careless of +what happened to himself. Nothing could be worse than, or so bad as, to +go through life with the knowledge that he had caused the death of a +fellow-being--one, too, whom he had already come to regard as a dear +friend. + +Thus thinking, he ran aft, cast loose the painter of the dinghy, drew +the boat to the sloop's stern, and, dropping into it, drifted away in +the darkness. He had never rowed a boat, nor even handled a pair of +oars, but he had seen others do so, and imagined that it was easy +enough. + +It is not often that a first lesson of this kind is taken alone, at +midnight, amid the tossing waters of an open sea, and it could not have +happened now but for our poor lad's pitiful ignorance of all forms of +athletics, including those in which every boy should be instructed. + +Without a thought for himself, nor even a comprehension of his own +peril, Alaric fitted the oars that he found in the bottom of the boat to +their row-locks, and began to pull manfully in what he supposed was the +proper direction. He pulled first with one oar and then with the other; +then making a wild stroke with both oars that missed the water entirely, +he tumbled over backwards. Recovering himself, he prepared more +cautiously for a new effort, and this time, instead of beating the air, +thrust his oars almost straight down in the water. Then one entered it, +while the other, missing it by a foot or so, flew back and struck him a +violent blow. + +Up to this time the lad had kept up a constant shouting of "Bonny! Oh, +Bonny!" or "Hello, Bonny!" but that blow bereft him of so much breath +that for a minute he had none left with which to shout. + +Now, too, for the first time, he gained a vague idea of his own perilous +situation. There was nothing in sight and nothing to be heard save the +ceaseless dashing of waters and a melancholy moaning of wind. The sky +was so overcast that not even a star could extend to him a cheery ray of +light. The boy's heart sank, and he made another attempt at a shout, as +much to raise his own spirits as with any hope of being heard. Only a +husky cry resulted, for his voice was choked, and he again strove to +row, with the thought that any form of action would be better than +idleness amid such surroundings. + +If his oars seemed vicious before, they were doubly so now that he was +wearied, and they stubbornly resisted his efforts to make them work as +he knew they could and ought. At length he let go of one of them for an +instant, while he wiped the trickling perspiration from his eyes. The +moment it was released, the provoking bit of wood, as though possessed +of a malicious instinct, slid from its rowlock, dropped into the water, +and floated away. Alaric made a wild but ineffectual clutch after it +that allowed a quantity of water to slop into the boat, and gave him the +idea that it was sinking. + +With an access of terror the poor lad sprang to his feet, and, forgetful +of the object that had brought him into his present situation, screamed: +"Bonny! Oh, Bonny! Save me! Don't leave me here to drown!" + +Then a spiteful wave so buffeted the boat that he was toppled over and +fell sprawling in the bottom. That was the blackest and most despairing +moment of his life; but even as it came to him he fancied he heard a +whispered answer to his call, and lifted his head to listen. Yes, he +heard it again, so faint and uncertain that it might be only the mocking +scream of some sea-bird winging a swift flight through the blackness. +Still the idea filled him with hope, and he called again with a cry so +shrill and long-drawn that its intensity almost frightened him. Now the +echoing hail was certain, and it came to him with the unmistakable +accents of a human voice. + +Again he shouted: "Bonny! Oh, Bonny!" and again came the answer, this +time much nearer: + +"Hello, Rick Dale! Hello!" + +"Hello, Bonny! Hello!" + +How could it be that Bonny had kept himself afloat so long? What +wonderful powers of endurance he must possess! How should he reach him? +There was but a single oar left, and surely no one could propel a boat +with one oar. He tried awkwardly to paddle, but after a few seconds of +fruitless labor gave this up in despair. What could he do? Must he sit +there idle, knowing that his friend was drowning within sound of his +voice, and for want of the aid that he could give if he only knew how? +It was horrible and yet inevitable. He was helpless. Once more was his +own peril forgotten, and his sole distress was for his friend. Again he +shouted, with the energy of despair: + +"Bonny! Oh, Bonny! Can't you get to me? I'm in a boat." + +Then came something so startling and so astonishing that he was almost +petrified with amazement. Instead of a weak, despairing answer, coming +from a long distance, there sounded a cheery hail from close at hand: +"All right, old man! I'm coming. Cheer up." + +What had happened? Was his friend endowed with supernatural powers that +enabled him to traverse the sea at will? + +Alaric gazed about him on all sides, almost doubting the evidence of his +senses. Then, with a flutter of canvas and a rush of water from under +her bows, the tall form of the sloop loomed out of the blackness almost +beside him. + +"Sing out, Rick. Where are you?" + +"Here I am. Oh, Bonny, is it you?" + +"Yes, of course. Look out! Catch this line." + +The end of a rope came whizzing over the boat, and Alaric, catching it, +held on tightly. He was seated on the middle thwart, and the moment a +strain came on the line the boat turned broadside to it, heeled until +water began to pour in over her gunwale, and Alaric, unable to hold on +an instant longer, let go his hold. + +He heard an exclamation of "Thundering lubber!" in Captain Duff's voice, +and then the sloop was again lost to sight. + +Again Alaric was in despair, though he could still hear the shouting of +orders and a confused slatting of sails. After a little the sloop was +put about, and a shouting to determine the locality of the drifting boat +was recommenced. Still it seemed to Alaric a tedious while before she +approached him for a second time, and Bonny once more sung out to him to +stand by and catch a line. + +"Make it fast in the bow this time," he called, as he flung the coil of +rope. + +Again Alaric succeeded in catching it, and, obeying instructions, he +scrambled into the bow of the boat, where he knelt and clung to the line +for dear life, not knowing how to make it fast. + +In a moment there came a jerk that very nearly pulled him overboard; and +the boat, with its bow low in the water from his weight, while its stern +was in the air, took a wild sheer to one side. Again water poured in +until she was nearly swamped, and again was the line torn from Alaric's +grasp. + +"You blamed idiot!" roared Captain Duff. "You don't desarve to be saved! +I'll give ye just one more try, and ef you don't fetch the sloop that +time we'll leave ye to navigate on your own hook." + +As the previous manoeuvres were repeated for a third time, poor +Alaric, sitting helplessly in his waterlogged dinghy, shivered with +apprehension. How could he hold on to that cruel line that seemed only +fitted to drag him to destruction? This time it took longer to find him, +and he was hoarse with shouting before the _Fancy_ again approached. + +"He don't know enough to do anything with a line, Cap'n Duff," said +Bonny. "So if you'll throw the sloop into the wind and heave her to, +I'll bring the boat alongside." + +With this, and without waiting for an answer, the plucky young sailor, +who had already divested himself of most of his clothing, sprang into +the black waters and swam towards the vaguely discerned boat. In another +minute he had gained her, clambered in, and was asking the amazed +occupant for the other oar. + +"It's lost overboard," replied Alaric, gloomily, feeling that the case +was now more desperate than ever. "Oh, Bonny! Why--?" + +"Never mind," cried the other, cheerily. "I can scull, and that will +answer just as well as rowing. Perhaps better, for I can see where we +are headed." + +Alaric had deemed it impossible to propel a boat with a single oar; but +now, to his amazement, Bonny sculled the dinghy ahead almost as rapidly +as he could have rowed. The sloop was out of sight, but the flapping of +her sails could be plainly heard, and five minutes later the young mate +laid his craft alongside. + +Captain Duff was too angry for words, and fortunately too busy in +getting his vessel on her course to pay any attention just then to the +lad whose awkwardness and ignorance had caused all this trouble and +delay. + +"Skip for'ard," said Bonny, in a low tone, "and I'll come directly." + +As Alaric, with a thankful heart, obeyed this injunction, he marvelled +at the size and steadiness of the sloop, and wondered how he could ever +have thought her small or unstable. + +A few minutes later Bonny, only half dressed, joined him, and said, "If +you'll lend me your trousers, old man, you can turn in for the rest of +the night, and I'll stand your watch; mine are too wet to put on just +yet, and I think you'll be safer below than on deck, anyway." + +Like a person in a dream, and without asking one of the many questions +suggesting themselves, Alaric obeyed. Earlier in that most eventful day +he had regarded that dark and stuffy forecastle with disgust, and vowed +he would never sleep in it. Now, as he snuggled shivering between the +blankets of the first mate's own bunk, it seemed to him one of the +coziest, warmest, and most comfortable sleeping-apartments he had ever +known. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A LESSON IN KEDGING + + +For a long time Alaric lay awake in his narrow bunk, listening to the +gurgle of waters parted by the sloop's bow, but a few inches from his +head, and reflecting upon the exciting incidents of the past hour. It +had all been so terrible and yet so unreal. On one thing he determined. +Never again would he enter a boat alone without having first learned how +to row, and to swim also. How splendidly Bonny had come to his rescue, +and yet how easily! What was it he had called making a boat go with only +one oar? Alaric could not remember; but at any rate it was a wonderful +thing to do, and he determined to master that art as well. What a lot he +had to learn, anyhow, and how important it all was! He had longed for +the ability to do such things, but never until now had he realized their +value. + +How well Bonny did them, and what a fine fellow he was, and how the +heart of the poor rich boy warmed towards this self-reliant young friend +of a day! Could it be but one day since their first meeting? It seemed +as though he had known Bonny always. But how had the young sailor +regained the sloop after being knocked overboard? That was +unaccountable, and one of the most mysterious things Alaric had ever +heard of. He longed for Bonny to come below, that he might ask just that +one question; but the mate was otherwise engaged, and the crew finally +dropped asleep. + +Through the remainder of the night the sloop sailed swiftly on her +course; but she could not make up for that lost hour, and by dawn, +though she had passed the light on Admiralty Head, and was well to the +southward of Port Townsend, the very stronghold of her enemies, for it +is the port of entry for the Sound, she was still far from the +hiding-place in which her captain had hoped to lie by for the day. +However, he knew of another nearer at hand, though not so easy of +access, and to this he directed the vessel's course. + +It did not seem to Alaric that he had been asleep more than a few +minutes when he was rudely awakened by being hauled out of his bunk and +dropped on the forecastle floor. At the same time he became conscious of +a voice, saying: + +"Wake up! Wake up, Rick Dale! I've been calling you for the last five +minutes, and was beginning to think you were dead. Here it is daylight, +with lots of work waiting, and you snoozing away as though you were a +young man of elegant leisure. So tumble out in a hurry, or else you'll +have the cap'n down on you, and he's no light-weight when he's as mad as +he is this morning." + +Never before in all his luxurious life had Alaric been subjected to such +rough treatment, and for a moment he was inclined to resent it; but a +single glance at Bonny's smiling face, and a thought of how deeply he +was indebted to this lad, caused him to change his mind and scramble to +his feet. + +"Here are your trousers," continued the young mate, "and the quicker you +can jump into them the better, for we've a jolly bit of kedging to +attend to, and need your assistance badly." + +Filled with curiosity as to what a "jolly bit of kedging" might be, and +also pleased with the idea that he was not considered utterly useless, +Alaric hastily dressed and hurried on deck. There the sight of a number +of Chinamen recalled with a shock the nature of the craft on which he +was shipped, and for an instant he was tempted to refuse further service +as a member of her crew. A moment's reflection, however, convinced him +that the present was not the time for such action, as it could only +result in disaster to himself and in extra work being thrown upon Bonny. + +The sun had not yet risen, and on one side a broad expanse of water was +overlaid with a light mist. On the other was a bold shore covered with +forest to the water's edge, and penetrated by a narrow inlet, off the +mouth of which the sloop lay becalmed. + +Bonny was already in the dinghy, which held a coil of rope having a +small anchor attached to one end. The other end was on board the sloop +and made fast to the bitts. + +"When I reach the end of the line and heave the kedge overboard, you +want to haul in on it," said the young mate, "and when the sloop is +right over the kedge, let go your anchor. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, I think so." + +The tide had just turned ebb, and was beginning to run out from the +inlet as Bonny dropped the kedge-anchor overboard, and Alaric, beginning +to pull with a hearty will on that long, wet rope, experienced the first +delights of kedging. Captain Duff, puffing at a short black pipe, sat by +the tiller and steered, while the Chinese passengers, squatted about the +deck, watched the lad's efforts with a stolid interest. + +At length the end of the rope was reached, and Alaric, with aching back +and smarting hands, but beaming with the consciousness of a duty well +performed, imagined his task to be ended. + +"Let go your anchor," ordered Captain Duff. + +When this was done, and the cable made fast so that the sloop should +not drift back when the kedge was lifted, Bonny heaved up the latter and +got it into the dinghy. Then he sculled still farther into the inlet +until the end of the long line was once more reached, when he again +dropped the small anchor overboard, and poor Alaric found, to his +dismay, that the whole tedious operation was to be repeated. In addition +to what he had done before, the heavy riding anchor was now to be lifted +from the bottom. + +As the boy essayed to haul in its cable with his hands, Captain Duff, +muttering something about a "lubberly swab," stumped forward, and +showing him how to use the windlass for this purpose, condescended to +hold the turn while the perspiring lad pumped away at the iron lever. +When the anchor was lifted, he was directed to again lay hold of the +kedge-line and warp her along handsomely. + +Alaric made signs to the Chinamen that they should help him; but they, +being passengers who had paid for the privilege of idleness on this +cruise, merely grinned and shook their heads. So the poor lad tugged at +that heart-breaking line until his strength was so exhausted that the +sloop ceased to make perceptible headway. + +At this Captain Duff, who was again nodding over the tiller, suddenly +woke up, rushed among his passengers with brandished crutch, roaring an +order in pidgin English that caused them to jump in terror, lay hold of +the line, and haul it in hand over hand. + +Three times more was the whole weary operation repeated, until at length +the sloop was snugly anchored behind a tree-grown point that effectually +concealed her from anything passing in the Sound. + +"Nice, healthy exercise, this kedging," remarked Bonny, cheerfully, as +he came on board. + +"You may call it that," responded Alaric, gloomily, "but I call it the +most killing kind of work I ever heard of, and if there is any more of +it to be done, somebody else has got to do it. I simply won't, and +that's all there is about it." + +"Oh phsaw!" laughed the young mate, as he lighted a fire in the galley +stove and began preparations for breakfast. "This morning's job was only +child's play compared with some you'll have before you've been aboard +here a month." + +"Which I never will be," replied Alaric, "for I'm going to resign this +very day. I suppose this is the United States and the end of the voyage, +isn't it?" + +"It's the States fast enough; but not the end of the run by a good bit. +We've another night's sail ahead of us before we come to that. But you +mustn't think of resigning, as you call it, just as you are beginning to +get the hang of sailoring. Think how lonely I should be without you to +make things lively and interesting--as you did last night, for +instance." + +"I shall, though," replied Alaric, decidedly, "just as quick as we make +a port; for if you think I'm going to remain in the smuggling business +one minute longer than I can help, you're awfully mistaken. And what's +more, you are going with me, and we'll hunt for another job--an honest +one, I mean--together." + +"I am, am I?" remarked Bonny. "After you calling me a pirate, too. I +shouldn't think you'd care to associate with pirates." + +"But I do care to associate with you," responded Alaric, earnestly, "for +I know I couldn't get along at all without you. Besides, after the +splendid way you came to my rescue last night, I don't want to try. But +I say, Bonny, how did you ever manage to get back on board after +tumbling--I mean, after I knocked you--into the water? It seems to me +the most mysterious thing I ever heard of." + +"Oh, that was easy enough!" laughed the young mate, lifting the lid of +a big kettle of rice, that was boiling merrily, as he spoke. "You see, I +didn't wholly fall overboard. That is, I caught on the bob-stay, and was +climbing up again all right when you let the jib down on top of me, +nearly knocking me into the water and smothering me at the same time. +When I got out from under it you were gone, and a fine hunt we had for +you, during which the old man got considerably excited. But all's well +that ends well, as the Japs said after the war was over; so now if +you'll make a pot of coffee, I'll get the pork ready for frying." + +"But I don't know how to make coffee." + +"Don't you? I thought everybody knew that. Never mind, though; I'll make +the coffee while you fry the meat." + +"I don't know how to do that, either." + +"Don't you know how to cook anything?" + +"No. I don't believe I could even boil water without burning it." + +"Well," said Bonny, "you certainly have got more to learn than any +fellow old enough to walk alone that I ever knew." + +The sloop remained in her snug hiding-place all that day, during which +her captain and first mate devoted most of their time to sleeping. The +Chinamen spent the greater part of the day on shore, while Alaric, +following Bonny's advice, made his first attempt at fishing. So long as +he only got bites he had no trouble; but when he finally caught an +enormous flounder his occupation was gone, for he had no second hook, +and could not imagine how the fish was to be removed from the one to +which it was attached. So he let it carefully down into the water again, +and made the line fast until Bonny should wake. When that happened, and +he triumphantly hauled in his line, he found, to his dismay, that his +hook was bare, and that the fish had solved his problem for him. + +In the meantime there was much activity that day on board a certain +revenue-cutter stationed in the upper Sound, and shortly after dark, +about the time the smuggler _Fancy_ was again getting under way, several +well-manned boats left the government vessel to spend the night in +patrolling certain channels. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +CHASING A MYSTERIOUS LIGHT + + +The commander of the revenue-cutter had received from his lieutenant a +detailed description of the sloop _Fancy_, together with what other +information that officer had gathered concerning her destination, +lading, and crew. As a result of this interview it was determined to +guard all passages leading to the upper Sound; and during the hours of +darkness the cutter's boats, under small sail, cruised back and forth +across the channels on either side of Vashon Island, one of which the +sloop must take. They showed no lights, and their occupants were not +allowed to converse in tones louder than a whisper. While half of each +crew got what sleep they might in the bottom of the boat, the others +were on watch and keenly alert. In the stern-sheets of each boat sat an +officer muffled in a heavy ulster as a protection against the chill +dampness of the night. + +The night was nearly spent and dawn was at hand when the weary occupants +of one of these patrol-boats were aroused into activity by two bright +lights that flashed in quick succession for an instant well over on the +western side of their channel, which was the one known as Colvos +Passage. + +"It is a signal," said the officer, as he headed his boat in that +direction. "Silence, men! Have your oars ready for a chase." + +Shortly afterwards another light appeared on the water in the same +general direction, but farther down the channel. It showed steadily for +a minute, and was then lost to view, only to reappear a few moments +later. After that its continued appearance and disappearance proved most +puzzling, until the officer solved the problem to his own satisfaction +by saying: + +"The careless rascals have come to anchor, and are sending their stuff +ashore in a small boat. That light is the lantern they are working by; +but I wouldn't have believed even they could be so reckless as to use +it. Douse that sail and unship the mast. So. Now, out oars! Give 'way!" + +As the boat sprang forward under this new impulse, its oars, being +muffled in the row-locks, gave forth no sound save the rhythmic swish +with which they left the water at the end of each stroke. + +The row was not a long one, and within five minutes the boat was close +to the mysterious light. No sound came from its vicinity, nor was there +any loom of masts or sails through the blackness. Were they close to it, +after all? Might it not be brighter than they thought, and still at a +distance from them? Its nature was such that the officer could not +determine even by standing up, and for a few moments he was greatly +puzzled. He could now see that the land was at a greater distance than a +smuggler would choose to cover with his small boats when he might just +as well run his craft much closer. What could it mean? + +Suddenly he gave the orders: "'Way enough! In oars! Look sharp there +for'ard with your boat-hook!" + +The next moment the twinkling light was alongside, and its mystery was +explained. It was an old lantern lashed to a bit of a board that was in +turn fastened across an empty half-barrel. A screen formed of a shingle +darkened one side of the lantern, so that, as the floating tub was +turned by wind or wave, the light alternately showed and disappeared at +irregular intervals. + +That the lieutenant who was the victim of this simple ruse was angry +goes without saying. He was furious, and could he have captured its +author just then, that ingenious person might have met with rough usage. +But there seemed little chance of capturing him, for although the +officer felt certain that this tub had been launched from the very +smuggler he was after, he had no idea of where she now was, or of what +direction she had taken. All he knew was that somebody had warned her of +danger in that channel, and that she had cleverly given him the slip. He +could also imagine the "chaff" he would receive from his brother +officers on the cutter when they should learn of his mortifying +experience. + +When, after cruising fruitlessly during the brief remainder of the +night, he returned to his ship and reported what had taken place, he was +chaffed, as he expected, but was enabled to bear this with equanimity, +for he had made a discovery. On the shingle that had shaded the old +lantern he found written in pencil as though for the passing of an idle +half-hour, and apparently by some one who wished to see how his name +would look if he were a foreigner: + +"Philip Ryder, Mr. Philip Ryder, Monsieur Philippe Ryder, Signor Filipo +Ryder, Senor Felipe Ryder, and Herr Philip Ryder." + +"It's the name of the young chap who led me such a chase in Victoria, +and finally gave me the information I wanted concerning the sloop +_Fancy_," said the lieutenant to his commanding officer, in reporting +this discovery. + +"Which would seem to settle the identity of the sloop we are after, and +prove that she is now somewhere close at hand," replied the commander. + +"Yes, sir; and it also discloses the identity of the young rascal who is +responsible for this trick, though from his looks I wouldn't have +believed him capable of it. He is the one I told you of who was so +scented with cologne as to be offensive. I remember well seeing the name +Philip Ryder on his dunnage-bag." + +The sun was just rising, and at this moment a report was brought to the +cabin, from a masthead lookout, to the effect that a small sloop was +disappearing behind a point a few miles to the southward. + +"It may be your boat, and it may be some other," said the commander to +the third lieutenant. "At any rate, it is our duty to look him up. So +you will please get under way again with the yawl, run down to that +point, and see what you can find. If you meet with your young friend +Ryder either afloat or ashore, don't fail to arrest and detain him as a +witness, for in any case his testimony will be most important." + +The _Fancy_ had hauled out of her snug berth soon after sunset that same +night, and fanned along by a light breeze, held her course to the +southward. Both our lads were stationed forward to keep a sharp lookout, +though with a grim warning from Captain Duff that if either of them fell +overboard this time, he might as well make up his mind to swim ashore, +for the sloop would not be stopped to pick him up. + +"Cheerful prospect for me," muttered Alaric. "Never mind, though, Mr. +Captain, I'm going to desert, as did the Phil Ryder of whom you seem so +fond. I am going to follow his example, too, in taking your first mate +with me." + +As on the previous night, the lads found an opportunity to talk in low +tones; and filled with the idea of inducing Bonny to leave the sloop +with him, Alaric strove to convince him of the wickedness of smuggling. + +"It is breaking a law of your country," he argued; "and any one who +breaks one law will be easily tempted to break another, until there's no +saying where he will end." + +"If we didn't do it, some other fellows would," replied Bonny. "The +chinks are bound to travel, and folks are bound to have cheap dope." + +"So _you_ are breaking the law to save some other fellow's conscience?" + +"No, of course not. I'm doing it for the wages it pays." + +"Which is as much as to say that you would break any law if you were +paid enough." + +"I never saw such a fellow as you are for putting things in an +unpleasant way," retorted the young mate, a little testily. "Of course +there are plenty of laws I couldn't be hired to break. I wouldn't steal, +for instance, even if I were starving, nor commit a murder for all the +money in the world. But I'd like to know what's the harm in running a +cargo like ours? A few Chinamen more or less will never be noticed in a +big place like the United States. Besides, I think the law that says +they sha'n't come in is an unjust one, anyway. We haven't any more right +to keep Chinamen out of a free country than we have to keep out Italians +or anybody else." + +"So you claim to be wiser than the men who make our laws, do you?" asked +Alaric. + +Without answering this question, Bonny continued: "As for running in a +few pounds of dope, we don't rob anybody by doing that." + +"How about robbing the government?" + +"Oh, that don't count. What's a few dollars more or less to a government +as rich as ours?" + +"Which is saying that while you wouldn't steal from any one person, you +don't consider it wicked to steal from sixty millions of people. Also, +that it is perfectly right to rob a government because it is rich. +Wouldn't it be just as right to rob Mr. Vanderbilt or Mr. Astor, or even +my--I mean any other millionaire? They are rich, and wouldn't feel the +loss." + +"I never looked at it in that way," replied Bonny, thoughtfully. + +"I thought not," rejoined Alaric. "And there are some other points about +this business that I don't believe you ever looked at, either. Did you +ever stop to think that every Chinaman you help over the line at once +sets to work to throw one of your own countrymen out of a job, and so +robs him of his living?" + +"No; I can't say I ever did." + +"Or did it ever occur to you that every cargo of opium you help to bring +into the country is going to carry sorrow and suffering, perhaps even +ruin, to hundreds of your own people?" + +"I say, Rick Dale, it seems to me you know enough to be a lawyer. At any +rate, you know too much to be a sailor, and ought to be in some other +business." + +"No, Bonny, I don't know half enough to be a sailor; but I do know too +much to be a smuggler, and I am going to get into some other business as +quick as I can. You are too, now that you have begun to think about it, +for you are too honest a fellow to hold your present position any longer +than you can help. By-the-way, what would happen if a cutter should get +after us to-night?" + +"That depends," replied the first mate, sagely, glad to feel that there +were some legal questions concerning which he was wiser than his +companion. "They might fire on us, if we didn't stop quick enough to +suit 'em, and blow us out of the water. They might capture us, clap us +into irons, and put us into a dark lock-up on bread and water. The most +likely thing is that we would all be sent to the government prison on +McNeil's Island. From there the chinks would be hustled back to +Victoria, and the old man would get out on bond; but you and I would be +held as witnesses until a court was ready to condemn the vessel and +cargo. That would probably take some months, perhaps a year. Then the +case would be appealed, and we'd be kept in prison for another year or +so. + +"And I suppose if we ever got out we would always be watched and +suspected," suggested Alaric, who had listened to all this with almost +as much dismay as though it were an actual sentence. "Well, I'll never +be caught, that's all. I'll drift away in the dinghy first." In saying +this the boy threatened to do the very most desperate thing he could +think of. + +"I believe I'd go with you," said Bonny. "Now, though, I must go and get +ready our private signal, for we are getting close to the most dangerous +place." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +BONNY'S INVENTION, AND HOW IT WORKED + + +Bonny walked aft, exchanged a few words with Captain Duff, and then +disappeared in the cabin, where he remained for some minutes. When he +again came on deck he bore a box in which was a lighted lamp provided +with a bright reflector. Only one side of the box was open, and this +space the lad carefully shielded with his hat. The sloop was just +entering Colvos Passage, between Vashon Island and the mainland, and was +nearer the western shore than the other. + +Holding his box as far down as he could reach over the landward side of +the vessel, Bonny turned its opening towards the shore, and allowed the +bright light to stream from it for a single second. Then by quickly +reversing the box the light was made to disappear. A moment later it was +shown again, this time with a piece of red glass held in the front of +the lamp. This red light, after appearing for a single second, was also +made to vanish, and another quick flash of white light took its place. A +minute or so later the whole operation was repeated, and the white, red, +and white signal was again flashed to the wooded shore. At the fourth +time of displaying the signal it was answered by two white flashes from +the shore. + +There was a moment of suspense, and then Bonny exclaimed, in a low tone, +"Great Scott! They're after us!" + +Extinguishing his light, he again dived below, this time into the +forecastle. When he reappeared he bore the float and lighted lantern +already described. Alaric had noticed this queer contrivance the day +before, and, while wondering at its object, had amused himself by idly +scribbling on a smooth shingle that he found inside the tub. Now this +same shingle was hastily lashed to the lantern, and the whole affair was +launched overboard. At the same time the sloop was put about, and +leaving this decoy light floating and bobbing behind her as though it +were in a boat, she sped away towards the eastern side of the channel. + +When Bonny rejoined Alaric at the lookout station he asked, with a +chuckle: "What do you think of that for a scheme, Rick? It's my own +invention, and I've been longing for a chance to try it every trip; but +this is the very first time we have needed anything of the kind. I only +hope the light won't get blown out, or the whole business get capsized +before the beaks capture it. My! how I'd like to see 'em creeping up to +it, and hear their remarks when they find out what it really is!" + +"What does all this flashing of lights and setting lanterns adrift mean, +anyway?" asked Alaric, who was much puzzled by what had just taken +place. + +"Means there's a revenue-boat of some kind waiting for us in the +channel, and that we are dodging him. The lights I showed made our +private signal, and asked if the coast was clear. Skookum John didn't +get on to 'em at first, or maybe he wasn't in a safe place for +answering. When he saw us and got the chance, though, he flashed two +lights to warn us of trouble. Three would have meant 'All right, come +ahead'; but two was a startler. It was the first time we've had that +signal; also it's the first chance I've had to test my invention." + +[Illustration: "BONNY'S INVENTION STARTED ON ITS JOURNEY"] + +"Do you mean that you actually expect that floating lantern to attract +the revenue people, so they will go to examine it, instead of coming +after us?" + +"Attract 'em! Of course it will. They'll go for it the same as June bugs +go for street electrics, and then they'll wish they had spent their time +hunting for us instead." + +Ever since leaving the dancing light Bonny had not been able to take his +eyes from it, so anxious was he to discover whether or not it served the +purpose for which it was intended. It grew fainter and smaller as the +sloop gained distance on her new course. Then all at once it seemed to +rise from the water, and an instant later disappeared. + +"They've got it, and lifted it aboard!" cried Bonny, delightedly. And in +his exultation he called out, "The beaks have doused the glim, Cap'n +Duff!" + +"Douse your tongue, ye swab, and keep your eyes p'inted for'ard!" was +the ungracious reply muttered out of the after darkness. + +"What an old bear he is!" murmured Alaric, indignantly. + +"Yes; isn't he?--a regular old sea-bear? But I don't mind him any more +than I would a rumble of imitation thunder. I say, though, Rick, isn't +this jolly exciting?" + +"Yes," admitted the other, "it certainly is." + +"And you want me to quit it for some stupid shore work that'll make a +fellow think he's got about as much life in him as a clam?" + +"No, I don't; for I am certain there are just as exciting things to be +done on shore as at sea; and if you'll only promise to come with me I'll +promise to find something for you to do as exciting as this, and lots +honester." + +"I've a mind to take you up," said Bonny, "and I would if I thought you +had any idea how hard it is to find a job of any kind. You haven't, +though, and because you got this berth dead easy you think you'll have +the same luck every time. But we must look sharp now for another light +from Skookum John." + +By this time the sloop had again tacked, and was headed diagonally for +the western shore. + +"Who is Skookum John?" asked Alaric. + +"Skookum? Why, he's our Siwash runner, who is always on the lookout for +us, and keeps us posted." + +"What is a Siwash?" + +"Well, if you aren't ignorant! 'Specially about languages. Why, Siwash +is Chinook for Indian. There's his light now! See? One, two, three. Good +enough! We've given 'em the slip once more, and everything is working +our way." + +By the time Bonny had reported this bit of news to Captain Duff, and +held the tiller while the old sea-dog cautiously lighted the pipe he had +not dared smoke all night, dawn was breaking, and the skipper began to +look anxiously for the harbor he had hoped to make by sunrise. + +As it grew lighter Bonny pointed out the now distant masts of the cutter +they had so successfully passed a short time before, and said, with a +cheerful grin: "There's the old kettle that thought she could clip the +_Fancy's_ wings, and bring her to with a round turn. But she missed it +this time, as she will many another if I'm not mistaken." + +Captain Duff also sighted the far-away cutter, and, nervous as an owl at +being caught outside his hiding-place by daylight, laid all the blame of +their late arrival on poor Alaric. + +"If it hadn't been for your fool antics of two nights ago," he said, +"we'd made this port a good hour afore sun this morning. You're as +wuthless as ye look, and ye look to be the most wuthless young swab I +ever had aboard ship, barring one. He was another just such white-faced, +white-handed, mealy-mouthed specimen as you be. Couldn't eat ship's +victuals till I starved him to it, and finally got me into the wust +scrape of my life. Now I shouldn't be one mite surprised ef you'd put me +into another hole mighty nigh as deep. So you want to quit your nonsense +and 'tend strictly to business, or I'll make ye jump. D'ye hear? I'll +make ye jump, I say." + +Alaric acknowledged that he heard, and then walked forward to light the +galley fire and set a kettle of water on to boil, for he was very +hungry, and proposed to have some breakfast as quickly as possible. + +The sloop rounded a long point and came to anchor in a wooded cove, +apparently as wild as though they were its discoverers. A couple of +Chinamen, who had evidently camped there all night, waited to greet +their countrymen on the beach, to which Bonny at once began to transfer +his passengers, a few at a time, in the dinghy. As fast as they were +landed they were led back into the woods and started towards Tacoma, +which was but a few miles distant. + +Alaric, who was determined not to remain aboard the sloop longer than +was necessary to get the breakfast to which he felt entitled after his +night's work, managed to get his canvas bag on deck unseen by Captain +Duff, and slip it into the dinghy as the boat was about to make its last +trip. + +"Hide it on shore for me, Bonny," he said. + +"All right; I will if you'll promise not to skip until we've had another +talk on the subject." + +"Of course I promise; for I'm not going without you." + +"Then perhaps you won't go at all," laughed Bonny. + +So the bag was taken ashore and concealed in a thicket a little to one +side, and Bonny came back to prepare breakfast, for which Alaric had the +water already boiling. + +When this meal was nearly ready, and as the boys were sniffing hungrily +at the odors of coffee and frying meat, Captain Duff suddenly appeared +on deck. + +"Go up on that point, you foremast hand--I can't remember your +thundering name--and watch the cutter while me and the mate eats. After +that one of us 'll relieve ye. Ef she moves, or even shows black smoke, +you let me know, d'ye hear?" + +Wishing to rebel, but not daring to, and feeling that he should surely +starve if kept from his breakfast many minutes longer, Alaric obeyed +this order. He managed to secure a couple of hard biscuit with which to +comfort his lonely watch, and then Bonny set him ashore. + +Picking up his bag and carrying it with him, the boy clambered to the +point, and, selecting a place from which he could plainly see the +cutter, began his watch, at the same time munching his dry biscuit with +infinite relish. Much of the water intervening between him and the +cutter was hidden from view by near-by undergrowth, and the necessity +for scanning it never occurred to him. + +After a while Bonny came to relieve him and allow him to go to +breakfast. + +"Have you really made up your mind to desert the ship?" asked the young +mate, noticing that Alaric had his bag with him. + +"Yes, I really have," answered the other; "and you will come with me, +won't you, Bonny?" + +"I don't know," replied the latter, undecidedly. "Somehow I can't make +it seem right to desert Captain Duff and leave him in a fix. Seems to me +we ought to stay with him until he gets back to Victoria, anyway. +Besides, I'd lose my wages, and there must be nearly thirty dollars due +me by this time. But you go along to your breakfast, and after that +we'll talk it all over. Haven't seen anything, have you?" + +"No, not a sign, but--Hello! What's that?" + +"Caught, as sure as you're born!" cried Bonny, in a tone of suppressed +excitement. + +Then, the two lads, peering through the bushes, watched a boat, flying +the flag of the United States Revenue Marine and filled with sturdy +bluejackets, enter the cove and dash alongside the smuggler _Fancy_. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +CAPTURED BY A REVENUE-CUTTER + + +The sight of that armed boat making fast to the sloop, and its agile +occupants springing on board, was so startling to the two lads taking in +its every detail from their point of vantage on shore, that if +excitement could have affected Alaric Todd's heart it would certainly +have done so at that moment. As it was, he did not even realize that his +heart was beating unusually fast. His mind was too full of other +thoughts just then for him to remember that he had a heart. He only +realized that the vessel of which he had formed the crew had fallen into +the clutches of outraged law, and that for the present at least her +career as a smuggler was at an end. Now that she was really captured, he +was conscious of a regret that after successfully eluding her enemies so +long she should, after all, fall into their hands. He even felt sorry +for Captain Duff, surly old bear that he was. + +At the same time he was thankful not to be on board the captured craft, +and rejoiced in the thought that this sudden change of affairs would +sweep away all Bonny's scruples, and leave him free to seek some +occupation other than that of being a smuggler. + +As for that young sailor himself, his feelings were equally +contradictory with those of his companion, though his sympathies leaned +more decidedly towards the side of the law-breaker. + +"Poor Cap'n Duff!" he exclaimed, in a low tone. "This is tough luck for +him; and I must say, Rick Dale, that the whole thing is pretty much your +fault, too. If you'd kept a half-way decent lookout you'd have seen that +yawl when she was two miles off. Then we could have got under way, and +given her the slip as easy as you please. Now you and I have lost our +job, while Cap'n Duff will lose his and his boat besides. I'll never see +my wages, either; and, worst of all, in spite of my invention working so +smooth, these revenue fellows have got the laugh on us. I say it's too +bad, though to be sure it does let us out of the smuggling business. I +expect it will be a long time, though, before I get another job as first +mate, or any other kind of a job that will be worth having." + +"But, Bonny," interposed Alaric, anxious to defend his own reputation, +"I wasn't told to look out for boats, but only to watch the cutter, and +I hardly took my eyes off of her until you came." + +"That's all right; only by the time you've knocked round the world as +much as I have you'll find out that any fellow who expects to get +promoted has got to do a heap of things besides those he's told to do. +What he is told to do is generally only a hint of what he is expected to +do. But just listen to the old man. Isn't he laying down the law to +those chaps, though?" + +The voices of those on the sloop came plainly to the ears of the hidden +lads, and above them all roared and bellowed that of Captain Duff, as +though he expected to overwhelm his enemies by sheer force of bluster. + +"Chinamen!" he shouted--"Chinamen! No, sir, you won't find no Chinamen +about this craft, nor nothing else onlawful. + +"Smell 'em, do ye? Smell 'em! So do I now, and hev ever sence you +revenooers come aboard. Seems like ye can't get the parfume out of your +clothing. + +"Going to seize the sloop anyway, be ye? Wal, ye kin do it, seeing as +I'm all alone and a cripple. There'll come a day of reckoning, though--a +day of reckoning, d'ye hear? I'm a free-born American citizen, and I'll +protest agin this outrage till they hear me clear to Washington." + +"He's heard over a good part of Washington this minute," whispered +Bonny. "But what are they talking about now?" + +"Phil Ryder!" the captain was shouting. "Philip Ryder! No, sir, there +ain't no one of that name aboard this craft, nor hain't ever been as I +know of. I did know a Phil Ryder once, but--What's that ye say? That'll +do? Wa'l, it won't do, ye gold-mounted swab, not so long as I choose to +keep on talking. Look out there, or I'll brain ye sure as guns! Look +out, I--" + +This last exclamation was directed to a couple of sturdy bluejackets, +who, obeying a significant nod from their officer, seized the irate +captain by either arm, hustled him down into his own cabin, and drew the +slide. Then leaving these two aboard the _Fancy_, the others re-entered +their boat and began to pull towards shore, with the evident intention +of making a search for the missing members of the sloop's crew as well +as for her recent passengers. + +"Hello!" cried Bonny, softly, "this thing is beginning to get rather too +interesting for us, and the sooner we light out the better." + +So the lads started on a run, and had gone but a few rods when Alaric, +catching his toe on a projecting root, was tripped up and fell heavily. +With such force was he flung to the ground that for several minutes he +was too sick and dizzy to rise. When he finally regained his feet, and +expressed a belief that he could again run, it was too late. The boat's +crew were already scattering through the woods, and one man detailed to +search the point was coming directly towards the place where the boys +were concealed. + +It seemed inevitable that they should be discovered, and Alaric, already +giving himself up for lost, was beginning to see visions of the +government prison on MacNeil's Island, when Bonny spied one avenue of +escape that was still open to them. + +"Scrooch low!" he whispered, "and follow me as softly as you can." + +Alaric obeyed, and the young sailor began to move as rapidly as possible +towards the beach. With inexcusable carelessness the lieutenant had left +his boat hauled up on the shore without a man to guard her. Bonny +noticed this, and also that the sloop's dinghy still lay where he had +left it. If they could only reach the dinghy unobserved they would stand +a much better chance of making an escape by water than by land. + +So the boys crept cautiously through the undergrowth without attracting +the attention of their only near-by pursuer, until they reached the +beach, where a cleared space of about one hundred feet intervened +between them and their coveted goal, and this they must cross, exposed +to the full view of any who might be looking that way. They paused for +an instant, drew long breaths, and then made a dash into the open. + +Almost with the first sound of rattling pebbles beneath their feet came +a yell from behind. The bluejacket had discovered them, and was leaping +down the steep slope in hot pursuit. + +"Run, Rick! You've got to run!" panted Bonny. "Give me the bag." +Snatching the canvas bag from Alaric's hand as he spoke, the active +young fellow darted ahead and flung it into the dinghy. "Now shove!" he +cried. "Shove, with all your might!" + +It was all they could do to move the boat, for the tide had fallen +sufficiently to leave it hard aground, and with their first straining +shove they only gained a couple of feet; the next put half her length in +the water, and with a third effort she floated free. + +"Tumble in!" shouted Bonny, and Alaric obeyed literally, pitching head +foremost across the thwarts with such violence that but for his +comrade's hold on the opposite side the boat would surely have been +capsized. + +With the water above his knees, Bonny gave a final shove that sent the +boat a full rod from shore, and in turn tumbled aboard. + +He was none too soon; for at that moment the sailor reached the spot +they had just left, and, rushing into the water, began to swim after +them with splendid overhand strokes. Bonny snatched up the dinghy's +single oar, and, seeing that they would be overtaken before he could get +the boat under way, brandished it like a club, threatening to bring it +down on the man's head if he came within reach. + +A single glance at the lad's resolute face convinced the swimmer that he +was in dead earnest, and realizing his own helplessness, he wisely +turned back. Then with a shout of derision Bonny began to scull the +dinghy towards open water, while the sailor strove with unavailing +efforts to launch the heavy yawl. + +Without troubling themselves any further about him, the lads turned +their attention to the sloop, which they were now approaching. The two +men left in charge had watched with great interest the scene just +enacted so close to them, but in which, having no boat at their +disposal, they were unable to participate. Now one of them shouted: +"Come aboard here, you young villains! What do you mean by running off +with government property?" + +"What do you mean by eating my breakfast?" replied Alaric, hungrily, as +he noticed the men making a hearty meal off the food they had discovered +in the sloop's galley. + +"Your breakfast, is it, son? So you belong to this craft, do you? Come +aboard and get it, then." + +"Don't you wish we would?" retorted Bonny, jeeringly, as he stopped +sculling and allowed the dinghy to drift just beyond reach from the +sloop. "I say, though, you might toss us a couple of hardtack." + +"What? Feed you young pirates with rations that's just been seized by +the government? Not much. I'm in the service, I am." + +Just then a bright object flashed from one of the little round cabin +windows and fell in the dinghy. It was a box of sardines. Tins of potted +meat, mushrooms, and other delicacies followed in quick succession. One +or two fell in the water and were lost; but most of them reached their +destination, and were deftly caught by Alaric, whose baseball experience +was thus put to practical use. So before the bewildered guards fully +realized what was taking place the dinghy was fairly well provisioned. +At length one of them seemed to comprehend the situation, and sprang in +front of the open port just in time to stop with his legs a flying +tumbler of raspberry jam. As it broke and streamed down over his white +duck trousers the boys in the dinghy shouted with laughter, and nearly +rolled overboard in their irrepressible mirth. + +All at once there came a hoarse shout from the same cabin port. "Look +astarn, ye lubbers! Look astarn!" + +So occupied had the lads been with the sloop that they had given no +thought to what might be taking place on shore, but at this warning a +startled glance in that direction filled them with dismay. + +Another sailor, attracted by the shouts on the beach, had returned to +the assistance of his mate, and together they had succeeded in launching +the yawl. Then, pulling very softly, they had slipped up on the unwary +lads, until they were so close that one of them had quit rowing, and +crept forward to the bow, where he crouched with an outstretched +boat-hook, that in another second would be caught over the dinghy's +sternboard. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW + + +The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the +sloop were already shouting derisively at them. Alaric caught another +mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart +experienced an instant of despair. He was still standing and holding the +oar that he had used in sculling. Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as +the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he +struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it +whirling from the sailor's grasp. With a second quick motion the lad set +his oar against the stem of the yawl, that was within four feet of him, +and gave a vigorous shove. The slight headway of the heavy craft was +checked, and the lighter dinghy forged ahead. + +"Oh, you will, will you, you young rascal?" cried the sailor, angrily, +as he leaped back to his thwart, and bent to his oar with furious +energy. His companion followed his example, and under the impetus of +their powerful strokes the yawl sprang forward. At the same time Bonny, +facing backward, and working his oar with both hands, was sculling so +sturdily that the dinghy rocked from side to side until it seemed to +Alaric that she must certainly capsize. She was making such splendid +headway, though, that the much heavier yawl could not gain an inch. Its +crew, unable to see the fugitive dinghy without turning their heads, and +having no one to steer for them, were placed at a disadvantage that +Bonny was quick to detect. + +Watching his opportunity, he caused his craft to swerve sharply to one +side, and the yawl, holding her original course for some seconds before +his manoeuvre was discovered, his lead was thus materially increased. + +Although not a very swift race, this novel chase proved as close and +exciting a contest as had ever been seen on the Sound. The men on the +sloop yelled with delight; and Alaric, filled with renewed hopes of +escape on seeing that the distance between dinghy and yawl was not +diminished, thrilled with excitement and shouted encouraging words to +his comrade. + +In spite of all this, Bonny's strength and powers of endurance were so +much less than those of the sturdy fellows in the yawl that he realized +the impossibility of maintaining his position much longer. With strained +muscles, and his breath coming in panting gasps, he glanced wildly about +like a hunted animal in search of some avenue of escape. There was none +other than that he was taking; and with a sinking heart he knew that, +unless some miracle were interposed in their behalf, he and his +companion must speedily be captured. + +But the miracle was interposed, and in the simplest possible manner; for +just as Bonny was ready to drop his oar from exhaustion a shrill, +long-drawn whistle sounded from the now distant beach. Its effect on the +crew of the yawl was magical. They stopped rowing, looked at each other, +and consulted. Then they gazed at the retreating dinghy and hesitated. +They felt it to be their duty to continue the pursuit, but they also +knew the penalty for disobeying an order from a superior, and that +whistle was an unmistakable order for them to go back. + +The cutter's third lieutenant had returned from his expedition into the +woods with three wretched Chinamen, whom, despite their eagerly produced +certificates, he had seen fit to make prisoners. He was amazed to find +the yawl gone from where he had left it, and the details of the chase in +which it was engaged being hidden from him by the intervening sloop, he +gave the whistle signal for its immediate return. + +As the crew of the yawl hesitated between duty and obedience, the +peremptory whistle order was repeated louder and shriller than before. +This decided the wavering sailors, and, reluctantly turning their boat, +they began to pull towards shore, one of them shaking his fist at the +boys as they went. + +As for the fugitives, they could hardly believe the evidence of their +senses. Was the chase indeed given over, and were they free to go where +they pleased? It seemed incredible. Just as they were on the point of +being captured, too, for Bonny now confided to Alaric that he couldn't +have held out at that pace one minute longer. As he said this the tired +lad sat down for a short rest. + +Almost immediately he again sprang to his feet, and, thrusting his oar +overboard, began to scull with one hand. "It won't do for us to be +loafing here," he explained, "for I expect those fellows have been +called back so that the whole crowd can chase us in the sloop." + +"Oh, I hope not," said Alaric; "I'm awfully tired of running away." + +"So am I," laughed Bonny--"tired in more ways than one; but if fellows +bigger than we are will insist on chasing us, I don't see that there is +anything for us to do but run. There! thank goodness we've rounded the +point at last, and got out of sight of them for a while at any rate." + +"Where are you going now, and what do you propose to do next?" asked +Alaric, who, fully realizing his own helplessness in this situation, was +willing to leave the whole scheme of escape to his more experienced +companion. + +"That's what I'm wondering. Of course it won't do to stay out here very +long, for in less than fifteen minutes the sloop will be shoving her +nose around that point. Nor it wouldn't be any use to try and get to +Tacoma--at least, not yet a while--for that's where they'll be most +likely to hunt for us. So I think we'd better cross the channel, turn +our boat adrift, and make our way overland to Skookum John's camp. It +isn't very sweet-smelling, and they don't feed you any too well--that +is, not according to our ideas--but just because it is such a mean kind +of a place no one will ever think of looking for us there. Besides, +Skookum's a very decent sort of a chap, and he'll keep us posted on all +that happens in the bay. So if you don't mind roughing it a bit--" + +"No, indeed," interrupted Alaric, eagerly. "I don't mind it at all. In +fact, that is just what I want to do most of anything, and I've always +wished I could live in a real Indian camp. The only Indians I ever saw +were in the Wild West Show, in Paris." + +"Have you been to Paris?" asked Bonny, wonderingly. + +"Yes, of course, I was there for--I mean yes, I've been there. But, +Bonny, what makes you think of turning this boat adrift? Wouldn't we +find her useful?" + +"I suppose we might; but she isn't our boat, you know, and you wouldn't +keep a boat that didn't belong to you just because it might prove +useful, would you?" + +"No, certainly not," replied Alaric, rather surprised to have his +companion take this view of the question. "I would try to hand her over +to the rightful owner." + +"So would I," agreed Bonny, "if I knew who he was; but after what has +just happened I don't know, and so I am going to turn her adrift in the +hope that he will find her. Besides, it wouldn't be safe to leave her on +shore, because she would show anybody who happened to be looking for us +just where we had landed." + +"That's a much better reason than the other," said Alaric. + +During this conversation the dinghy had been urged steadily across the +channel, and was now run up to a bold bank, where the boys disembarked. +After removing Alaric's bag and the several cans of provisions so +thoughtfully furnished them by Captain Duff, Bonny gave the boat a push +out into the channel, down which the ebbing tide bore her, with many a +twist and turn, towards the more open waters of the Sound. + +"To be left in this way in an unknown wilderness makes me feel as Cortez +must have done when he burned his ships," reflected Alaric, as he +watched the receding craft. + +"I don't think I ever heard about that," said Bonny, simply. "Did he do +it for the insurance?" + +"Not exactly," laughed Alaric; "and yet in a certain way he did, too. +I'll tell you all about it some time. Now, what are you going to do +next?" + +"Climb that bluff, lie down under those trees while you eat something, +and watch for the sloop," answered Bonny, as though his programme had +all been arranged beforehand. + +They did this, and Alaric was so hungry that he made away with a whole +box of sardines and a tin of deviled ham. He wondered a little if they +would not make him ill, but did not worry much, for he was rapidly +learning that while leading an out-of-door life one may eat with +impunity many things that would kill one under ordinary conditions. He +had just finished his ham, and was casting thoughtful glances towards a +bottle of olives, when Bonny exclaimed, "There she is!" + +Sure enough, the sloop, with the cutter's yawl in tow, was slowly +beating out past the point on the opposite side of the channel. She +stood well over towards the western shore, and the tide so carried her +down that when she tacked she was close under the bluff on which the +boys, stretched at full length and peering through a fringe of tall +grasses, watched her. She came so near that Alaric grew nervous, and was +certain her crew were about to make a landing at that very spot. With a +vision of MacNeil's Island always before him, he wanted to run from so +dangerous a vicinity and hide in the forest depths; but Bonny assured +him that the sloop would go about, and in another moment she did so, +greatly to Alaric's relief. + +They could see that Captain Duff was still confined below, and they even +heard one of the men sing out to the officer in command: "There it is +now, sir, about two miles down the channel. I can see it plain." + +"Very good," answered the lieutenant; "keep your eye on it, and note if +they make a landing. If they don't, we'll have them inside of half an +hour." + +"Yes, you will," said Bonny, with a grin. + +As the sloop passed out of hearing the lads crept back from the edge of +the bluff, gathered up their scanty belongings, and started through the +forest towards the place where Bonny believed Skookum John's camp to be +located. Although it lay somewhere down the coast in the same direction +as that taken by the sloop, it never occurred to either of them that +her new commander might stop there to make inquiries concerning them. + +Thus when, after an hour of hard travel, they came suddenly on the camp, +located beside a tumbling stream in a rocky hollow that opened directly +on the water, they were terrified at sight of the cutter's yawl lying in +the mouth of the creek, and the revenue-officer standing on shore +engaged in earnest conversation with Skookum John himself. As they +hastily drew back into the forest shadows they saw the former wave his +arm comprehensively towards the country lying back of the camp. Then he +shook hands with the Indian and stepped into his boat. Just as it was +about to shove off, a villanous cur, scenting the newcomers, darted +towards their hiding-place, barking furiously. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SAVED BY A LITTLE SIWASH KID + + +The attention of the departing revenue-officer being attracted by the +barking dog, he paused, and glanced inquiringly in that direction. It +was a critical moment for our lads, who knew not whether to run, which +would be to reveal their presence at once, or to try and kill the dog, +with probably the same result. Fortunately they were spared the +necessity of a decision, for a little girl, whom up to this moment they +had not noticed, though she was quietly at play with a family of +clam-shell dolls directly in front of them, took the matter into her own +hands. She had just arranged her score or so of dolls in _potlatch_ +order, with the most favored near at hand, when the dog, charging that +way, threatened to upset the whole company. To avert such a catastrophe +the child snatched up a stick, and springing forward in defence of her +property, began to belabor him with such a hearty will, and scream at +him so shrilly, as to entirely divert his attention from his original +object. + +Taking advantage of this diversion in their favor, the boys stole softly +away, and after making a long detour through the forest, cautiously +approached the coast a mile or more from Skookum John's camp, but where +they could command a wide view of the Sound. Here they had the +satisfaction of seeing the yawl, under sail, standing off shore, and a +full half-mile from it. The sloop was not visible, nor was the cutter. + +"How could he have known just where to look for us?" asked Alaric, who +had been greatly alarmed at the imminence of their recent danger. + +"He couldn't have known," replied Bonny. "It was only a good guess. I +suppose he overhauled our boat, and, finding her empty, made up his mind +that we had landed somewhere. Of course he couldn't tell on which shore +to look, but, noticing John's camp, thought it would be a good idea to +find out if the Indians had seen anything of us. Of course they hadn't, +and now that he has left, it will be safe enough for us to go back." + +"Do you really think so? Isn't there any other place to which we can +go?" asked Alaric, whose dread of being captured by the revenue-officers +was so great as to render him overcautious. + +"Plenty of them, but no other that I know of within reach, where we +could find food, fire to cook it, and a boat to carry us somewhere else; +for there aren't any white settlers or any other Indians that I know of +within miles of here." + +In spite of this assurance Alaric was so loath to venture that the boys +spent several hours in discussing their situation and prospects before +he finally consented to revisit Skookum John's camp. By this time the +day was drawing to its close, and the lengthening forest shadows, flung +far out over the placid waters of the Sound, were so suggestive of a +night of darkness and hunger amid all sorts of possible terrors as to +outweigh all other considerations. So the boys plunged into the twilight +gloom of the thick-set trees, and began the uncertain task of retracing +the way by which they had come. + +As neither of them was a woodsman, this soon proved more difficult than +they had expected. The trees all looked alike, and they made so many +turns to avoid prostrate trunks and masses of entangled branches that +within half an hour they came to a halt, and each read in the troubled +face of the other a confirmation of his own fears. They had certainly +lost their way, and could not even tell in which direction lay the +sea-shore they had so recently left. Bonny thought it was in front, +while Alaric was equally certain that it still lay behind them. + +"If we could only make a fire," said the former, "I wouldn't mind so +much staying right where we are till daylight; but I should hate to do +so without one. Haven't you any matches?" + +"Not one," replied Alaric; "but I thought you always carried them." + +"So I do; but I used them all on that old lantern last night. I almost +wish now I'd never invented that thing, and that they had caught us. +They wouldn't have starved us, at any rate, and perhaps the prison isn't +so very bad, after all." + +"I don't know about that," rejoined Alaric, stoutly. "To my mind a +prison is the very worst thing, worse even than starving. After all, +this doesn't seem to me so bad a fix as some from which I've already +escaped. Going to China, for instance, or drifting alone at night in a +small boat." + +"What do you mean by going to China?" asked Bonny, wonderingly. + +"Hark!" exclaimed the other, without answering this question. "Don't you +hear something?" + +"Nothing but the wind up aloft." + +"Well, I do. I hear some sort of a moaning, and it sounds like a child." + +"Maybe it's a bear or a wolf, or something of that kind," suggested +Bonny, whose notions concerning wild animals were rather vague. + +"Of course it may be," admitted Alaric; "but it sounds so human that we +must go and find out, for if it is a child in distress we are bound to +rescue it." + +"Yes, I suppose we are; only if it proves to be a bear, I wonder who +will rescue us." + +Alaric had already set off in the direction of the moaning; and ere they +had taken half a dozen steps Bonny also heard it plainly. Then they +paused and shouted, hoping that if the sound came from a bear the animal +would run away. As they could hear no evidences of a retreat, and as the +moaning still continued, they again pushed on. It was now so dark that +they could do little more than feel their way past trees, over logs, and +through dense beds of ferns. All the while the sound by which they were +guided grew more and more distinct, until it seemed to come from their +very feet. + +At this moment the moaning ceased, as though the sufferer were +listening. Then it was succeeded by a plaintive cry that went straight +to Alaric's heart. He could dimly see the outline of a great log +directly before him. Stooping beside it and groping among the ferns, his +hands came in contact with something soft and warm that he lifted +carefully. It was a little child, who uttered a sharp cry of mingled +pain and terror at being picked up by a stranger. + +"Poor little thing!" exclaimed the boy. "I am afraid it is badly +injured, and shouldn't be one bit surprised if it had broken a limb. I +must try and find out so as not to hurt it unnecessarily." + +"Well," said Bonny, in a tragic tone, "they say troubles fly in flocks. +I thought we were in a pretty bad fix before; but now we surely have run +into difficulty. Whatever are we to do with a baby?" + +"Bonny!" cried Alaric, without answering this question, "I do believe +it's the little Indian girl who drove away the dog, and something is +the matter with one of her ankles." + +"Skookum John's little Siwash kid!" exclaimed Bonny, joyfully. "Then we +can't be so very far from his camp. Now if we only knew in which +direction it lay." + +As if in answer to this wish there came a cry, far-reaching and long +drawn: "Nittitan! Nittitan! Ohee! Ohee!" + +For several hours Skookum John and his eldest son, Bah-die, had been +searching the woods for two white lads whom the third lieutenant of the +cutter claimed to have lost. He had promised the Indian a reward of +twenty-five dollars if he would bring them to the cutter, and Skookum +John had at once set forth with the idea of earning this money as +speedily as possible. + +Little Nittitan, his youngest daughter, whom he loved above all others, +noted his going, and after a while decided to follow him. When darkness +put an end to the Indian's fruitless search and he returned to his camp, +he found it in an uproar. Nittitan was missing, and no one could imagine +what had become of her. + +For a moment the bereaved father was stunned. Then he prepared several +torches, and, accompanied by Bah-die, set forth to find her. At the edge +of the forest he raised a mighty cry that he hoped would reach the +little one's ears. To his amazement it was answered by a cheery "Hello! +Hello there, Skookum John!" + +"Ohee! Ohee!" shouted the Indian. + +"Here's your _tenas klootchman_" (little woman), came the voice from the +forest, and the happy father knew that he who shouted had found the lost +child and was bringing her to him. + +[Illustration: THE ARRIVAL AT SKOOKUM JOHN'S] + +On the outskirts of his camp he stood and waited, with blazing torch +uplifted above his head, and an expectant group of women and half-grown +children huddled behind him. He was greatly perplexed when a few minutes +later a tall white lad whom he had never before seen emerged from the +forest bearing the lost child in his arms. There was another behind him, +though, who was promptly recognized, for Skookum John knew Bonny Brooks +well, and instantly it came to him that these were the boys whom the +revenue-man claimed to have lost. And they had found his little one. How +glad he was that his own search for them had been unsuccessful! But this +was not the time to be thinking of them. There was his own little +Nittitan. He must have her in his arms and hold her close before he +could feel that she was really safe. + +He stepped forward to take her, but the strange lad drew back, and Bonny +cried out: "_Kloshe nanitsh, Skookum. Tenas klootchman la pee, hyas +sick_," by which he conveyed the idea that the little woman had hurt her +foot quite badly. Then he added, "It's all right, Rick. He understands +that he must handle her gently." + +So Alaric relinquished his burden, and the swarthy father, rejoicing but +anxious, bore the child to a rude hut of brush and cedar mats, the open +front of which was faced by a brightly blazing fire. Here he laid her +gently down on a soft bear-skin and knelt beside her. + +Alaric, who seemed to consider the child as still under his care, knelt +on the opposite side and began to feel very carefully of one of the +little ankles. He had not spent all his life in company with doctors +without learning something of their trade, and after a brief examination +he announced to Bonny that there were no broken bones, but merely a +dislocation of the ankle-joint. + +"I don't know anything about it," said Bonny, "but I should think that +would be just as bad." + +"No, indeed! A dislocation is not serious if promptly attended to. You +explain to him that I am a sort of a doctor, and can make the child well +in a few seconds if he will let me. Then I want him to hold her while I +pull the joint into place." + +So Bonny explained that his friend was a _hyas doctin_ or great +medicine-man who could make Nittitan well _hyak_ (quick), and the +anxious father, having implicit faith in the white man's skill, +consented to allow Alaric to make the attempt. + +The little one uttered a sharp cry, as, with a quick wrench, the +dislocated bone was snapped into place, and Alaric, with flushed face, +but very proud of what he had done, regained his feet. + +"Now," he said, "let them bathe the ankle in water as hot as the child +can bear, and by to-morrow she'll be all right. And, Bonny, if you know +how to ask for anything to eat, for goodness' sake take pity on the +starving poor, and say it quick." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +LIFE IN SKOOKUM JOHN'S CAMP + + +Skookum John, which in Chinook means "Strong John," was a Makah, or Neah +Bay, Indian, whose home was at Cape Flattery, on the shore of the +Pacific, and at the southern side of the entrance to the superb strait +of Juan de Fuca. He was a _Tyhee_, or chief, among his people, for he +was not only their biggest man, being a trifle over six feet tall, while +very few of his tribe exceeded five feet nine inches in height, but he +was the boldest and most successful hunter of whales among them. This +alone would have given him high rank in the tribe, for to them the +whales that frequent the warm waters of the coast are what buffalo were +to the Indians of the great plains. + +The Makahs are fish-eaters, and while they catch and dry or smoke +quantities of salmon, halibut, and cod, they esteem the whale more than +all other denizens of the sea, because there is so much of him, because +he is so good to eat, and because he furnishes them with the oil which +they use on all their food, as we use butter, and which they trade for +nearly every other necessity of their simple life. + +They hunt the whale in big open canoes hewn from logs of yellow-cedar, +long-beaked and wonderfully carved, painted a dead black outside and +bright red within. Formerly they used sails of cedar matting, but now +they are made of heavy drilling or light duck. Eight men go in a +whaling-canoe--one to steer, one to throw the slender harpoons, and six +to wield the long paddles, the blades of which are wide at the upper end +and gradually narrow to a point below, which is the very best way to +make all paddles except those used for steering. In these canoes Skookum +John and his people chase whales far out to sea, sometimes following +them for days without returning to land. Every time they get near enough +to one of the monsters they hurl into him a harpoon, to the head of +which is attached, by a length of stout kelp, a float made of a whole +seal-skin sewn up and inflated. The heavy drag of these floats +eventually so tires the whale that he is at the mercy of his enemies, +and they tow him ashore in triumph. + +The big Siwash, being an expert whaleman, had much oil to trade, and +made frequent visits to Victoria for this purpose. Here, being an +intelligent man and keenly noticing all that he saw, he learned much +concerning the whites and their ways, besides picking up a fair +knowledge of their language. + +So it happened that when the smugglers who proposed to operate in the +upper Sound began to cast, about for some trustworthy person, who would +also be free from suspicion, to look out for their interests in that +section, and keep them posted as to the whereabouts of cutters, they +very wisely selected Skookum John, and offered him inducements that he +could not afford to refuse. He, of course, knew nothing of the laws they +proposed to violate, nor did he care, for political economy had never +been included in Skookum John's studies. + +So the Makah Tyhee closed his substantial house of hewn planks on Neah +Bay, and, with all his wives and children--of whom Bah-die was the +eldest and little Nittitan the youngest--and his dogs and canoes, and +much whale oil, and many mats, he made the long journey to the place in +which we find him. Here he established a summer camp of brush huts, and +ostensibly went into the business of fishing for the Tacoma market. He +had brought his big whaling-canoe, and the little paddling canoes in +which his children were accustomed to brave the Pacific breakers +apparently for the fun of being rolled over and over in the surf. Above +all, he had brought a light sailing-canoe which was fashioned with such +skill that its equal for speed and weatherly qualities had never been +seen among canoes of its size on the coast. It was in this swift craft +that he darted about the Sound at night to discover the movements of +revenue-men, watch for signals from incoming smugglers, and flash in +return the lights that told of safety or danger. + +Although not possessed of a high sense of honor, Skookum John was loyal +to his employers, because it paid him to be so, and because no one had +ever tempted him to be otherwise. At the same time he was not above +performing a service for the other side, provided it would also pay, and +so he did not hesitate to promise the cutter's third lieutenant that in +return for twenty-five dollars he would use every effort to find and +return to him the lost boys. As the lieutenant had not seen fit to +mention the capture of the smuggling sloop that morning, or to say that +the boys in question formed part of her crew, he had no idea that one of +them was the lad with whom he had arranged his entire system of night +signals. + +When he did learn of the blow that threatened to retire him from +business, and the reason why the revenue-men were so desirous of finding +the lost boys, he began to wish that he saw his way clear to the winning +of that reward, for twenty-five dollars is a large sum to be made so +easily. But the revenue-men wanted _two_ boys, and the only other one +besides Bonny at present available, was the young medicine-man, the +_hyas doctin_, who had not only found his dearly loved Nittitan in the +dark _hyas stick_ (forest), but had so marvellously mended what he +firmly believed to have been a broken leg. + +The old Siwash was not honorable, and he was very mercenary. At the same +time, he was grateful, and would have suffered much to prevent harm from +coming to the lad who had placed him under such obligations. He was also +superstitious, and rather afraid of the powers of a _hyas doctin_. So he +determined to make the boys as comfortable as possible, and keep them +with him until he could communicate with the _Tyhee_ of the _piah-ship_ +(steamer). If two lost boys were worth twenty-five dollars, one lost boy +must be worth at least half that sum; while it was just possible that he +might obtain the whole reward for one boy. In that case, Bonny must be +handed over to those who were willing to pay for him; for business is +business even among the Siwash, and charity begins at home all over the +world. Of course, Skookum John did not use these expressions, for he was +not acquainted with them, but what he thought meant exactly the same +thing. + +In consequence of these reflections, all of which passed the Indian's +mind in the space of a few seconds, Bonny had no time to make a request +for food before the very best that the camp afforded was placed before +them. There were small square chunks of whale-skin, as black and tough +as the heel of a rubber boot. It was expected that these would be chewed +for a moment, until the impossibility of masticating them was +discovered, and that they would then be swallowed whole. After them came +boiled fishes heads, of which the eyes were considered the chief +delicacy, and these were followed by several kinds of dried and smoked +fish, including salmon and halibut, besides bits of smoked whale looking +like so many pieces of dried citron. All of these were to be dipped in +hot whale oil before being eaten. + +Then came another course of fish--this time fresh and plain +boiled--which the Indians ate with a liberal supply of whale oil. Then +boiled potatoes which were also dipped in oil after each bite. The +crowning glory of the feast was a small quantity of hard bread, which +for a change was dipped in whale oil and eaten dripping, and with this +was served a mixture of huckleberries and oil beaten to a paste. + +In regard to this liberal use of oil it must be said that Skookum John's +whale oil was universally acknowledged to be the sweetest and most +skilfully prepared to prevent rancidity of any in the Neah Bay village, +and his family regarded it with the same pride that the proprietors of +the best Orange County dairy do the finest products of their churn. It +was therefore a great disappointment to them that Alaric did not +appreciate it, and after trying a small quantity on a bit of potato, +refused a further supply. He even seemed to prefer pate-de-foie-gras, of +which the boys had a single jar. This he opened in honor of the +occasion, and with it to spread over his bread and potatoes, a liberal +helping of the boiled fish, and an innumerable number of smoked halibut +strips boiled after a manner taught him by Bonny, the millionaire's son +made a supper that he declared was one of the very best he had ever +eaten. + +In order that their new-found friends might not feel too badly over +Alaric's refusal to partake more liberally of their whale oil, Bonny +gave them to understand that it was not because he disliked it, but not +being accustomed to rich food, he was afraid of making himself ill if he +indulged in it too freely. + +At this meal the young sailor tasted both pate-de-foie-gras and whale +oil for the first time, and after carefully considering the merits of +the two delicacies, declared that he could not tell which was the worse, +and that as it would be just as difficult to learn to like one as the +other, he thought he would devote his energies to the oil. + +After supper a rude shelter against the chill dampness of the night was +constructed of small poles covered with a number of the useful bark +mats, of which the Indian women of that coast make enormous quantities. +A few armfuls of spruce-tips were cut and spread beneath it, a couple of +mats were laid over these, two more were provided for covering, and +Alaric's first camp bed was ready for him. Both lads were so dead tired +that they needed no second invitation to fling themselves down on their +sweet-scented couch, and were asleep almost instantly. As Skookum John +and Bah-die had also been out all the night before, they were not long +in following the example of their guests, and so within an hour after +supper the whole camp was buried in a profound slumber. + +By earliest daylight of the next morning the older Indian was up and +stirring about very softly so as not to awaken the strangers. He was +about to make an effort to earn that twenty-five dollars, and believed +that by careful management it might be his before noon. He planned to +notify the commander of the cutter that while he could deliver one of +the desired lads into his hands, the other had taken a canoe and gone to +Tacoma, where he would no doubt be readily found. If the _Tyhee_ of the +_piah-ship_ agreed to pay him the offered reward or even half of it for +one lad, he would ask that a boat might be sent to the camp for him. In +the meantime he would return first and invite both boys to go out +fishing--Bonny in a canoe with him, and the other in a second canoe +with Bah-die, who would be instructed to take his passenger out of sight +somewhere up the coast. Then the cutter's boat would be allowed to +overtake his canoe, and Bonny would be handed over to those who wanted +him, without trouble. + +It was an admirably conceived plan, and the old Siwash chuckled over it +as he softly launched his lightest canoe, stepped into it, and paddled +swiftly away. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A TREACHEROUS INDIAN FROM NEAH BAY + + +To his great disappointment, Skookum John could not find the cutter that +he had heretofore so carefully avoided and was now so anxious to +discover. She no longer lay where he had seen her the day before. He +even went far enough into Commencement Bay to take a look at Tacoma +harbor and identify the several steamers lying at its wharves. The +cutter was not among them, and he made the long trip back to his own +camp in a very disgusted frame of mind. At the same time he was +determined to redouble his efforts to gain that reward, for with the +prospect of losing it it began to assume an increased value. + +With one source of income cut off, it was clearly his duty to provide +another. And how could he do this better than by securing the good-will +of those on board the white _piah-ship_? There was no danger of them +being captured and driven out of business, and if he could only get them +into the habit of paying him for doing things, he could see no reason +why they should not continue to do so indefinitely. + +The old Siwash had already persuaded himself that they would give him +twenty-five dollars for one _tenas man_ (boy), and by the same course of +reasoning he now wondered if they might not be induced to give him fifty +dollars for two boys. It was possible, and certainly worth trying for. +If they should consent, he could not see how, in justice to himself and +his family, he could refuse to give up the _hyas doctin_ (Alaric) along +with the _tenas shipman_ (young sailor). After all, the former had not +placed him under such a very great obligation, for he would have found +Nittitan himself in a very few minutes. As for curing her of her injury, +the hurt could not have been anything serious or she would not have gone +to sleep so quickly. Yes, for fifty dollars he would certainly deliver +both of his young guests to the _shipman Tyhee_. He would be a fool to +do otherwise, and Skookum John had never yet been called a fool. +Besides, it was not likely that the boys would come to any harm on board +the cutter, for the _Boston men_ (whites) were very good to those of +their own tribe, never treating them cruelly, as they did the poor +Siwash, whom they had even forbidden to kill and rob shipwrecked sailors +found on their coast. Yes, indeed, both boys must be given up, and that +fifty dollars reward received as quickly as possible. + +It was all a very rational process of reasoning, and one that even white +people sometimes employ to convince themselves that a thing they want to +do is the right thing to do, even though their consciences may assure +them to the contrary. + +So the cunning old Indian, having persuaded himself that his meditated +treachery was pure benevolence, reached his camp in good spirits in +spite of his disappointment, and determined to make the stay of the boys +so pleasant that they should offer no objection to remaining with him +until the return of the cutter to those waters. + +It was a glorious morning, and the dimpled Sound was flooded with +unclouded sunlight that even shot long golden shafts into the depths of +its bordering forest. Myriads of fish were leaping from the sparkling +water, cheerful voices sounded from the camp, and the smoke of burning +cedar filled the air with its delicate perfume. + +The boys had been awake and out for an hour, and Alaric was fairly +intoxicated with the glorious freedom of that wild life, of which this +was his first taste. Already had he taken a swimming-lesson, and +although in his ignorance he had recklessly plunged into water that +would have drowned him had not Bonny and Bah-die pulled him out, he was +confident that he had swum one stroke before going down. + +Upon Skookum John's return his guests sat down with him to a breakfast +which their ravenous appetites enabled them to eat with a hearty +enjoyment, though it consisted only of fish, fish, and yet more fish. + +"But it is such capital fish!" explained Alaric. + +"Isn't it?" replied Bonny, tearing with teeth and fingers at a great +strip of smoked salmon. "And the oil isn't half bad, either." + +After they had finished eating, and their host had lighted his pipe, he +told Bonny that his early morning trip had been taken out of his anxiety +for their safety, and to discover the whereabouts of their enemies, the +revenue-men. + +"_They mamook klatawa?_" (Have they gone away?) inquired Bonny. + +"_No; piah-ship mitlite Tacoma illahie_" (No; steamer stay in Tacoma). +"_Shipman Tyhee cultus wau wau_" (The sailor chief made much worthless +talk). + +"_Mesika wau wau Tyhee?_ (Did you talk to the captain?) inquired Bonny, +anxiously. + +"_Ah ah, me wau wau no klap tenas man. Alta piah-ship kopet Tacoma +illahie. Mesika mitlite Skookum John house._" + +By this sentence he conveyed to Bonny the idea that he had told the +captain the boys were not to be found. At the same time he extended to +them the hospitality of his camp for so long as the cutter should remain +at Tacoma. + +When Bonny repeated this conversation to Alaric, the latter exclaimed: +"Of course we would better stay here, where we are safe until the cutter +goes away, even if it is a week from now. I hope it will be as long as +that, for I think this camp is one of the jolliest places I ever +struck." + +"All right," replied Bonny. "If you can stand it, I can." + +So the boys settled quietly down and waited for something to happen, +though it seemed to Alaric as though something of interest and +importance were happening nearly all the time. To begin with, they built +themselves a brush hut under Bah-die's instruction, the steep-pitched +roof of which would shed rain. Then they both took lessons from the same +teacher in sailing and paddling a canoe. The supply of fish for the camp +had to be replenished daily, and this duty devolved entirely upon the +younger children, for Bah-die went always with his father to draw the +big seine net, in which they caught fish for market. As the lads were +anxious to earn their board, they sometimes went in the big boat, and +sometimes in the small canoes with the children, by which means they +learned all the different ways known to the Indians of catching fish. +With all this, Alaric's swimming-lessons were not neglected for a single +day, and he often took baths both morning and evening, so fascinated was +he with the novel sport. + +In return for what Bah-die taught him, he undertook to train the young +Siwash in the art of catching a baseball. The latter having watched him +and Bonny pass the ball and catch it with perfect ease, one day held +out his hands, as much as to say, "Here you go; give us a catch." + +Alaric, who held the ball at that moment, let drive a swift one straight +at him. When Bah-die dropped it, and clapped his smarting hands to his +sides with an expression of pained astonishment on his face, the white +lad knew just how he felt. He could plainly recall the sensations of his +own experience on that not-very-long-ago day in Golden Gate Park; and +while he sympathized with Bah-die, he could not help exulting in the +fact that he had discovered one boy of his own age more ignorant than he +concerning an athletic sport. Then he set to work to show the young +Siwash how to catch a ball just as Dave Carncross had shown him, and in +so doing he experienced a genuine pleasure. He was growing to be like +other boys, and the knowledge that this was so filled him with delight. + +Nearly every day Skookum John sailed over to Tacoma, ostensibly to carry +his fish, but really to discover whether or not the cutter had returned, +and each night he came back glum with disappointment. Bonny often asked +to be allowed to go to the city with him, as he was impatient to be +again at work; but the Indian invariably put him off on the plea that if +the cutter-men discovered one whom they were so anxious to capture in +his canoe, they would punish him for having afforded the fugitive a +shelter. + +The young sailor could not understand why the cutter remained so long in +one place, for he had never known her to do such a thing before, and +many a talk did he and Alaric have on the subject. + +"They must be waiting in the hope of catching us," Alaric would say, +"and the mere fact that they are so anxious to find us shows how +important it is for us to keep out of the way." + +So time wore on until our lads had spent two full weeks in the Siwash +camp, and had become heartily sick of it. To be sure, Alaric had grown +brown and rugged, besides becoming almost an adept in the several arts +he had undertaken to master. His hands were no longer white, and their +palms were covered with calloused spots instead of blisters. He was now +a fair swimmer, could paddle a canoe with some skill, and understood its +management under sail. He knew not only how to catch fish, but how to +detach them from the hook. He could catch a baseball nearly as well as +Dave Carncross himself, besides being able to throw one with swiftness +and precision. He was learning to cook certain things, mostly of a fishy +nature, in a rude way, and had gone through several trying experiences +in trying to wash his own underclothing. Having broken his comb into +half a dozen pieces by sitting down on it, he had allowed Bonny to cut +his hair as short as possible with a pair of scissors borrowed from one +of the squaws. The result, while wholly satisfactory to Alaric, who +fortunately had no mirror in which to see himself, was so unique that +Bonny was impelled to frequent laughter without apparent cause. + +Two things, however, distressed Alaric greatly, and one was his +clothing, which was not only ragged, but soiled beyond anything he had +ever dreamed of wearing. His canvas shoes, from frequent soakings and +much walking on rocks, were so broken that they nearly dropped from his +feet. His woollen trousers were shrunken and bagged at the knees, while +his blue sweater, besides being torn, had faded to a brownish red. With +all this he was comforted by the reflection that he still had a good +suit in reserve that he could wear whenever they should be free to go to +the city. + +His other great trial was the food of that Siwash camp. He had never +been particularly fond of fish, and now, after eating it alone three +times a day for two weeks, the very thought of fish made him ill. He +loathed it so that it seemed to him he would almost rather go to prison, +with a chance of getting something else to eat, than to remain any +longer on a fish diet. From both these trials Bonny suffered nearly as +much as his companion. + +One day when the boys had just decided that they could not stand this +sort of thing any longer, they were out fishing in the swift-sailing +canoe with Bah-die, Skookum John having gone in the larger boat to +Tacoma. While they gloomily pursued their now distasteful employment a +sail-boat containing two white men ran alongside to obtain bait. As +these were the first of their own race with whom the boys had found an +opportunity to talk since coming to that place, Bonny began to ply them +with questions. Among others he asked: + +"What is the revenue-cutter doing at Tacoma all this time? Has she +broken down?" + +"She isn't there," replied one of the men. + +"Isn't there?" repeated Bonny, incredulously. + +"No; nor hasn't been for upwards of two weeks. We are expecting her back +every day, though." + +Then the men sailed away, leaving our lads to stare at each other in +speechless amazement. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +AN EXCITING RACE FOR LIBERTY + + +"What do you suppose it all means?" asked Alaric, as the boat containing +the two white men sailed away. + +"If it is true, it means that somebody has been fooling us, and you know +who he is as well as I do," replied Bonny, who did not care to mention +names within Bah-die's hearing. "If I'm not very much mistaken, it means +also that he is trying to hold on to us until the cutter comes back. You +know they offered him a reward to find us." + +"Only twenty-five dollars," interposed Alaric, who could not imagine +anybody committing an act of treachery for so small a sum. + +"That would be a good deal to some people. I don't know but what it +would be to me just now." + +"If I had once thought he was after the money," continued Alaric, "I +would have offered him twice as much to deal squarely with us." + +"Would you?" asked Bonny, with a queer little smile, for his comrade's +remarks concerning money struck him as very absurd. "Where would you +have got it?" + +"I meant, of course, if I had it," replied the other, flushing, and +wondering at his own stupidity. "But what do you think we ought to do +now?" + +"Sail over to Tacoma as quick as we can, and see whether the cutter is +there or not. When we find that out we'll see what is to be done next." + +"But we may meet John on the way." + +"I don't care. That's a good idea, though. I've been wondering how we +should get our friend here to agree to the plan." Then turning to +Bah-die, and speaking in Chinook, Bonny suggested that as the fishing +was not very good and there was a fine breeze for sailing, they should +run out into the Sound and meet the big canoe on its way back from +Tacoma, to which plan the young Siwash unsuspectingly agreed. + +Half an hour later the swift canoe was dashing across the open Sound +before a rattling breeze that heeled her down until her lee gunwale was +awash, though her three occupants were perched high on the weather side. +The city was dimly visible in the distance ahead, and near at hand the +big canoe which they were ostensibly going to meet was rapidly +approaching. Bonny was steering, and Bah-die held the main-sheet, while +the jib-sheets were intrusted to Alaric. + +Skookum John had already recognized them, and as they came abreast of +him motioned to them to put about; but Bonny, affecting not to +understand, resolutely maintained his course. They were well past the +other craft, which was coming about as though to follow them, before +Bah-die realized that anything was wrong. Then obeying an angry order +shouted to him by his father, he let go the main-sheet without warning, +causing the canoe to right so violently as to very nearly fling her +passengers overboard, and attempted to wrest the steering-oar from +Bonny's hand. + +Seeing this, and with the desperate feeling of an escaped prisoner who +sees himself about to be recaptured, Alaric sprang aft, seized the young +Indian by the legs, and with a sudden output of all his recently +acquired strength, pitched him headlong into the sea. Then catching the +main-sheet, he trimmed it in. Down heeled the canoe until it seemed as +though she certainly must capsize; but Alaric, looking very pale and +determined, held fast to the straining rope, and would not yield an +inch. + +It was well that he had learned this lesson, and was possessed of the +courage to apply it, for the canoe did not gather headway an instant too +soon. Bah-die, emerging from his plunge furious with rage, was swimming +towards her, and made a frantic attempt to grasp the gunwale as she +slipped away. His clutching fingers only missed it by the fraction of an +inch, and before he could make another effort the quick-moving craft was +beyond his reach. He was too wise to attempt a pursuit, and turned, +instead, to meet the big canoe, which was approaching him. + +"That was a mighty fine thing to do, Rick Dale!" cried Bonny, +admiringly, "and but for you we should be on our way back to that +hateful camp at this very moment. Of course they may catch us yet with +that big boat, but we've got a show and must make the most of it. So +throw your weight as far as you can out to windward, and don't ease off +that sheet unless you see solid water pouring in over the gunnel." + +"All right," replied Alaric, shortly, almost too excited for words. + +Both lads realized that after what had just taken place it would be +nearly as unpleasant to fall into the hands of Skookum John as into +those of the revenue-men themselves, and both were determined that this +should not happen if they could prevent it. But could they? Fast as they +were sailing, it seemed to Alaric as though the big canoe rushing after +them was sailing faster. Bonny dared not take his attention from the +steering long enough to even cast a glance behind. Managing the canoe +was now more difficult than before, because they had lost one hundred +and fifty pounds of live ballast. + +When Alaric looked at the water flashing by them it seemed as though he +had never moved so fast in his life, while a glance at the big boat +astern almost persuaded him that they were creeping at a snail's pace. +It was certain that the long, wicked-looking beak of the pursuing craft +was drawing nearer. Finally it was so close at hand that he could +distinguish the old Indian's scowling features and the expression of +triumph on Bah-die's face. The lad's heart grew heavy within him, for +the city wharves were still far away, and with things as they were the +chase was certain to be ended before they could be reached. + +All at once an exclamation from Bonny directed his attention to another +craft coming up the Sound and bearing down on them as though to take +part in the race. It was a powerful sloop-yacht standing towards the +city from the club-house on Maury Island, and its crew were greatly +interested in the brush between the two canoes. + +Either by design or accident, the yacht, which was to windward of the +chase, stood so close to the big canoe as to completely blanket her, and +so take the wind from her sails that she almost lost headway. Then, as +though to atone for her error, the yacht bore away so as to run between +pursuer and pursued, and pass to leeward of the smaller canoe. As the +beautiful craft swept by our lads with a flash of rushing waters, +glinting copper, and snowy sails, a cheery voice rang out: "Well done, +plucky boys! Stick to it, and you'll win yet!" + +Alaric could not see the speaker, because of the sail between them, but +the tones were so startlingly familiar that for a moment he imagined the +voice to belong to the stranger who had talked with him on the wharf at +Victoria, and whom he now knew for a revenue-officer. If that were the +case, they were indeed hopelessly surrounded by peril. He was about to +confide his fears to Bonny, when like a flash it came to him that the +voice was that of Dave Carncross, whom he had not seen since that +memorable day in Golden Gate Park. + +Although he had no desire to meet this friend of the ball-field under +the present circumstances, he was greatly relieved to find his first +suspicion groundless, and again directed his attention to the big canoe, +which, although she had lost much distance, was again rushing after +them. The boy now noticed for the first time, not more than half a mile +astern of her, a white steamer with a dense column of smoke pouring from +her yellow funnel, and evidently bound for the same port with +themselves. + +Soon afterwards they had passed the smeltery, saw-mills, and +lumber-loading vessels of the old town, and were approaching the cluster +of steamships lying at the wharves of the Northern Pacific Railway, +which here finds its western terminus. Off these the yacht had already +dropped her jib and come to anchor. The big canoe was again overhauling +them, and looked as though she might overtake them, after all. A boat +from the yacht was making towards the wharves, and Bonny, believing that +it would find a landing-place, slightly altered his course so as to +follow the same direction. + +All at once Alaric, who was again gazing nervously astern, cried out: +"Look at that steamer! I do believe it is going to run down the big +canoe." + +Bonny glanced hastily over his shoulder, and uttered an exclamation of +dismay. + +"Great Scott! It's the cutter," he gasped. "And they are right on top of +us. Now we are in for it." + +"They are speaking to John, and he is pointing to us," said Alaric. + +"Never mind them now," said Bonny. "Ease off your sheet a bit, and 'tend +strictly to business. We've still a chance, and can't afford to make any +mistakes." + +A few minutes later, just as a yawl was putting off from the cutter's +side, the small canoe rounded the end of a wharf and came upon a +landing-stage. On it the yacht's boat had just deposited a couple of +passengers, who, with bags in their hands, were hastening up a flight of +steps. + +"Here, you!" cried Bonny to one of the yacht's crew who stood on the +float, "look out for this canoe a minute. We've got to overtake those +gentlemen. Come on, Rick." + +Without waiting to see whether this order would be obeyed, the boys ran +up the flight of steps and dashed away down the long wharf. They had no +idea of where they should go, and were only intent on finding some +hiding-place from the pursuers, whom they believed to be already on +their trail. + +As they were passing a great ocean steamer whose decks were crowded with +passengers, and which was evidently about to depart, a carriage drew up +in front of them, so close that they narrowly escaped being run over. As +its door was flung open a voice cried out: + +"Here, boys! Get these traps aboard the steamer. Quick!" + +With this a gentleman sprang out and thrust a couple of bags, a +travelling-rug, and a gun-case into their hands. A lady with a little +boy followed him. He snatched up the child, and the whole party ran up +the gang-plank of the steamer as it was about to be hauled ashore. + +Our lads had accepted this chance to board the steamer without +hesitation, and now ran ahead of the others. The clerk at the inner end +of the gang-plank allowed them to pass, thinking, of course, that they +would deposit their burdens on deck and immediately return to the wharf. + +With an instinct born of long familiarity with ocean steamers, Alaric +made his way through the throng of passengers to the main saloon, and +Bonny followed him closely. Here they placed their burdens on a table, +and, with Alaric still in the lead, disappeared through a door on the +opposite side. + +Two minutes later the great ship began to move slowly from the wharf, +and our lads, from a snug nook on the lower deck, watched with much +perturbation a revenue-officer, who had evidently just landed from the +cutter, come hurrying down the wharf. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY + + +The revenue-cutter whose appearance caused Alaric and Bonny so much +anxiety had, indeed, been absent from Tacoma for two weeks, as the man +in the sail-boat told them. On their first night in the Siwash camp she +had gone to Port Townsend to turn over the captured smuggler _Fancy_ to +the collector at that place. Knowing how important the testimony of her +crew would be during the proceedings against her, the commander of the +cutter intended to return to the upper Sound and to institute a thorough +search for them the very next day. Before he could carry out this plan +news was received that an American ship was ashore near Cape Flattery, +one hundred miles away in the opposite direction, and the cutter was +despatched to her assistance. + +Although the task of saving the ship was successfully accomplished, and +she was finally pulled off the reef on which she had struck, it was +nearly two weeks before the cutter was again at liberty to devote her +attention to smugglers. With only a slight hope of finding those whom he +so greatly wanted as witnesses, but thinking he might possibly gain some +information concerning them from Skookum John, the commander of the +cutter headed his vessel up the Sound, steamed through Colvos Passage, +and sent his third lieutenant ashore in the yawl to make inquiries at +the Siwash camp. + +This officer found only women and children at home, but learned that the +owner of the camp had gone to Tacoma. As he was about to depart without +having discovered anything concerning those of whom he was in search, +curiosity prompted him to glance into a hut that appeared newer and much +neater than the others. Here, to his amazement and great satisfaction, +the first object that caught his eye was the well-remembered canvas +dunnage-bag that he had seen in Victoria, and which still bore the name +"Philip Ryder" on its dingy surface. + +"Ho, ho! Master Ryder! So we are on your trail at last, are we?" +soliloquized the officer. "This is a clew of which we must not lose +sight, and so I guess I'll just take it along and hold on to it until we +can return it to you in person." + +Thus it happened that Alaric's bag was carried aboard the cutter, where +its contents excited a great deal of curiosity, and that vessel was +headed towards Tacoma in the hope of finding the lads, who were supposed +to be with Skookum John. + +The big canoe was discovered when in the very act of going about and +standing back towards the city, as though to escape from the approaching +cutter, and a full head of steam was instantly crowded on in pursuit. +Great was the disappointment when, on overtaking her, she was found to +contain only Indians. These, however, eagerly directed attention to a +smaller canoe ahead, in which could be distinguished two figures, +apparently those of white men, and the cutter renewed her chase. Before +she could overtake this second craft it was lost to sight behind a +wharf, and a lieutenant was hastily sent ashore in a boat to trace its +occupants. + +He found the empty canoe in charge of a yacht sailor, who said that +those who had come in her were somewhere up on the wharf, and without +waiting for further particulars the officer followed after them. + +When he reached the group of spectators assembled to witness the +departure of the great steamer that was just moving out, he asked one of +them if he had seen two persons running that way within a minute. One of +them, whom he mentioned as being the younger, he described as being a +tall, gentlemanly appearing and neatly dressed lad, while the other, he +said, was a sailor. It must be remembered that while the lieutenant had +noted Alaric's appearance very closely when in Victoria, he had never +seen Bonny's face, and did not even discover whether he had belonged to +the sloop or not. In fact, he afterwards had reason to believe that the +youth whom he saw with Alaric at that time could not have been mate of +the _Fancy_, for, to save their own credit, the sailors whom the lads +eluded on the morning of the sloop's capture described him as a fellow +of great size and unusual strength. + +Now the gentleman of whom he made inquiries answered that he had seen a +number of persons running just as the ship's moorings were cast off. +"There were a couple of young chaps," he said, "very ragged and +dirty-looking, who ran aboard the last thing, as if afraid of being +left; but I didn't see them come off again, and I expect they belong to +the ship. Then there was another couple who seemed in a great hurry, and +ran shouting after a carriage that was just starting up-town. They +stopped it, got in, and drove off. One of them was, as you say, a very +gentlemanly appearing lad, and the other was so evidently a sailor that +I expect they're the two you are looking for." + +"I shouldn't wonder if they were," replied the officer, delighted at +having thus quickly discovered the trail. "Did you happen to hear them +give the driver any directions?" + +"Yes. The young chap said, 'Hotel Tacoma.'" + +Thanking the gentleman for his information, the lieutenant hurried away, +boarded an up-town trolley-car, and a few minutes later stood in the +office of the great hotel scanning its register. A single glance was +sufficient, for the two last names on the page, so recently entered that +the ink was hardly dry, assured him that his search was successful. They +were both in the same handwriting, and read---- + + PHILIP RYDER, _Alaska_. + JALAP COOMBS, " + +"Pretty smart dodge," chuckled the lieutenant, as he walked away, "to +hail from such an indefinite place as Alaska. This Philip Ryder is +certainly a sharp chap. It is plain enough now that he left that bag in +the Siwash camp as a blind to throw us off the track. What a pile of +money those smugglers must make, though. Here is one of them, apparently +a simple deck-hand, who buys the choicest groceries to be had in +Victoria, bathes in cologne-water, throws away a suit of clothes so +handsome that I should be only too glad to wear them myself, and now +puts up at the swellest hotel in the city. It certainly is a great +business." + +While thinking these things the lieutenant was hurrying back towards the +cutter, to make report of what he had discovered to his superior +officer. After listening to all he had to say, that gentleman decided to +continue the investigation himself; and an hour later he, with his third +lieutenant, both out of uniform, appeared at the hotel, followed by a +sailor bearing a canvas dunnage-bag. + +Going into one of the small writing-rooms, which happened to be +unoccupied, the commander wrote a name on a plain card and sent it up +to Mr. Philip Ryder, with a request that the gentleman would consent to +see him on a matter of business. Then, with the canvas bag on the floor +beside him, he waited alone, having desired the lieutenant to keep out +of sight until sent for. + +Inside of three minutes a bell-boy ushered into the room a well-dressed, +squarely built youth, with a resolute face and honest blue eyes that +looked straight into those of the commander. + +"Mr. Ellery, I believe," he said, glancing at the card still held in his +hand. + +The commander bowed slightly, and then asked, "Is your name Philip +Ryder?" + +"It is." + +"Is this your property?" Here the commander indicated the canvas bag +that lay with its painted name uppermost. + +The youth stepped forward to get a better view of the article in +question, started as though surprised, and then answered, "Yes, sir, I +believe it is; but I must confess a great curiosity as to how it came +here." + +"Why so?" + +"Because when I last heard of it it was on board a vessel that had just +been seized by a revenue-cutter." + +"Exactly; and that vessel was seized for smuggling by a cutter under my +command." + +"Pardon me, sir, but I think you are mistaken," objected Phil, "for I am +intimately acquainted with the commander of the cutter in question, +while you are a stranger to me." + +"I beg leave to say that I think I know what I am talking about," +retorted the other, stiffly, "and I may as well inform you at once that +I not only was, but am still, in command of the cutter that seized your +smuggling craft some two weeks ago. I am here for the purpose of +causing the arrest and detention of yourself and the mate of that +vessel, both of whom will be wanted as witnesses for the government +during the forthcoming proceedings to be instituted against Captain +Duff." + +"And I, sir," replied Phil, hotly, "beg leave to say that you don't know +any more of what you are talking about than I do. Although I have sailed +with Captain Duff and know him well, I am not a smuggler, and never have +been. Moreover, I can summon witnesses this very minute who will +identify me and testify as to my character." + +With this Phil stepped to the bell, and rang it so violently that half a +dozen bell-boys came tumbling into the room at once. "Go to No. 20," +said the youth to one of these, "and ask the gentleman who is there to +kindly step down here for a minute." + +"And you, boy!" thundered the commander to another, his face flushed +with anger, "find the gentleman who came here with me, and inform him +that I desire his presence immediately." + +The lieutenant was the first to arrive. + +"Is this your Philip Ryder?" demanded the commander, at the same time +pointing to the youth who stood opposite. + +"No, sir, he is not," replied the lieutenant, promptly. + +"Who is he, then?" asked the other, staggered by this answer. + +"Begging the gentleman's pardon, this _is_ Mr. Philip Ryder, as I can +swear," interrupted a fourth individual, who had just entered. + +"Hello, Carncross! You here? And you know this young man?" + +"Certainly I do, sir. I met his father, Mr. John Ryder--the famous +mining expert, you know--at my father's house in San Francisco last +winter, and came to call on him here as soon as I heard of his arrival +in Tacoma. He and his son arrived on to-day's steamer from Alaska, where +Phil Ryder has just completed a most notable exploration on snow-shoes +and sledges of the Yukon Valley. By-the-way, he is also a friend of your +old friend Captain Matthews." + +"What! Not Israel Matthews, of the _Phoca_? You don't say so! Mr. Ryder, +allow me to shake hands with you, and offer my humble apologies for this +absurd mistake." + +With a general hand-shaking and exchange of introductions, they all sat +down for an hour of mutual explanations. During these it was discovered +that Phil and Jalap Coombs had remained at the wharf some time after the +others of their party left, to look after their numerous pieces of +baggage, and so did not come up to the hotel until just as the steamer +that had brought them was departing for Seattle. + +At the end of an hour the revenue-officers were as puzzled as ever over +the disappearance of the present owner of the famous Philip Ryder bag +and his companion. But suddenly Carncross exclaimed: + +"I think I know what became of them! I remember now seeing the two chaps +who came in that canoe run down the wharf and board the Alaska steamer +just as she was starting for Seattle, and I'll warrant you that's where +they are at this minute. Tough-looking young customers they were, too." + +"In that case," said the commander, rising, "I must be getting under way +for Seattle as quickly as possible. I only wish that I might have you +both down to dine with me this evening; but business before pleasure. +And so, hoping for a future opportunity of extending the hospitality of +the ship, I will wish you both a very good night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ALARIC TODD'S DARKEST HOUR + + +"Hello, Rick Dale! Hold on!" was the hail that caused Alaric to halt in +his flight from the most recent of the chasings that were becoming so +common a feature of his life. + +It was Bonny who called, and who now came running up to him. "Where have +you been all this time?" he asked. "I've waited and watched for you ever +since we got in, a good two hours ago, and was getting mighty uneasy for +fear you'd fallen overboard or got left at Seattle, or something. You +see, I feel in a way responsible for you, seeing that I got you into all +this mess." + +"That's queer," said Alaric, with a faint smile, and sitting down +wearily on a huge anchor that lay beside one of the warehouses, "for +I've been thinking that all your troubles were owing to me. I'm awfully +sorry, though, I kept you waiting, but I suppose I must have been +asleep." + +"You had better luck than I did, then," growled Bonny, seating himself +beside his friend, "for I haven't had a wink of sleep since we left +Seattle. I was just getting into a doze when a miserable deck-hand +swashed a bucket of water over me. Then they found me out, and set me to +work cleaning decks and polishing brass. They kept me at it every minute +until we got here, and then fired me ashore." + +"Did they give you any breakfast?" inquired Alaric, with an interest +that betrayed the tendency of his thoughts. + +"Not much, they didn't. Have you had anything to eat?" + +"Not a bite; and do you know, Bonny, I think I am beginning to realize +what starving means." + +"I know I am, and what being utterly worn out means as well. Do you +suppose it's just hunger that makes a fellow feel sick and light-headed +and weak as a cat, the way I do now, or is it that he is really in for +something serious, like a fever or whooping-cough or one of the things +with big names?" + +"I expect it's hunger, and nothing else," replied Alaric, "for I feel +just that way myself, and I've been really ill times enough to know the +difference." + +"Then it must be starvation, and something has got to be done about it," +exclaimed Bonny, starting to his feet with a resolute air, "for I don't +believe any two fellows are going to be allowed to starve to death in +this city of Tacoma. So I'm going to get something for us to eat, even +if I have to steal." + +"Oh no, Bonny, don't steal. We haven't quite come to that," objected +Alaric. "Did you say this was Tacoma, though?" + +"Yes, of course. Didn't you recognize it?" + +"No, I didn't, for I wasn't given much chance to get acquainted with it +last evening, you know. But if this is Tacoma, I've an idea that I +believe will bring us some money. So suppose we separate for a while? +You can go one way looking for something to eat, and I'll go another in +search of that which will mean the same thing. When the whistles blow +for noon we'll both come back here and compare notes." + +"All right," agreed Bonny. "I'll do it, and if I don't bring back +something to eat, it will be because the whole city is starving, that's +all." + +So the two set forth in opposite directions, Bonny taking a course that +would lead him among the shipping, and Alaric walking up the long easy +grade of Pacific Avenue towards the city proper. His pride, which no +personal suffering nor discomfort could overthrow, had given way at last +before the wretchedness of his friend. "It is I who am the cause of it," +he said to himself, "and so I am bound to help him out by the only way I +can think of. I hate to do it, for it will be owning up that I am not +fit to care for myself or able to fight my own way in the world. I know, +too, just how John and the others will laugh at me, but I've got to do +something at once, and there doesn't seem to be anything else." + +The scheme that Alaric so dreaded to undertake, and was yet determined +to execute, was the telegraphing to his brother John for funds. Of +course John would report the matter to their father, who had probably +been already notified of his younger son's disappearance, and our lad +would be ordered to return home immediately. Or perhaps John would come +to fetch him back, like a runaway child. It would all be dreadfully +humiliating, and on his own account he would have undergone much greater +trials than those of the present rather than place himself in such a +position. But for the sake of the boy who had befriended him and +suffered with him, it must be done. + +The only telegraph-office in the city of which Alaric knew was in the +Hotel Tacoma, where he had passed a day on his northward journey, and +thither he bent his steps. As he entered its open portal and crossed the +spacious hall in which was located the telegraph-station, the +well-dressed guests who paced leisurely to and fro or lounged in +easy-chairs stared at him curiously. And well they might, for a more +tattered, begrimed, unkempt, and generally woe-begone youth had never +been seen in that place of luxurious entertainment. Had Alaric +encountered a mirror, he would have stared at himself and passed by +without recognition; but for the moment his mind was too busy with other +thoughts to allow him to consider his appearance. + +The box-like telegraph-office was occupied by a fashionably attired +young woman, who was just then absorbed in an exciting novel. After +keeping Alaric waiting for several minutes, or until after she had +finished a chapter, she took the despatch he had written, and read it +aloud: + + "_To Mr. John Todd, Amos Todd Bank, San Francisco_: + + "DEAR JOHN,--Please send me by wire one hundred dollars. Will + write and explain why I need it. ALARIC." + +"Dollar and a half," said the young woman, tersely, and without looking +up. + +Although many telegrams had been forwarded at various times and from +distant parts of the world in Alaric Todd's name, he had never before +attempted to send one in person. Now, therefore, although somewhat +startled by the request for a dollar and a half, he replied, calmly: + +"Send it collect, please. It will be paid for at the other end." + +"Can't do it; 'gainst the rules," retorted the young woman, sharply, now +glancing at the lad before her, and contemptuously scanning him from +head to foot. + +"But," pleaded poor Alaric, "this is so very important. The money that I +ask for is sure to come, and then I will pay for it a dozen times over, +if you like. It will certainly be paid for, though, in San Francisco, at +the Amos Todd Bank, for my name is Todd--Alaric Todd." + +"It wouldn't make any difference," remarked the young woman, "if your +name were George Washington or John Jacob Astor; you couldn't send a +despatch through this office without paying for it. So if you haven't +any money you might as well make up your mind not to waste any more of +my time." + +With this she resumed the reading of her novel, while Alaric moved +slowly away, stunned and despairing. Now was he indeed cut off from his +home, his people, and from all hope of assistance. He hadn't even money +enough to pay for a postage-stamp with which to send a letter. As he +realized these things, the reaction from his confidence of a few moments +before, that his present trouble would be speedily ended, was so great +that he grew faint, and mechanically sank into a leather-cushioned chair +that stood close at hand. + +He had hardly done so when an alert porter stepped up, touched him on +the shoulder, and pointed significantly to the door. + +The boy understood, and obeyed the gesture without remonstrance. Thus it +came to pass that a son of Amos Todd, the richest man on the Pacific +coast, was driven from a hotel of which his father was one of the +principal owners, and in spite of the fact that he had just acknowledged +his own identity. + +Once outside, Alaric walked irresolutely, and as though unconscious of +what he was doing, for a short distance, and then found himself seated +on an iron bench at the edge of a broad asphalted driveway. Here he +tried to think, and could not. He closed his eyes and wondered vaguely +if he were going to die, or, if not, how much longer he could live +without food. It wasn't worth worrying about, though, one way or the +other. He had made such a complete failure of life that no one would +care if he did die. Of course Bonny might feel badly about it for a +little while, but even he would get along much better alone. + +From such terrible thoughts as these the lad was aroused by the sound of +cheery voices; and glancing listlessly in their direction, he saw a +well-dressed young fellow, apparently not much older than himself, a +little boy in his first suit of tiny knickerbockers, and a big dog. They +had just come from the hotel and were playing with a ball. It was Phil +Ryder with little Nel-te, an orphan whom he had rescued from the Yukon +wilderness, and big Amook, one of his Eskimo sledge dogs that he was +carrying back to New London as a curiosity. + +While Alaric watched them, wondering how it must seem to be as free from +both hunger and anxiety as that happy-looking chap evidently was, the +ball tossed to Nel-te escaped him and rolled under the iron bench. As +the child came running up, the lad recovered it and handed it to him. + +"Fank you, man," said the little chap, and then ran away. + +After a while the ball again came in the same direction, and, as the +child did not follow it, Alaric picked it up and tossed it to Phil. + +"Hello!" cried the latter. "It seems mighty good to be catching a +baseball again. Give us another, will you?" With this he threw the ball +to Alaric, who caught it deftly and flung it back. + +The ball was one that had been found in a certain canvas dunnage-bag the +evening before, and begged by Phil Ryder as a souvenir of his experience +as a smuggler. After a few passes back and forth Alaric became so dizzy +from weakness that, with a very pale face, he was again forced to sit +down. + +"What's the matter?" asked Phil, anxiously, coming up to the trembling +lad. "Not ill, I hope?" + +"No; I'm not ill. It's only a little faintness." + +"Do you know," said Phil, as he noted closely the lad's mean dress and +hollow cheeks, "that you look to me as though you were hungry. Tell me +honestly if you have had any breakfast this morning." + +"No," replied Alaric, in a low tone. + +"Or any supper last night?" + +"No." + +"Did you have any dinner yesterday?" + +"I can't exactly remember, but I don't think I did." + +"Why, man," cried tender-hearted Phil, horror-stricken at this +revelation, "you are starving! And I've been keeping you here playing +ball! What a heedless brute I am! Never mind; just you wait until I can +carry this little chap inside, and don't you stir from that seat until I +come back." + +With this Phil, picking up Nel-te and bidding Amook follow him, hurried +away, leaving Alaric still holding the baseball, and filled with a very +queer mixture of conflicting emotions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +PHIL RYDER PAYS A DEBT + + +In a very few minutes Phil Ryder hastened back to where Alaric awaited +him. "Now you come with me," he said, cheerily, "and we'll end this +starvation business in a hurry. I won't take you to the hotel, for those +swell waiters are too slow about serving things, and when a fellow is +hungry he don't care so much about style as he does about prompt +attention to his wants. I know, for I've been there myself. There's a +little restaurant just around the corner on the avenue that looks as +though it would exactly fill the bill. Here we are." + +Almost before he realized what was happening Alaric found himself seated +before the first regular breakfast-table that he had seen in weeks, +while the young stranger facing him, who had so unexpectedly become his +host, was ordering a meal that seemed to embrace pretty nearly the whole +bill of fare. + +"Bring the coffee and oatmeal first," he said to the waiter, "and see +that there is plenty of cream. If they burn your fingers, so much the +better, for you never saw any one in quite so much of a hurry as we are. +After that you may rush along the other things as fast as you please." + +Alaric attempted a feeble protest against the munificence of the order +just given, but Phil silenced him with: + +"Now, my friend, don't you fret; I know what you need and what you can +get away with better than you do, for I've experimented considerably +with starving during the past year. As for obligation, there isn't any. +I am only paying a debt that I've owed for a long time." + +"I don't remember ever meeting you before," said Alaric, looking up in +surprise from a dish of oatmeal and cream that seemed the very best +thing he had ever tasted. + +"No, of course not, and I don't suppose we have ever been within a +thousand miles of each other until now; but I have been in your debt, +all the same. Just about a year ago I was in Victoria without a cent in +my pocket, no friend or even acquaintance that I knew of in the whole +city, and so hungry that it didn't seem as though I had ever eaten +anything in my life. Just as I was most desperate and things were +looking their very blackest, an angel travelling under the name of Serge +Belcofsky came along, and spent his last dollar in feeding me. I vowed +then that I'd get even with him by feeding some other hungry fellow, and +this is the first chance I've run across since. You needn't be afraid, +though, that I am spending my last dollar on you, glad as I would be to +do so if it were necessary. That it isn't is owing to one of the best +fathers in the world, who hasn't had a chance to keep me in funds for so +long a time that he is now trying to make up for lost opportunities." + +"You must be very fond of him," said Alaric, who was now at work on +beefsteak and fried potatoes. + +"Well, rather," replied Phil, earnestly, "though I never knew how much a +good father was to a boy until I lost him, and had to fight my way alone +through a whole year before I found him again. It's a wonder my hair +didn't turn gray with anxiety while I was hunting him up in the +interior of Alaska; but it's all over now, and I have him safe at last +right here in Tacoma, along with my aunt Ruth and little Nel-te and +Jalap----" + +"Is he the dog?" asked Alaric, beginning an attack on the omelette. + +"Who?" + +"Jalap." + +"Not much he isn't a dog," laughed Phil. "He is one of the dearest of +sailormen. He's one of the wisest, too, only he lays all of his wisdom +to his old friend Kite Roberson. Besides all that, he is one of the most +comical chaps that ever lived, though he doesn't mean to be, and it's +better than a circus to see him on snow-shoes driving a sledge team of +dogs. I should have brought him over here to cheer you up, only he's off +somewhere among the ships this morning. He says he's got the salt-water +habit so badly that he can't keep away from them. Are you ready now for +the buckwheats? Here are half a dozen hot ones to top off with, and +maple-syrup too. Don't they look good, though! I say, waiter, you may as +well bring me a plate of those buckwheats. I forgot to have any at +breakfast-time." + +So Phil rattled on, talking of all sorts of things to keep his guest +amused, and allow him ample opportunity to attend strictly to the +business of eating, without feeling obliged to answer questions or +sustain any part of the conversation. + +And how poor, heart-sick, hungry Alaric was cheered by the thoughtful +kindness of this strange lad who had so befriended him in his hour of +sorest need! + +How grateful he was, and how, with each mouthful of food, strength and +courage and hope came back to him, until, when the wonderful meal was +finished, he was ready once more to face the world with a brave +confidence that it should never again get the better of him! He tried to +put some of his gratitude into words, but was promptly interrupted by +his host, who said: + +"Nonsense! You've nothing to thank me for. I told you I owed you this +breakfast, and besides, though I haven't eaten very much myself, I have +certainly enjoyed it as much as any meal of my life. Now we have a few +minutes left before I must go, and I want you to tell me something of +yourself. What is your name? Where is your home? And how did you happen +to get into this fix?" + +"My name is Rick Dale," began Alaric, who did not feel that he could +disclose his real identity under the circumstances, "and my home is in +San Francisco; but it is closed now. My mother is dead. I don't know +just where my father is, and I was left with some people whom I disliked +so much that I just--" Here he hesitated, and Phil, noting his +embarrassment, hastened to say: + +"Never mind the particulars. I had no business to ask such questions, +anyway." + +"Well," continued Alaric, "the result of it all is that I am here +looking for work. I had a job, but it didn't pay anything, and I lost it +about two weeks ago. Now I am trying to find another." + +"What kind of a job do you want?" + +"Anything, so long as it is honest work that will provide food, +clothing, and a place to sleep." + +"In that case," said Phil, thoughtfully, "I don't know but what I can +put you in the way of one, though--" + +"It must be a job for two of us," interposed Alaric, "for I have a +friend who is in the same fix as myself." + +"I only wish I had known that in time to have him breakfast with us," +said Phil; "but the job I am thinking of, if it can be had at all, will +serve for two of you as well as for one. You see, it is this way. There +is a Frenchman over at the hotel whose name is Filbert, and who--" + +Just here both lads started at the sound of a shrill whistle announcing +the hour of noon. + +"I had no idea it was so late," explained Phil, "and I must run; for we +leave here on the one-o'clock train." + +"I must hurry too, for I promised to meet Bonny at noon," said Alaric. + +"Who is Bonny?" + +"The friend I told you of." + +"Then I want you to give this to him from me, for fear he may not have +found any breakfast." So saying, Phil slipped something hard and round +into Alaric's hand. "Now good-bye, Rick Dale," he said. "I hope we may +meet again sometime. At any rate, be sure to call on Monsieur Filbert at +the hotel this afternoon. I guess you can get a job from him; but even +if you don't, always remember that, as my friend Jalap Coombs says, +'It's never so dark but what there's a light somewhere.'" + +Then the lads parted, one filled with the happiness that results from an +act of kindness, and the other cheered and encouraged to renewed effort. + +With grateful and loving glances Alaric watched Phil Ryder until he +disappeared in the direction of the hotel, and then hastened to keep his +appointment with Bonny. On the road leading to the wharves he passed a +tall, lank figure, whose whole appearance was that of a sailor. His +shrewd face was weather-beaten and wrinkled, but so kindly and smiling +that Alaric could not help but smile from sympathy as they met. + +He found Bonny impatiently awaiting him, and in such cheerful spirits as +to be hardly recognizable for the despondent, half-starved lad of two +hours before. + +"Hello, Rick!" he shouted, as his friend approached. "I know you've had +good luck, for I see it in your face." + +"Indeed I have!" replied Alaric; "and, what's more, I've had the best +breakfast I ever ate in my life." + +"That's what I meant by luck; and I've had the same." + +"What's more," continued Alaric, "I have brought something that was sent +especially to you, for fear you hadn't found anything to eat." Thus +saying, he handed over a big bright silver dollar. + +"Well, if that don't beat the owls!" exclaimed Bonny at sight of the +shining coin, "for here is his twin-brother that was handed me to give +to you, or rather to the first fellow I met who needed it more than I +did." + +"I must be the one, then," said Alaric, joyously, "for I haven't a cent +to my name, and as you now have two dollars, I'm willing to divide with +you. But who gave it to you, and how did he happen to?" + +"The queerest and dearest old chap I ever saw. You know how badly I was +feeling when we separated. Well, that was nothing to what came +afterwards. I set out to board every ship in port until I should find a +cook or steward who would fill me up and let me have something extra to +bring to you. On the first half-dozen or so I was treated worse than a +dog, and fired ashore almost before I opened my mouth. It made me feel +meaner than dirt, and but for thinking of how disappointed you would be +if I came back as miserable as I went, I should have given up in +despair. I must say, though, that all the fellows who treated me that +way were Dagoes, Dutch, or Chinamen. + +"At length I boarded a Yankee bark that carried an Irish steward, and +the minute I said I was hungry he cried out: 'Don't spake a wurrud, lad, +for ye couldn't do yer looks justice. Jist be aisy, and come wid me.' + +"With that he led me to a sort of a cuddy at the forward end of the +after deck-house, and set me down to such a spread as I haven't seen +since I left Cape Cod. There was cold roast beef, corned beef, potatoes, +bread and butter, pie, pickles, coffee, and--well, it would be no use +trying to tell all the things that steward gave me to eat, for you just +wouldn't believe it. He laid 'em all out, told me to pitch in, and then +went off, so, as he said, I'd be free to act according to nature. + +"I sat there and ate until I hadn't room for as much as a huckleberry. +As I was looking at the last piece of squash pie, and thinking what a +pity it was that it must be left, I heard a chuckle behind me, and +turned around in a hurry. There stood one of the mates and the dear old +chap I was just telling you about. + +"'Why don't you eat it, son?' says the mate. + +"'Reason enough,' says I, 'because I can't; but if you don't mind, sir, +I'd like awfully to take it to my partner in starvation,' meaning you. + +"'Who is he? And how does he happen to be starved?' says the dear old +chap. Then I up and told them the whole story of our experience on the +_Fancy_, being chased by the revenue-men, and all, and it tickled 'em +most to death. + +"When I got through, the stranger, who was just down visiting the +vessel, slipped a dollar into my hand, and told me to give it to the +first chap I met who needed it more than I did. He said he used to know +Cap'n Duff, and told me a lot of yarns about him as we walked back here +together." + +"Was his name Jalap Coombs?" asked Alaric. + +"I expect it must have been, for he had a lot to say about somebody +named Kite Roberson, who allus useter call him 'Jal.' Why? Do you know +him?" + +"Yes. That is, I feel as if I did. But, Bonny, I mustn't stop to tell +you of my experiences now, for I have made an important business +engagement for both of us up-town, and we must attend to it at once." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +ENGAGED TO INTERPRET FOR THE FRENCH + + +"Where did you get that baseball?" asked Bonny Brooks, referring to one +that Alaric was unconsciously tossing from hand to hand as they walked +up-town together. + +At this the latter stopped short and looked at the ball in question, as +though now seeing it for the first time. + +"Do you know," he said, "I have been so excited and taken up with other +things that I actually forgot I had this ball in my hands. It belongs to +the fellow who gave me that breakfast and your dollar, besides telling +me where to look for something to do. Not only that, but I really +believe if it hadn't been for this ball he would never have paid any +attention to me. You see, we got to passing it; and when I became so +dizzy that I had to sit down, he asked me what was the matter. So he +found out somehow that I was hungry, though I don't remember telling +him, and then insisted on giving me a breakfast." + +"Who is he? I mean, what is his name?" + +"I don't know. I never thought to ask him. And he doesn't live here +either, but has just come down from Alaska, and was going off in the +one-o'clock train. I do know, though, that he is the very finest chap I +ever met, and I only hope I'll have a chance some time to pay back his +kindness to me by helping some other poor boy." + +"It is funny," remarked Bonny, meditatively, "that your friend and my +friend should both have just come from Alaska." + +"Isn't it?" replied Alaric; "but then they are travelling together, you +know." + +"I didn't know it, though I ought to have suspected it, for they are the +kind who naturally would travel together--the kind, I mean, that give a +fellow an idea of how much real goodness there is in the world, after +all--a sort of travelling sermon, only one that is acted instead of +being preached." + +"That's just the way I feel about them," agreed Alaric; "but I wish I +hadn't been so careless about this ball. It may be one that he values +for association's sake, just as I did the one we left in that Siwash +camp." + +"Let me have it a moment," said Bonny, who was looking curiously at the +ball. + +Alaric handed it to him, and he examined it closely. + +"I do believe it is the very one!" he exclaimed. "Yes, I am sure it is. +Don't you remember, Rick, the burned place on your ball that came when +Bah-die dropped it into the fire the first time you threw it at him, and +how you laughed and called it a sure-enough red-hot ball? Well, here's +the place now, and this is certainly the very ball that introduced us to +each other in Victoria." + +"How can it be?" asked Alaric, incredulously. + +"I don't know, but it surely is." + +"Well," said Alaric, finally convinced that his comrade was right, "that +is the very most unexplainable thing I ever came across, for I don't see +how it could possibly have come into his possession." + +While discussing this strange happening, the lads approached the hotel +in which one of them had been made to suffer so keenly a few hours +before. He dreaded the very thought of entering it again, but having +made up his mind that he must, was about to do so, when his attention +was attracted to a curious scene in front of the main entrance. + +A small, wiry-looking man, evidently a foreigner, was gesticulating, +stamping, and shouting to a group of grinning porters and bell-boys who +were gathered about him. As our lads drew near they saw that he held a +small open book in his hand, from which he was quoting some sentence, +while at the same time he was rapidly working himself into a fury. It +was a French-English phrase-book, in which, under the head of +instructions to servants, the sentence "_Je desire un fiacre_" was +rendered "Call me a hansom," and it was this that the excited Frenchman +was demanding, greatly to the amusement and mystification of his +hearers. + +"Call me a hansom! Call me a hansom! Call me a hansom!" he repeated over +and over, at the top of his voice. "_C'est un fiacre--fiacre--fiacre!_" +he shouted. "_Oh, la, la! Mille tonnerres!_ Call me a hansom!" + +"He must be crazy," said Bonny; "for he certainly isn't handsome, and +even if he were, he couldn't expect people to call him so. I wonder why +they don't send for the police." + +Instead of answering him, Alaric stepped up to the laughing group and +said, politely, "_Pardon, monsieur. C'est Monsieur Filbert, n'est-ce +pas?_" + +"_Oui, oui. Je suis Filbert!_ Call me a hansom." + +"He wants a carriage," explained Alaric to the porters, who stared +open-mouthed at hearing this young tramp talk to the foreigner in his +own "lingo." + +"_Vous voulez une voiture, n'est-ce pas?_" he added, turning to the +stranger. + +"Oh, my friend!" cried M. Filbert, in his own language, flinging away +the perplexing phrase-book as he spoke, and embracing Alaric in his joy +at finding himself once more comprehended. "It is as the voice of an +angel from heaven to hear again my own language in this place of +barbarians!" + +"Have a care, monsieur," warned Alaric, "how you speak of barbarians. +There are many here who can understand perfectly your language." + +"I care not for them! I do not see them! They have not come to me! You +are the first! Can it be that I may engage you to remain and interpret +for me this language of distraction?" Here the speaker drew back, and +scanned Alaric's forlorn appearance hopefully. + +"That is what I came to see you about, monsieur," answered Alaric. "I am +looking for employment, and shall be happy----" + +"It is enough!" interrupted the other, vehemently. "You have found it. I +engage you now, at once. Come, the carriage is here. Let us enter." + +"But," objected the lad, "I have a friend whom I cannot leave." + +"Let him come! Let all your friends come! Bring your whole family if you +will, but only stay with me yourself!" cried the Frenchman, impetuously. +"I am distracted by my troubles with this terrible language, and but for +you I shall go crazy. You are my salvation. So enter the carriage, and +your friend. _Apres vous, monsieur._ Do you also speak the language of +the beautiful France? No? It is a great pity." + +"Does his royal highness take us for dukes?" questioned the bewildered +Bonny, who, not understanding one word of the foregoing conversation, +had, of course, no idea why he now found himself rolling along the +streets of Tacoma in one of its most luxurious public carriages. + +"Not exactly," laughed Alaric; "but he takes us for interpreters--that +is, he wants to engage us as such." + +"Oh! Is that it? Well, I'm agreeable. I suppose you told him that I was +pretty well up on Chinook? But what language does he talk himself?" + +"French, of course," replied Alaric, "seeing that he is a Frenchman." + +"Are you a Frenchman too?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Well, I didn't know but what you were, seeing that you talk the same +language he does, and just as well, for all that I can make out. Really, +Rick Dale, it is growing interesting to find out the things you know and +can do." + +"And the things I still have to learn," laughed Alaric. + +Having thus satisfied his curiosity, and learned that he was an +interpreter, the last position in the world for which he would have +applied, Bonny folded his arms, assumed what he considered a proper +attitude for the occasion, and entered upon a calm enjoyment of the +first regular carriage-ride of his life. Nor did he allow the animated +conversation taking place between M. Filbert and Alaric to disturb him +in the least, though by it the whole future course of his life was to be +changed. + +Under Alaric's direction the carriage first bore them to the +railway-station, where a number of strange-looking boxes and packages, +all belonging to M. Filbert, were gathered in one place, and given in +charge of a porter, who was instructed to receive and care for any +others that might come marked with the same name. Then the carriage was +again headed up-town, and driven to shop after shop until it seemed as +though the entire resources of the city were to be drawn upon to supply +the multitudinous needs of the mysterious Frenchman. + +Among the things thus purchased and ordered sent down to the station +were provisions, cooking utensils, axes, medicines, alcohol, tents, +blankets, ammunition, and clothing. + +"I don't know what's up," reflected Bonny, "and I don't care, so long as +Rick says everything is all right; but I should think we were either +going to make war on the Siwash or take a trip to the North Pole." + +Of course Alaric accompanied M. Filbert into each store, where his +knowledge of languages was invaluable in conducting the various +negotiations; but the Chinook interpreter, as he called himself, finding +that his services were not yet in demand, was content to remain +luxuriously seated in the carriage. Here he discussed the whole +remarkable performance with the driver, who was certain that the +Frenchman was either going prospecting for gold, or for a new town-site +on which to settle a colony of his countrymen. + +During the whole afternoon M. Filbert talked incessantly with his +new-found interpreter, and Alaric seemed almost as excited as he. At +length the former, casting a dubious glance at the lads, asked, with an +apologetic manner, if they were well provided with clothing. + +"Only what you see, monsieur," answered Alaric. "Everything else we have +lost." + +"Ah! is it so? Then must you be provided with the habiliments necessary. +If you will kindly give the instructions?" + +So the carriage was ordered to a shoe-shop and an outfitting +establishment, where both lads, to Bonny's further bewilderment, were +provided with complete suits of rough but warm and serviceable clothing, +including two pairs of walking-boots, one of which was very heavy and +had hob-nailed soles. + +These last purchases were not concluded until after sunset, and with +them the business of the day was ended. With many parting injunctions to +Alaric, and a polite _bon nuit_ to both lads, M. Filbert was driven back +to the hotel, leaving his newly engaged assistants to their own devices +for the time being. + +"Now," said Bonny, "if you haven't forgotten how to talk United States, +perhaps you will explain what all this means--what we are engaged to do, +what our wages are to be, and where we are bound? Are we to turn +gold-hunters or Indian-fighters, or is it something in the exploring +line?" + +"I expect," laughed Alaric, "it is to be more in the climbing line." + +"Climbing?" + +"Yes. Do you see that mountain over there?" Here Alaric pointed to the +lofty snow-capped peak of Mount Rainier, still rose-tinted with +sunlight, and rising in awful grandeur high above all other summits of +the Cascade range, nearly fifty miles from where they stood. + +"Certainly. I can't help seeing it." + +"Do you think you could climb it?" + +"Of course I could, if it came in my line of business." + +"Would you undertake it for thirty dollars a month and all expenses?" + +"Rick Dale, I'd undertake to climb to the moon on those terms. But you +are surely joking. The Frenchman will never pay that just for the fun of +seeing us climb." + +"Yes he will, though, and I have agreed that we shall start with him for +the top of that mountain to-morrow morning." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +PREPARING FOR AN ASCENT + + +Monsieur Jean Puvis Filbert was a Frenchman of wealth, a distinguished +member of the Alpine Club, an enthusiastic mountain-climber, and had for +an especial hobby the making of botanical collections from high +altitudes. He was now on a leisurely tour around the world, and had +recently arrived in Tacoma on one of the Northern Pacific steamships +from Japan. This was his first visit to America, and he was filled with +enthusiasm by the superb mountain scenery that greeted him on all sides +as his ship steamed through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and up the +glorious waterways of Puget Sound. He gazed longingly at the +snow-crowned Olympics, and went into ecstasies over a distant view of +Mount Baker, the most northerly peak of the Cascade range. When grand +old Rainier, loftiest of all, appeared on the southeastern horizon, +lifting its hoary head more than 14,000 feet above the level of the +intervening plain, he became silent with adoration, and determined that +his first achievement in America should be to gain that glorious summit. + +As his knowledge of English was very limited, our mountain-climber began +his preparations for this arduous undertaking by engaging an +interpreter. The only one whom he could find was a Canadian, who spoke +French nearly as badly as he did English, and whom his employer was +quickly obliged to discharge for drunkenness and utter incompetence. +Then it seemed as though the expedition on which M. Filbert had set his +heart must be given up, and he was in despair. At this critical moment +Alaric Todd appeared on the scene seeking employment, though never +dreaming that it would come to him through his knowledge of French, and +was received literally with open arms. + +Of course he was engaged at once, and was able to secure a situation for +Bonny Brooks as well, though the precise nature of the young sailor's +duties were not defined. Thus Bonny was allowed to regard himself as +also holding the rank of interpreter, whose services would be invaluable +in the event of an encounter with Indians, who, for all he knew, might +contest every foot of their way up the great mountain. + +To this young man the climbing of a mountain seemed a very foolish and +profitless undertaking, for, as he said, "The only thing we can do when +we get up there is to turn around and come down again. But you mustn't +think, Rick, that I'm trying to back out. No, siree. Just so long as I +am paid to climb I'll climb, even if it comes to shinning up the North +Pole and interpreting the Constitution to the polar bears." + +M. Filbert wished the boys to spend the night with him at the hotel, but +Alaric was still so sore over his morning's experience that he begged to +be excused. So when they were left to themselves they carried their +recently acquired belongings down to the railway-station, and persuaded +the agent to allow them to sleep in that corner of the baggage-room +devoted to their employer's collection of chattels. Here they put on +their new suits, and then, feeling once more intensely respectable, and +well content with their own appearance, each invited the other to dine +with him. Had they not two whole dollars between them, and was not that +enough to make them independent of the world? + +They procured a bountiful dinner in the restaurant where Alaric had +breakfasted, and with it ate up one of their dollars. The place was so +associated in their minds with the fine young fellow to whom they owed +all their present good fortune that they thought and talked much of him +during the meal. Recalling what he had said concerning his father +reminded Alaric of his own parent, and caused him to wonder if he were +yet aware that his younger son was not travelling around the world with +the Sonntaggs as he had planned. + +"If the dear old dad has heard of my disappearance," reflected the boy, +"he must be a good deal worried, for he has no idea of how well I can +take care of myself. I believe I would write to him if I only knew his +address. He said to send all letters to the bank; but I can't do that, +because John, who must have heard from the Sonntaggs by this time, would +be certain to recognize the handwriting and open it. I know what, +though. I'll write to Cousin Esther, and ask her to tell dad all about +me. She is sure to see him on his way home, for he always visits Uncle +Dale's when he is in Boston." + +So after supper, Alaric, who was beginning to have a lively appreciation +of the value of money, as well as of fathers, cautiously invested four +cents in a sheet of paper, an envelope, and a stamp, all of which he was +able to procure from the proprietor of the restaurant. The boy smiled, +as he carefully pocketed his one cent of change, to think on what a +different scale he would have made a similar purchase less than a month +before. Then he would have ordered a box of note-paper, another of +envelopes, and a whole sheet of stamps. As for the change, why, there +wouldn't have been any, for he would simply have said, "Charge it, +please," and it would have been charged to his father's account. + +When Bonny saw that Alaric was about to write a letter, he decided to +write one to his aunt Nancy at the same time. "For," said he, "she +probably imagines that I am in China by now, and would never think of +sending word to me here in case she got any news of father." So Bonny +also invested four cents in stationery; and the restaurant man +good-naturedly allowing them to use a table, besides loaning them pens +and a bottle of ink, they sat down to compose their respective epistles. +When Alaric's letter was finished it read as follows: + + "DEAR COUSIN ESTHER,--I have taken your advice and run + away--that is, I have done what amounts to the same thing, for + I just sat still and let the other folks run away. By this time + I expect they are in China, while I am here in the very place + you said you would be if you were a boy. I wish you were one so + you could be here with me now, for I think you would make a + first-class boy. I am learning to be one as fast as I can, a + real truly boy, I mean, and not a make-believe. I have already + learned how to smuggle, and catch a baseball, besides a little + batting, and to swim, sail a boat, paddle a canoe, talk some + Siwash, and have had a good deal of experience besides. + + "Now I am an interpreter and engaged in the mountain-climbing + business. We start to-morrow. + + "I have a partner who is a splendid chap, about my age, and + named Bonny Brooks. I know you would like him, for he is such a + regular boy, and knows just how to do things. + + "When you see my dear dad, please give him my warmest love, and + tell him I think more of him now than I ever did. Please make + him understand that it was the Sonntaggs who ran away, and not + I. Tell him that when I am through experimenting with my heart, + and have become a genuine boy like Bonny, I am coming back to + him, to learn how to be a man--that is, I will if I can afford + to pay my way to San Francisco. But you have no idea how much + money it takes to travel, especially when you have to earn it + yourself, and so far I haven't earned any. Still I have not + starved--that is, not very often--so far, and am in hopes of + having plenty to eat from this time on. Now I must say + good-bye because we are going to sleep in the station to-night, + and it closes early. + + "Ever your loving cousin, + + "RICK." + + "P.S.--The principal reason I let the Sonntaggs go was because + they called me 'Allie.' Please tell this to dad." + +Bonny's letter was not so long as Alaric's, but it described the +situation with equal vagueness. He wrote: + + "DEAR AUNT NANCY,--I am not in China, as you may suppose, + having quit the sea after rising to be first mate. Have also + been a smuggler, but am not any more. Am now engaged by the + French as interpreter, and so far like the business very well. + Have also gone into the climbing trade. We are to do our first + mountain to-morrow. Have for a chum one of the cleverest chaps + you ever saw. He can talk most any language except Chinook, and + is a daisy ball-catcher. His name is Rick Dale, and I am trying + hard to be just like him. If you have any news from father, + please let me know. You can send a letter in care of Mr. P. + Bear, Hotel Tacoma, which is our headquarters. + + "Ever your loving nephew, + + "B. BROOKS, Interpreter." + +Both these letters were sent to Massachusetts, Alaric's being addressed +to Boston, and Bonny's to Sandport. After they were posted, and our lads +were on their way back to the railway station, they began for the first +time to realize how very tired and sleepy they were. They were so +utterly weary that as they snuggled down in their corner of the +baggage-room, on a bed made of M. Filbert's tents and blankets, Alaric +remarked: + +"This is what I call solid comfort." + +"Yes," replied Bonny, "we certainly have struck a big streak of luck. Do +you remember how we were feeling about this time last night?" + +"No," answered Alaric, "I can't remember. It's too long ago. +Good-night." And in another minute both boys were fast asleep. + +They had taken "through tickets," as Bonny would have said, and slept so +soundly that they hardly stirred until the agent flung open the +baggage-room door at six o'clock the following morning, and caused them +to spring from their blankets in a hurry by shouting, "All aboard!" A +dash of cold water from the hydrant outside drove all traces of sleep +from their eyes, and so filled them with its fresh vigor that they raced +all the way up-town to the restaurant. Here, although their appetites +were keen as ever, they managed to satisfy them with a ninety-cent +breakfast, "and left the place with money still in their pockets," as +Alaric expressed it. + +"That's so," responded Bonny. "We've just one cent apiece. Let's toss up +to see who will have them both." + +"No," said Alaric, "for that would be gambling; and I promised my mother +long ago at Monte Carlo never to gamble. She said more fortunes were +lost and fewer won in that way than by any other." + +"But one cent isn't a fortune," objected Bonny. + +"Why not? A man's fortune is all that he has, and if you have but one +cent, then that is your fortune." + +"I guess you are right, Rick Dale," laughed Bonny. "I hate gambling as +much as you do; but it never seemed to me before that tossing pennies +was gambling. I expect it is, though, so I'll just keep my fortune in my +pocket, and not risk it on any such foolishness." + +As the lads hastened back to the station, where they were to meet their +employer, the glorious mountain that was now the goal of their ambition +reared its mighty crest, radiant with sunlight, directly before them. +So wonderfully clear was the atmosphere that it did not seem ten miles +away, and Bonny, shaking a fist at it, cried, cheerfully: "Never you +mind, old fellow, we'll soon have you under foot." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +BONNY COMMANDS THE SITUATION + + +Our lads had barely time to do up the tents and blankets they had used +for bedding into compact bundles before M. Filbert arrived, with his +servant Francois, and a carriage full of packages, including a bundle of +iron-shod alpenstocks. He was clad in what appeared to Bonny and the +idlers about the station a very curious costume, though to Alaric, who +had often seen its like in Switzerland, it did not seem at all out of +the way. It consisted of a coat and knee-breeches of dark green +velveteen, a waistcoat of scarlet cloth, stout yarn stockings patterned +in green and scarlet and folded over at the knees, the heaviest of laced +walking-boots with hob-nailed soles, and a soft Tyrolese hat, in which +was stuck a jaunty cock's feather. + +He was full of excited bustle, and the moment he caught sight of Alaric +began to shower questions and directions upon him with bewildering +rapidity. At length, thanks to Alaric's clear head and Bonny's practical +common-sense, confusion was reduced to order, and everything was got on +board the train that was to carry the expedition to Yelm Prairie, a +station about twenty miles south of Tacoma, from which the real start +was to be made. + +The arrival at Yelm Prairie produced an excitement equal to that of a +circus, and our friends had hardly alighted from the train before they +were surrounded by a clamorous throng of would-be guides, packers, +teamsters, owners of saddle-animals or pack-ponies, and a score of +others, who were loud in declaring that without their services the +expedition would surely come to grief. + +In vain did the bewildered Frenchman storm and rave, and stamp his feet +and gesticulate. Not one word that he said could be understood by the +crowd, who, in their efforts to attract his attention, only shouted the +louder and pressed about him more closely. Finally the poor man, turning +to Alaric and saying, "Do what you will. Everything I leave to you," +clapped his hands to his ears, broke through the uproarious throng, and +started on a run for the open prairie. + +"He leaves everything to us," said Alaric, who was almost as bewildered +by the clamor and novelty of the situation as was M. Filbert himself. + +"Good enough!" cried Bonny. "Now we will be able to do something. I take +it that on this cruise you are first mate and I am second. So if you'll +just give the word to go ahead, I'll settle the business in a hurry." + +"I only wish you would," returned Alaric, "for it looks as though we +were going to be mobbed." + +Armed with this authority, Bonny sprang on a packing-case that lifted +him well above his surroundings, and shouted: "Fellow-citizens!" + +Instantly there came a hush of curious expectancy. + +"I reckon all you men are looking for a job?" + +"That's about the size of it," answered several voices. + +"Very well; I'll give you one that'll prove just about the biggest +contract ever let out in Yelm Prairie. It is to shut your mouths and +keep quiet." + +Here the speaker was greeted by angry murmurs and cries of "None of yer +chaff, young feller!" "What are you giving us?" and the like. + +Nothing daunted, Bonny continued: "I'm not fooling. I'm in dead earnest. +What we are after is quiet, and the prince out there, whom you have +scared away with your racket, is so bound to have it that he's willing +to pay handsomely for it. He's got the money, too, and don't you forget +it. He wants to hire several guides and packers, also a lot of +saddle-horses and ponies, but a noisy, loud-talking chap he can't abide, +and won't have round. He has left the whole business to my partner here +and me to settle, seeing that we are his interpreters, and we are going +to do it the way he pays us to do it and wants it done. So, according to +the rule we've laid down in all our travellings and mountain-climbings +up to date, the man who speaks last will be hired first, and the fellow +who makes the most noise won't be given any show at all. Sabe? As an +example, we want a team to take our dunnage to the river, and I'm going +to give the job to that fellow sitting in the wagon, who hasn't so far +spoken a word." + +"Good reason why! He's deaf and dumb!" shouted a voice. + +"All the better," replied Bonny, in no wise abashed. "That's the kind we +want. There are two more chaps who haven't said anything that I've +heard, and I'm going to give them the job of pitching camp for us. I +mean those two Siwash at the end of the platform." + +"They are quiet because they can't speak any English," remonstrated some +of those who stood near by. + +"We don't mind that, though we are French," replied Bonny, cheerfully. +"You see, the prince looked out for such things when he engaged us +interpreters, and now we are ready to talk to every man in his own +language, including Chinook and United States. Now the only other thing +I've got to say is that we won't be ready to consider any further +business proposals until two o'clock this afternoon, and anybody coming +to our camp before that time will lose his chance. After that we shall +be glad to see you all, and the fellows that make the least talk will +stand the best show of getting a job." + +The effect of this bold proposition was surprising. Instead of exciting +wrath and causing hostile demonstrations, as Alaric feared, its quieting +influence was magical. Times were hard in Yelm Prairie, and a well-paid +trip up the mountain, or the chance to obtain a dollar a day for the +hire of a pony, was not to be despised. + +So Bonny was allowed to engage the deaf-and-dumb teamster by signs, and +the two Indians by a few words of Chinook, without hinderance. All these +worked with such intelligence and expedition that within an hour one of +the neatest camps ever seen in that section was ready for occupancy +beside the white waters of the glacier-fed Nisqually. + +When M. Filbert, who spied it from afar, came in soon afterwards, with +hands and pockets full of floral specimens, he found a comfortably +arranged tent and a bountiful camp dinner awaiting him. At sight of +these things his peace of mind was fully restored, and he congratulated +himself on having secured such skilful interpreters of both his words +and wishes as the lads through whom they had been accomplished. + +Promptly at the hour named by Bonny a motley but orderly throng of men, +mules, and ponies presented themselves at the camp, and the whole +afternoon was spent in making a selection of animals and testing the +skill of packers. Both Alaric and Bonny were inexperienced riders, but +neither of them hesitated when invited to mount and try the steeds +offered for their use. A moment later Bonny was sprawling on the +ground, with his pony gazing at him demurely, while Alaric was flying +over the prairie at a speed that quickly carried him out of sight. It +was nearly an hour before he returned, dishevelled and flushed with +excitement, but triumphant, and with his pony cured of his desire for +bolting--at least, for a time. + +By nightfall the selections and engagements had been made, and the +expedition was strengthened by the addition of two white men to act as +packers, two Indians who were to serve as guides and hunters, five +saddle-ponies, and as many pack-animals. + +That night our lads slept under canvas for the first time, and as they +lay on their blankets discussing the novelty of the situation, Bonny +said: + +"I tell you what, Rick, this mountain-climbing is a more serious +business than some folks think. When you first told me what our job was +to be I had a sort of an idea that we could get to the top of old +Rainier easy enough in one day and come back the next. So I couldn't +imagine why Mr. Bear should want to engage us by the month. Now, though, +it begins to look as though we were in for something of a cruise." + +"I should say so," laughed Alaric, who had learned a great deal about +mountain-climbing in Switzerland. "It would probably take the best part +of a week to go from here straight to the summit and back again. But we +shall be gone much longer than that, for we are to make a camp somewhere +near the snow-line, and spend a fortnight or so up there collecting +flowers and things." + +"Flowers?" said Bonny, inquiringly. + +"Yes. M. Filbert is a botanist, you know, and makes a specialty of +mountain flora. But I say, Bonny, what makes you call him 'Mr. Bear'?" + +"Because I thought that was his name. I know you call him 'Phil Bear,' +but I never was one to become familiar with a cap'n on short +acquaintance." + +"Ho! ho!" Alaric laughed; "that's a good one. Why, Bonny, Filbert is the +surname. F-i-l-b-e-r-t--the same as the nut, you know, only the French +pronounce things differently from what we do." + +"I should say they did if that's a specimen, and I'm glad I'm not +expected to talk in any such language. Plain Chinook and every-day North +American are good enough for me. I suppose he would say 'Rainy' for +Rainier?" + +"Something very like it. I see you are catching the accent. We'll make a +Frenchman of you yet before this trip is ended." + +"Humph!" ejaculated Bonny. "Not if I know it, you won't." + +Sunrise of the following morning found the horsemen of the expedition +galloping over the brown sward of the park-like prairie towards the +forest that for hundreds of miles covers the whole western slope of the +Cascade range like a vast green blanket. The road soon entered the +timber and began a gradual ascent, winding among the trunks of stately +firs and gigantic cedars that often shot upward for more than one +hundred feet before a branch broke their column-like regularity. + +By noon they were at Indian Henry's, twenty miles on their way, and at +the end of the wagon-road. That night camp was pitched in the dense +timber, and our lads had their first taste of life in the forest. How +snugly they were walled in by those close-crowding tree-trunks, and how +they revelled in the roaring camp-fire, with its leaping flames, showers +of dancing sparks, and perfume of burning cedar! What a delight it was +to lie on their blankets just within its circle of light and warmth, +listening to its crisp cracklings! Mingled with these was the cheery +voice of a tumbling stream that came from the blackness beyond, and the +soft murmurings of night winds among the branches far above them. + +Another day's journey through the same grand forest, only broken by the +verdant length of Succotash Valley, and by the rocky beds of many +streams, brought them to Longmire's Springs and the log cabins of the +hardy settler who had given them his name. At this point, though they +had been steadily ascending ever since leaving Yelm Prairie, they were +still less than three thousand feet above the sea, and the real work of +climbing was not yet begun. After an evening spent in listening to +Longmire's thrilling descriptions of the difficulties and dangers +awaiting them, Bonny admitted to Alaric that he had never before +entertained even a small idea of what a mountain really was. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +ON THE EDGE OF PARADISE VALLEY + + +From the springs a four-mile scramble through the woods and up the rocky +beds of ancient waterways brought the party to a place where the +Nisqually River must be crossed. Here a single giant tree had been +felled so as to span the torrent, and its upper surface roughly hewn to +a level. A short distance above the rude bridge rose the frowning front +of a glacier. Although its ice was mud-stained and honeycombed by +countless rivulets that poured from its upper surface in tiny cascades, +it still formed an inspiring spectacle, and one that filled Bonny with +wondering admiration, for it was his first glacier. + +From an arched ice cavern at its base poured the milk-white river, with +a hollow roaring, and such force that fair-sized bowlders were swept +down its channel as though they were so many sticks of wood. The whole +scene was of such fascinating interest that it very nearly brought poor +Bonny to grief. + +He had dismounted, and was preparing to follow M. Filbert and Alaric, +who had already led their ponies in safety across the narrow bridge. +These animals had crossed so readily that he supposed his would do the +same, and, as he stepped out on the great log, was paying far more +attention to the glacier than to it. Suddenly he was jerked violently +backward, pitched headlong down the bank, and barely saved himself from +the icy torrent by clutching at a friendly bush. At the same moment his +pony, who had no confidence in mountain bridges, dashed into the roaring +stream, was instantly swept from his footing, rolled over and over, and +borne struggling away towards what seemed certain destruction. By the +good fortune that attends all fools, animals as well as human, he +managed to escape both drowning and broken bones, and finally regained +his feet on a friendly reef that projected into the river a quarter of a +mile below the bridge. There he stood trembling, bruised, and dripping +when Bonny and one of the Indians, who had hastened down the bank to +discover his fate, found him a few minutes later. From that time forth +he was the meekest and most docile pony imaginable, suffering himself +not only to be led over the log bridge without remonstrance, but +wherever else his young master desired. + +[Illustration: "BONNY WAS JERKED VIOLENTLY BACKWARD"] + +From the scene of this incident a hard scramble up a heavily timbered +slope, so precipitous that it could only be overcome by a series of +zigzags, lifted the expedition a thousand feet above the glacier, and +carried them into a park-like meadow so carpeted and fringed with +flowers as to throw M. Filbert into an ecstasy of delight. The remainder +of that day's ride led through many more of these exquisite, +flower-decked mountain meadows separated by belts of timber, and rising +one above the other, after the manner of terraces. + +Largest and most beautiful of them all was Paradise Valley, a broad +sweep of flower-painted sward dotted with graceful clumps of alpine firs +and hemlocks, and nestled at the base of a mighty frowning cliff. It was +bisected by a rippling stream that entered its upper end by a shimmering +fall of nearly one thousand feet in height. + +High above this lovely valley, and close to the line where snow and +timber met, M. Filbert called a halt, and ordered the permanent camp to +be pitched. Although this point was less than half-way to the top of the +mountain, or only 6500 feet above sea-level, the ponies could climb no +higher, and, after being unladen, were sent back in charge of the +packers into Paradise Valley, where they might fatten on its juicy +grasses until needed for the return trip. + +From here, then, the rugged slope of ice, snow, and rock that stretched +indefinitely upward towards the far-away shining summit must be +traversed on foot or not at all. But this was not to be done now, nor +for days to come, during which the camp just pitched was to be the base +of a wide-spread series of explorations. + +A few straggling hemlocks, so bent by the ice-laden winds that swept +down the mountain-side in winter that they looked like decrepit old men, +furnished shelter, fuel, and bedding. An ice-cold stream supplied water, +the Indian hunters provided fresh meat, bringing in now a mountain-goat +or a few brace of ptarmigan, and occasionally fetching up a deer from +one of the flowery meadows a few thousand feet below. The supplies of +other kinds of food, of warm clothing and bedding, were ample, and so, +in spite of its lofty and solitary situation, that mountain-camp seemed +to our lads one of the pleasantest and most comfortable places they had +ever known. + +"It beats the sloop away out of sight," remarked Bonny. + +"Or Skookum John's," said Alaric. + +"Yes, or being chased and starved." + +"The best of it all is that up here I seem to amount to something," +added Alaric. + +This was, after all, the true secret of our lads' content; for, in spite +of its novelty, the present situation would quickly have grown wearisome +had they not been constantly and happily occupied. Every day that the +weather would permit they tramped from early morning until dark over +snow-fields and glaciers, scaled cliffs, scrambled down into valley-like +meadows set like green jewels in the grim mountain-side, threaded their +way amid the fantastic forms of stunted forests, toiled slowly up lofty +heights, or slid with the speed of toboggans down gleaming slopes. Each +day they gained in agility and daring, and each night they returned to +that cheery camp with its light, warmth, and abounding comforts, so +healthfully tired and so ravenously hungry that it is no wonder they +grew to look upon it as a home, and a very pleasant one. + +Both lads developed specialties in which they became expert. Alaric's +was photography, an art that he had acquired in France, and had +practised at intervals for more than a year. As soon as M. Filbert +discovered this knowledge on the part of his young interpreter, he +intrusted him with the camera, and never had the lad devoted himself to +anything with such enthusiasm as he now did to the capturing of views. +His greatest triumph came through hours of tedious and noiseless +creeping over a rough ice-field that finally placed him within twenty +yards of a couple of mountain-goats. + +Although the wind was blowing strongly from them to him, the timid +creatures were already alarmed, and were sniffing the air suspiciously +when a click of the camera's shutter sent them off like a flash. But the +shot had been successful, as was shown by the development of a perfect +plate that evening. M. Filbert was jubilant over this feat, which he +said had never before been accomplished, and complimented the lad in +flattering terms upon the skilful patience that had led to it. + +Bonny's specialty lay in the collecting of flowers, to which he had +devoted himself assiduously ever since learning that they were what the +little Frenchman most desired. Keen-eyed, nimble-footed, and tireless, +he discovered and secured many a rare specimen that but for him would +have been passed unnoticed. + +Thus the leader of the expedition found reason to value the good +qualities of his young assistants more highly with each day, and was +already planning to have them accompany him on his entire American tour, +during which he proposed to ascend at least a dozen more mountains. +Bonny was jubilant over the prospect of such a trip, and was now as +eager to learn French, in order to qualify himself for it, as he had +formerly been scornful of the language. + +With all this open-air life and splendid physical exercise, the one-time +pale-faced and slender Alaric was broadening and developing beyond +belief. His cheeks were now a ruddy brown, his eyes were clear, his +muscles hard, and his step as springy as that of a mountain-goat. Above +everything else in his own estimation he was learning to swing an axe +with precision, and could now chop a log in two almost as neatly as +Bonny himself. + +For all that they were so constantly and agreeably occupied, the boys +were possessed of a great and ever-increasing longing to stand on the +lofty but still distant summit, with the general aspect of which they +had become so familiar during their stay in the timber-line camp. Thus, +when one evening M. Filbert decided to make a start towards it on the +morrow, they hailed the announcement with joy. One of the Indians was to +accompany them as guide, while his fellow was to be left with Francois +to keep camp. + +The greater part of the following morning was devoted to making +preparations for the climb and what was thought might prove a three +days' absence from camp: the hobnails of their walking-boots, worn +smooth by friction, were replaced by a fresh set; alpenstocks were +tested until it was certain that each of those to be taken would bear +the weight of the heaviest of the party; provisions were cooked and +packs laid out. Each was to carry a canvas-covered blanket sleeping-bag, +inside of which would be rolled provisions for three days, a tin plate, +and a cup. Each was also provided with a sheath-knife and a supply of +matches. Besides these things M. Filbert was to carry a barometer, a +thermometer, a compass, and a collecting-case. Alaric was intrusted with +the camera and two dozen plates. Bonny's extras were a hatchet and a +fifty-foot coil of stout rope; while the Indian was to carry an ice-axe +and pack a burden of fire-wood. + +It was nearly noon when, fortified by a hearty lunch, they left their +home-like camp, and, facing resolutely upward, began a tedious climb +over the limitless expanse of snow that they struck within the first +hundred yards. The sky was overcast, and they had hardly started ere a +dense cloud-bank swept down and enveloped them in its chill vapors. An +hour later they passed above it, though the clouds still rolled thick +below them, and emerged into sunlight. Glad as they were to see this, it +was so distressingly bright that they were obliged to protect their eyes +from its blinding glare with snow-goggles. + +Wherever a ledge of rock projected above the snow they found blooming +flowers and busy insects. Even butterflies hovered about these spots of +verdure, and seemed as much at home amid their arctic surroundings as in +the warm valleys far below. + +The climb of that afternoon was hot, in spite of the snow that crunched +beneath their feet, tedious, and only mildly exciting, for all the +perils of the ascent were to come on the morrow. + +Shortly before the sun sank into the sea of cloud that spread in fleecy +undulations beneath them, they reached the base of the Cleaver, a +gigantic ridge that seemed to bar their further progress. Here, on a +small plat of nearly level ground from which they dug away the snow, +they made a fire over which to boil water for a pot of tea, ate supper, +and prepared to pass the night. They were four thousand feet above +timber-line, and two miles higher than the waters of Puget Sound. + +As soon as supper was over the entire party crawled into their +sleeping-bags for protection against the bitter cold of the night, and +for a while the two boys, nestling together, talked in low tones. Then +Bonny fell asleep; but for nearly an hour Alaric lay awake, listening to +the awful silence of that lofty solitude, or startled by the occasional +thunderous rush of some plunging bowlder hurled from its bed by the +resistless leverage of frost. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +MOUNT RAINIER PLACED UNDERFOOT + + +The summit of Mount Rainier has only been gained by way of its southern +slope, the much steeper and more dangerous northern face having never +been scaled. Even over the comparatively easy slope of the south side +but one practicable trail has been discovered, and it leads by way of +the Cleaver. This gigantic ridge of rock, like the backbone of some +colossal monster, forms a divide between the upper Nisqually and Cowlitz +glaciers. Its sides are overlaid with confused masses of bowlders and +treacherous gravel, through which appear at intervals sheer cliffs and +bare ledges of solid rock. The Cleaver leads to a mighty mass of +granite, a mountain in itself, that is fittingly called the Gibraltar of +Mount Rainier. It bars a further passage to all save the strongest +climbers, and to these it affords the only means of access to the lofty +realms beyond. Here is the most perilous part of the ascent, and, with +Gibraltar once passed, the summit is almost certain of attainment. + +It seemed to our weary lads that they had barely fallen asleep when they +were wakened by a rude shaking and the voice of their Siwash guide, +exclaiming: + +"Come, come, lazy boy! Wake up! wake up! Mos' _sitkum sun_ (noon). +Breakfus! breakfus!" + +"'Most noon!" growled Bonny, crawling reluctantly from his sleeping-bag, +rubbing his eyes, and shivering in the bitter cold. "'Most midnight, +more likely." + +"Alle same, _sitkum sun_ some place; don't he?" queried the Indian; +laughing at his own joke. + +By the time they had swallowed a cup of tepid tea, and lightened their +packs by making a hearty meal of cold meat and hard bread, dawn was +breaking, and there was light enough to pick their way up the +treacherous slope of the Cleaver. As they cautiously advanced, many a +bowlder slipped from beneath their feet and bounded with mighty leapings +into the depths behind them. Dodging these, sliding in the loose +gravels, lifting and pulling each other up rocky faces from one narrow +ledge to another, and ever looking upward, they finally gained the +summit of the mighty ridge. + +From here they could gaze down the opposite slope nearly a thousand feet +to the gleaming surface of the great Cowlitz glacier, with so much of +its ruggedness smoothed away by distance that it looked a river of milk +with a line of black drift in its centre, flowing swiftly through a +rock-walled canyon and pouring into a sea of cloud. On the far southward +horizon could be seen the glistening cone of Mount Hood, kissed by +earliest sunbeams, and in the middle distance the volcanic peaks of St. +Helens and Adams. Near at hand, pinnacles of the Tatoosh range were +breaking through the clouds like rocky islets in a billowy sea. Before +them the rugged backbone of the Cleaver, stripped of every particle of +its earthy flesh, stretched away in quick ascent to the frowning mass of +Gibraltar. + +The Cleaver carried them half-way up the sombre face of this mighty +rock, and from that point a narrow ledge creeping diagonally up the +precipice at a steep angle was the trail they must follow. Not only was +this rocky pathway steep and narrow, but it shelved away from the wall, +and in many places afforded only a treacherous foothold. At any point +along its length a slip, a misstep, or an attack of dizziness would mean +almost certain destruction. + +Foot by foot and yard by yard M. Filbert's little party ascended this +perilous way, here walking, and trusting to their alpenstocks for +support; there crawling on hands and knees. Sometimes one would go +cautiously ahead over a place of peculiar danger, with an end of the +rope firmly knotted beneath his arms, while his companions, with firm +bracings, retained the other part, ready to haul him up if by chance he +should plunge over the verge and dangle above the abyss at the end of +his slender tether. + +At the terminus of the ledge they were confronted by a sloping wall of +solid ice, in which they must cut steps and grip-holes for feet and +hands. As they slowly and painfully worked their way up this precarious +ladder, they were continually pelted by pebbles and good-sized stones +loosened by the sun from an upper cliff of frozen gravel. + +At length the toilsome ascent was safely accomplished, and, with a +panting shout from Alaric and a hurrah from Bonny, the whole party stood +on the summit of that mountain Gibraltar. Here they rested and lunched; +then, full of eager impatience, pushed on over the narrow causeway +connecting the mighty rock with the vastly mightier snow-cap beyond. + +This snow, that had looked so faultlessly smooth from below, was found +to be drifted and packed into high ridges, over which they slowly +toiled, frequently pausing for breath and inhaling the rarefied air with +quick gaspings. At length a bottomless crevasse yawned before them, +spanned only by a narrow ledge of snow. With an end of the rope knotted +beneath his arms, Bonny, being the lightest, essayed to cross it. +Before he reached the farther side the treacherous support broke beneath +him, and, with a frightened cry, Alaric saw his comrade plunge out of +sight in the yawning chasm. He brought up with a heavy jerk at the end +of the rope, and they cautiously drew him back to where they stood. + +As he reappeared above the edge of the opening his face was very pale, +but he called out, cheerfully: "It's all right, Rick! Don't fret!" + +After a long search they discovered another bridge, and it bore them +across in safety, one at a time, but all securely roped together. +Finally, late in the afternoon, the longed-for summit was attained, and, +though nearly toppled over by a furious wind, they stood triumphant on +the rocky rim of its ancient crater. This was half a mile in diameter, +and filled with snow, but its opposite or northern side was the highest. +So to it they made their weary way, following the rocky path afforded by +the rim, and barely able to hold their footing against the wind. + +When they at last attained the point of their ambition, a reading of the +barometer showed them to be standing at a height of 14,444 feet above +sea-level, and with exulting hearts they realized that, as Bonny +expressed it, they had put the highest peak of the Cascade range beneath +their feet. + +The view that greeted them from that lofty outlook was so wonderful and +far-reaching that for a while they gazed in awed silence. Mount Baker, +two hundred miles away, close to the British line, was clearly visible, +as were the notable peaks to the southward, even beyond the distant +Columbia and over the Oregon border. + +"_C'est grand! c'est magnifique! c'est terrible!_" exclaimed M. Filbert, +at length breaking the silence. + +As for Alaric! To have achieved that summit was the greatest triumph of +his life; but his heart was too full for utterance, and he could only +gaze in speechless delight. + +The Indian too gazed in silence as, leaning on his ice-axe, he +contemplated the outspread empire that but a few years before had +belonged solely to the people of his race. + +Bonny was as deeply impressed as either of his companions, but found it +necessary to express his feelings in words. "This must be the top of the +world!" he cried; "and I do believe we can see it all. I tell you what +it is, Rick Dale, I've learned something about mountains this day, and +now I know that they are the grandest things in all creation." + +At their feet the rock wall dropped so sheer and smooth that no man +might climb it, and then came the snow, sweeping steeply downward for +miles apparently without a break. Far beyond lay the vast sea of forest, +seeming to cover the whole earth with its green mantle. The gleaming +glaciers, looking like foaming cascades frozen into rigidity, were +swallowed by it and hidden. It rolled in billows over the mighty +mountain flanks that radiated from where they stood like the spokes of a +colossal wheel, and dipped into the intervening valleys. Nowhere was it +broken, save by the few bald peaks that struggled above it and by the +thread-like waters of Puget Sound. Even on the west there was no ocean, +for the volcanic, snow-crowned Olympics, one of which was smoking, as +though in eruption, hid it from view. + +Our lads could have gazed entranced for hours on the crowding marvels +outspread before them had they been warmed and fed and rested and +sheltered from the fierce blasts of icy wind that threatened to hurl +them from the parapet on which they stood. As it was, night was at hand, +they were faint and trembling from weariness, and wellnigh perished with +the stinging cold. It was high time to turn from gazing and seek +shelter. + +Inside the crater's rim numerous steam jets issued from fissures in the +rocky wall, and these had carved out caverns from the adjacent ice. Here +there were roomy chambers, steam-heated and storm-proof, awaiting +occupancy, and to one of these M. Filbert led the way. + +In this place of welcome shelter numbed fingers were thawed to further +usefulness by the grateful steam, a small fire was lighted, packs were +opened, and in less than an hour a bountiful supper of hot tea, venison +frizzled over the coals, toasted hard-bread, and prunes was being +enjoyed by as hungry and jubilant a party as ever bivouacked on the +summit of Mount Rainier. + +After supper the Frenchman lighted a cigarette, the Indian puffed, with +an air of intense satisfaction, at an ancient pipe, our lads toasted +their stockinged feet before the few remaining embers of the fire, and, +in various languages, all four discussed the adventures of the day. + +Although they had much to say, their conversation hour was soon ended by +their weariness and by the ever-increasing cold, which even a jet of +volcanic steam could not exclude from that chamber of ice. So they +speedily slipped into their sleeping-bags, and, lying close together for +greater warmth, prepared to spend a night under the very strangest +conditions that Alaric and Bonny, at least, had ever encountered. + +Some hours later the occupants of the ice-cave became conscious of the +howlings of a storm that shrieked and roared above their heads with the +fury of ten thousand demons; but, knowing that it could not penetrate +their retreat, they gave it but slight heed, and quickly dropped again +into the sleep of weariness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +BLOWN FROM THE RIM OF A CRATER + + +When our lads next awoke they were oppressed with a sense of suffocation +and uncomfortable warmth. It was still dark, and M. Filbert was striking +a match in order to look at his watch. + +"Seven o'clock!" he cried, incredulously. "How can it be?" + +"_Cole snass!_" (snow) exclaimed the Indian, to whom the flare of light +had instantly disclosed the cause of both darkness and suffocation. The +cave was much smaller than when they entered it, and was also full of +steam. Its walls were covered with moisture, and rivulets of water +trickled over the floor. + +"_Cultus snow!_ Heap plenty! Too much! _Mamook ilahie_" (must dig), +continued the Indian, springing to his feet, and making an attack on the +drifted snow that had completely choked the cavern's mouth. When he had +excavated a burrow the length of his body, Bonny took his place, while +Alaric and M. Filbert removed the loosened snow to the back of the cave, +where they packed it as closely as possible. + +Although a faint light soon appeared in the tunnel, it was a full hour +before it was dug to the surface of the tremendous drift and a rush of +cold air was admitted. + +A glance outside showed that, while no snow was falling at that moment, +the day was dark and gloomy, and the mountain was enveloped in clouds +that were driven in swirling eddies by fierce gusts of wind. + +In spite of the threatening weather, M. Filbert declared that they must +begin their retreat at once, as they had but one day's supply of food +left, while the storm might burst upon them again at any minute and +continue indefinitely. So, after a hasty meal of biscuits and cold meat, +the little party sallied forth. The Indian, having no longer a burden of +fire-wood, relieved Alaric of his camera, and led the way. M. Filbert +followed, then came Alaric; while Bonny, with a coil of rope hung over +his shoulder, brought up the rear. + +Oh, how cold it was! and how awful! To be sure, the dangers surrounding +them were hidden by impenetrable clouds, but they had already seen them, +and knew of their presence. As they started to traverse the rocky crater +rim that still rose slightly above the snow, the entire summit was +visible; but a few minutes later a furious gust of wind again shrouded +it in clouds so dense as to completely hide objects only a few feet +away. + +Just then Alaric tripped on one of his boot-lacings that had become +unfastened, and very nearly fell. That was no place for tripping, and +such a thing must not happen again. So he paused to secure the loosened +lacing, and, as he stooped over it, Bonny cried impatiently from behind: + +"Hurry up, Rick! the others are already out of sight, and it will never +do to lose them in this fog." + +The necessity for haste only caused the lad's numbed fingers to fumble +the more awkwardly, and several precious minutes were thus wasted. + +With the task completed, Alaric, full of nervous dread, started to run +after his vanished companions, slipped on a bit of glare ice at a place +where the narrow path slanted down and out, and pitched headlong. Bonny +saw his danger, sprang to his assistance, slipped on the same +treacherous ice, and in another moment both lads had plunged over the +outer verge of the sheer wall. There was a stifled cry, drowned by the +roaring blast, and then, without leaving a trace behind them, they were +lost to sight in the crowding mists. So complete was their disappearance +that when, one minute later, M. Filbert and the Indian passed back over +that very place in anxious search of their young companions, they could +neither see nor hear aught to tell them of what had happened. + +Neither Alaric nor Bonny could ever afterwards tell whether they fell +twenty feet or two hundred in that terrible, breathless plunge. Almost +with the first knowledge of their situation they found themselves +struggling in a drift of soft, fresh-fallen snow, and a moment +afterwards rolling, bounding, and shooting with frightful velocity down +an icy, roof-like slope of interminable length. Breathless, battered, +bruised, expecting with each instant to be dashed over some awful brink, +as ignorant of their surroundings as though stricken with blindness, the +poor lads still tried, with outstretched arms and clutching fingers, to +check their wild flight. + +While they realized in a measure the desperate nature of the situation, +its worst features were mercifully concealed from them by the clinging +clouds. Had these lifted ever so little, they would have seen that their +perilous coast was down a ridge so narrow that the alpenstocks flung +from them as they plunged over the rim of the crater had fallen on +either side into yawning chasms. + +At length, after what seemed an eternity of this terrible experience, +though in reality it lasted but a few minutes, they were flung into a +narrow, snow-filled valley that cut their course at a sharp angle, and +found themselves lying within a few feet of each other, dazed and sorely +bruised, but apparently with unbroken bones, and certainly still alive. + +As they slowly gained a sitting posture and gazed curiously at each +other, Bonny said, impressively: + +"Rick Dale, before we go any farther, I want to take back all I ever +said about the life of a sailor being exciting, for it isn't a +circumstance to that of an interpreter." + +"Oh, Bonny, it is so good to hear your voice again! Wasn't it awful? And +how do you suppose we can ever get back?" + +"Get back!" cried the other. "Well, if we had wings we might fly back; +but there's no other way that I know of. We must be a mile from our +starting-point, and even to reach the foot of the place where we dove +off we'd have to cut steps in the ice every inch of the way. That would +probably take a couple of days, and when we got there we'd have to turn +around and come down again, for nothing except a bird could ever scale +that wall." + +"Then what shall we do?" + +"Keep on as we have begun, I suppose, only a little slower, I hope, +until we reach the timber-line, and then try and follow it to camp." + +"I wonder if we can?" + +"Of course we can, for we've got to." + +Painfully the lads gained their feet, and with cautious steps began to +explore their surroundings. They walked side by side for a few yards, +and then each clutched the other as though to draw him back. They were +on the brink of a precipice, over which another step would have carried +them. + +While they hesitated, not knowing which way to turn nor what to do, the +clouds below them rolled away, though above and back of them they +remained as dense as ever, and a view of what lay before them was +unfolded. + +Rocks, ice, and snow; sheer walls rising on either side of them, and a +precipitous slope forming an almost vertical descent of a thousand feet +in front. There were but three things to do: Go back the way they had +come, which was so wellnigh impossible that they did not give it a +second thought; remain where they were, which meant a certain and speedy +death; or make their way down that rocky wall. They crept to its brink +and looked over, anxiously scanning its every feature and calculating +their chances. The first thirty feet were sheer and smooth. Then came a +narrow shelf, below which they could see others at irregular intervals. + +"There is only one way to do it," said Bonny, "and that is by the rope. +I will go first, and you must follow." + +"I'll try," replied Alaric, with a very pale face but a brave voice. + +So Bonny, with the knowledge of knots that he had learned on shipboard, +made a noose that would not slip in one end of their rope, tied half a +dozen knots along its length for hand-holds, and fastened its other end +about his body. Then he looped the noose over a jutting point of rock, +and, slipping cautiously over the brink, allowed himself to slide slowly +down. + +It made Alaric so giddy to watch him that he closed his eyes, nor did he +open them until a cheery "All right, Rick!" assured him of his comrade's +safety. Now came his turn, and as he hung by that slender cord he was +devoutly thankful for the strength that the past few weeks had put into +his arms. He too reached the ledge in safety, and then, with great +difficulty, on account of the narrowness of their foothold, they +managed to slip the noose off its resting-place. Now they _must_ go +forward, for there was no longer a chance of going back. In vain, +though, did they search that smooth ledge for a point that would hold +their noose. There was none, and the next shelf was twenty feet below. + +"We must climb it, Rick, and this time you must go first. Put the loop +under your arms, and I will do my best to hold you if you slip; but +don't take any chances, or count too much on me being able to do it." + +There were little cracks and slight projections. Bonny held the rope +reassuringly taut, and at length the feat was accomplished. Then Alaric +took in the slack of the rope as Bonny, tied to its other end, made the +same perilous descent. + +So, with strained arms, aching legs, and fingers worn to the quick from +clutching the rough granite, they made their slow way from ledge to +ledge, gaining courage and coolness as they successfully overcame each +difficulty, until they estimated that they had descended fully five +hundred feet. Now came another smooth face absolutely without a crevice +that they could discover, and the next ledge below was farther away than +the length of their dangling rope. There was, however, a projection +where they stood, over which they could loop the noose. + +"We've got to do it," said Bonny, stoutly, "and I only hope the drop at +the end isn't so long as it looks." Thus saying, he slipped cautiously +over the edge, let himself down to the end of the rope, dropped ten +feet, staggered, and seemed about to fall, but saved himself by a +violent effort. Alaric followed, and also made the drop, but whirled +half round in so doing, and but for Bonny's quick clutch would have gone +over the edge. + +There was now no way of recovering their useful rope; and fortunately, +though they sorely needed it at times, they found no other place +absolutely impossible without it. By noon, when they paused for rest and +a scanty lunch of chocolate and prunes, they were down one thousand +feet, and believed the worst of the descent to be accomplished. + +Now came a rude granite stairway with steps fit for a giant, and then a +long slope of loose bowlders, that rocked and rolled from beneath their +feet as they sprang from one to another. They crossed the rugged ice of +a glacier, whose innumerable crevasses intersected like the wrinkles on +an old man's face, and had many hair-breadth escapes from slipping into +their deadly depths of frozen blue. Then came a vast snow-field, over +which they tramped for miles with weary limbs but light hearts, for the +terrors of the mountain were behind them and the timber-line was in +sight. Darkness had already overtaken them when they came to a steep, +rock-strewn slope, down which they ran with reckless speed. They were +near its bottom when a bowlder on which Bonny had just leaped rolled +from under him, and he fell heavily on a bed of jagged rocks. + +As he did not regain his feet, Alaric sprang to his side. The poor lad +who had so stoutly braved the countless perils of the day was moaning +pitifully, and as his friend bent anxiously over him he said, in a +feeble voice: + +"I'm afraid, old man, that I'm done for at last, for it feels as though +every bone in my body was broken." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +A DESPERATE SITUATION + + +Of the many trying experiences through which our lads had passed since +their introduction to each other in Victoria, none had presented so many +hopeless features as the present. They were high up on a mighty +mountain, whose terrible wilderness of rock and glacier, precipice and +chasm, limitless snow-field and trackless forest, stretched for weary +leagues in every direction; beyond hope of human aid; only a mouthful of +food between them and starvation; with night so close at hand that +near-by objects were already indistinct in its gathering gloom; without +shelter; inexperienced in woodcraft; and one of them so seriously +injured that he lay moaning on the cruel rocks that had wounded him, +apparently incapable of moving. + +As all these details of the situation flashed into Alaric's mind he +became for a moment heart-sick and despairing at its utter hopelessness. +He was so exhausted with the exertions of the day, so unnerved by the +strain and anxiety of the perilous hours just passed, and so faint for +want of nourishment, that it is no wonder his strength was turned into +weakness, or that he could discover no ray of hope through the +all-pervading gloom. + +Suddenly and as clearly as though spoken by his side came the words: +"Always remember that, as my friend Jalap Coombs says, 'It is never so +dark but what there is light somewhere.'" The memory of Phil Ryder's +brave face as he uttered that sentence came to our poor lad like a +tonic, and instantly he was resolved to find the light that was shining +for him somewhere. + +With such marvellous quickness does the mind act in an emergency that +all these thoughts came to Alaric even as he bent anxiously over his +injured friend and began examining tenderly into the nature of his +hurts. As he lifted the left arm the sufferer uttered a cry of pain, and +its hand hung limp. The other limbs were sound, but Bonny said that +every breath was like a stab. + +"One arm broken, and I'm afraid something gone wrong inside," announced +Alaric at length; "but it might be ever so much worse," he continued, in +as cheerful a tone as he could command. "One of your legs might have +been broken, you know, and then we should be in a fix, for I couldn't +carry you, and we should have to stay right here. Now, though, I am sure +you can walk as far as the timber if you will only try. Of course it +will hurt terribly, but you must do it, for there is no other way." + +Very slowly, and with many a stifled cry of acute pain, Bonny gained his +feet. Then, with his right arm about Alaric's neck, and with the latter +stoutly supporting him, the injured lad managed to cross the few hundred +feet intervening between that place and the longed-for shelter of the +stunted hemlocks forming the timber-line. + +Both Bonny's weakness and the darkness, which was now that of night, +prevented their penetrating deep into the timber; but before the +sufferer sank to the ground, declaring that he could not take another +step, they had gone far enough to escape the icy blast that, sweeping +down from the upper snow-fields, had chilled them to the marrow. This +alone was a notable achievement, and already Alaric believed he could +perceive a glimmer of the light he had set out to find. + +Now for a fire, and how grateful they were for M. Filbert's forethought +that had provided each one of his party with matches! Feeling about for +twigs, and whittling a few shavings with his sheath-knife, Alaric +quickly started a tiny flame, and with its first cheery glow their +situation seemed robbed of half its terrors. An armful of sticks +produced a brave crackling blaze that drove the black forest shadows to +a respectful distance. + +With Bonny's hatchet Alaric next lopped off the branches from the lower +side of a thick-growing hemlock and wove them among those that were +left, so as to form a wind-break. An armful of the same flat boughs, cut +from other trees and strewn on the ground, formed a spring bed on which +to unfold the sleeping-bags, that by rare good fortune had remained +strapped to the lads' shoulders during all their terrible journey from +the summit camp of the night before. + +After making his comrade as comfortable as possible, Alaric hurried away +into the darkness. He was gone so long that Bonny, who did not know the +reason of his absence, began to grow very uneasy before he returned. +When he did reappear, he brought with him a quantity of snow that he had +gone back a quarter of a mile up the dark mountain-side to obtain. He +wanted water, and not hearing or finding any stream, had bethought +himself of snow as a substitute. + +In each of the packs they had so fortunately brought with them was a +handful of tea, for M. Filbert had insisted that all the provisions +should be divided among all the packs, as a precaution against just such +an emergency as had arisen. Therefore, Alaric now had the materials for +a longed-for and much-needed cup of the stimulating beverage. To make +it, an amount of the precious leaves equal to a teaspoonful was put into +one of their tin cups while snow was melted in the other. As soon as +this came to a boil it was poured over the tea leaves in cup number one, +which was allowed to stand for two minutes longer in a warm place to +"draw." + +While Bonny slowly sipped this, at the same time munching a handful of +hard biscuit, which, broken into small bits, was all the food they had +left, Alaric boiled another cup of water for himself. + +From all this it will be seen that our one-time helpless and dependent +"Allie" Todd was rapidly learning not only to care for himself under +trying conditions, but for others as well. + +As soon as Bonny had been thus strengthened and thoroughly warmed, +Alaric made a more thorough examination of his injuries than had been +possible out in the cold and darkness where the accident occurred. He +found that the left arm had sustained a simple fracture, fortunately but +little splintered, and also that two ribs on the left side were broken. +For these he could do nothing; but he managed to set the broken arm +after a fashion, bandage it with handkerchiefs torn into strips, and +finally to place it in a case formed of a trough-like section of +hemlock-bark, which he hung from Bonny's neck by straps. Then he helped +his patient into one of the sleeping-bags, encouraging him all the while +with hopeful suggestions of what they would do on the morrow. + +After thus making his charge as comfortable as circumstances would +permit, the lad busied himself for another hour in collecting such a +quantity of wood as should insure a good fire until morning. Then, +utterly fagged out, he crept into his own bed, and lay down beside his +friend. + +Despite the painful nature of his injuries, Bonny had already fallen +asleep, but Alaric lay awake from sheer weariness, and struggled against +gloomy thoughts of their future. He knew that the home-like camp in +which they had passed two weeks so happily, and which they had hoped to +regain by following the timber-line, was on the opposite side of the +mountain, many weary miles away. He knew also that between them and it +lay a region so rugged as to be wellnigh impassable to the sturdiest of +mountaineers, and absolutely so to one in Bonny's condition. It would be +a journey of two or more days under the most favorable circumstances; +but alone and without food he realized that even he could not accomplish +it. Besides, he could not leave Bonny in his present helpless condition. +Therefore, all thoughts of obtaining assistance from that direction must +be abandoned. Could they continue on down the mountain through the +trackless forest that on the upward journey they had occupied two whole +days in traversing on horseback, and with a clearly defined trail? +Certainly they could not, and to make the attempt would be worse than +folly. What, then, could they do? This question was so unanswerable that +the perplexed lad gave over struggling with it and fell asleep. + +He intended to replenish his fire several times during the night; but +when he next awoke daylight was already some hours old, the place where +the fire had burned was covered with dead ashes, and Bonny lay patiently +regarding him with wistful eyes. + +"I am thirsty, Rick," was all he said, though he had lain for hours +wide-awake and parched with fever, but heroically determined that his +wearied comrade should sleep until he woke of his own accord. + +"You poor fellow!" cried Alaric, remorsefully. "Why didn't you wake me +long ago?" + +"I couldn't bear to," replied Bonny; "but now if you will please get me +a drink." + +Only pausing to light a fresh fire, Alaric hastened away to the distant +snow-bank, returning as speedily as possible with as much of it as their +two tin plates would hold. A handful was given Bonny to cool his parched +tongue while the remainder was melting. + +So small a quantity of water could be procured at a time by this slow +process that in a very few minutes Alaric found he must go for more +snow. As he went he realized how faint he was for want of food. "I +wonder how much longer I shall be able to hold out?" he asked himself. +"How many more times can I make this trip before my strength is +exhausted?" A mental picture of Bonny begging for water, and he too weak +to fetch it, caused his eyes to fill with tears, and a black despair +again enfolded him. + +At this moment the voice of the previous night came again to him: "It is +never so dark but what there is light somewhere." "Of course there is," +he cried, "and as I found it last night, why shouldn't I to-day?" + +Even as the lad spoke he caught its first gleam in the form of a rivulet +of clear water that rippled merrily down from the snow only a few yards +from where he stood. Hastening to this, the lad drank long and deeply. +On lifting his head from the delicious water, he could hardly believe +his eyes as they rested on a solitary bird, that he knew to be a +ptarmigan, crouching beside a bowlder. Hoping against hope, and almost +unnerved by anxiety, he flung a stone, and in another minute the bird +was his. "Hurrah for breakfast!" he shouted, as he ran back to Bonny +with his trophy proudly displayed at arm's-length. + +Awkward as Alaric was at the business, he had that Heaven-sent bird +stripped of its feathers, cleaned, and spitted over a bed of glowing +coals within ten minutes of the time he had first spied it, and a little +later only its cleanly picked bones remained to tell of its existence. + +Bonny was disinclined to eat, but he drank two cups of hot tea, that +threw him into a perspiration, greatly to Alaric's satisfaction. As he +also seemed drowsy, Alaric encouraged him to sleep, while he should go +in search of more food and assistance, with one or both of which he +promised to return before noon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +HOW A SONG SAVED ALARIC'S LIFE + + +When Alaric made that promise he had no more idea of how it was to be +kept than he had of what was to become of Bonny and himself. He only +knew that active exertion of some kind was necessary to keep him from +utter despair. Besides, it was just possible that he might discover and +secure another bird, though not at all probable, as the one on which he +had breakfasted was the first that he had encountered since coming to +the mountain. + +By the time he emerged from the timber the morning clouds had rolled +away, the sun was shining brightly, and the whole vast sweep of gleaming +snow and tumultuous rock, from timber-line to distant summit, lay piled +in steep ascent before him. It was a wonderful sight, but as terrible as +it was grand, for in all its awful solitude there was no movement, no +voice, and no sign of life. Oppressed by the loneliness of his +surroundings, and having no reason for choosing one direction rather +than another, the lad mechanically turned to the right and began to make +his way along a bowlder-strewn slope, where every now and then he came +to the bleached skeletons of stunted trees, winter-killed, but still +standing, and seeming to stretch imploring arms to their retreating +brethren of the forest. + +He had not gone more than a mile when there came something to him that +caused him to halt and glance inquiringly on all sides. At the same +time he lifted his head and sniffed the air eagerly, like a hound on the +scent of game. He was certain that he had smelled smoke. Yes, there it +came again; a whiff so faint as to be almost imperceptible, but the +unmistakable odor of burning wood. + +Facing squarely the breeze that brought it to him, the lad pushed +forward, and a few minutes later stood on the verge of a little mountain +meadow, sun-warmed and rock-walled on all sides, save the one by which +he had approached. Here the slope was so gentle that he started down on +a run. He had thus gone but a short distance when he suddenly paused +with his eyes fixed on the ground where he was standing. + +He had been unconsciously following a path, faintly marked and hardly to +be distinguished, but nevertheless one that he felt certain had been +trodden by human feet. The discovery filled him with excitement, and he +bounded forward with redoubled speed. Halfway down the slope, at a point +commanding a lovely view of the flower-strewn valley, the trail ended at +a crystal spring that bubbled from among the roots of a tall young +hemlock. Other trees were grouped near-by, and beneath them stood a rude +hut built of poles and boughs, but having a rain-proof roof of thatch. +Before it smouldered a log fire, from which rose the thin column of +smoke that had directed Alaric's attention to the place. + +Filled with exultation and wild with joy over his discovery, the lad +gazed eagerly about for some sign of the proprietor or occupants of this +lonely camp, and at length, seeing no one, he began to shout. Receiving +no response, he entered the hut, and was surprised at the absence of +even the rude comforts common to such a place. There was a heap of white +goat-skins in one corner, and a quantity of meat, either smoked or +dried, hung from a rafter overhead. A kettle and a fry-pan lay outside +near the fire, an axe was driven into the trunk of one of the trees, +and, so far as Alaric could see, there was nothing else. But even these +things were enough to indicate that this was a place of at least +temporary human abode, and wherever its proprietor might be, he would +return to it sooner or later. Then, too, Alaric believed it to be the +camp of a white man; for though his knowledge of Indians was limited, it +in no way resembled that of Skookum John. + +"At any rate," he said to himself, "I will try and get Bonny here as +quickly as possible, for he will be a thousand times better off in this +place than where I left him." + +So, with a lighter heart than he had known since his comrade's accident, +Alaric started back over the trail by which he had come. Bonny was awake +and sitting up when he reappeared, and the sufferer's face brightened +wonderfully at the great news of at least one other human being, a camp, +and an abundance of food so near at hand. + +"Do you really think I can get there, though?" he asked, anxiously. + +"Yes," replied Alaric, "I know you can; for, as you said yesterday when +we were looking at that precipice, it is something that must be done. We +can't stay here without either food or shelter, and we don't dare wait +for the owner of that camp to come back and help us move, because he may +stay away several days. I know it is going to hurt you awfully to walk, +but I know too that you'll do it if you only make up your mind to." + +"All right, I'll try it; but, Rick, don't you forget that if I ever get +down from this mountain alive, never again will I climb another. No, +sir. Level ground will be good enough for me after this." + +As Alaric was doing up the sleeping-bags a familiar-looking baseball +rolled from his, and caught Bonny's eye. + +"If you aren't a queer chap!" he exclaimed. "Whatever made you bring +that ball along?" + +"Because," answered the other, "it means so much to me that I hated to +leave it behind, and then I thought perhaps it would be fun to have a +game on the very top of the mountain. When we reached there, though, I +forgot all about it." + +"Yes," said Bonny, grimly, "we did have something else to think of. +Ough, but that hurts!" + +This exclamation was called forth by the poor lad's effort to gain his +feet, which he found he was unable to do without assistance. + +Although Alaric carried both packs, and lent Bonny all possible support +besides, that one-mile walk proved the most difficult either of the lads +had ever undertaken. Brave and stout-hearted as Bonny was, he could not +help groaning with every step, and they were obliged to rest so often +that the little journey occupied several hours. At its end both lads +were utterly exhausted, and Bonny was suffering so intensely that he +hardly noticed the place to which he had been brought. The moment he +gained the hut he sank down on its pile of goat-skins with closed eyes, +and so white a face that he seemed about to faint. + +When Alaric was there before, he had mended the fire and set on a kettle +of water, with a view to just such an emergency as the present. The +water was still boiling, and so within three minutes he was able to give +his patient a cup of strong tea that greatly revived him. Food was the +next thing to be thought of, and Alaric did not hesitate to appropriate +one of the strips of goat's flesh that hung overhead. Not being quite +sure of the best way to cook this, he cut one portion into small bits, +put them into the kettle with a little water, and set the whole on the +fire to simmer. Another portion he sliced thin and laid in the fry-pan, +which he also set on the fire. Still a third bit he spitted on a long +stick and held close to a bed of coals, where it frizzled with such an +appetizing odor that he could not wait for it to be cooked before +cutting off small bits to sample. They were so good that he went to +offer some to Bonny; but finding the latter still lying with closed +eyes, thought best not to disturb him. So he sat alone and ate all the +frizzled meat, and all that was in the fry-pan, and was still so hungry +that he procured another strip of meat from the hut, and began all over +again. + +They had been nearly two hours in the camp before his ravenous appetite +was fully satisfied, and by that time the contents of the pot had +simmered into a sort of thick broth. At a faint call from Bonny, Alaric +carried some of this to him, and had the satisfaction of seeing him +swallow a whole cupful. Then, as night was again approaching, he helped +his patient into one of the sleeping-bags, which he underlaid with +several goat-skins, and sat by him until he fell into a doze. When this +happened Alaric went softly outside, and, to dispel the gathering gloom, +piled logs on the fire until it was in a bright blaze. Sitting a little +to one side, half in light and half in shadow, and having no present +occupation, the lad fell into a deep reverie. How was this strange +adventure to end? Who owned that camp, and why did he not return to it? +What would he think on finding strangers in possession? Had any boy ever +stepped from one life into another so entirely different as suddenly and +completely as he? One year ago at this time he was in France, surrounded +by every luxury that money could procure, carefully guarded from every +form of anxiety, and dependent upon others for everything. Now he was +thankful for the shelter of a hut, and a meal of half-cooked meat +prepared by his own hands. He not only had everything to do for himself, +but had another still more helpless dependent upon him for everything. +Was he any happier then than now? No. He could honestly say that he +preferred his present position, with its health, strength, and glorious +self-reliance, to the one he had resigned. + +Still there had been happy times in that other life. Two years ago, for +instance, when his mother and he had travelled leisurely through +Germany, halting whenever they chose, and remaining as long as places +interested them. Thoughts of his mother recalled the plaintive little +German folk-song of which she had been so fond. + +_Muss i denn._ Yes, that was it, and involuntarily Alaric began to hum +the air. Then the words began to fit themselves to it, and before he +realized what he was doing he was singing softly: + + "Muss i denn, muss i denn + Zum Staedtele 'naus, Staedtele 'naus: + Und du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier." + +So engrossed was the lad with his thoughts and with trying to recall the +words of the song running in his head that he heard nothing of a soft +footstep that for several minutes had been stealthily approaching the +fire-lit place where he sat. He knew nothing of the wild eyes that, +peering from a haggard face, were fixed upon him with the glare of +madness. He had no suspicion of the brown rifle-barrel that was slowly +raised until he was covered by its deadly aim. But now he had recalled +all the words of his song, and they rang out strong and clear: + + "Muss i denn, muss i denn + Zum Staedtele 'naus, Staedtele 'naus: + Und du--" + +At that moment there came a great cry behind him: "_Ach, Himmel! Wer ist +denn das?_" and the startled lad sprang to his feet in terror. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +LAID UP FOR REPAIRS + + +About the time when Alaric was pleasantly travelling with his mother in +Germany, Hans Altman, with Gretchen, his wife, and Eittel, his little +daughter, dwelt in a valley of the Harz Mountains. Although Hans was a +poor man, he found plenty of work with which to support his family in +comfort, but he could never forget that his father had been a +burgomeister, and much better off in this world's goods than he. +Thinking of this made him discontented and unhappy, until finally he +determined to sell what little they had and come to America, or, as he +called it, "the land of gold," with the hope of bettering his fortunes. +In vain did Gretchen protest that nowhere in the world could they be so +happy or so well off as in their own land and among their own people. +Even her tears failed to turn him from his purpose. So they came to this +country, and at length drifted to the far-away shores of Puget Sound, +where they stranded, wellnigh penniless, ignorant of the language and +customs of those about them, helpless and forlorn. With the distress of +mind caused by this state of affairs, Hans grew melancholy and +irritable, and when Eittel died he declared that he himself had killed +her. The faithful Gretchen soon followed her little daughter, and with +this terrible blow the poor man's mind gave way entirely. He not only +fancied himself a murderer, but believed officers of the law to be in +pursuit of him, and that if captured he would be hanged. + +Filled with this idea, he fled on the very night of his wife's death, +and having been born among mountains, now instinctively sought in them a +place of refuge. He carried an axe with him, and somewhere procured a +rifle with a plentiful supply of ammunition. Through the vast forest he +made his way far from the haunts of men, ever climbing higher and +penetrating more deeply among the friendly mountains, until finally he +reached a tiny valley, in which he believed himself safe from pursuit. +Here he built a rude hut, and became a hunter of mountain-goats. Their +flesh furnished him with food, their skins with bedding and clothing, +while from their horns he carved many a rude utensil. + +In this way he had lived for nearly two months, when our lost and sorely +perplexed lads stumbled upon his camp, and found in it a haven of +safety. In the peaceful quiet of those mountain solitudes the poor man +had become calmly content with his primitive mode of life, and was even +happy as he recalled how skilfully he had eluded a fancied pursuit, and +how impossible it had now become for those who sought his life to +discover his retreat. + +It was in this frame of mind that, on returning from a long day's hunt +with a body of a goat slung across his back, he saw, to his dismay, that +his hiding-place had been found, and that his camp was occupied by +strangers. Of course they were enemies who were now waiting to kill him. +He would fly so fast and so far that they could never follow. No; better +than that, he would kill them before they were even aware of his +presence. This was a grand idea, and the madman chuckled softly to +himself as it came to him. Laying his dead goat on the ground, and +whispering to it not to be afraid, for he would soon return, the man +crept stealthily forward towards the firelight. At length he spied the +form of what he believed to be one of his pursuers, sitting half hid in +the shadows and doubtless waiting for him. Ha! ha! How disappointed that +enemy would be when he found himself dead! and with a silent chuckle the +madman lifted his rifle. + +At that terrible moment the notes of Alaric's song were borne to him on +the still night air, and then came the words: + + "Muss i denn, muss i denn + + Und du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier." + +It was his Gretchen's song, and those were the very words she had sung +to him so often in their happy Harz Valley home. The uplifted arm +dropped as though palsied, and, like one who hears a voice from the +dead, the man uttered a mighty cry of mingled fear and longing; at the +same moment he stepped into the full glare of firelight and confronted +Alaric, at whom he poured a torrent of questions in German. + +"Who are you? How came you here? What do you want? Have you seen my +Gretchen? Where did you learn to sing '_Muss i denn_'?" + +"In Germany, of course, where everybody sings it," replied Alaric, +answering the last question first, and speaking in the man's own +language. "And I didn't think you would mind if we took possession of +your camp until your return; for, you see, we are in great trouble." + +"_Ach_, no! All who are in trouble should come with me; for I, too, have +many, many troubles," replied the man, his blue eyes losing their fierce +look and filling with tears. "But I never meant to do it. _Gott in +Himmel_ knows I never meant to do it." + +"Of course not," said Alaric, soothingly, anxious to quiet the man's +agitation, and suspecting that his mind was not quite right. "Nobody +thinks you did." + +"Yes, they do, the cruel men who would kill me; but you will stay and +drive them away if they come, will you not? You will be my friend--you, +to whom I can talk with the tongue of the fatherland?" + +"Certainly I will stay and be your friend, if you will help me care for +another friend who lies yonder very ill." + +"_Ja! ja!_ I will help you if you will stay and talk to me of Gretchen, +and sing to me '_Muss i denn_.'" + +"Very good," agreed Alaric. "It is, then, a contract between us." At the +same time he said to himself: "He is a mighty queer-looking chap to have +for a friend; but I suppose there are worse, and I guess I can manage +him. It's a lucky thing I know a little German, though, for he looked +fierce enough to kill me until I began to talk with him." + +The appearance of the man was certainly calculated to inspire +uneasiness, especially when taken in connection with his incoherent +words. He was an immense fellow, with shaggy hair and untrimmed beard. +On his head was perched a ridiculous little cloth cap, while over his +shoulders was flung a cloak of goat-skins, that added greatly to his +appearance of size and general shagginess. His lower limbs were covered +with leggings of the same hairy material. His ordinary expression was +the fierce look of a hunted animal, but now it was softened by the rare +pleasure of meeting one who could talk with him in his own language. + +From that first moment of strange introduction his eagerness to be with +Alaric and induce him to talk was pathetic. To him he poured out all his +sorrows, together with daily protests that he had never meant to kill +his Gretchen and little Eittel. For the sake of this companionship he +was willing to do anything that might add to the comfort of his guests. +He scoured forest and mountain-side in search of game, and rarely +returned empty-handed. He fetched amazing loads of wood on his back, +went on long expeditions after berries, set cunningly devised snares for +ptarmigan, and found ample recompense for all his labor in lying at full +length before the camp-fire at night and talking with Alaric. Bonny he +mistrusted as being one who could speak no German, and only bore with +him for the sake of his friend. + +Nor was he greatly liked by the lad, whose injuries compelled a long +acceptance of his hospitality. "I know he's good to us, and won't let +you do any work that he can help, and all that," Bonny would say; "but +somehow I can't trust him nor like him. He'll play us some mean trick +yet, see if he don't." + +"But he saved our lives; for if we hadn't found his camp we should +certainly have starved to death." + +"That's just it! We found his camp. He didn't find us, and never would +have. Anyhow, he's as crazy as a loon, and will bear a heap of +watching." + +For all this, Bonny did not allow his anxiety to interfere with a speedy +recovery from his injuries, and by the aid of youthful vigor, a splendid +constitution, complete rest, plenty of food, and the glorious mountain +air, his broken bones knit so rapidly that in one month's time he +declared himself to be mended and as good as new. + +Although Alaric insisted that he should carry his arm in a sling for a +while longer, they now began to plan eagerly for a continuance of their +journey down the mountain and a return to civilization. By this time +they were as heartily sick of goat-meat as they had ever been of fish in +Skookum John's camp, tired of the terrible loneliness of their +situation, and, more than all, tired of their enforced idleness, with +nothing to read and little to do. Alaric had beguiled many long hours +with his baseball, which he could now throw with astonishing precision +and catch with either hand in almost any position. As this ball, bought +in San Francisco, was the sole connecting-link between his present and +his former life, it always reminded him of his father, whom he now +longed to see, that he might relieve the anxiety he felt certain Amos +Todd must be suffering on his account. + +The boys often talked of M. Filbert, and wondered what had become of +him. At first Alaric made an earnest effort to induce Hans Altman to go +in search of the Frenchman's camp and notify him of their safety; but +the German became so excitedly angry at the mere mention of such a thing +that he was forced to relinquish the idea. He would gladly have +undertaken the trip himself, but could not leave Bonny. + +Their strange host became equally angry at any mention of their leaving +him, and refused to give any information concerning their present +locality or the nearest point at which other human beings might be +found. Nor did he ever evince the least curiosity as to where they had +come from. It was enough for him that they were there. + +When the time for them to depart drew so near that the boys could talk +of nothing else, Alaric made another effort to gain some information +from the German that would guide their movements, but in vain. He only +succeeded in arousing the man's suspicions to such an extent that he +grew morose, would not leave camp unless Alaric went with him, and +watched furtively every movement that the boys made. Bonny realized +this, and spoke of it to his comrade. "I believe this Dutchman regards +us as his prisoners, and has made up his mind not to allow us to escape +him," he said. But Alaric only laughed, and answered that he guessed +they would get away easy enough whenever they were ready to go. + +The two lads slept at one end of the hut with their host at the other, +and that very night something happened to confirm Bonny's worst fears +and fill him with such horror that he determined never again to sleep +within miles of that vicinity. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +CHASED BY A MADMAN + + +Bonny's bed was nearest the side of the hut, while Alaric lay beyond him +towards its centre. Morning was breaking when the former awoke from a +troubled dream, so filled with a presentiment of impending evil that his +forehead was bathed in a cold perspiration. For the space of a minute he +lay motionless, striving to reassure himself that his terror was without +foundation. All at once he became conscious that some one was talking in +a low tone, and, glancing in that direction, saw the form of their host, +magnified by the dim light into gigantic proportions, bending over +Alaric. The man held an uplifted knife, and was muttering to himself in +German; but at Bonny's cry of horror he leaped to his feet and +disappeared through the doorway. + +"What is the matter?" asked Alaric, sleepily, only half awakened by +Bonny's cry. "Been having bad dreams?" + +"Yes, and a worse reality," answered the other, huskily. "Oh, Rick! he +was going to kill you, and if I hadn't waked when I did we should both +have been dead by this time. He has made up his mind to murder us; I +know he has." + +A minute later Alaric had heard the whole story, and, as excited as +Bonny himself, was hurriedly slipping on his coat and boots. They knew +not which way to go, nor what to do, but both were eager to escape from +the hut into the open, where they might at least have a chance to run in +case of an attack. + +As they emerged from the doorway, casting apprehensive glances in every +direction, Alaric's baseball, that had been left in one of his +coat-pockets the evening before, slipped through a hole in the lining +and fell to the ground. Hardly conscious of what he was doing, the lad +stooped to pick it up. At that same instant came the sharp crack of a +rifle and the "ping" of a bullet that whistled just above his head. + +"He is shooting at us!" gasped Bonny. "Come, quick, before he can +reload." + +Without another word the lads dashed into the clump of trees sheltering +the camp, and down the slope on which it stood. They would have +preferred going the other way, but the rifle-shot had come from that +direction, and so they had no choice. Their movements being at first +concealed by the timber, there was no sign of pursuit until they gained +the open valley and started to cross it. Then came a wild yell from +behind, and they knew that their flight was discovered. + +Breathlessly they sped through the dewy meadow, sadly impeded by its +rank growth of grass and flowers, towards a narrow exit through the wall +bounding its lower end that Alaric had long ago discovered. Through this +a brawling stream made its way, and by means of its foaming channel the +boys hoped to effect an escape. + +As they gained the rocky portal Bonny glanced back and uttered a cry of +dismay, for their late host was in plain view, leaping down the slope +towards the meadow they had just crossed. He was then bent on overtaking +them, and the pursuit had begun in earnest. + +As there was no pathway besides that offered by the bed of the stream, +they were forced to plunge into its icy torrent and follow its +tumultuous course over slippery rocks, through occasional still pools +whose waters often reached to the waist, and down foaming cascades, with +a reckless disregard for life or limb. In this manner they descended +several hundred feet, and when from the bottom they looked up over the +way they had come they felt that they must surely have been upborne by +wings. But there was no time for contemplation, for at that moment a +plunging bowlder from above warned them that their pursuer was already +in the channel. + +Now they were in a forest, not of the giant trees they would find at a +lower altitude, but one of tall hemlocks and alpine-firs, growing with +such density that the panting fugitives could with difficulty force a +way between them. They stumbled over prostrate trunks, slipped on beds +of damp mosses, were clutched by woody fingers, from whose hold their +clothing was torn with many a grievous rent; and, with all their +efforts, made such slow progress that they momentarily expected to be +overtaken. Nor were their fears groundless, for they had not gone half a +mile ere a crashing behind them told that their pursuer was close at +hand. As they exchanged a despairing glance, Bonny said: "The only thing +we can do is hide, for I can't run any farther." + +"Where?" asked Alaric. + +"Here," replied Bonny, diving as he spoke into a bed of ferns. Alaric +followed, and as they flattened themselves to the ground, barely +concealed by the green tips nodding above their backs, the madman leaped +into the space they had just vacated, and stood so close to them that +they could have reached out and touched him. His cap had disappeared, +his hair streamed over his shoulders like a tawny mane; his clothing was +torn, a scratch had streaked his face with blood, and his deep-set eyes +shone with the wild light of insanity. He had flung away his rifle, but +his right hand clutched a knife, keen and long-bladed. The crouching +lads held their breath as he paused for an instant beside them. Then, +uttering a snarling cry, he dashed on, and with cautiously lifted heads +they watched him out of sight. + +"Whew!" ejaculated Bonny, "that was a close call. But I say, Rick, this +business of running away and being chased seems quite like old times, +don't it?" + +"Yes," answered Alaric, with a shuddering sigh of mingled relief and +apprehension, "it certainly does, and this is the worst of all. But what +shall we do now?" + +"I don't know of anything else but to keep right on downhill after going +far enough to one side to give his course a wide berth. I'd like awfully +to have some breakfast, but I wouldn't go back to that camp for it if it +were the only place in the world. I'd about as soon starve as eat +another mouthful of goat, anyway. We are sure to come out somewhere, +though, if we only stick to a downward course long enough." + +So the boys bore to the right, and within a few minutes had the +satisfaction of noting certain gleamings through the trees that +betokened some kind of an opening. Guided by these, they soon came to a +ridge of bowlders and gravel, forming one of the lateral moraines of a +glacier that lay in glistening whiteness beyond. + +"We might as well follow along its edge," suggested Bonny; "for all +these glaciers seem to run downhill, and, bad as the walking is over mud +and rocks, we can make better time here than through the woods." + +They had not gone more than a mile in this fashion, and, believing that +they had successfully eluded their pursuer, were rapidly recovering from +their recent fright, when they were startled by a cry like that of a +wild beast close at hand. Glancing up, they were nearly paralyzed with +terror to see the madman grinning horribly with delight at having +discovered them, and about to rush down the steep slope to where they +stood. + +[Illustration: "THEY WERE PARALYZED WITH TERROR TO SEE THE MADMAN +GRINNING HORRIBLY"] + +There was but an instant of hesitation, and then both lads sprang out on +the rugged surface of the glacier, and made a dash for its far-away +opposite side. It was a dangerous path, slippery, rough beyond +description, and beset with yawning crevasses; but they were willing to +risk all its perils for a slender chance of escaping the certain death +that was speeding towards the place they had just left. If they could +only gain the opposite timber, they might possibly hide as before. It +was a faint hope, but their only one. + +So they ran, slipped, stumbled, took flying leaps over the parted white +lips of narrow crevasses, and made detours to avoid such as were too +wide to be thus spanned. They had no time to look behind, nor any need. +The fierce cries of the madman warned them that he was in hot pursuit +and ever drawing nearer. At one place the ice rang hollow beneath their +feet, and they even fancied that it gave an ominous crack; but they +could not pause to speculate as to its condition. That it was behind +them was enough. + +Ere half the distance was passed they were drawing their breath with +panting sobs, and Bonny, not yet wholly recovered from his illness, +began to lag behind. Noting this, Alaric also slackened his speed; but +his comrade gasped: + +"No, Rick. Don't stop. Save yourself. I'm done for. You can't help me. +Good-bye." + +Thus saying, and too exhausted to run farther, the lad faced about to +meet their terrible pursuer, and struggle with him for a delay that +might aid the escape of his friend. To his amazement, there was no +pursuer, nor in all that white expanse was there a human being to be +seen save themselves. + +At his comrade's despairing words Alaric too had turned, with the +determination of sharing his fate; so they now stood side by side +breathing heavily, and gazing about them in wondering silence. + +"What has become of him?" asked Bonny at length, in an awed tone, but +little above a whisper. + +"I don't know," replied Alaric. "He can't have gone back, for there +hasn't been time. He can't be in hiding, for there is no place in which +he could conceal himself, nor have we passed any crevasse that he could +not leap. But if he has slipped into one! Oh, Bonny! it is too awful to +think of." + +"I heard him only a few seconds ago," said Bonny, in the same awed tone, +"and his voice sounded so close that with each instant I expected to be +in his clutches." + +"Bonny!" exclaimed Alaric, "do you remember a place that sounded +hollow?" + +"Yes." + +"We must go back to it, for I believe he has broken through. If it is in +our power to help him we must do it; if not, we must know what has +happened." + +They had to retrace their steps but a few yards before coming to a +fathomless opening with jagged sides and splintered edges, where the +thin ice that had afforded them a safe passage had given way beneath the +heavier weight of their pursuer. No sound save that of rushing waters +came from the cruel depths, nor was there any sign. + +The boys lingered irresolutely about the place for a few minutes, and +then fled from it as from an impending terror. + +For the remainder of that day, though no longer in dread of pursuit, +they made what speed they might down the mountain-side, following rough +river-beds, threading belts of mighty forest, climbing steep slopes, and +descending others into narrow valleys. + +The sun was near his setting, and our lads were so nigh exhausted that +they had seated themselves on a moss-covered log to rest, when they were +startled by a heavy rending crash that echoed through the listening +forest with a roar like distant thunder. + +The boys looked at each other, and then at what bits of sky they could +see through the far-away tree-tops. It was of unclouded blue, and the +sun was still shining. + +"Rick!" cried Bonny, starting to his feet, "I believe it was a falling +tree." + +"Well?" + +"I mean one that was made to fall by axe and saw." + +"Oh, Bonny!" was all that Alaric could reply; but in another instant he +was leading the way through tall ferns and along the stately forest +aisles in the direction from which had come the mighty crash. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +A GANG OF FRIENDLY LOGGERS + + +A perfect day of early September was drawing to its close, and the gang +of loggers belonging to Camp No. 10 of the Northwest Lumber Company, +which operated in the vast timber belt clothing the northern flanks of +Mount Rainier, were about to knock off work. From earliest morning the +stately forest, sweet-scented with the odors of resin, freshly cut +cedar, and crushed ferns, had resounded with their shouts and laughter, +the ring of their axes, the steady swish of saws, and the crash of +falling trees. To one familiar only with Eastern logging, where summer +is a time of idleness, and everything depends on the snows of winter, +followed by the high waters of spring, the different methods of these +Northwestern woodsmen would be matters of constant surprise. Their work +goes on without a pause from year's end to year's end. There is no +hauling on sleds, no vast accumulations of logs on the ice of rivers or +lakes, no river driving, no mighty jams to be cleared at imminent risk +of life and limb--nothing that is customary in the East. Even the mode +of cutting down trees is different. + +The choppers--or "fallers," as they are called in the Northwest--do not +work, as do their brethren of Maine or Wisconsin, from the ground, +wielding their axes first on one side and then on the other until the +tree falls. The girth of the mighty firs and cedars of that country is +so great at ordinary chopping height that two men working in that way +would not bring down more than two trees in a day, instead of the ten or +a dozen required of them. So, by means of what are known as +"spring-boards," they gain a height of eight or ten feet, and then begin +operations. + +The ingenious contrivances that enable them to do this are narrow boards +of tough vine maple, five or six feet long, and about one foot wide. +Each is armed at its inner end with a sharp steel spur affixed to its +upper side. This end being thrust into a notch opened in the tree some +four feet below where the cut is to be made, the weight of a man on its +outer end causes the spur to bite deep into the wood, and to hold the +board firmly in place. + +Having determined the direction in which the tree shall fall, and fixed +their spring-boards accordingly, two "fallers" mount them, and chop out +a deep under cut on the side that is to lie undermost. They work with +double-bitted or two-edged axes, and can so truly guide the fall by +means of the under cut that they are willing to set a stake one hundred +feet away and guarantee that the descending trunk shall drive it into +the ground. With the under cut chopped out to their satisfaction, they +remove their spring-boards to the opposite side, and finish the task +with a long, two-handled, coarse-toothed saw. + +As the mighty tree yields up its life and comes to the ground with a +grand, far-echoing crash, it is set upon by "buckers" (who saw its great +trunk into thirty-foot lengths), barkers, rigging-slingers, +hand-skidders, and teamsters, whose splendid horses, aided by tackle of +iron blocks and length of wire-rope, drag it out to the "skid-road." +This is a cleared and rudely graded track, set with heavy cross-ties, +over which the logs may slide, and it is provided with wire cables, +whose half-mile lengths are operated by stationary engines. By this +means "turns" of five or six of the huge logs, chained one behind the +other, are hauled down the winding skid-road through gulch and valley, +to a distant railway landing. There they are loaded on a long train of +heavy flat cars that departs every night for the mills on Puget Sound. +Here the sawed lumber is run aboard waiting ships, and sent in them to +all ports on both shores of the Pacific. + +So wastefully extravagant are the lumbermen of Washington that only the +finest trees are cut, and only that portion of the trunk which is free +from limbs is made into logs. All the remainder, or nearly half of each +tree, is left on the ground where it fell. Here it slowly decays, or, +turned into tinder, catches fire from some chance spark and leaps into a +sea of flame that sweeps resistlessly through the forest, destroying in +one day more timber than has been cut in a year. + +Thus, while thoughtless and ignorant persons declare the timber supply +of the Northwest to be inexhaustible, others, who have carefully studied +the subject, do not hesitate to say that within fifty years, at the +present rate of reckless destruction, the magnificent forests of +Washington will have disappeared forever. + +Such questions were far from troubling the light-hearted gang of loggers +whom we have just discovered in the act of quitting work for the day. If +any one of them were to be asked how long he thought the noble forests +from which he earned a livelihood would last, he would answer: + +"Oh, I don't know and don't care. They will last as long as I do, and +that's long enough for me." + +They were laughing and joking, lighting their pipes, picking up tools, +and beginning to straggle towards the road that led to camp, when +suddenly big Buck Ranlet, the head "faller," who was keener of hearing +than any of his mates, called out: + +"Hush up, fellows, and listen! I thought I heard a yell off there in the +timber." + +In the silence that followed they all heard a cry, faint and distant, +but so filled with distress that there was no mistaking its import. + +"There's surely somebody in trouble!" cried Ranlet. "Lost like as not. +Anyway, they are calling to us for help, and we can't go back on 'em. So +come on, men. You teamsters stay here with your horses, and give us a +yell every now and then, so we can come straight back; for even we don't +want to fool round much in these woods after dark. Hello, you out there! +Locate yourselves!" + +"Hello! Help!" came back faintly but clearly. + +"All right! We're coming! Cheer up!" + +So the calling and answering was continued for nearly ten minutes, while +the rescuing party, full of curiosity and good-will, plunged through the +gathering gloom, over logs and rocks, through beds of tall ferns and +banks of moss, in which they sank above their ankles, until they came at +length to those whom they were seeking--two lads, one standing and +calling to them, the other lying silent and motionless, where he had +fallen in a dead faint from utter exhaustion. + +"You see," explained Alaric, apologetically, half sobbing with joy at +finding himself once more surrounded by friendly faces, "he has been +very ill, and we've had a hard day, with nothing to eat. So he gave out. +I should have too, but just then I heard the sound of chopping, and knew +the light was shining, and--and--" Here the poor tired lad broke down, +sobbing hysterically, and trying to laugh at the same time. + +"There! there, son!" exclaimed Buck Ranlet, soothingly, but with a +suspicious huskiness in his voice. "Brace up, and forget your troubles +as quick as you can; for they're all over now, and you sha'n't go hungry +much longer. But where did you say you came from?" + +"The top of the mountain." + +"Not down the north side?" + +"Yes." + +"Great Scott! you are the first ever did it, then. How long have you +been on the way?" + +"I don't know exactly, but something over a month." + +"The poor chap's mind is wandering," said the big man to one of his +companions; "for no one ever came down the north side alive, and no one +could spend a whole month doing it, anyway. I've often heard, though, +that folks went crazy when they got lost in the woods." + +The men took turns, two at a time, in carrying Bonny, and Buck Ranlet +himself assisted Alaric, until, guided by the shouts of the teamsters, +they reached the point from which they had started. + +By this time Bonny had regained consciousness, and was wondering, in a +dazed fashion, what had happened. "Is it all right, Rick?" he asked, as +his comrade bent anxiously over him. + +"Yes, old man, it's all right; and the light I told you of is shining +bright and clear at last." + +"Queer, isn't it, how the poor lad's mind wanders?" remarked Ranlet to +one of the men. "He thinks he sees a bright light, while I'll swear no +one has so much as struck a match. We must hustle, now, and get 'em to +camp. Do you think you feel strong enough to set straddle of a horse, +son?" he asked of Alaric. + +"Yes, indeed," answered the boy, cheerfully. "I feel strong enough for +anything now." + +"Good for you! That's the talk! Give us a foot and let me h'ist you up. +Why, lad, you're mighty nigh barefooted! No wonder you didn't find the +walking good. Here, Dick, you lead the horse, while I ride Sal-lal and +carry the little chap." + +Thus saying, the big man vaulted to the back of the other horse, and, +reaching down, lifted Bonny up in front of him as though he had been a +child. + +Camp was a mile or more away, and as the brawny loggers escorted their +unexpected guests to it down the winding skid-road, they eagerly +discussed the strange event that had so suddenly broken the monotony of +their lives, though, with a kind consideration, they refrained from +asking Alaric any more questions just then. + +"Hurry on, some of you fellows," shouted Ranlet, "and light up my shack, +for these chaps are going to bunk in with me to-night. I claim 'em on +account of being the first to hear 'em, you know. Start a fire in the +square, too, so's the place will look cheerful." + +No one will ever know how cheerful and home-like and altogether +delightful that logging camp did look to our poor lads after their long +and terrible experience of the wilderness, for they could never +afterwards find words to express what they felt on coming out of the +darkness into its glowing firelight and hearty welcome. + +"Stand back, men, and give us a show!" shouted Ranlet, as they drew up +before his own little "shack," built of split cedar boards. "This isn't +any funeral; same time it ain't no circus parade, and we want to get in +out of the cold." + +The entire population of the camp, including the cook and his +assistants, the blacksmith with his helper, and the stable-boys, as well +as the logging gang, were gathered, full of curiosity to witness the +strange arrival. Besides these there were Linton, the boss, with his +wife, who was the only woman in that section of country. Her pity was +instantly aroused for Bonny, and when he had been tenderly placed in +Buck Ranlet's own bunk, she insisted on being allowed to feed and care +for him. She would gladly have done the same for Alaric, but he +protested that he was perfectly well able to feed himself, and was only +longing for the chance. + +"Of course you are, lad!" cried the big "faller," heartily, "and you +sha'n't go hungry a minute longer. So just you come on with me and the +rest of the gang over to Delmonico's." + +The place thus designated was a low but spacious building of logs, +containing the camp kitchen and mess-room. Ranlet sat at the head of the +long table, built of hewn cedar slabs, and laden with smoking dishes. +Alaric was given the place of honor at his right hand, and the rest of +the rough, hearty crowd ranged themselves on rude benches at either +side. + +The plates and bowls were of tin; the knives, forks, and spoons were +iron; but how luxurious it all seemed to the guest of the occasion! How +wonderfully good everything tasted, and how the big man beside him +heaped his plate with pork and beans, potatoes swimming in gravy, boiled +cabbage, fresh bread cut in slices two inches thick, and actually butter +to spread on it! After these came a huge pan of crullers and dozens of +dried-apple pies. + +How anxiously the men watched him eat, how often they pushed the tin can +of brown sugar towards him to make sure that his bowl of milkless tea +should be sufficiently sweetened, and how pleased they were when he +passed his plate for a second helping of pie! + +"You'll do, lad; you'll do!" shouted Buck Ranlet, delighted at this +evidence that the camp cookery was appreciated. "You've been brought up +right, and taught to know a good thing when you see it. I can tell by +the way you eat." + +After supper Alaric was conducted to a blanket-covered bench near the +big fire outside, and allowed to relate the outline of his story to an +audience that listened with intense interest, and then he was put to bed +beside Bonny, who was already fast asleep. When Buck Ranlet picked up +his guest's coat, that had fallen to the floor, and a baseball rolled +from one of its pockets, the big logger exclaimed, softly: + +"Bless the lad! He's a genuine out-and-out boy, after all! To think of +his travelling through the mountains with no outfit but a baseball! If +that isn't boy all over, then I don't know!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +IN A NORTHWEST LOGGING CAMP + + +The next day being Sunday, the camp lay abed so late that when Alaric +awoke from his long night of dreamless sleep the sun was more than an +hour high, and streaming full into the open doorway of Buck Ranlet's +shack. For nearly a minute the boy lay motionless, striving to recall +what had happened and where he was. Then, as it all came to him, and he +realized that he had escaped from the mountain, with its terrors, its +cold, and its hunger, and had reached a place of safety, good-will, and +plenty, he heaved a deep sigh of content. His sigh was echoed by another +close beside him, and then Bonny's voice said: + +"I'm so glad you are awake, Rick, for I want you to tell me all about +it. I've been trying to puzzle it out for myself, but can't be really +sure whether I know anything about last night or only dreamed it all. +Didn't somebody get us something to eat?" + +"I should say they did!" rejoined Alaric. "And not only something to +eat, but one of the finest suppers I ever sat down to. Don't you +remember the baked beans, and the apple-pie, and--Oh no, I forgot; you +weren't there; and, by-the-way, how do you feel this morning?" + +"Fine as a fiddle," replied Bonny, briskly; "and all ready for those +baked beans and pie; for somehow I don't seem to remember having +anything so good as those." + +"I don't believe you did," laughed Alaric, springing from the bunk as he +spoke; "for I'm afraid they only gave you gruel and soup, or tea and +toast." + +"Then no wonder I'm hungry," said Bonny, indignantly, as he too began to +dress, "and no wonder I want beans and things. But, I say, Rick, what a +tough-looking specimen you are, anyway!" + +"I hope I'm not so tough-looking as you," retorted the other, "for you'd +scare a scarecrow." + +Then the two boys scanned each other's appearance with dismay. How could +they ever venture outside and among people in the tattered, soiled, and +fluttering garments which were their sole possessions in the way of +clothing? Even their boots had worn away, until there was little left of +them but the uppers. Their hats had been lost during their flight +through the forest, their hair was long and unkempt, while their coats +and trousers were so rent and torn that the wonder was how they ever +held together. As they realized how utterly disreputable they did look, +both boys began to laugh; for they were too light-hearted that morning +to remain long cast down over trifles like personal appearance. At this +sound of merriment Buck Ranlet's good-humored face, covered with lather, +appeared in the doorway, and at sight of the ragged lads he too joined +in their laughter. + +"You are tramps, that's a fact!" he cried. "Toughest kind, too; such as +I'd never dared take in if I'd seen you by a good light. Never mind, +though," he added, consolingly; "looks are mighty easy altered, and +after breakfast we'll fix you up in such style that you won't recognize +yourselves." + +Bonny had baked beans and pie that morning as well as Alaric, for the +fare at that logger's mess-table, bountiful as it was, never varied. +After breakfast the boys found their first chance to take a good look +at the camp, which consisted of nearly twenty buildings, set in the form +of a square beside the skid-road, in a clearing filled with tall stumps +of giant firs and mammoth cedars. The two largest buildings were the +combined mess-hall and kitchen and the sleeping-quarters, containing +tiers of bunks, one for each man employed. Then came the store, which +held a small stock of clothing, boots, tobacco, pipes, knives, and other +miscellaneous articles. Close beside it stood Mr. Linton's house, built +of squared logs. In its windows both curtains and a few potted plants +showed that here dwelt the only woman of the camp. The blacksmith-shop, +engine-house, close beside the skid-road, and the stables beyond +completed the list of the company's buildings. All the others were +little single-room shacks, built in leisure moments by such of the men +as preferred having something in the shape of a house to sleeping in the +public dormitory. + +These tiny dwellings were constructed of sweet-smelling cedar boards, +split from splendid great logs, absolutely straight-grained and free +from knots. Walls, roof, floor, and rude furniture were all made of the +same beautiful wood. Some of the shacks had stone chimneys roughly +plastered with clay, others boasted small porches, and one or two had +both. Buck Ranlet's had the largest porch of any, with the added +adornment of climbing vines. This porch also contained seats, and was +considered very elegant; but every one knew that the head "faller" was +engaged to be married to a girl "back East," and said that was the +reason he had built so fine a house. Having little else to amuse them, +the men who put up these shacks labored over them with as much pleasure +as so many boys with their cubby-houses. + +Many of the men were anxious to hear a more detailed account of our +lads' recent adventures, but Buck Ranlet said: + +"Call round this afternoon. We've got something else on hand just now." + +When they returned to his picturesque little dwelling the big man led +the way inside, closed the door, and said: + +"Now, lads, sit down, and let's talk business. What do you propose to do +next?" + +"I don't think we know," responded Alaric. + +"Do you want to go to Tacoma or Seattle?" + +"I don't know why we should. We haven't any friends in either place, nor +any money to live on while we look for work." + +"None at all?" + +"Not one cent. There's a month's wages due us from the Frenchman who +hired us to go up the mountain, but I suppose he has left this part of +the country long ago." + +"I suppose he has; and you certainly are playing to such hard luck that +I don't see as you can do any better than stay right here. If you are +willing to work at whatever offers, I shouldn't wonder if the boss could +find something for you to do. At any rate, he might give you a chance to +earn a suit of clothes, and feed you while you were doing it." + +"I think we'd be only too glad to stay here and work," replied +Alaric--"wouldn't we, Bonny?" + +"Yes, I think we would, only I hope we can earn some money. I've worked +without wages so long now that it is growing very monotonous." + +"Well, I'll tell you what," said Ranlet: "You two stay right here while +I go over and see the boss." + +A few minutes later the big man returned with beaming face, and +announced that Mr. Linton had consented to take them both on trial, and +had promised to find something for them to do in the morning. Moreover, +they were to go down to the store at once, pick out the things they +needed, and have them charged to their account. + +All this Buck Ranlet told them; but he did not add that he had been +obliged to pledge his own wages for whatever bill they should run up at +the store, in case they should fail to work it out. The big-hearted +"faller" was willing to do this, for he had taken a great fancy to the +lads, and especially to Alaric. "That chap may be poor," he said, "and I +reckon he is; but he's honest--so are they both, for that matter; and +when a boy is honest, he can't help showing it in his face." These +preliminaries being happily settled, he said, "Now let's get right down +to business; and the first thing to be done is to let me cut your hair +before you buy any hats." + +The boys agreeing that this was necessary, the operation was performed +with neatness and despatch; for the big "faller" was equally expert at +cutting hair or trees. + +Then they went to the store, where Alaric and Bonny selected complete +outfits of coarse but serviceable clothing, including hats and boots, to +the amount of fifteen dollars each. + +"Now for a scrub," suggested Ranlet; "and I reckon I need one as much as +you do." With this he led his _proteges_ to a quiet pool in the creek +just back of camp. + +When at noon the boys presented themselves at the mess-room door, so +magical was the transformation effected by shears, soap and water, and +their new clothing, that not a man in the place recognized them, and +they had to be reintroduced to the whole jovial crowd, greatly to Buck +Ranlet's delight. By a very natural mistake he introduced Alaric, whom +he had only heard called "Rick," as Mr. Richard Dale, and the boy did +not find an opportunity for correcting the error just then. + +Later in the day, however, when most of the camp population were +gathered in front of Ranlet's shack listening with great interest to the +lads' account of their recent experiences, one of them addressed him as +"Richard," whereupon he explained that his name was not Richard, but +Alaric. + +"Alaric?" quoth Buck Ranlet; "that's a queer name, and one I never heard +before. It's a strong-sounding name too, and one that just fits such a +hearty, active young fellow as you. I should pick out an Alaric every +time for the kind of a chap to come tumbling down a mountain-side where +no one had ever been before. But where did your folks find the name, +son?" + +"I'll tell you," replied Alaric, flushing with pleasure at hearing that +said of him for which he had secretly longed ever since he could +remember; "but first I want to say that it was Bonny Brooks who showed +me how to come down the mountain, and but for him I should certainly +have perished up there in the snow." + +"Hold on!" cried Bonny. "Gentlemen, I assure you that but for Rick Dale +I should have had the perishing contract all in my own hands." + +"I expect you are a well-mated team," laughed Ranlet, "and I am willing +to admit that for whatever comes tumbling down a mountain there couldn't +be a better name than Bonny Brooks. But now let's have the yarn." + +So Alaric told them all he could remember of the mighty Visigoth who +invaded Italy at the head of his barbarian host, became master of the +world by conquering Rome when the Eternal City was at the height of its +magnificence, and whose tomb was built in the bed of a river +temporarily turned aside for the purpose. + +The rough audience grouped about him listened to the tale of a long-ago +hero with flattering interest, and when it was ended declared it to be a +rattling good yarn, at the same time begging for more of the same kind. +Alaric's head was crammed with such stories, for he had always delighted +in them, and now he was only too glad of an opportunity to repay in some +measure the kindly hospitality of the camp. So for an hour or more he +related legends of Old World history, and still older mythology, all of +which were as new to his hearers as though now told for the first time. +Finally he paused, covered with confusion at finding Mr. and Mrs. Linton +standing among his auditors, and waiting for a chance to invite him and +Bonny to tea. + +From that time forth Alaric's position as storyteller was established, +and there was rarely an evening during his stay in the camp, where books +were almost unknown, that he was not called upon to entertain an +interested group gathered about its after-supper open-air fire. + +Mr. Linton questioned the boys closely as to their capacity for work +while they were at tea with him, and finally said: "I think I can find +places for both of you, if you are willing to work for one dollar a day. +You, Brooks, I shall let 'tend store and help me with my accounts until +your arm gets stronger, while I think I shall place your friend in +charge of one of the hump-durgins." + +"What is that, sir?" asked Alaric. + +"What's what?" + +"A hump-durgin." + +"Oh! Don't you know? Well, you'll find out to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +WHAT IS A HUMP-DURGIN? + + +When the boys returned to Buck Ranlet's shack, which he had insisted +they should share with him until they could build one of their own, the +first question Alaric asked was in regard to his new employment. + +"What is a hump-durgin?" + +"Ho, ho! With all your learning, don't you know what a hump-durgin is? +Well, I am surprised, for it's one of the commonest things. Still, if +you don't really know, I'll tell you. A genuine hump-durgin is a sort of +a cross betwixt a boat and a mule." + +"A boat and a mule?" repeated Alaric, more perplexed than ever. + +"That's what I said. You see, it is something like a boat. I might say a +steamboat, or perhaps a canal-boat would be more like it, and it is +always sailing back and forth. It often rolls and pitches like it was in +a heavy sea; but at the same time it lives on dry land and never goes +near the water. It also rears and bucks, and jumps from side to side, +and tries its best to throw its rider, same as a mule does, and it +wouldn't look unlike one if it only had legs, and a tail, and ears, and +hair, and a bray." + +"Humph!" interposed Bonny, who had been an interested listener to this +vague description of a hump-durgin. "A log of wood might look like a +mule if it had all those things." + +"Right you are, son! A log of wood might look like a mule, and then +again it mightn't. Same time I've often thought that some hump-durgins +wasn't much better than logs of wood, after all. Anyway, now that I've +described the critter so that you know all about him, you can see why +the boss has decided to put our young friend here in charge of one." + +"I'm sure I can't," said Alaric, more puzzled than ever. + +"Because of your experience with both mules and boats," laughed the big +"faller" teasingly, and that was all the satisfaction the boys could get +from him that night. + +The next morning, bright and early, the occupants of the camp scattered +to their respective duties: the loggers trudging up the skid-road and +deep into the forest, there to resume their work of converting trees +into logs; the loading-gang going in the opposite direction, to the +distant railway landing, where they would spend the day loading logs on +to flat cars; the engineers with their firemen to their respective +engines; the road-gang up to the head of a side gulch where they were +constructing a branch skid-road; the blacksmiths to their ringing +anvils; Bonny to the store, where he was to take an account of stock; +and Alaric, in company with the man whose place he was to fill, after +receiving from him half a day's instruction in his new duties, to make +the acquaintance of his hump-durgin. They went a short distance down the +skid-road to where one of the relay engines was winding in a half-mile +length of wire cable over a big steel drum. This cable stretched its +shining length up the gulch and out of sight around a bend. Near the +engine-house, and at one edge of the skid-road, was a little siding, or +dock, protected by a heavy sheer-skid. In it lay what looked like a log +canoe, sharp pointed at both ends, and having a flat bottom. + +"There," said Alaric's guide, "is your hump-durgin." + +"That thing!" exclaimed the lad, gazing at the canoe-like object +curiously. "But I thought a hump-durgin went by steam?" + +"So it does," laughed the man, "when it goes at all. Just wait a minute, +and you'll see." + +Almost as he spoke there came a sound of bumping and sliding from up the +skid-road, and directly afterwards the end of an enormous log came into +sight around the bend, drawn by the cable the engine was winding in. As +this log rounded the bend and came directly towards them, another was +seen to be chained to it, then another, and another, until the "turn" +was seen to contain five of the woody monsters. Attached to the rear end +of the last log came another hump-durgin, in which a man was seated, and +to the after end of which was fastened a second wire cable that +stretched away for half a mile to the next engine above. + +Every log was made fast to the one ahead of it by two short chains, each +of which was armed at either end with a heavy steel spur having a sharp +point and a flat head. These are called "dogs," and, driven deep into +the logs, bind them together. The hump-durgin was also attached to the +rear log by a chain and "dog," and one of the principal duties of a +hump-durgin man is to see that none of these dogs pulls out. + +As the "turn" of logs stopped just above the station, the man who had +come with them knocked out his hump-durgin dog, while the man with +Alaric disconnected the cable that had drawn the logs down to that +point, and hooked on the upper end of another that stretched away out +of sight down the road. Then he waved to the engineer, who telephoned to +the next station down the line, and at the same time to the one above. +In another minute the hump-durgin that had just arrived was being pulled +back by its cable over the way it had come, and the "turn" of logs was +drawn forward by the new cable just attached to them. When the rear end +of the last log was passing Alaric's hump-durgin, the man with him +hammered its "dog" into the wood, the chain straightened with a jerk, +and the novel craft was under way. As it started, both the man and +Alaric jumped in, and away they went, bumping and sliding down the +skid-road, slewing around corners that were protected by sheer-skids, +and dragging behind them a half-mile length of cable attached to the +after end of their craft. + +In this way they were dragged half a mile down the gulch to a second +engine station, where a new relay of cable with a third hump-durgin +awaited the logs, and from which their own craft, laden with the chains +and dogs just brought up from below, was dragged back uphill to the +station from which they had started. + +Every now and then on their downward trip the man jumped from the +hump-durgin, and, maul in hand, ran along the whole length of the +"turn," giving a tap here and there to the "dogs" to make sure that none +of them was working loose. As the cables were only speeded to about four +miles an hour, he could readily do this; but after he had thus examined +one side he had to wait until the whole turn passed him, and then run +ahead to examine the other. Alaric asked why he did not run on the logs +themselves, and, by thus examining both sides at the same time, save +half his work. + +"Because I ain't that kind of a fool," replied the man. "There is them +as does it; but a chap has to be surer-footed and spryer than I be to +ride the logs, 'specially when they're slewing round corners. I reckon, +though, from all I hear of you, that you'll be jest one of the kind to +try it on; and all I can say is, I hope you'll be let off light when it +comes your time to be flung. Some gets killed, and others only comes +nigh it." + +The hump-durgin man at the lower relay station followed the first "turn" +of logs to the railway landing, and then went back to the extreme upper +end of the skid-road. With the second "turn" Alaric and his instructor +did the same thing. The next man above him followed the third "turn" to +its destination, while the man farthest up of all travelled the whole +length of the road with the fourth "turn," covering its two miles in +four different hump-durgins; and at length Alaric had a chance to do the +same thing. Thus each hump-durgin driver became familiar with every +section of the road, and made six round trips a day. + +At noon of that first day Alaric's instructor in the art of navigating a +hump-durgin bade him "so long," and left him in sole command of the +clumsy craft. The man had no sooner gone than his pupil began practising +the science of log-riding, and before night he had triumphantly ridden +the whole length of the road mounted on the backs of his unwieldy +charges. To be sure, he sat down most of the way, and was thrown twice +when attempting to walk the length of the "turn" while it was slewing +around corners. Fortunately he escaped each time with nothing more +serious than a few bruises, and that night he drove a number of hobnails +into the soles of his boots. These afforded him so good a hold on the +rough bark that he was never again flung, and within a week had become +so expert a log-rider that he could keep his feet over the worst "slews" +on the road. + +The hump-durgins brought up many things from the railway landing besides +chains and "dogs," for they were the sole conveyances by which supplies +of any kind could reach the camp. It often happened that they carried +passengers as well, and in this respect running a hump-durgin was, as +Alaric said, very much like driving a stage-coach--a thing that he had +always longed to do. + +Bonny was so envious of his comrade's job that on that very first day he +made application for the next hump-durgin vacancy, and two weeks later +was filled with delight at receiving the coveted appointment. + +By the time that both our lads became hump-durgin boys they were living +in their own shack, which stood just beyond Buck Ranlet's, and which +nearly every man in camp had helped them to build. So proud were they of +this tiny dwelling that they nearly doubled their bill at the store in +procuring bedding and other furnishings for it. + +Although thus amply provided with rude comforts, or, as Bonny expressed +it, "surrounded with all the luxuries of life," Alaric fully realized +that it would soon be time to exchange this mode of living for another. +He knew that he owed a duty to his father, as well as to the station of +life into which he had been born; and, having proved to his own +satisfaction that he was equally strong with other boys, and as well +able to fight his way through the world, he was more than willing to +return to his own home. Now that he felt competent to hold his own, +physically as well as mentally, with others of his age, he was filled +with a desire to go to college. On talking the matter over with Bonny he +found that the latter cherished similar aspirations, the only difference +being that the young sailor's longing was for a mechanical rather than +a classical education. "Though, of course," said Bonny, with a sigh, "I +shall always have to take it out in wishing, for I shall never have +money enough to carry me through a school of any kind, or at least not +until I am too old to go." + +At this Alaric only smiled, and bade his comrade keep on hoping, for +there was no telling when something might turn up. As he said this he +made up his mind that if ever he went to college Bonny should at the +same time go to one of the best scientific schools of the country. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +ALARIC AND BONNY AGAIN TAKE TO FLIGHT + + +For a full month had our hump-durgin boys occupied the little +cedar-built shack, which now seemed to them so much a home that it was +difficult to realize they had ever known any other. By this time, too, +they were exercising a very decided influence upon the character of the +camp into whose life they had been so unexpectedly thrown. Light-hearted +Bonny, with his cheery face and abounding good-nature, was as full of +amusing pranks as a young colt, and from every group that he joined +shouts of merriment were certain to arise within a few minutes. Thus +Bonny was very popular and always in demand. Nor was Alaric less so, for +he could tell so much concerning strange foreign countries and relate so +many curious Old World tales, that there was rarely an evening that he +was not called upon for something of the kind. He so often said that +most of his stories could be found in certain books, related a thousand +times better than he could tell them, that in the breasts of many of his +hearers he aroused a real longing for books, and a wider knowledge than +they could ever acquire without them. + +At the same time Alaric was not only appreciated for what he knew, but +for what he could do. No one in camp could ride a "turn" of logs, +swaying, bumping, and sliding down the skid-road, with such perfect +confidence and easy grace as he. Only one of them all could outrun him, +and none could catch or throw a baseball with the certainty and +precision that he exhibited, although ever since Buck Ranlet discovered +the ball in his young guest's coat-pocket the camp had practised with it +during all odd moments of daylight. + +So our lads made friends with and knew the personal history of every +occupant of the camp save one, and he was its boss. Since the night on +which they had taken tea in his house Mr. Linton had hardly spoken to +either of them; nor did he ever join with the men in their evening +gatherings to listen to Bonny's jokes or Alaric's tales. At first they +noticed this, and wondered what reason he had for avoiding them; but +they soon learned that it was only his way, and that he never talked +with any of the men except on matters of business. Buck Ranlet said it +was because he was a deputy United States marshal, and didn't know when +he might be called on to arrest any one of them for some offence against +the government. + +With all their present popularity the boys were growing weary of the +monotonous life they were leading, of their good-natured but rough and +narrow-minded associates, and of the deadly sameness of the food served +three times a day in the dingy mess-room. They also dreaded the +approaching winter, with its days and weeks of rain, during which the +work of getting out logs for the insatiable mills down on the Sound must +keep on without a moment of interruption. They listened with dismay to +tales of loggers who had not known the feeling of dry clothing for weeks +at a time; of "turns" of logs rushing down skid-roads slippery with wet, +like roaring avalanches of timber, threatening destruction to everything +in their course; and of long, dreary winter evenings when the steady +downpour forbade camp-fires and prevented all social out-of-door +gatherings. + +In view of these things, Alaric was determined that the end of another +month, or such time as his wages should be paid, should see him on his +way to San Francisco and home. He did not anticipate any difficulty in +persuading Bonny to go with him, for that young man had already remarked +that while hump-durgin riding was fun up to a certain point, he should +hate to do it for the remainder of his life. Oh yes, Bonny would go, of +course; and Alaric's only fear was that his father might not take a +fancy to the lad, or hold the same views regarding his future that he +did. Still, that was a matter which would arrange itself somehow, if +they could only reach San Francisco, and the "poor rich boy" now began +to long as eagerly for the time to come when he might return to his home +as he once had for an opportunity to leave it. + +One day, when matters stood thus, a stranger, past middle age, shabbily +dressed, and wearing a peculiarly dilapidated hat, appeared at the +railway log-landing, and asked Bonny, whose hump-durgin happened to be +there at the time, permission to ride with him to the end of the +skid-road. With a sympathetic glance at the man's forlorn appearance, +Bonny answered: + +"Certainly, sir; you may ride with me all day if you like, and I shall +be glad of your company." + +Thanking the lad, the stranger seated himself in the hump-durgin; and +after he had been warned to hold on tight and watch out for "slews," the +upward journey was begun. At one of the upper relay stations they waited +for a descending "turn" of logs to pass them. Here the stranger visited +the engine-house, and while he was talking with the engineer they came +in sight. Alaric, who happened to be in charge, was at that moment +walking easily forward along the backs of the swaying logs, presenting +as fine a specimen of youthful agility, strength, and perfect health as +one could wish to encounter. He was clad in jean trousers tucked into +boot-legs and belted about his waist; a blue flannel shirt, with a black +silk kerchief knotted at the throat, and a black slouch hat. + +"Isn't that extremely dangerous?" asked the stranger, regarding the +approaching lad with a curious interest. + +"Not for him it isn't, though it might be for some; but Dick Dale is so +level-headed and sure-footed that there isn't his equal for riding logs +in this outfit, nor, I don't believe, in any other," answered the +engineer. + +"What did you say his name was?" asked the stranger, with his gaze still +fixed on Alaric. + +"Dale--Richard Dale," replied the engineer, who had never happened to +hear the boy's real name. "Why? Do you think you know him?" + +"No. I don't know any one of that name; but the lad's resemblance to +another whom I used to know is certainly very striking." + +"Yes. It's funny how often people look alike who have never been within +a thousand miles of each other," remarked the engineer, carelessly, as +he stepped to the signal-box. In another minute Alaric had passed out of +sight, while Bonny and the stranger had resumed their upward journey. + +That evening Alaric remarked to his chum, "I noticed you had a passenger +to-day." + +"Yes," replied Bonny. "Seedy-looking chap, wasn't he; but one of the +nicest old fellows I ever met. Never saw any one take such an interest +in everything. I suspected what he was after, though, and finally we got +so friendly that I asked him right out if he wasn't looking for work." + +"Was he?" + +"Yes. He hesitated at first, and looked at me to see if I was joking, +and then owned up that he was hunting for something to do. I felt mighty +sorry for him, 'cause I know how it is myself; but I had to tell him +there wasn't a living show in this camp just now. He seemed mightily +taken with our shack here, and said he once had a house just like it, in +which he passed the happiest time of his life, but he was afraid he'd +never have another. I invited him to stay with us a few days if he +wanted to--just while he was looking for a job, you know--but he said he +guessed he'd better go on to some other camp. You'd been willing, +wouldn't you?" + +"Certainly," replied Alaric. "I've already been in hard luck enough to +be mighty glad of a chance to help any other fellow who's in the same +fix, especially an old man; for they don't have half the show that young +fellows do." + +"I told him you'd feel that way," exclaimed Bonny, triumphantly; "and he +said if there were more like us in the world it would be a happier place +to live in, but that he guessed he'd manage to scrape along somehow a +while longer without becoming a burden to others. I did insist on his +taking a hat, though." + +"A hat?" + +"Yes. We were down at the store, and he was asking the price of things, +and looking around so wistful that I couldn't help getting him a new hat +and having it charged; for the one he wore wasn't any good at all. He +hated to take it, but I insisted, and finally he said he would if I'd +keep his old one and let him redeem it some time. Of course I said I +would, just to satisfy him, and here it is." + +Alaric looked carelessly at the dilapidated hat as he said: "It was a +first-class thing to do, Bonny, and I only wish I had been here to give +him something at the same time. But, hello! this is a Paris hat, and +hasn't been worn very long, either. I wonder how he ever got hold of it? +Never mind, though; hang it up for luck, and to remind me to do +something for the next poor chap who comes along. By-the-way, I heard +to-day that the president of the company was in Tacoma, on his way to +make an inspection of all the camps." + +"Yes," replied Bonny. "They say he is an awful swell, too, and I heard +that he was coming in his private car. I only hope he is, and that I can +get a chance to look at it, for I have never seen a private car. Have +you?" + +"One or two," answered Alaric, with a smile. + +At noon of the following day, while a fifteen-minute game of baseball +was in progress after dinner, the boss of Camp No. 10 received a note +from the president of the company, requesting him to report immediately +in person at Tacoma, and bring with him the two hump-durgin boys Dale +and Brooks. + +Mr. Linton, being a man who kept his own business to himself as much as +possible, merely called our lads and bade them follow him. Of course +this order broke up the game they were playing, and as they hastened +after the boss, Bonny, in whose hands the baseball happened to be, +thrust it into one of his pockets. Although curious to know why they +were thus summoned, the boys learned nothing from Mr. Linton until they +reached the railway log-landing, when he told them that they were wanted +in Tacoma, and that he was instructed to bring them there at once. + +From the landing they proceeded by hand-car to Cascade Junction, where +they boarded a west-bound passenger train over the Northern Pacific. +Even now Mr. Linton was not communicative, and after sitting awhile in +silence he went forward into the smoking-car, leaving the boys in the +passenger coach next behind it. Now they began to discuss their +situation, and the more they considered it the more apprehensive they +became that something unpleasant was in store for them. + +"He's a United States marshal, remember," said Bonny. + +"Yes," replied Alaric; "I've been thinking of that. Do you suppose it +can have anything to do with that smuggling business?" + +"I'm awfully afraid so," replied Bonny. "Great Scott! Look there!" + +The train was just leaving Meeker, where a passenger had boarded their +car, and was now walking leisurely through it towards the smoker. It was +he who had attracted Bonny's attention, and at whom he now pointed a +trembling finger. + +Alaric instantly recognized the man as an officer of the revenue-cutter +that had so persistently chased them in the early summer. Without a +word, he left his seat and followed the new-comer to the smoking-car, +where a single glance through the open door confirmed his worst +suspicions. + +The officer had seated himself beside Mr. Linton, and they were talking +with great earnestness. + +"They are surely after us again," Alaric said, in a whisper, as he +regained his seat beside Bonny; "but I don't intend to be captured if I +can help it." + +"Same here," replied Bonny. + +Thus it happened that when, a little later, the train reached Tacoma, +and Mr. Linton returned to look for his lads, they were nowhere to be +found. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +BONNY DISCOVERS HIS FRIEND THE TRAMP + + +It was late in the afternoon when the train reached Tacoma, and the +logging boss discovered that the lads whom he had been especially +instructed to bring with him had disappeared. As he could not imagine +any reason why they should do such a thing, he was thoroughly +bewildered, and waited about the station for some minutes, expecting +them to turn up. He inquired of the train hands and other employes if +they had seen anything of such boys as he described, but could gain no +information concerning them. + +The revenue-officer was merely an acquaintance whom he had met by chance +on the train, and who now waited a few minutes to see how this affair +would turn out. Finally he said: + +"Well, Linton, I'm sorry I can't help you, but I really must be getting +along. I hope, though, you won't have any such trouble with your missing +lads as we had in trying to catch two young rascals of smugglers, whom +we lost right here in Tacoma last summer. We wanted them as witnesses, +and thought we had our hands on them half a dozen times; but they +finally gave us the slip, and the case in which they were expected to +testify was dismissed for want of evidence. Good-bye." + +Thus left to his own devices, the boss could think of nothing better +than to call upon the police to aid him in recovering the missing boys, +and so powerful was the name of the President of the Northwest Lumber +Company, which he did not hesitate to use, that within an hour every +policeman in Tacoma was provided with their description, and instructed +to capture them if possible. In the hope that they would speedily +succeed in so doing, Mr. Linton delayed meeting the president, and +telegraphed that he could not reach the hotel to which he had been +directed to bring the boys before eight o'clock that evening. + +In the meantime Alaric and Bonny, without an idea of the stir their +disappearance had created throughout the city, were snugly ensconced in +an empty freight-car that stood within a hundred yards of the railway +station. They had dropped from the rear end of their train when it began +to slow down, and slipped into the freight-car as a place of temporary +concealment while they discussed plans. + +"We've got to get out of this town in a hurry, that's certain," said +Alaric, "and I propose that we make a start for San Francisco. You know, +I told you that was my home, and I still have some friends there, who, I +believe, will help us. The only thing is that I don't see how we can +travel so far without any money." + +"That's easy enough," replied Bonny, "and I would guarantee to land you +there in good shape inside of a week. What worries me, though, is the +idea of going off and leaving all the money that is due us here. Just +think! there's thirty dollars owing to me as a hump-durgin driver, +thirty more as interpreter, and fully as much as that for being a +smuggler--nearly one hundred dollars in all. That's a terrible lot of +money, Rick Dale, and you know it as well as I do." + +"Yes," replied Alaric; "if we had it now, we'd be all right. But I'll +tell you, Bonny, what I'll do. If you will get me to San Francisco +inside of a week, I promise that you shall have one hundred dollars the +day we arrive." + +"I'll do it!" cried Bonny. "I know you are joking, of course, but I'll +do it just to see how you'll manage to crawl out of your bargain when we +get there. You mustn't expect to travel in a private car, though, with a +French cook, and three square meals a day thrown in." + +"Yes, I do," laughed Alaric, "for I never travelled any other way." + +"No, I know you haven't, any more'n I have; but, just for a change, I +think we'd better try freight-cars, riding on trucks, and perhaps once +in a while in a caboose, for this trip, with meals whenever we can catch +'em. We'll get there, though; I promise you that. Hello! I mustn't lose +that ball. We may want to have a game on the road." + +This last remark was called forth by Alaric's baseball which, becoming +uncomfortably bulgy in Bonny's pocket as he sat on the car floor, he had +taken out, and had been tossing from hand to hand as he talked. At +length it slipped from him, rolled across the car, and out of the open +door. + +Bonny sprang after it, tossed it in to Alaric, and was about to clamber +back into the car, when, through the gathering gloom, he spied a +familiar figure standing in the glare of one of the station lights. + +"Wait here a few minutes, Rick," he said, "while I go and find out when +our train starts." + +With this he darted up the track, and a moment later advanced, with a +smile of recognition and extended hand, towards the stranger whom he had +so pitied in the logging camp the day before. The man still wore a +shabby suit and the hat Bonny had given him. He started at sight of the +lad, and exclaimed: + +"How came you here so soon? I thought you weren't due until eight +o'clock." + +"How did you know we were coming at all?" asked Bonny, in amazement. + +"Oh, that's a secret," laughed the other, instantly recovering his +self-possession, and assuming his manner of the day before. "We tramps +have a way of finding out things, you know." + +"Yes, I've always heard so," replied Bonny, "and that's one reason why +I'm so glad to meet you again. I thought maybe you could help us." + +"Us?" repeated the stranger. "Who is with you?" + +"Only my chum, the other hump-durgin driver, you know." + +"You mean Richard Dale?" + +"Yes--only his name isn't Richard, but Alaric. I say, though, would you +mind stepping over in the shadow, where we won't be interrupted?" + +"Certainly not," replied the other, with a quiet chuckle. "I expect it +will be better, for I'm not anxious to be recognized myself just now." + +When they had reached what Bonny considered a safe place, he continued: + +"You see, it's this way. My chum and I did a little business in the +smuggling line last summer, and got chased for it by the 'beaks."' + +"Just like 'em," growled the other. + +"Yes," said Bonny, wrathfully. "We hadn't really done anything wrong, +you know; but they made us skip 'round lively, and came mighty near +catching us, too. We gave 'em the slip, though, and thought the whole +thing had blown over, till to-day, when they got after us again." + +"Who did?" + +"The revenue fellows. You see, the boss up at camp is one of 'em, and we +suspicioned something was wrong as soon as he told us we were wanted in +Tacoma. We were certain of it when we saw another revenue man, one of +the cutter's officers, join him on the train, and so we just gave them +the slip again, and have been hiding ever since over in that +freight-car." + +"Indeed!" remarked the stranger, interestedly. "And what do you propose +to do next?" + +"That's what I'm coming to, and what we want you to help us about. You +see, my chum's folks live in San Francisco, and I rather think he ran +away from 'em, though he hasn't ever said so. Anyhow, he wants to get +back there, and as we haven't any money, we've got to beat our way, so I +thought maybe you could put us up to the racket, or, at any rate, tell +us when the first south-bound freight would pull out. Of course, you +understand, we've got to start as quick as we can, for it isn't safe for +us to be seen around here." + +"Of course not," agreed the stranger, with another chuckle; for the +whole affair seemed to amuse him greatly. "But what are you going to do +for food? You'll be apt to get hungry before long." + +"I am already," acknowledged Bonny, "and that was another thing I was +going to ask you about. I thought maybe you wouldn't mind giving us some +pointers from your own experience in picking up your three little square +meals a day when you are on the road." + +At this point the stranger burst into what began like uncontrollable +laughter, but which proved to be only a severe fit of coughing. When it +was over, he said: "Your name is Bonny Brooks, isn't it?" + +"Yes; but don't speak so loud." + +"All right, I won't. But, Bonny Brooks, you were mighty kind to me +yesterday--kinder than any one else has been for a long time. +By-the-way, did you bring my old hat with you?" + +"No, of course not." + +"No matter. I said I would redeem it, and I am going to do so by putting +you on to a mighty soft snap. I'm bound to the southward myself, and, as +it happens, there is a sort of boarding-car going to pull out of here +for somewhere down the line in about half an hour. It is in charge of +the cook, and as he and I are on what you might call extra good terms, +he is going to let me ride with him as far as he goes. There won't be a +soul on board but him and me, unless I can persuade him to let you two +boys come along with us. I am pretty sure I can, though, for he is under +several obligations to me, and if you'll promise to stay quietly in this +freight-car until I come for you, I'll go this minute and see him. What +do you say?" + +"I say you are a trump, and if you'll only work that racket for us, I'll +share half the money with you that I'm to get from Rick as soon as we +reach San Francisco." + +"Oh ho! He is to give you money, is he?" + +"Yes; that is, he has promised me one hundred dollars to make up for the +wages I leave behind, if I'll only get him there. Of course that's all +his joke, though, for he is just as poor as I am." + +So Bonny clambered back into the car where he told Rick of the fine +arrangement he had just made; while for the next half-hour that shabbily +attired stranger was the busiest man in Tacoma, and kept a great many +other people busy at the same time. Finally, just as the boys were +beginning to think he had forgotten them, he appeared at the door of the +freight-car, and said, in a loud whisper: "Come, quick. I think they are +after you." + +As they scrambled out, he started on a run towards a single car that, +with an engine attached, stood on a siding in the darkest corner of the +railroad yard. Here he hurriedly whispered to the boys to crouch low on +its rear platform until it started, when the cook would open the door. +Then he disappeared. + +In another minute the car began to move, and directly afterwards its +door was opened. There seemed to be no light in the interior, and, +without seeing any one, the boys heard a strange voice, evidently that +of a negro, bidding them come in out of the cold. + +They entered the car, Alaric going first, and were led through a narrow +passage into what was evidently a large compartment. They heard their +guide retreating through the passage, and were beginning to feel rather +uneasy, when suddenly they were surrounded and dazzled by a great flood +of electric light. + + + + +CHAPTER XL + +A FLOOD OF LIGHT + + +As the brilliant light flooded the place where the boys stood, they were +for a minute blinded by its radiance. Bonny was bewildered and +frightened, and even Alaric was greatly startled. Gradually, as their +eyes grew accustomed to the brightness, they became aware of a single +figure standing before them, and regarding them curiously. Alaric +looked, rubbed his eyes, and looked again. Then he sprang forward with a +great shout. + +"Dad! you dear old dad! I never was so glad to see any one in my life!" + +"Rick! you young rascal!" cried Amos Todd. "How could you play your old +father such a trick? Never mind, though; you've won your game, and at +the same time made me the very happiest and proudest man on the coast +this night. Stand there, sir, and let me have a good look at you." + +With this the proud father held his stalwart son off at arm's-length and +gazed at him with loving admiration. + +"The very neatest trick I ever heard of--the most impudent, and the most +successful," he murmured. "But don't you ever be guilty of such a thing +again, you young smuggler." + +"Indeed I won't, dad, for I know I shall never have any reason or desire +to repeat it," replied Alaric, promptly, his voice trembling with joyful +excitement. "But, dad, you mustn't forget Bonny; for whatever I have +gained or learned this past summer I owe to him." + +"God bless the lad! Indeed I will never forget what he has done both for +you and for me," cried Amos Todd, stepping forward and seizing Bonny's +hand in a grasp that made him wince. + +Poor bewildered Bonny, standing amid the glitter of silver and +plate-glass, surrounded by furnishings of such luxurious character as he +had never imagined could exist in real life, vaguely wondered whether he +were under the spell of some beautiful enchantment or merely dreaming. +There must be some reality to it all, though, for the stranger in the +shabby garments, whom he had befriended only the day before, and still +wearing the same hat he had given him, was surely holding his hand and +saying very pleasant things. But who could he be? He certainly was not +acting like a tramp, or one who was greatly in need of charity. + +Alaric came to the puzzled lad's relief. "He is my father, Mr. Amos +Todd," he cried. "And, Bonny, you will forgive me, won't you, for not +telling you before? You see, I was afraid to let even you know that I +was the son of a rich man, because I wanted you to like me for myself +alone." + +"You know I do, Rick Dale! You know I do!" exclaimed Bonny, impulsively, +finding his voice at last. "But, Rick," he added, almost in a whisper, +"are you sure there isn't any mistake about it all? Amos Todd, you know, +is President of the Northwest Company, and the richest man on the coast. +They do say he's a millionaire." + +"It's all right, Bonny. I expect he is a millionaire," answered Alaric, +joyously. "But we won't lay it up against him, will we? And we'll try +not to think any the less of him for it. I didn't know he was President +of the Northwest Company, though. Are you, dad?" + +"I believe I am," laughed Amos Todd. "And I certainly have cause to be +grateful that I hold the office, for it was while making my official +inspection of the camps yesterday that I ran across you boys. I didn't +know you, though, Rick--'pon my word, I didn't. You bore a faint +resemblance to my little 'Allie' as you came riding those logs down the +skid-road, but I knew you couldn't be he, for I was certain that he was +on the other side of the world by this time. And so you shook the +Sonntaggs, and let them run away from you. It was wrong, Rick, very +wrong, but I don't blame you--not one bit, I don't. I'd have done the +same thing myself." + +"But, dad, how did you come to find me out? I don't understand it at +all." + +"By your own letter to Esther, lad. She forwarded it to me in France; +but I had gone when it reached there, and so it was sent to San +Francisco. I left Margaret on the other side for the winter, and came +back by way of Montreal and the Canadian Pacific, intending to stop here +and inspect the lumber camps on my way home. I telegraphed John to send +this car and all my mail up here, and they came last night. As soon as I +read your letter I felt pretty certain that it was you whom I had seen +doing the circus act on those logs. I wasn't quite sure, though, and +didn't want to make any mistake, so I just sent word to Linton to fetch +you in, that I might take a good look at you." + +"So it was you who sent for us?" + +"Certainly. And you thought it was the revenue-officers, and so decided +to give 'em the slip, and beat your way home to claim protection of your +old dad--eh, you rascal? And Bonny here took me for a fellow-tramp who +could put him on to the racket. Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! Oh my! I shall +die of laughing yet at thinking of it. It was all the hat, though, +wasn't it, Bonny? I hated to cut it up, for I only bought it in Paris +the other day, and hadn't another with me; but I wanted to inspect the +camp without being known, and it was the only disguise I could think of. +But, boys, what do you say to supper? If you are as hungry as I am you +must be more than ready for it." + +Indeed, they were ready for supper, and when they sat down to that +daintily served meal, in the exquisitely appointed dining-room of +President Todd's own private car, Bonny at last understood why Alaric +had ordered that strange lot of supplies for the sloop _Fancy_. + +After supper they returned to the saloon, where Amos Todd lighted a +cigar, and listened to the wonderful story of trial and triumph, +privation and strange vicissitude, that had transformed his pale-faced +weakling into the strong, handsome, self-reliant youth upon whom he now +gazed so proudly. When the long story was ended, he asked, quietly: + +"How much have you earned by your summer's work, son; and what have you +to show for it?" + +"If you mean in money, dad, not one cent; and all I have to show, +besides what you've already noticed, is this." Here Alaric held out a +dilapidated baseball, at which his father gazed curiously. "With that +ball," continued Alaric, "I took my first lesson in being a boy, and it +has led me on from one thing to another ever since until, finally, this +very evening, it brought me back to you. So, dad, I should say that it +stood for my whole summer's work." + +"I am thankful, Rick, that you haven't earned any money, and that +through bitter want of it you have learned its value," said Amos Todd. +"I am thankful, too, that there is still one thing for which you have to +come to your old dad. More than all am I thankful for what you have +gained without his help, or, rather, in spite of him; and had I known +last spring what that baseball was to do for you, I would gladly have +paid a million of dollars for it." + +"You may have it now, dad, for one hundred, which is just the amount I +owe Bonny." + +"Done!" cried Amos Todd; and thus he came into possession of the +well-worn baseball that, set in a plate of silver and enclosed in a +superb frame, soon afterwards hung above his private desk in San +Francisco. + +Here our story properly ends, but we cannot help telling of two or three +things that happened soon after the disappearance of our hump-durgin +boys from Camp No. 10, and as a direct result of their having lived +there. To begin with, Mr. Linton felt himself so insulted by the manner +in which President Todd made his inspection that he resigned his +position, and, on the recommendation of Alaric, Buck Ranlet was given +his place. On the strength of this promotion the big "faller" went East +to marry the girl of his choice, and both Alaric and Bonny were present +at the wedding. + +Through the liberality of Amos Todd, the ex-hump-durgin boys were +enabled to present the camp with their shack, converted into a neat +little library building and filled with carefully selected books, in +which the occupants of the camp are greatly pleased to discover many of +the tales already told them by Rick Dale. + +A certain famous and badly used-up hat, carefully removed from the camp, +belongs to Bonny Brooks, and adorns a wall in one of a beautiful suite +of rooms that he and Alaric occupy together at Harvard. Here Alaric is +taking an academic course, while Bonny, whom Amos Todd regards almost as +an own son, is sturdily working his way through the mathematical and +mechanical labyrinths of a Manual Training School. They went to +Cambridge just one year after completing their studies as hump-durgin +boys; and while they were still Freshmen, the splendid baseball-player, +who, though only just entering his Junior year, was captain of the +'varsity nine, happened to be badly in need of a catcher. + +"I can tell you of one who can't be beat this side of the Rocky +Mountains," suggested his classmate and pitcher, Dave Carncross. + +"Who is he?" + +"Rick Todd, a Freshman." + +"Son of Amos Todd, your San Francisco millionaire?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I don't want him. Millionaires' sons are no good." + +"This one is, though," insisted Carncross; "and I ought to know, for I +taught him to catch his first ball. You just come over to Soldiers' +Field this afternoon and size him up." + +The captain needed a first-class man behind the bat so badly that, in +spite of his prejudices, he consented to do as his pitcher desired. He +was amazed, delighted, and enthusiastic. Never had he seen such an +exhibition of ball-catching as was given by that Freshman. Finally he +could contain himself no longer, and rushing up to his classmate, he +exclaimed: + +"Carncross, he's a wonder! Introduce me at once." + +"Rick Todd," said Dave Carncross, "permit me to present you to my +friend Phil Ryder, captain of the 'varsity nine." + +As the two lads grasped each other's hands there came a flash of +recognition into each face, and both remembered where they had met each +other last. + + +THE END + + + + +BOOKS BY KIRK MUNROE + + + CAMPMATES. Illustrated. + DORYMATES. Illustrated. + CANOEMATES. Illustrated. + RAFTMATES. Illustrated. + WAKULLA. Illustrated. + THE FLAMINGO FEATHER. Illustrated. + DERRICK STERLING. Illustrated. + CHRYSTAL, JACK & CO. Illustrated. + THE COPPER PRINCESS. Illustrated. + FORWARD, MARCH! Illustrated. + THE BLUE DRAGON. Illustrated. + FOR THE MIKADO. Illustrated. + UNDER THE GREAT BEAR. Illustrated. + THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH. Illustrated. + SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES. Illustrated. + RICK DALE. Illustrated. + THE PAINTED DESERT. Illustrated. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rick Dale, A Story of the Northwest +Coast, by Kirk Munroe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICK DALE *** + +***** This file should be named 35652.txt or 35652.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/6/5/35652/ + +Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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