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 again. 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.
"Ay, ay, sir; I'll nab 'em for ye if they comes this way again," was the answer, and then both speakers moved out of hearing toward 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?"