The girls sprang to their feet. It was unfortunately only too true; the vessel had steamed past the quay, and was heading out into the bay, away from the land.
The four looked at each other in consternation too great for words. What were they to do? Could anybody have imagined a more horrible situation? They must indeed have made some great mistake.
"Tickets, please!" cried the purser, coming round at this critical moment to collect the fares, and holding out his hand in anticipation.
"We—we haven't any!" faltered Dora. "We thought you stopped at the jetty."
"Why, no, miss. This is the Everston boat; we don't stop until Sandsend. You've got on the wrong steamer, that's what you've done. Didn't you see the notice up on the gangway? The North End boats have red funnels and a blue flag. A shilling each, please, to Sandsend, or half a crown to Everston."
"Oh, can't you turn back, and put us off at the jetty?" implored Dora, almost crying. "We don't want to go to Sandsend, and certainly not to Everston."
"And we're in a great hurry," added Aldred.
"Sorry, miss, but it can't be done! The captain won't stop the steamer for anybody," said the man, smiling.
"Not if we went and asked him ourselves?" begged Phœbe eagerly.
"Not for the Queen of England!" returned the purser, as he waited, shuffling the tickets and some loose change suggestively in his hand.