This gave the plucky boy an idea.
If Doc Clancy really was a follower of the sea, would he not most likely ship aboard some vessel to make his escape? He had been publicly branded as a murderer, and his action in fleeing from his accuser was pretty good proof that he was guilty of the charge.
This was the way Van reasoned, and he concluded to make his way to the shipping district as soon as he reached New York.
He reached the depot and purchased his ticket, and the train came along a few minutes later and whirled him toward his destination.
Van was not playing the part of an amateur detective because he had any particular hankering after that profession, but because he had made a solemn vow to hunt down the murderer of his uncle.
He would try and locate his man, and then call the New York police to his aid.
The distance by rail to New York was not great, and an hour later our hero was walking down West Street in the busy metropolis.
He had often been to the city, and consequently knew something about it.
The boy did not stop until he reached the South Ferry, and then, acting on an uncontrollable impulse, he boarded a South Street car and took up his position on the platform with the driver.
He had not rode over ten blocks when he gave such a start that the car driver made an involuntary movement to catch him, thinking he was going to fall from the platform.