Then he and Sam got a blank and started to write out the wireless message that might put those on board the steamer on the track of Tom.
CHAPTER XVII
OFF FOR ALASKA
"What steamer was that?" questioned Dick and the clerk told him.
"I suppose we had better address the captain," said Sam. "Now, the question is, What shall we say?"
"We'll give Tom's assumed name and a short description of him, and ask that he be held for us at one of the ports," said Dick. "I don't know what else to do."
"I don't think the captain will hold the young man on your say-so," said the clerk, on being questioned. "He would be afraid of getting into trouble with the authorities. You had better get the police to make the request."
"The trouble is, we don't want to make this too public," explained Dick. "We'd rather keep it quiet. I'll risk the personal message to the captain."
"I'll sign the message with you," said Jim Hendricks. "Maybe the captain will know our family, at least by reputation."