“What’s to be done now?” asked Jimmy as they reached the outskirts of the city.
“How about going down into the States and trying our luck?” Bethune suggested. “We’d at least be out of Clay’s reach—anywhere but Seattle.”
“What—run!” Jimmy exclaimed indignantly. “I stay right here!”
“Me too!” grunted Moran.
Bethune laughed.
“Well, how about turning and charging the enemy? I’ll admit that I’d enjoy a good fight right now—physical or verbal.”
“Won’t do,” objected Moran; “we won’t be well armed until we know just what those other boxes in the strong-room contain. Before we get a chance to find out, I’ve an idea our enemy himself will make a move.”
And he did.
CHAPTER XXI—JIMMY’S EMBARRASSMENT
Jimmy’s courage had fallen very low, dragging with it the last remnants of hope and ambition. Every loophole of escape from poverty seemed closed against him. For days he had tramped the streets of Vancouver, making the rounds of the wharves and mills in search of work, and had found nothing. He loathed the dreary patrol of the wet streets; he abhorred his comfortless quarters in the third-rate hotel; and the curt refusals that followed his application for a humble post were utterly disheartening. Worse than all, he felt that he had drifted very far from the girl who was constantly in his thoughts. He had almost lost hope of the salvage scheme’s succeeding, but he was pledged to his comrades, and they meant to try again if they could finance another venture with Jaques’ assistance. They must pick up a living somehow, and, if possible, save a few dollars before the time to start arrived.