CHAPTER XVI
DAN MAKES A DISCOVERY.
“HOW in the name of wonder did you manage to lose that money?” asked George, as soon as he could speak. “Where and when did you see it last?”
“I had it in my hands not ten minutes before we left the boat,” replied Bob, hardly able to keep back his tears. “It was safe, too, when I came off the gang-plank, for I took pains to satisfy myself of the fact. When we got into that crowd I was pushed about, first one way and then the other, and, now that I think of it, I am sure I felt a hand in my pocket.”
“Very likely you did,” answered George. “Your pocket has been picked, that is the long and short of the matter, and here we are, alone in a big city, without a cent to bless ourselves with, and not a friend within hundreds of miles of us.”
Bob was greatly alarmed, and even George, with his eighteen months’ experience with the ways of the world, was sick at heart. They sat in gloomy silence for several minutes, and then George brightened up a little and spoke more cheerfully.
“It isn’t as bad as it might be,” said he, “for we know where we can get money. If I can find somebody in the morning who is good-natured enough to give me writing materials and a stamp, I’ll drop a line to Mr. Gilbert, and he’ll see us through. But it will be two weeks before we shall hear from him, and where are we going to sleep and what shall we get to eat while we are waiting? That’s what bothers me. We must hunt the city over for work. I am willing to do anything honest.”
“Where are we going to sleep to-night?” inquired Bob, whose courage was all gone, and who felt as if he would like to crawl into a hollow log out of sight, and give full rest to his feelings in a copious flood of tears.
“We can’t sleep anywhere,” replied George.
“Can’t we find a dark stairway somewhere?” asked Bob, who remembered that the heroes of some of his favorite books, who afterward became rich enough to ride in their carriages, had passed more than one night in that way when they first set out to seek their fortune.