“There’s nothin’ for it except to keep right on huntin’. But say,” Bob added, as a happy thought occurred to him, “let’s tell every policeman we meet. They’d be sure to know Josiah, he looks so green, an’ could send him down to the pier. Folks will be goin’ home mighty soon, an’ when there ain’t so much of a crowd here, it’ll be easier to see him.”
This plan was acted upon without delay; and in a short time every officer in the immediate vicinity of the rendezvous knew that “a feller from the country, with a girl what didn’t look very scrumptious,” was lost.
Not until sunset did the two searchers meet again; and, as before, there was nothing for either to report.
Josiah and Sadie had disappeared as completely as if the earth had swallowed them, so far as these two friends of theirs were concerned; and Bob said in a tone of conviction, as he wiped the perspiration from his face:—
“It’s no use talkin’, Tom, they must have gone home; an’ the best thing we can do is to take the next boat, for Josiah is at Baker’s Court by this time.”
“But s’pose he isn’t?”
“There ain’t any s’pose ’bout it. If he’d staid we’d found him before now, an’ the sooner we go, the better.”
Tom made no protest, and the two went on board the steamer, leaving behind Josiah and Sadie, who were still vainly endeavoring to find the appointed place of meeting.
CHAPTER XI.
BOB’S FRIEND.
It was while Tom and Bob were yet searching for the missing ones, that Josiah decided it would be impossible for him to walk any farther until after taking a rest.