"I must hurry too, for I promised to meet Bonny at noon," said Alaric.
"Who is Bonny?"
"The friend I told you of."
"Then I want you to give this to him from me, for fear he may not have found any breakfast." So saying, Phil slipped something hard and round into Alaric's hand. "Now good-bye, Rick Dale," he said. "I hope we may meet again sometime. At any rate, be sure to call on Monsieur Filbert at the hotel this afternoon. I guess you can get a job from him; but even if you don't, always remember that, as my friend Jalap Coombs says, 'It's never so dark but what there's a light somewhere.'"
Then the lads parted, one filled with the happiness that results from an act of kindness, and the other cheered and encouraged to renewed effort.
With grateful and loving glances Alaric watched Phil Ryder until he disappeared in the direction of the hotel, and then hastened to keep his appointment with Bonny. On the road leading to the wharves he passed a tall, lank figure, whose whole appearance was that of a sailor. His shrewd face was weather-beaten and wrinkled, but so kindly and smiling that Alaric could not help but smile from sympathy as they met.
He found Bonny impatiently awaiting him, and in such cheerful spirits as to be hardly recognizable for the despondent, half-starved lad of two hours before.
"Hello, Rick!" he shouted, as his friend approached. "I know you've had good luck, for I see it in your face."
"Indeed I have!" replied Alaric; "and, what's more, I've had the best breakfast I ever ate in my life."
"That's what I meant by luck; and I've had the same."